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I think any sort of chain finds it harder to be consistently customer friendly than an independent. If you own and run your own shop, you are far more in control of day to day events, who you hire, what events you run, etc than if you are running an organisation that operates dozens of shops worldwide of differing sizes with different 'catchment' areas. The desire to have consistency within such an organisation is strong (and is often both well-intentioned and beneficial), but it also has downsides because all the training in the world won'tmake two managers behave in the same way.

Blood and Slaughter wrote:I think any sort of chain finds it harder to be consistently customer friendly than an independent. If you own and run your own shop, you are far more in control of day to day events, who you hire, what events you run, etc than if you are running an organisation that operates dozens of shops worldwide of differing sizes with different 'catchment' areas. The desire to have consistency within such an organisation is strong (and is often both well-intentioned and beneficial), but it also has downsides because all the training in the world won'tmake two managers behave in the same way.

Also, independents can afford to be a bit more free about gamers doing gaming things. GW want a level of control incompatible with people who aren't purists. A normal game store will carry a range of stock and there's freedom to discuss the many aspects of the hobby reflected in all the products on the shelves and often the owner will give you their honest opinions on the latest products especially if you are a regular.

With GW you can only talk GW and even though they are a big company that's a narrow band within the actual hobby. Secondly, staff are salespeople there to push the company line. This severely restricts any normal gamer conversation because normal gamers don't solely focus on GW and how great all their products are.

Agreed, some stores are like that, run by douchebags. I'm just lucky there are some really cool guys at my local FLGW. (Is that a legit shortening?)
Other things that ruin it are little kids screaming and getting mad when they lose/taunting when they win and usually they start picking up your models without permission in the middle of a game, just to look at them. That's really bad IMO.

Doctorcheese wrote:Agreed, some stores are like that, run by douchebags. I'm just lucky there are some really cool guys at my local FLGW. (Is that a legit shortening?)
Other things that ruin it are little kids screaming and getting mad when they lose/taunting when they win and usually they start picking up your models without permission in the middle of a game, just to look at them. That's really bad IMO.

Personally, I think you can't just go around labeling them "douchebags" without knowing the situation.

For all you know, the reason these rules are being enforced is because they had two regulars who came in during their lunch breaks, start moving out the store's chairs around to the table they'll be playing at then proceeding to have two and a half hour games at 500 points because they'd be talking about which celebrities they'd like to have help them create the beast with two backs.

Again:
I'm not saying the OP is a liar. But there might have been stuff going on that even he isn't aware of that's the driving force behind management deciding to do something.

I was irked some years back when I was 10, as the independent bookstore I liked to shop at said that the chairs they had at the front of the shop was not for people to "lollygag in".

Never mind the fact that for two or three years prior they had no issue with me sitting there after I had bought myself a small book whilst waiting for my mother to finish getting her hair cut.
Turns out the reason they did this was not because they "hated it", but because the shopping center that controlled their rent said that they(the owners of the bookstore, not the shopping center) are liable if minors are left unaccompanied within their shop and something happens to them.

But to me at 10 years old it felt like the worst injustice in the world, next to being grounded from playing video games.

I'm sure the store has its reasons for that set of rules.

On the other hand, rules like that put me off. I'm a bit spoiled where I am -- four FLGS within 15 minutes' drive, two of which have thriving wargames communities, as well as at least one GW -- and can pick and choose where I want to play, but I'm not so sure I'd play at a store like that even if it were my only option.

Kanluwen might be right that they're making rules tailored to their target audience, but that target audience sure as hell ain't me, or anyone I know.

Mewens: the rules are coming down from GW Corporate, by all accounts.

But the enforcement of those rules is left to the store manager's discretion. The Corporate watchdogs can't always, 100% of the time be there.

It's a semi-sneaky way of making it so that if the stores need to enforce these rules, the managers can pull a "Sorry guys, I don't write the rules--I just enforce them" and come off as sympathetic to the person they're talking to.

if this is corporate rules, then I feel for GW


they need someone running the company that understands how to run a company. The best run companies treat their customers like kings. When your product is over priced and of OK quality, you need something else to keep customers coming in.

Being unkind to your customer base is a very fine model for failure. In the age of being able to find anything anywhere, you would think a manufacturer would try and keep it's loyal customer base. It seems GW thinks the best way to run a company is charge too much and go after kids, with no jobs. Sure parents will buy their kids stuff, but not as much as an adult with a passion.


