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Yeah I think this is a classic case of someone bitching after being spoiled.

You aren't entitled to the store glue because you are abusing their generosity. Pretty obvious to me at least..

I'm all for house paints and glues should be there to allow introductory modelling. But if you are an established gamer you should be providing your own.

That being said my last visit to a GW store I was introducing my nephew to the hobby. He bought some GW Scouts and we were assembling them in store, with store glue. I was using store clippers. I wanted to teach hom about filing mould lines but there wasn't any store files. I asked the question...

"We don't have any files out now because they jsut kept getting stolen and once the other tools have been stolen we won't be replacing them" says the GW guy. Fair enough, so I just bought a set for my nephew.

I think the part where they state that the employee says that he never brings his own stuff means that they're likely assembling their figures with the use of tools at the store. This I don't believe is right, you should buy your own tools for use. If you need the occasional use of glue for touchup, then that's fine but your store would have to allow that.

For those that mention that even though we shouldn't be yelling "entitlement" and that the store could stand to offer those tools for use by customers, first consider how many people go through the store, hang out, and may use those tools. It's not your home, it's a business with customers constantly coming through. Any business can't stand to survive if all of their customers begin to expect the use of such things for free. Not everyone's going to be like you either, some people may not go easy on the glue, some people can manage some way to destroy some clippers. Every day of the week, hundreds of customers, you're constantly replacing just to keep up with the use. For introductory, dipping your toes into the hobby stuff, then that might be fine.
Like everyone else says, if you don't like the price, you can find cheaper elsewhere.

Jacko4smackos wrote:This particular staff member at my local GW store has "banned" me from borrowing any of the GW tools (clippers, glue etc)

The ban was on the basis of "you never bring your own stuff". However, most of the other staff are quite lenient with lending me the GW tools. I mean if I am already paying loads of dollars for finecast goods, surely using some super glue is not out of line is it?

What's your opinion? Should I double check with the manager if this is a legit ban or if the staff member in questiondiscriminates against me cos I'm Asian or something

I think it means you should get a job.

My FLGS had a 'box o' stuff' you could rent for 5 bucks. Any unwanted paints, half broken tools, basing supplies and the unwanted bits were chucked in. If you rented it, he asked you make a donation.

It was pretty sweet, TBH. We got a ton of cool stuff for 5 bucks. And sometimes, you'd get some half used glue containers.

But he never lent out store supplies. If you asked, he'd mention the box.

Chaos is begin to grow...

Probably cuz I'm Asian.

The GW staff had given me no previous warning, just a straight up "your now banned from using our stuff". So be it,

It's alright I'll just bring in my P3 privateer press glue. Apparently staff members have an average value per transaction KPI they have to meet. I could buy individual pots of paint one at a time...

I agree, buy some glue.

Jacko4smackos wrote:The GW staff had given me no previous warning, just a straight up "your now banned from using our stuff". So be it,

It's alright I'll just bring in my P3 privateer press glue. Apparently staff members have an average value per transaction KPI they have to meet. I could buy individual pots of paint one at a time...

You were taking advantage of their generosity and they cut you off. They weren't under any obligation to warn you, and it's not your stuff, it's their stuff, they can let whoever they want use it.

And your mature, intelligent response is to bring third-party products into the store and mess with their KPI.

You are clearly a gentleman and a scholar. Don't be surprised if they just throw you out of the store.

Never thought I'd see the day where I was defending a GW Shop.

curran12 wrote:

Eilif wrote:

Overall, while I'll agree that no one is entitled to any products for free, I see it as just another sign of GW's backwardness that they both increase their prices and pare back their perks.

Seriously? By not giving out free modeling/assembly tools and materials they are backward? Jeez, how entitled can you get.

he has a point just badly put, if he means to say that we used to have more acess to certain items on a free basis and since price increases they have lowered or stopped acess to certain items on a free basis, then he would prefure they went back to the old way of buisness, then fair enough, but demanding acess to free stuff like you deserve it is a douchy thing.

