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I recently went to my local GW store in Scottsdale AZ. This store opened up a year ago or so, I don't exactly remember and I have yet to make a visit to it. I live about 20 miles away and I do not own a car and twenty miles is a long way to drive compared to stores in my area. I ended up around the store after visiting some friends in the area so I decided to come in and finally check it out. When I walked in I was in a room that was very decent size, there was about 15-20 people in there and I did not feel crowded at all (maybe having to excuse your self squeezing through around a table). I look around and there are 5 tables in the store, three realm of battle boards and two tables with felt on them, there was also a bar for painting and such.
I walked in and I was looking around and then the store manager came up to me and introduce himself. He came up to me and said "I don't believe we've met, I'm Luke." he was really friendly and a good salesman. He gave me the usually shpeel of asking me if I was already in the hobby, what army I played, etc. He continued to tell me how he runs his store. He told me that all his tables were always open for playing, he also added that he is there and he is always willing to help with painting and if I had any questions just feel free to ask. I went around the store and I was looking at devastators and I went to ask him what weapons were in it, he was modelling a some space marines of his own and it just happened to include devastators and he went through the box with me, and answered all my questions about it.
I continued looking around and a kid with his mom comes in and the kid is looking into the hobby, I was around him when he was talking, (I was eavesdropping a little). He got on the topic of painting and he kept saying that he is there to help with painting and that he even had a spray gun to help base models.
I was going to leave, and when I browse and not buy anything I like to make sure the manager sees me so he knows I didn't take anything. I left and said it was great to meet him and I hope I can find an excuse to come up there again. He then gave me some information, a calendar with events, and he even gave me information about a tournament that is to be held in April.
The only complaint about the store was the clientele and it was mostly high school freshman and sophomores, so it got a little annoying but they're kids and they are having fun. There was also an older gentleman late 20's maybe early 30's with a ten year old kid, don't know if it was a father son, uncle nephew, or cousin cousin but the guy was a little annoying but he was probably entertaining a ten year old so again nothing really they can do about it. I know I wouldn't walk in to have a pick up game there, but I wouldn't cause I live too far away, but I would have to bring a friend to play if I did live closer.
Grading this whole experience I have to give it an A for what the store had, with my only complaint being the people left to their own devices I could not knock the store so overall it was a whole lot better than what I thought I was going to see.
I hope a GW executive does not see this post. You walked out without being sold something? Off with his head!
.Only a fool believes there is such a thing as price gouging. Things have value determined by the creator or merchant. If you don't agree with that value, you are free not to purchase.
The guys nice. I was just buying paint and he let me demo whatever i wanted to see how different stuff shades/looks on a model. The store was empty and he was pretty chill.
Then when the store's busy they seem to switch over to insane high energy loud talker guys. I guess they are told to be high energy or sales people need to be high energy. Personally i find it annoying because i feel like i'm almost being yelled at.
I wouldnt want to work at one. seems really crapy.
Yeah this is pretty much my experience with the two GW stores I visit. Last time I was in the closer one the guy who runs the store spent about twenty minutes talking to my boyfriend and I about Dreadfleet after we mentioned we'd bought a copy. He always makes a point of knowing what projects people are working on and asking about them and he runs weekly activities in store. I'll usually drop in when I'm in the area, even if I don't want to buy anything.
I often mooch around GW stores (there are 4 within 20 minutes of me) and find that this is the case.
They always acknowledge you entering the shop in a polite interested way and depending on whether I am clearly just grabbing something (rare these days) or wasting time while the Mrs is shopping they either say they will get back to you or chat. Although the later is clearly part of a sales tactic it is always friendly and never pushy in spite of the hordes of young'uns about. I haven't really ever experienced the bad side of GW retail that is spoken about - but there are allot of GW stores out there.
I have only ever got the hard sell from a well known independent in London and to be fair the manager did post on Dakka to say the offending party no longer worked ther.