I still don't see these as HQ rules, it still seems like bitter employee efforts to keep adults out of their playland.

If any kind of place of business has to make rules, that means the owner(s) are fed up with unchecked behavior beforehand. The old FLGS in my area had a chair rule: if you are caught rocking back on a chair, you owe a dollar. That dollar went to purchasing more chairs. One games store I went to had a $5 table fee for any games played, mainly because they had become a hangout and not a place where people played games. The game store I help run tournaments at, however, has no rules posted on gaming. They ask that you be respectful of other gamers and that's what the gamers do. No one trashes the place, there are almost no loiterers (if there are, they are waiting on other gamers who are late), and the place is pretty calm, but never empty when we go there.

In short, respect given is respect earned. Too many people think that their FLGS is just a hangout, no need to purchase anything from there (that's what the internet is for), no need to come prepared (the store is supposed to supply all my gaming needs), and they are not supposed to make any money (wow, this warm soda in my car tastes so much better than one from the store fridge), that I'm not surprised at all when stores make rules of conduct.

DIDM wrote:if this is corporate rules, then I feel for GW


they need someone running the company that understands how to run a company. The best run companies treat their customers like kings. When your product is over priced and of OK quality, you need something else to keep customers coming in.

"The best run companies" don't treat their customers like kings.

They make their customers think they're being treated like kings.

Being unkind to your customer base is a very fine model for failure. In the age of being able to find anything anywhere, you would think a manufacturer would try and keep it's loyal customer base. It seems GW thinks the best way to run a company is charge too much and go after kids, with no jobs. Sure parents will buy their kids stuff, but not as much as an adult with a passion.

"Being unkind" to your customer base is not the same thing as "managing your storefront".

People are going to feel alienated no matter what if you have to tell them to stop doing something.

I still don't see these as HQ rules, it still seems like bitter employee efforts to keep adults out of their playland.

What makes this sound like "bitter employee efforts to keep adults out of their playland"?
The "keeping game nights", which normally are made up of adults and not children?
The 3 or 4 rules which can basically be attributed to "wanting people to manage themselves while in public and behave like adults"?

Like I said. Some shops are going to have to enforce some rules while others might not.
If Mikhaila had to implement these rules at one of his two shops because Customer X started spilling the chili all over people's models, and Customer X then starts going to Mikhaila's other shop--if Mikhaila doesn't have the same rules going at both sites, Customer X can claim that he's being "unfairly prosecuted" with these rules because he can't stop spilling the chili.

By having the rules being handed down by corporate(or Mikhaila, as in the example), and doing the rules in a generic way--no one can claim that they're being unfairly persecuted. While it's not like people will be bringing lawsuits against them, it still doesn't hurt to cover your bum.

SoloFalcon1138 wrote:If any kind of place of business has to make rules, that means the owner(s) are fed up with unchecked behavior beforehand. The old FLGS in my area had a chair rule: if you are caught rocking back on a chair, you owe a dollar. That dollar went to purchasing more chairs. One games store I went to had a $5 table fee for any games played, mainly because they had become a hangout and not a place where people played games. The game store I help run tournaments at, however, has no rules posted on gaming. They ask that you be respectful of other gamers and that's what the gamers do. No one trashes the place, there are almost no loiterers (if there are, they are waiting on other gamers who are late), and the place is pretty calm, but never empty when we go there.

In short, respect given is respect earned. Too many people think that their FLGS is just a hangout, no need to purchase anything from there (that's what the internet is for), no need to come prepared (the store is supposed to supply all my gaming needs), and they are not supposed to make any money (wow, this warm soda in my car tastes so much better than one from the store fridge), that I'm not surprised at all when stores make rules of conduct.

so I get your point, but you almost contradict yourself in your whole post.



so from my understanding, the other place that doesn't have rules in place is giving respect to their customer base, and in return they are getting respect back from their clientele.

I blame parents, kids are raised not just made. and if there are a bunch of loiterers, more than likely the parents found a free ish babysitter, after the models are bought, which they would anyways.

You act as if it's simply kids doing this.

It's not. Adults do this plenty, they just go in and hang out talking with the staff or reading books.

This isn't a bad thing, necessarily, but it can become a big problem if that's all anyone ever does.

