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I'm just wondering... if you buy GW's products in a rather large bulk from a friendly local store, is it reasonable to ask for a discount from the owner or is that bad manners? He prices everything GW's market price.

I would say go for it, but I believe is good manners only if you still buy from your FLGS even if they say can't provide you with a discount.

It is always reasonable to negotiate prices with a seller. Just make sure that person has the authority to set prices (as otherwise that is just goofy).

"This bloke won't haggle!"

It's certainly reasonable to ask, and you may well get a discount if buying in bulk. I know some FLGS do discounts for members of clubs and such, so there must be a bit of wiggle room in some cases.

Try it out, but I wouldn't expect much. Gross margins on GW stuff for a brick and mortar store are pretty bad. Online stores can give away 10-15% discounts because they don't have to pay property taxes, or the electricity bill, or anything.

FLGSs can't discount GW goods my much before they're just not making money on it anymore. Worst case, you can consider it an act of supporting your local store by paying more.

Always ask, if they won't make any money, then all they will do is say no anyway, go for it, its the beauty and horror of free enterprise!

What's the worst that could happen?

I mean, you could offend him so much that he stalks you and hunts you down, kidnapping you and torturing you in his GW basement of Skulls (trademark) to show you that the price on the box is the final price.

But it can't hurt to ask.

You could tell them that you want to spend $X and the discount from buying online would be $Y, which is significant, however, you'd rather be spending the money to support the local store. Can he meet you half way?

My FLGS gives me a 20% discount on all GW products, but GW is a small part of their business, they are mostly comics, Warmahordes, and MtG.

That said, even if they charged full price, I'd be happy to pay it since they provide a dozen or so open table and are a great place to meet for pick up games...can't put a price on that.

 greg0985 wrote:
My FLGS gives me a 20% discount on all GW products, but GW is a small part of their business, they are mostly comics, Warmahordes, and MtG.

That said, even if they charged full price, I'd be happy to pay it since they provide a dozen or so open table and are a great place to meet for pick up games...can't put a price on that.

Can to, I believe it is $4.52 and hour at that particular store, FYI

As many have said, it can't hurt to try.

I am goimg against the crowd and say it would be. Basically what you are saying is that you buy a lot so you want cheaper than everybody else and if not you're just going to give money elsewhere and still make use of the gaming/painting tables there for free. Its not nice to do.

What's the worst that could happen?

The owner gets pissed and you just lost a place to play table top games.

I think it depands on many things , how much you actualy want to buy for example . Buying an 1500pts army in one go probably won't net you a discount , but buying 3000pts+ of stuff probably will . It also depands on what you want to buy . For example I bought old metal storm troopers realy cheap from my store , because the shop owner had 4 boxs hanging whole 5th ed.I bought them 40% cheaper .
Then there the whole support thing . If you never bought stuff at the store , they will be less likely to give you a discount . But if you are buying stuff in the store more or less every month or week , they owner will look at you more kindly.
Ah and if the store owners knows you re-sell stuff , the chance to get a good discount goes way down .

If you're buying slow-moving stock, ask away. You're clearing the space for better-selling stuff, and they just want rid of it.
Lots of places don't update their prices when GW does, so compare the two before asking for discount. It might already be there.

If you play there, too, count the lack of discount as the price to use the tables.

We set up a deal with our local store (non-GW) as the closest GW is at least 150 miles away.

Provided they are one of our local gaming club members (must attend so many club nights in a year to maintain status). Then he will give you a 15% discount on any GW models and paints etc.

Although it does help that he is one of us, but I have dealt with others in the past who only bought in for sales and not interest and even they were up for 5-10% discounts at least.

In the UK I understand that GW sell to trade at 40% off their RRP. Anyone running a shop really ought to be able to soak some of the difference in discount anyway. The whole point is they make their profit out of that percentage. There's little point to a store charging GW RRP if there is a GW anywhere nearby, especially since the average store can't get hold of most things that GW's don't stock (i.e. direct sales models).

I know the situation in other countries is different, with GWs much more widely spread out. In the UK trying to run a store and charging GW RRP would likely result in you making very few sales. As a store owner you've got to look to ways to maximise profit and clearly volume is an obvious one, so accepting a request for discount from a customer who wants to make a large order is sound business.

Thanks for all the notes guys! I'll see how it goes.