How do you promote your Hobby? - Legoburner "I run some crappy wargaming website "
DiRTWaL wrote: I recently went to my local GW store in Scottsdale AZ. This store opened up a year ago or so, I don't exactly remember and I have yet to make a visit to it. I live about 20 miles away and I do not own a car and twenty miles is a long way to drive compared to stores in my area. I ended up around the store after visiting some friends in the area so I decided to come in and finally check it out. When I walked in I was in a room that was very decent size, there was about 15-20 people in there and I did not feel crowded at all (maybe having to excuse your self squeezing through around a table). I look around and there are 5 tables in the store, three realm of battle boards and two tables with felt on them, there was also a bar for painting and such.
I walked in and I was looking around and then the store manager came up to me and introduce himself. He came up to me and said "I don't believe we've met, I'm Luke." he was really friendly and a good salesman. He gave me the usually shpeel of asking me if I was already in the hobby, what army I played, etc. He continued to tell me how he runs his store. He told me that all his tables were always open for playing, he also added that he is there and he is always willing to help with painting and if I had any questions just feel free to ask. I went around the store and I was looking at devastators and I went to ask him what weapons were in it, he was modelling a some space marines of his own and it just happened to include devastators and he went through the box with me, and answered all my questions about it.
I continued looking around and a kid with his mom comes in and the kid is looking into the hobby, I was around him when he was talking, (I was eavesdropping a little). He got on the topic of painting and he kept saying that he is there to help with painting and that he even had a spray gun to help base models.
I was going to leave, and when I browse and not buy anything I like to make sure the manager sees me so he knows I didn't take anything. I left and said it was great to meet him and I hope I can find an excuse to come up there again. He then gave me some information, a calendar with events, and he even gave me information about a tournament that is to be held in April.
The only complaint about the store was the clientele and it was mostly high school freshman and sophomores, so it got a little annoying but they're kids and they are having fun. There was also an older gentleman late 20's maybe early 30's with a ten year old kid, don't know if it was a father son, uncle nephew, or cousin cousin but the guy was a little annoying but he was probably entertaining a ten year old so again nothing really they can do about it. I know I wouldn't walk in to have a pick up game there, but I wouldn't cause I live too far away, but I would have to bring a friend to play if I did live closer.
Grading this whole experience I have to give it an A for what the store had, with my only complaint being the people left to their own devices I could not knock the store so overall it was a whole lot better than what I thought I was going to see.
Yeah Luke's always been real nice to me. Last time I was in, I was just picking up a couple of pots of paint I'd ordered off the website; I didn't have enough credit to pay shipping. When I asked if I could grab a drink out of the sink as it was 100+ (as usual in the summer) and had just spent several hours catching the bus to the GW, and hadn't money for a beverage at the store, he gave me a coke. Thumbs up!
Mannahnin wrote:A lot of folks online (and in emails in other parts of life) use pretty mangled English. The idea is that it takes extra effort and time to write properly, and they’d rather save the time. If you can still be understood, what’s the harm? While most of the time a sloppy post CAN be understood, the use of proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling is generally seen as respectable and desirable on most forums. It demonstrates an effort made to be understood, and to make your post an easy and pleasant read. By making this effort, you can often elicit more positive responses from the community, and instantly mark yourself as someone worth talking to.
insaniak wrote: Every time someone threatens violence over the internet as a result of someone's hypothetical actions at the gaming table, the earth shakes infinitisemally in its orbit as millions of eyeballs behind millions of monitors all roll simultaneously.
I've always found gw stores to be alright, the staff aren't too pushy. Like the op said my main problem is the regulars, who get in the way of browsing/buying stuff.
Slowly slowly catchee monkey is the best tactic when trying to get people to buy stuff from GW. As a manager you will get a lot more money out of people who keep coming back.
DiRTWaL wrote: IThere was also an older gentleman late 20's maybe early 30's with a ten year old kid, don't know if it was a father son, uncle nephew, or cousin cousin but the guy was a little annoying but he was probably entertaining a ten year old so again nothing really they can do about it.
Dang, you really know how to make an "experienced" gamer feel bad. If someone in there late 20s is an "older gentleman" that makes me feel older than Bjorn the Fell Handed.
Yeah, this seems like a much more reasonable and accurate description of a GW store visit to me. Very similar to what I observe.
I have to say, last time I was in at my local GW, I was talking to the manager about my current project and he showed me a rust technique using the new 'filled with sand' paints. I have to say I was kinda impressed and did use it and it turned out pretty good.
I have always felt welcome and had a good time even when just going for emergency paint runs.