My local GW store has a bunch of tables reserved for painted models, which normally would be no big deal, except they want them based, which I refuse to do because I hate when a model is based. Its my model, I dont like crap on it.

DIDM wrote:so I get your point, but you almost contradict yourself in your whole post.



so from my understanding, the other place that doesn't have rules in place is giving respect to their customer base, and in return they are getting respect back from their clientele.

I blame parents, kids are raised not just made. and if there are a bunch of loiterers, more than likely the parents found a free ish babysitter, after the models are bought, which they would anyways.

Actually, incidents never happen there, so they have never felt the need to lay down the law. They are an elderly couple who have had this store open for at least 20 years, and people come in and play and have a good time without any issues and little drama.

I'm talking about respect given to the store. The owners could have opened any kind of store they wanted to, and they opened a game store, a weird breed of retailer that wants people to sort of loiter by gaming. Eventually (the hope is) they will spend some money on said games. Instead a lot of game store owners get a lots of complainers (why don't you carry EVERYTHING?!?!!?), internet shoppers (I can get this 20% off online), and loiterers (Oh, no thinks, I don't play here). Why would anyone want to open a store with such open disrespect?

And yes, parents can be to blame as well, but we as a community also have a responsibility to inform anyone being an @#$hole that the behavior is not tolerated.

well this thread certainly has got some attention!

one positive thing i have found from this is that it is nto being enforced across all stores, i can understand how the rules should be there if there is need for them to be enforced, however a group of regular thursday night gamers who are all friends and used to come down interact with staff buy products do hobby etc have all been chased away by these rules being enforced in situations where it is not neccessary. it seems to be certain members of staff enforcing the rules, and even speaking to other members of staff like rubbish.

I think an email to head office just to bring their attention to it may be in order. on an adults veteran gaming night should be a little more laid back as from my experience there has never been any problems.

Kanluwen wrote:

DIDM wrote:if this is corporate rules, then I feel for GW


they need someone running the company that understands how to run a company. The best run companies treat their customers like kings. When your product is over priced and of OK quality, you need something else to keep customers coming in.

"The best run companies" don't treat their customers like kings.

They make their customers think they're being treated like kings.

Being unkind to your customer base is a very fine model for failure. In the age of being able to find anything anywhere, you would think a manufacturer would try and keep it's loyal customer base. It seems GW thinks the best way to run a company is charge too much and go after kids, with no jobs. Sure parents will buy their kids stuff, but not as much as an adult with a passion.

"Being unkind" to your customer base is not the same thing as "managing your storefront".

People are going to feel alienated no matter what if you have to tell them to stop doing something.

I still don't see these as HQ rules, it still seems like bitter employee efforts to keep adults out of their playland.

What makes this sound like "bitter employee efforts to keep adults out of their playland"?
The "keeping game nights", which normally are made up of adults and not children?
The 3 or 4 rules which can basically be attributed to "wanting people to manage themselves while in public and behave like adults"?

Like I said. Some shops are going to have to enforce some rules while others might not.
If Mikhaila had to implement these rules at one of his two shops because Customer X started spilling the chili all over people's models, and Customer X then starts going to Mikhaila's other shop--if Mikhaila doesn't have the same rules going at both sites, Customer X can claim that he's being "unfairly prosecuted" with these rules because he can't stop spilling the chili.

By having the rules being handed down by corporate(or Mikhaila, as in the example), and doing the rules in a generic way--no one can claim that they're being unfairly persecuted. While it's not like people will be bringing lawsuits against them, it still doesn't hurt to cover your bum.

GW doesn't come near making their customers feel like a king, maybe a serf, not a king


and I stick by my point. Great companies make their customers feel like a KING. A feeling can not be real, just felt if you get my point.

cmjs123 wrote:well this thread certainly has got some attention!

one positive thing i have found from this is that it is nto being enforced across all stores, i can understand how the rules should be there if there is need for them to be enforced, however a group of regular thursday night gamers who are all friends and used to come down interact with staff buy products do hobby etc have all been chased away by these rules being enforced in situations where it is not neccessary. it seems to be certain members of staff enforcing the rules, and even speaking to other members of staff like rubbish.

I think an email to head office just to bring their attention to it may be in order. on an adults veteran gaming night should be a little more laid back as from my experience there has never been any problems.

See, here's where the problem comes up I think cmjs.