GW brick and mortar stores can benefit financially from your presence in the shop, practicing "the hobby." It therefore behooves GW to encourage you to come to the store to do so. This is not to say that the OP is right or wrong, but in many circumstances I think it would be beneficial for GW stores to allow customers to use glue, clippers, etc. while they are in the store, within reason, of course. Now, where one draws the line of reasonable is largely a matter of preference and depends a great deal on the specific circumstances.

But generally speaking, yea, GW should spot customers some glue and have tools on hand for their use.

curran12 wrote:

Eilif wrote:

Overall, while I'll agree that no one is entitled to any products for free, I see it as just another sign of GW's backwardness that they both increase their prices and pare back their perks.

Seriously? By not giving out free modeling/assembly tools and materials they are backward? Jeez, how entitled can you get.

Before handing out insults, please read my message more carefully.

I'm did not saying I'm entitled to anything. I just pointed out that it's a vary odd business practice to increase the prices you charge your customers and at the same time giving them less.

GW gets away with it because they have a fairly captive audience. However, In most other businesses, when you raise your prices you add perks and when you take away perks you attract people by lowering your prices.

Also, entitlement is a pretty strong word, but I'd not at all be surprised if a kid who started the hobby around 2003 hearing "come on in to the bunker, you can buy here and we provide paints and glue at the paints table" might be disappointed in 2006 when the prices have gone up twice and the free paint and glue are now gone.

Regardless of whether it was a false expectation, or GW couldn't afford it, or too many people took advantage , etc, etc, the fact is that often:

Pay more + Get less = Disappointed Customer

Why in hell's name should he not have free glue to assemble his models? it's not like the store sells it or anything.

Whilst you're at it, open up that box of Space Marines, take that one meltagun arm you need. Won't need to sell that box in future.

Feel free to use our store codex, rulebooks, dice and templates for your games too. We have no interest in selling them to you, they're just there for display.

Moral of the story, Asian guys deserve free stuff.

GW have started doing this in their stores here.

No longer allowing "free" use of store paints, glues and tools.
You have to buy your own in order to use their "modelling" table.

It was one of a raft of changes being slowly dribbled in. Their aim is to alienate the "veterans" in order to scalp more noobs.

So, asking people to not be bums and to buy their own supplies is now considered alienating the vets? You do realize that those supplies are not free, right? And the "vets" should have their own supplies anyway.

I don't assemble paint at my FLGS or at the local GW. I don't feel entitled to use glue or supplies at either store either.

If I were a shop owner/manager, I'd gladly offer the use of store tools and glue for customers who purchased a model. The five cents worth of glue I give you is a drop in the bicket compared to the twenty dollars you just spent on a finecast blister. I think it would just make good business sense as it would promote good will between venue and customer and net return sales.

helium42 wrote:I don't assemble paint at my FLGS or at the local GW. I don't feel entitled to use glue or supplies at either store either.

If I were a shop owner/manager, I'd gladly offer the use of store tools and glue for customers who purchased a model. The five cents worth of glue I give you is a drop in the bicket compared to the twenty dollars you just spent on a finecast blister. I think it would just make good business sense as it would promote good will between venue and customer and net return sales.

Except when you realize that 5 cents per customer can quickly spiral to hundreds of dollars very quickly. I'm not saying that I disagree with your reasoning, as I would love to cater to my loyal customers, too, but in today's economy, keeping that bottom line is becoming increasingly difficult. Games like 40k are a luxury, and in a dwindling economy, the first things to take a hit are typically luxuries. Okay, so maybe one store giving away free glue/supplies to the tune of spending about, let's say, $500 a year isn't going to hurt GW's bottom line...but now you multiply it by a hundred stores, and you now have $50,000 worth of superglue/supplies given away per year, and that definitely hurts GW's bottom line, as their company only earns in the low millions each year. It would be interesting, however, to see exactly how much money it cost the average hobby center to support giving free paint/supplies to their customers. Any store owners out there wanna bite?

How about all the moochers get together, make their own club, stock their own supplies to pool them together, and then let people come into their club to use the tools they paid for. Put your money where your entitlement is and operate your own charity hobby center.

How much is it worth GW to have customers in their stores reading, assembling, painting, and playing? Why does GW spend money on gaming tables? Why does GW pay to print posters for shops to put up in windows or on walls?