My Models: Ork Army: Waaagh 'Az-ard - Chibi Dungeon RPG Models! - My Workblog! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
RULE OF COOL: When converting models, there is only one rule: "The better your model looks, the less people will complain about it."
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
MODELING FOR ADVANTAGE TEST: rigeld2: "Easy test - are you willing to play the model as a stock one? No? MFA."
I enjoy going to my local GW. It's also the closest shop to me (20-30 minutes vs 30-45 minutes.) Honestly if it wasn't GW-only it would be my go-to hobby shop. Good age mix too. A few kids, some people that have probably been in the hobby since before GW came around, but probably largely a 20s-30s crowd.
Sounds good. I wonder if the biggest problem is that a lot of GW stores I've been in are in high-cost/high-traffic areas like malls so they may be expected to make more sales. Game stores are probably a better fit for lower-cost retail space like strip malls, or the newer lower-pressure 'faux-small-town' areas that are probably more friendly to 'destination' stores where people go to spend a few hours.
(Disclaimer: Dakka regular mkwhatever that owns a store has a location in a mall that does well, so obviously there's exceptions. Also, I am talking out of my ass. )
Working on someting you'll either love or hate. Hopefully to be revealed by November.
Play the games that make you happy.
NYC GW store is pretty awesome. People working there are great. There is a good age mix but it can smell bad at times. I do not plan on going there in the summer.
the only real complaint i have is that they have no restroom and the stores around them, in typical NYC fashion, frown on you jumping in and using the bathroom. Sucks when you play a game that last 3 hours.
I hope a GW executive does not see this post. You walked out without being sold something? Off with his head!
Not true, a GW store employee will not be punished for someone walking out without selling them anything. That does not show on the register.
A store employee will be punished when you go in and buy a pot of paint, or a single blister or a tub of sand. Because those small sales are clear indicators that you did not 'upsell' to a larger purchase.
If a store employee gets lots of those in a short space of time, say a month, they will reprimand and potentially fire him.
That is why they can get pushy, poor buggers are trying to meet goals set beyond their ability to meet them.
If a store employee gets lots of those in a short space of time, say a month, they will reprimand and potentially fire him.
My GW must hate my ass because I buy mostly emergency paint/washes and that's pretty much it.
I did buy a Dakkajet once, but right now GW has nothing I need for my Ork army.
My Models: Ork Army: Waaagh 'Az-ard - Chibi Dungeon RPG Models! - My Workblog! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
RULE OF COOL: When converting models, there is only one rule: "The better your model looks, the less people will complain about it."
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
MODELING FOR ADVANTAGE TEST: rigeld2: "Easy test - are you willing to play the model as a stock one? No? MFA."
I like my "local" GW (It's half an hour away, but whatever). I really do. However, the practices of the company and the fact I have general problems with cost and such means I don't feel like going there anymore.
BlapBlapBlap: bringing idiocy and mischief where it should never set foot since 2011.
BlapBlapBlap wrote:What sort of idiot quotes themselves in their sigs? Who could possibly be that arrogant?
My local GW shop in Southport, Lancashire is great. The manager is very good with the children at the weekends (he must have the patience of a saint) when I take my son in to play. My only criticism would be that they have a single 40k table, a single WHFB table and a Hobbit table. What a waste of space that Hobbit table is. Another 40k table would be used far more.
I hope a GW executive does not see this post. You walked out without being sold something? Off with his head!
Not true, a GW store employee will not be punished for someone walking out without selling them anything. That does not show on the register.
A store employee will be punished when you go in and buy a pot of paint, or a single blister or a tub of sand. Because those small sales are clear indicators that you did not 'upsell' to a larger purchase.
If a store employee gets lots of those in a short space of time, say a month, they will reprimand and potentially fire him.
That is why they can get pushy, poor buggers are trying to meet goals set beyond their ability to meet them.
That's one other thing that makes me dislike going to my local GW (despite finding it a rather nice place to hobby.) I feel like a jerk if I only make a small purchase, but if I make a large enough purchase to help the poor saps make their averages (last I heard it was $70/transaction) it's getting into the realm where I have a hard time justifying buying local instead of snagging Ye Olde Onliney Discount.
