Troubles with Manager

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**jmurph**

joseph_curwen wrote:
It is illegal in the state of Colorado to offer (or accept) a fee for testifying in a court of law.

Be careful playing lawyer. There is a whole section dealing with witness fees and expert witnesses. I don't know Colorado law, but it is not unusual for testifying experts in depositions and trials to receive fees. Additionally, it is common to allow some form of fixed witness fee (generally designed to cover nominal travel expense).

**Illumini**

Claiming that ALL your miniatures are broken beyond repair because some swords and other light parts are broken, and then also trying to claim an extra 2.500 for painting seems very greedy. Sure, insurance companies can sometimes be terrible organisations, but in this case, your claim just seems like an outrageous cash-grab.

Good luck getting over your depression though, mental conditions are serious illnesses, so get help and always focus on healing yourself.

**Frazzled**

Spoiler:

Elric Greywolf wrote:
So I recently had a problem with a GW store manager. Here's what happened. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

I was recently asked to not play at my local GW shop. I have always been a valiant supporter of 40k and the model hobby, and while I intellectually know that his behaviour is not condoned by GW, emotionally this has shaken my like of the company. If this is how immaturely managers act, then what's next?

The setup to this situation started a few weeks ago. I had a smalls claims case about my models--they were damaged in a car accident (other driver's fault) and insurance was unwilling to replace my models.

Three weeks before the court date, 24 June, I asked the local GW manager if he would be willing to testify as to the valuation of my models and their paint job as a sort of "expert witness."

"Sure thing," he said. "It's my day off."

"It's kinda far away," I said. "Are you sure you can drive that far?"

"No problem, I'll be there," he said.

A week before court, Monday 10 July, I emailed him all the relevant info: what questions I'd ask, what models I needed replaced, court address, expression of gratitude for his help, etc. Below is a copy of the messages we exchanged:

ME:
Hey [Manager], regarding the court date for my models: It's Monday, [date].
I'll be arguing that the insurance company needs to pay to replace my models, which I consider to be broken beyond repair.
I'll ask you whether you, as a model-company employee, would agree that my models cannot be repaired. I've got pics of the damage if you'd like to see, but basically it's because the broken pieces are swords, ankles, horns, and other bits that are too small to glue back together.
I'll also ask whether glueing pieces that have previously broken keeps them as secure, or if repairs weaken the piece and make them prone to breaking again in the future.
I'll ask if the pricing on replacement models is correct (see below for list of models).
I'll ask if you think the professional painting prices I've quoted are reasonable, based on getting my models back to where I had them. (ie. does the price quoted reflect my own painting level.)
Here's the address of the court: ___________.
Please be there at 9am. I'll buy you lunch after or next time I'm in the shop!
2x Lords of Change
1x Soul Grinder
1x SM Librarian
1x SM Terminator Librarian
2x Inquisition Crusaders
10x Temple Flameguard (thsee are Warmahordes models, but comparable to GW)
2x Inquisition Death Cult Assassins
3x Grey Knight Dreadknights
2x Mechanicus Kataphrons
1x Mechanicus Tech-Priest
1x Eldar Autarch with Wings
5x Grey Knight Purifiers
1x Daemon Prince
1x Valkyrie
1x Land Raider
5x SM Sternguard
20x Bloodletters
20x Daemonettes
9x Tzeentch Screamers
10x Slaanesh Seekers
1x Slaanesh Lord on Mount
= $1432

MANAGER:
Sorry, dude - I forgot all about it and have plans with my girl to go [on holiday] next Monday.

ME:
Well it's like $4000 on the line for me, can I pay you to witness?

MANAGER:
I'm afraid not - my integrity has already taken a recent hit by mixing business and personal, I've got to fly straight.
Sorry for forgetting, but it is unwise for me to get involved presently.

ME:
Wow, [Manager], I wish you would've told me this beforehand.
I also wouldn't count being an "expert witness" for a trial regarding the value of miniatures as anything EXCEPT strictly business.
This is really going to screw me over, and I was definitely counting on your promised help. I can't believe you'd do this to anyone.

MANAGER:
I apologized for forgetting, but if I'm such an integral part of your case, why are you just now getting back in touch with me regarding it? Don't try to guilt trip me for a second. I month ago I said sure, I never said I promised anything.
You act SO betrayed - "Can't believe I'd do this to anyone" ? What did I do exactly? Remind me, when is the last time you did a massive favor for me or my store? Or even a small favor?
You're right, I'm a stand up guy and almost always do what I say. The almost being when the person wants me jeopardize my integrity, the very thing that makes me dependable in the first place.
Final words: The size of your favor is reserved for only my closest of friends, and you didn't buy those models from me. That's the personal and the business.

ME:
No, [Manager], I didn't buy those models from you. That's because I bought them before [your shop] was open. I've been incredibly poor this past year, mostly from being unemployed and dealing with clinical depression. This was my big chance to get my hobby back on track. Your testimony would have cinched that for me.
Testifying in a court case about the value of GW models...I have no idea how that would ever jeopardize your integrity.
Regarding favors, I've offered, several times, to cover shifts for you at the shop. Every weekend I'm in there, I offer to buy you a drink. I talk up [your shop] every chance I get, and encourage people to come check it out and play and buy models. Those are the only things I can think of that I can do for you, since we don't have a relationship outside the shop.
But I won't mention it again.

MANAGER:
Then don't.
I'm being nice and patient right now, don't push it a bit.

It was unpleasant, and very disappointing that he had broken his word. His responses were very defensive, very self-righteous, and overall very over-the-top compared to my messages. Plus I had $4000 riding on this, a huge chunk of money invested in my favourite hobby.

Furthermore, his messages to me, in addition to his past behaviour towards me, made it abundantly clear that he does not want to be my friend, and that he thinks of me only in terms of favours, ie. what he can get out of me. It is not a good feeling, to have a year's worth of cordiality and like turned nasty and mean.

Sad and disappointing though it was, I thought that would be the end of it.

Friday afternoon I came to the shop to look for a game. When I showed up, no one else was inside, so I sat outside at a cafe and read my book, waiting for someone to come in ready to play.
After about an hour (slow game day I suppose), the manager came outside to go to lunch. I took out a headphone to greet him, and he immediately ripped into me. He said it was "unmanly" to sit outside. He said he didn't want me in his shop, and he said he felt sorry for pathetic people
"Are you calling me pathetic?" I asked.
"I am looking at a pathetic person," he answered, staring me in the eye. "I don't want you in the store today, and I don't want to see you this weekend."

In the end of all this, I have made a resolution: I will never again buy a model from that GW shop, and I will never recommend anyone else to do so either. In fact, I will, at all opportunities, tell others about the money savings on GW products that can be had at different shops in town.

You sound like a stalker. Get your gak together.