"On an adults veteran gaming night" it should be a little more laid back...unless those people are, in fact, causing problems.

i have been going to this store on a weekly basis for years, i am usually one fo the first ones there, and in all the years i have been there, there has never been any problems, so is there really any need to enforce these rules so strictly???

Are you there every second of the day, every single game?

The idea that it's an employee having a power trip isn't entirely unheard of--but it's also not unheard of for management at game shops to have to enforce rules that seem unfair because of the behavior of its patrons.

i do understand that point completely, but should it be applied to every customer? who never cause any problems and respect the shop. you would think the veterans night would be an exception, with all the members being regulars and have been for many years. who have never caused problems on the gaming night

Of course it should be applied to every customer.

Once you start giving special exemptions, you start having problems.

cmjs123 wrote:

Dracheous wrote:
What you just said, is exactly the same as me saying "You're not allowed to use Failcast."

im not quite sure what you mean by this? the hit and miss quality of finecast is similar to nurgle? lol

No, it was coming down to the banning an entire line of models that are GW approved. GW owns FW; FW is licensed to produce Warhammer 40k models. Many
models have legal representation in GW codex books; but I will agree that Imperial Armor models ((ones that have no reference in GW Codex, ie. Death Krieg))
would be painfully complex to a completely new player. However, even Imperial Armor books say that both players have to agree to playing models from IA, thus
against a new player such a rule makes sense, but two vets duking it out with the dice should be MORE than welcome to have GW licensed and OWNED FW
products in store.

Admitingly I was hung up on the first part of your statement involving the "new player". Which really just boiled down to ruling out an entire line of models because
the rules might be too complex; even though all those models have legit rules in the Codex ((as many FW models do as well)).

Where I find the problem comes up is that the rule is worded as "You're not allowed to use Forge World models".

Every time I've heard this rule cited, it's been "You're not allowed to use Forge World lists".
There's a big difference between these two.

For example: there's never been any issue with using Elysians or Death Korps models as a "standard" Codex Imperial Guard army.
It's when you want to do the lists from their respective books that a problem comes up.

Ah Kanluwen..

The OP's post has given several points regarding customer services any of which, if even half true, would have any self respecting customer services or training manager lined up against a wall and shot. Any single one of those points (barring perhaps the food issue, or H&S with chairs lying about the place) is indefensible in terms of providing a service to customers.

Now I've worked in a GW, and in an Independent, so I can attest to the 'hangers on' who just come in and laze about and never buy anything. But there is a difference between making sure those customers (because occasionally they do buy something!) don't get in the way or interfere with paying customers, and enacting draconian laws, some of which have or completely counter-intuitive and make no sense whatsoever.

Not being able to play specialist games in stores, the switch to one man stores, any one of the original list in the OP (if they are in fact a corporate decision) is a good reason to stay away from the GW store. One of the big attractions of a GW store, the reason it always had a unique place on the highstreet and provided so many of us with hours of enjoyment in our childhoods, is the kind of environment it creates in store. By enacting some of those policies, with so many 'keep off the lawn' signs it is essentially hamstringing their purpose.

There are many good reason people will choose Mikhalia's store over GW. Despite what pretentious gaff they might come up with in terms of how they envisage their high street presence, ultimately the most basic rules of making a sale is to treat your customers well. If points 1-4 in that list are indeed company wide policy (they certainly weren't when I worked there, although that was some time ago now) then you would have to deeply question the decision making processes at the top.

Pacific wrote:Ah Kanluwen..

The OP's post has given several points regarding customer services any of which, if even half true, would have any self respecting customer services or training manager lined up against a wall and shot. Any single one of those points (barring perhaps the food issue, or H&S with chairs lying about the place) is indefensible in terms of providing a service to customers.

While providing a service to customers is fine and dandy, letting customers walk roughshod over you is the fastest way to going broke.

Now I've worked in a GW, and in an Independent, so I can attest to the 'hangers on' who just come in and laze about and never buy anything. But there is a difference between making sure those customers (because occasionally they do buy something!) don't get in the way or interfere with paying customers, and enacting draconian laws, some of which have or completely counter-intuitive and make no sense whatsoever.

You're right on this regard, but they only "make no sense whatsoever" when we're looking at it from the outside.