I hope a GW executive does not see this post. You walked out without being sold something? Off with his head!
Not true, a GW store employee will not be punished for someone walking out without selling them anything. That does not show on the register.
A store employee will be punished when you go in and buy a pot of paint, or a single blister or a tub of sand. Because those small sales are clear indicators that you did not 'upsell' to a larger purchase.
If a store employee gets lots of those in a short space of time, say a month, they will reprimand and potentially fire him.
That is why they can get pushy, poor buggers are trying to meet goals set beyond their ability to meet them.
back home they knew full well I'd never buy anything so never bothered me with anything (though did inform me of the new paint release, as I only ever bought paint. They knew I was so adamant on buying everything second hand. T'was nice
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An interesting thing I've heard is that part of the reason for the "hard sell" on people who are just getting into the shops is that GW does employ mystery shoppers who report back to the company about how the employees acted.
I really like GW stores. My local one is pretty small but I like to spend time there nonetheless. It's also improved a lot recently since the manager has become more willing to sacrifice an intro board for open gaming. The manager's nice and helpful with only the annoying "no sitting down rule" that marks the store down. There's some great people there too so I always nip down when I can, even though it's a 40 minute bus journey. Could do with being bigger though...
I just don't see the point of GW stores. FLGS offer actual competitive environment and sales, the only advantage is GW being spread a lot making it a good possibility to get emergency purchases.
I hope a GW executive does not see this post. You walked out without being sold something? Off with his head!
Not true, a GW store employee will not be punished for someone walking out without selling them anything. That does not show on the register.
A store employee will be punished when you go in and buy a pot of paint, or a single blister or a tub of sand. Because those small sales are clear indicators that you did not 'upsell' to a larger purchase.
If a store employee gets lots of those in a short space of time, say a month, they will reprimand and potentially fire him.
That is why they can get pushy, poor buggers are trying to meet goals set beyond their ability to meet them.
You never saw what happened when an exec was in there watching.....<shudders>
40K RTT W/D/L 63/3/29
1 overall, 12 Best Sportsman, 3 Best Army, 5 Best Painting,1 Best Black Templars.
WFB RTT 0/0/6
1 Best Sportsman,1 Best Army
steve2112 wrote: NYC GW store is pretty awesome. People working there are great. There is a good age mix but it can smell bad at times. I do not plan on going there in the summer.
I've been there twice, recently went in to buy Dark Vengeance. The supervisor there said it smelt like that because he helps prime newbie's models for them. So that may be it. Other then that, Manhattan store is awesome.
Hey! I've been there! I dont live in AZ but I visit there often and I've been to that gw. Luke is a real nice guy. He's the guy with the british accent right? Its usually pretty nice in there, just sometimes I have to wait a really long time to get a game in because it is so busy. One time though, a superior from GW came in and was watching him, and he was completely different. He tried to sell a lot more, and wasn't as friendly. Also he made sure to close the shop exactly at a certain time so he could take the required lunch break, wheras he usually let people play through it. Still not a bad store though.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/04/24 01:30:43
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The wife and I were on our way back from her Grandmother's funeral in Lexington area and the Garmin was bringing us through Cincinnati, Ohio. I wanted to stop at an ACTUAL GW shop, there are none within 50 miles of me (92 miles is the closest).
We stopped and I was not sure what to expect. I was very impressed with the fact that the gentleman that was running the store was superbly professional. He asked if I was already in the hobby, what army I ran and this and that. To be honest ... I really wish that I lived closer because I would make it to THAT store more often. Very nice experience.
Now, we like big books. (And we cannot lie. You other readers can’t deny, a book flops open with an itty-bitty font, and a map that’s in your face, you get—sorry! Sorry!)
The guy who runs the Auckland GW is friendly and helpful, not pushy at all, knows the product and is happy to help out. Honestly these horror stories seem a little blown out of proportion, as the aforementioned is what I've come to expect from GW in the 3 incarnations they've had in Auckland over the last ~15 years. Only reason I don't go there to spend is that the FLGS undercuts GW by a considerable margin (NZ pricing lol) and that can hardly be blamed on the GW local manager.
Desert Hunters of Vior'la 
The Purge 
Iron Hands 
Adepts of Pestilence 
Tallaran Desert Raiders 
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