GW wants customers in its stores. I think it is unreasonable to essentially provide all of the glue a customer requires for free, but having limited quantities of supplies available to customers is potentially beneficial.

I would never expect my FLGS to have materials on hand for customer use. If it did, that would be nice, but a GW Hobby Center is a different story. I sympathize with the managers of said hobby centers, but if I am in a GW store playing a GW game surrounded by nothing but GW products...I am advertising for GW. I would personally be offended if GW denied me something reasonable on the basis of GW's bottom line while I was participating the "the hobby" at a GW Hobby Center.

Don't disagree that the stores should have some basic supplies for the players, but don't abuse a privilege...

xole wrote:

Your post office makes you tape your own boxes? Mine just do it for me.

But I agree with everyone. Buy your own glue, it's not that hard. While I may not be a proponent of GW in the slightest, I don't think we need another hate thread for them over the most trivial things.

Yes. Because its just like milkaha has said- it went from being generousand helping you to being hassled to use their tape to tape up boxes because they were entitled. Its the exact same thing.

I'm 100% Jewish, and yes we do fit some stereotypes. I dont like to buy more than a box a month, heck Im always making food at home so I rarely eat out, but temptation happens a lot because of sales, new releases, NEEDING MY OWN TOOLS. Even I know to bring in my own "tools" to the shops. Once in awhile using store tools is fine, but mooching and leeching all that glue and paint and clippers when your a local....do you see where I'm going?

carmachu wrote: Post offices dont let you borrow tape to seal your box, they make you buy tape. To build your models, buy glue, its not that expensive.

That was maybe a bad example Several times I've taken a box to the PO in an emergency and either had to reopen it, or couldn't find packing tape; and they actually keep packing tape right at the counter and have never batted an eye at lending it to me. Maybe I'm just Robert, though.

Speaking of Robert;

Shotgun wrote:One day, Robert bought a rhino, and told the guy working the counter he had forgotten his glue at home and asked to borrow the house glue to assemble it and use it in a game. While I was there and saw it, I wasn't working and didn't say anything...it was Robert after all.

Next week, Robert needs a razorback. Purchases the kit...forgot the glue. No biggie, it is Robert.

If I ran a store and someone came in, rang up a $35 purchase I'd have no problem letting them use 40 cents worth of superglue to assemble it in the store. As a matter of fact, I'd probably be willing to let them use the superglue every single time they bought a model so long as I rang up the model before I lent out the glue. Obviously Robert went... a little further; and no one is entitled to free superglue; but a policy of "house glue for paying customers" just seems like good business to me until you run into abusers.

Disclaimer, I don't have a FLGS and have only been to a single gee-dubs once a single time, so I don't know if the above is already policy or nor.


edit 3x, man I can't spell this morning

Liek others have said, its a business. I you always bring your own stuff and happen to forget something fine. Me if I ran out of glue Id just buy more I'd need it anyway.

Jacko4smackos wrote:The GW staff had given me no previous warning, just a straight up "your now banned from using our stuff". So be it,

It's alright I'll just bring in my P3 privateer press glue. Apparently staff members have an average value per transaction KPI they have to meet. I could buy individual pots of paint one at a time...

While you are at it, buying the paint one pot at a time, buy some glue....

Another -glorious- thread.

Really, just buy some glue and get over it. They aren't alienating vets or anything, it just sounds like you took advantage of the store tools and supplies.

Im sure its cause your asian!

You should walk in there and go Bruce Lee on his arse!

or drive over him.. asians are good at that =]


But seriously... Just because you pay for a product does not mean you should be entitled to free stuff.

In the case of GW i am right there with you that its a nice gesture to allow you to use their tools since you are in the store, but thats simply a curteous thing and not an expectation.

We have a paint bar at our GW here and its very nice for the odd color you may need just a few drops of for an accent color, but we all make sure to donate a buck or two every time we use it. Otherwise when we are at the modelling table we are expected to have our own tools and supplies, and if you have something that someone could use, we offer it up because one day we may need that razor saw or pair of clippers in return.

Moral of the story? Don't take advantage of a good thing, or else it will be gone before you realize what you had.

We have a communal PC and printer at our FLGS so that you can use Army Builder if you don't have a list ready. We always throw in a buck for ink when we use it.