Not being able to play specialist games in stores, the switch to one man stores, any one of the original list in the OP (if they are in fact a corporate decision) is a good reason to stay away from the GW store. One of the big attractions of a GW store, the reason it always had a unique place on the highstreet and provided so many of us with hours of enjoyment in our childhoods, is the kind of environment it creates in store. By enacting some of those policies, with so many 'keep off the lawn' signs it is essentially hamstringing their purpose.

Except there's not a one of those that comes across to me as some kind of "Keep off the Lawn" signs. They're pretty dang common rules for gaming stores, even if they're just a kind of "unspoken agreement" between the customers of the shop.

There are many good reason people will choose Mikhalia's store over GW.

Most likely because he's in the United States, where we don't have much in the way of actual Games Workshop store presences.
Looking at GW's storefinder, there is all of one within Pennsylvania--and it doesn't look to be that close.

Despite what pretentious gaff they might come up with in terms of how they envisage their high street presence, ultimately the most basic rules of making a sale is to treat your customers well. If points 1-4 in that list are indeed company wide policy (they certainly weren't when I worked there, although that was some time ago now) then you would have to deeply question the decision making processes at the top.

Except again, it comes down to discretionary powers on the part of the manager/employees.

They know their customer base far better than you or I do. We're getting one side of the story. I'm not saying one side is right or wrong, I'm simply saying that we don't have enough to go hollering to GW to toss this manager out or to give him a bonus for dealing with ridiculous circumstances.

I find it ridiculous that people will toss accusations like "what a douchebag" or implying the manager's a jerk without knowing the full circumstances. Simply because the person is not here to defend themselves means that these kinds of threads should be treated in a far less "OMG THIS CLEARLY HAPPENED!!!" manner and that people need to realize that both sides do have a story to tell, and we're only getting one side's story.

Edit was to add a comment to the second point.

Still begs the question why on earth would anyone game at a store in the first place?

People that say they have no other options because of lack of terrain or boards are being cheap for the cost of a Rhino you can have a textured board and ruins take all of 5 seconds to make.

Can't speak for everyone, but when I game it's at a store.

It has nothing to do with "lack of terrain or boards"--but has everything to do with locations.

The closest players to me are a few hours away. The store we play at is a centralized location for us to meet at and play at, and if we plan our purchases/gaming we can usually arrange it so that we're going in there and buying a decent amount of stuff(whether it be army books, paints, whatever) when we play so we're also supporting the shop that let us play there.

Good points Kanluwen, I agree with you entirely about not taking the OP at face value, ganging up on evil GW while said manager is not posting on here to defend himself.

Looking at these points again from the OP, I think these are the strongest ones (although 1 and 5-6 would have a case for them in specific circumstances).

2 - this one i think is absolutely outrageous, topic of conversation, has to be about hobby and nothing else. i can understand if the conversation could be offensive to others, however if two friends were just discussing a program they saw on TV the other night for example, surely that should not be against the store rules?? i experienced this today when two regulars were told to stop their conversation because it was not hobby related. what right do people have to choose what topic of conversation you have with a friend??
3 - no watching others play games! why the hell not! as long as you are not interfering i dont see a problem with this.
4 - no forge world models! i mean wth! they sell imperial armour books and i have seen posters displaying forgeworld models (apocalypse posters for example)

If any one of these is true it would stop me, and I think most people, from ever visiting the store again. If I felt strongly enough about it, I would most likely write a letter or at least drop a line to HQ.

But we don't know the exact circumstances surrounding it. As I said, I've worked in a store and I know full well the frustrations of having a store full of kids pratting around and abusing the hospitality. I always used to be more diplomatic (and I think they more understanding) so that I didn't often have to say "don't drop chips all over the table" or kicking people out of the store altogether. On the few occasions it did happen, they were kids that had come in every day and knew what they had done wrong, and generally took it in good cheer.

That being said I can see there being a problem is those points above are company policy and sent down from HQ. Like I said, it is the responsibility of the Manager to make a comfortable environment for customers, and all of those points, if used carte-blanche, are counter-intuitive.

From observations at my (several) local GWS and chats with managers;

cmjs123 wrote:Im not sure if it is just my store or have all stores experienced similar things...

rules that just dont suit a so called "friendly local gaming club"

Remember that GWs aren't actually 'gaming clubs'. They run gaming nights to generate a good atmosphere and to promote sales.

cmjs123 wrote:
1 - no sitting on stools unless you are doing some hobby, even if you are the only one in the store! staff tell people to stand up straight away and have even plled stools from underneath people!

Pulling out stools is crazy and shouldn't be done of course- I would have a polite word with the manager about health and safety...
Still, this is fairly normal- if you're in a GW you kinda need to be doing something other than just sitting around on stools chatting. My local store always asks that customers be doing something 'productive and hobby related' while in the store, which is reasonable.
Sitting on a stool while gaming is a justafiable no-no. Stores are small and sitting at a table just blocks passage. also quite lazy ;o)
My local manager is happy for those with leg or back problems to sit.

cmjs123 wrote:
2 - this one i think is absolutely outrageous, topic of conversation, has to be about hobby and nothing else. i can understand if the conversation could be offensive to others, however if two friends were just discussing a program they saw on TV the other night for example, surely that should not be against the store rules?? i experienced this today when two regulars were told to stop their conversation because it was not hobby related. what right do people have to choose what topic of conversation you have with a friend??

It seems reasonable to want talk in a GW to revolve around GW but it shouldn't need to be put across like that. Locally the manager usually steers convos back to the GW hobby but is happy to talk about other stuff- recently a few guys were discussing Gears of War 3. After 5-10 mins the manager mused on whether the characters would be tough enough for the Imperial Guard and which characters or models you would use to represent them. This led to almost an hours discussion and 1 regular bought some Guard models to start converting.

cmjs123 wrote:
3 - no watching others play games! why the hell not! as long as you are not interfering i dont see a problem with this.

Some gamers don't like being watched. Sometimes there's not space. Sometimes people will stay in a store for hours just "watching games". It goes back to being productive while in store again- mooching around watching games isn't really doing anything or adding to the store in any way. Break away from your painting to watch an exciting part of a game or check out a particular rule scenario you're unclear on by all means.

cmjs123 wrote:
4 - no forge world models! i mean wth! they sell imperial armour books and i have seen posters displaying forgeworld models (apocalypse posters for example)

Odd. Don't get this one. But I've just checked Brighton's FB page and there's a discussion there where the manager apologises and says it's ok to use them. Personally I don't mind seeing FW stuff at my local store as long as the guy has brought the correct rules and doesn't just spring crazy big tanks on me..!

cmjs123 wrote:
5 - no food or drink, i can understand food to a certain extent, but drink? you are not even allowed a sip of water from a bottle, you have to go outside to do so.

Local allows drinks in bottles that can be sealed- otherwise no food or drink in open topped containers. Makes sense to me- I wouldn't want to have to clean up spills or rubbish, or have the store smelling of food..

cmjs123 wrote:
6 - no use of store tape measures, dice or templates, incase they need them for an intro, im not being funny but they have all the time in the world to do intros during the normal working hours.

Would you turn up to a game without your army? Then why would you turn up without everything else you need to play a game..?
Gaming nights are 'normal working hours' for GW stores...

cmjs123 wrote:
they seem to be so focused on grabbing new customers rather than valuing their regular and loyal customers, even on a gaming night! where one odd stray may come in and after some persuasion try an intro game. we are only allowed to use two of the four tables, as they have to have two tables free for 40k and fantasy.

our gaming night at my local store used to be relaxed and enjoyable, the doors would be shut at 6 o clock and only be open to the gaming club, we were even allowed to use the staff toilet ( regulars who the staff trusted) but lately there have been so many rules introduced via orders from head office so ive heard. all the staff from these times have quite rapidly dissapeared, and i dont blame them

New customers are pretty important- they're the main reason GW stores exist...

I would presume from the information that you provided that prvious staff ran the gaming noght badly and non-productively. They pleased the regulars too much without challenging them. The new staff have tried to take control of that and do things in the right way- unfortunately they seem heavy handed in their application.

These kind of 'rules' have been in place in all the GWs I've gamed at over the past few years- old staff obviously didn't enforce anything- new staff are a bit zealous in enforcing them.

Best bet is to have a chat with the manager. Show you understand why the rules are there and that you think maybe he's enforcing them in the wrong way.

I used to attend the brighton store and have experienced all these and worse, i was once asked to leave for having unpainted models on the table! i have since stopped going to GW stores for these reasons simply because it dosnt create a friendly enjoyable atmosphere.

I also don't like the stupidity of the kids at my GW.