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There is a GW store that opened recently near me. The person who runs it is very nice.

But it doesn't open until 12 pm on Saturday. And the employee takes a lunch between 3 pm and 4 pm at which point the store is closed for an hour. And it's not open on Sunday at all.

Sure, it's open Tues-Fri., but most people work Mon. -Fri.

Wouldn't it make more sense to be open Friday - Sunday and closed Mon- Thursday?

Why does he eat lunch Oo Out GW has two employees, but they seem to be on holidays every second month, so this leaves one person to run the store from 11am to 7pm and 11am to 9pm on fridays. No breaks, always fun. Granted, sometimes we bring him lunch, but he still works.

 Trade_Prince wrote:
Why does he eat lunch Oo Out GW has two employees, but they seem to be on holidays every second month, so this leaves one person to run the store from 11am to 7pm and 11am to 9pm on fridays. No breaks, always fun. Granted, sometimes we bring him lunch, but he still works.

Probably has to do with US/state labor laws.

Lunch break laws can be very strict about employees taking an actual break; basically to avoid lunches being a rushed affair and business ending up expecting people to "work through lunch".


As for the one man band - most of the UK stores are like this; basically running smaller outlet stores is expensive and very hard these days. In the UK most stores have gone down from 3-4 to 1 staff member to save on costs of running. Yes this means that the store is tied to some oddities, but it better than no store.

On the other hand might just be that that store hasn't yet hired a replacement (I've no idea if GW stores abroad stick to 1 employee or if they have larger staff as the area/costs suit)

In short?

GW stores aren’t there to service the gaming needs of existing customers anymore. They’re recruitment stations.

For better or worse, long gone are the mad days when as a Key Timer, I’d keep the store open until I wanted to go to bed. Fun as it was, the sales didn’t really justify the cost.

To save money and so they can call every employee a store manger without laughing.

Care to extrapolate on that last comment?

I've only been inside my local GW store once. It's not open on Tuesdays (my day off), and is closed before I get off work the other days.

Kind of a bit disappointing, as I'd love to use them for getting GW shipments.

There "Store Managers" are on the whole treated worse than most retailers keyholders.

Before the one slave stores GW we're having big problems getting actual real store managers due to there general tightness.

Someone decided To kill 2 birds with one stone and cut costs by having 1 staff member and hiring that person normally with no experience at minimum wage and calling them a Store Manager.

Outside of a few of the biggest stores the managers are glorified sales assistants who will develop very few of the skills needed to be a Manager.

I would add that I have no issues with the staff everyone needs a job, more that GW could and should treat it's staff better and should make better use of it's stores.

There is no point. It's inexcusable incompetence, and why GW stores can only succeed in the absence of good independent stores. In trying to understand GW's retail chain it's probably best to assume that they're doing the opposite of whatever makes sense. You'll be right at least 80% of the time.

One time I showed up at my local one man store, about half an hour after his lunch break was supposed to be over (as was posted on the time schedule outside) and it was closed. I wasn't going to sit around there waiting for god knows how long, I just left. But I left a note taped on the door for him saying he lost business. I never had any issues with whoever was working there at the time, it seemed like every other time I would go there it was someone new. (this store is no longer open either)

I buy everything on ebay or discount stores now, there is no point in buying from a place that doesn't support gaming and building a friendly community. Way back when the LA battle bunker was around things were good, that place would see a lot of activity. The folks who worked there were nice, sure they'd try and sell you stuff but it wasn't that bad. I know this store has been reduced in size significantly, I haven't been there since shortly before that happened though.

Game stores are open Mon-Fri for the after-school crowd - we had a couple in our town that didn't open until 2 pm. However, closing from 3 pm - 4 pm is then silly - that's when your school crowd starts rolling in.

Sunday closures (at least here in the South) are usually due to old religious habits. If you're not going to work, it's at least a day to rest. Our local store is closed Mondays however, instead of Sunday so the weekend gaming crowd has a place to play and the owners get at least a day off during the week.

And I wasn't aware GW had any retail stores still open in the US...

Always felt that having a single employee in a store aimed at teenagers is a child protection issue. How they’ve gone this long without an accusation being made, true or false, I don’t know. But ‘weird D&D type shop that sells models of demons to children’ isn’t the best place to start defending yourself, which you know is the angle some news sources would take.

The GW shop I was going to in the US (Florida) was actually open Wed-Sunday, and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. It's a 1-man shop, opened 37 hours a week, and doesn't close for lunch break. So it was pretty easy to get a game Saturday or Sunday afternoon. It still closes early (7pm), especially compared to the FLGS than open till midnight, or sometimes 2am during the weekend.
I'm now in Paris, France, and each shop has 3-4 employees minimum, but they are all closed on Sundays (because of France's regulations).
So I basically have the opposite experience than you have. This definitely has something to do with local regulations on work hours and work days, but your situation is actually not what I typically saw in the US (many small shops are open on Sundays). Out of curiosity, where is this shop located?

As someone who has recently got back into the hobby after nearly 20 years off I did wonder why I only saw the same guy at my local store So they are running with just a single person in the shop?

Saying that, the guy who runs my local store is great. Always has a good chat and helps pick stuff out and seems genuinely grateful for doing online orders through the store.

I remember the days of having 3 or 4 staff on a Saturday working in a store roughly the same size (about a quarter of a mile down the road from the new one). It was also open 7 days a week and had game nights twice a week. Now it's open 5 days a week (Monday and Tuesday it's closed) and there's only one game night. I suppose it doesn't make much difference to someone like me who is aware of the opening times and just potters down there every so often for paint and the odd online order, but it must be annoying for people more pressed for time.

 Peregrine wrote:
There is no point. It's inexcusable incompetence, and why GW stores can only succeed in the absence of good independent stores. In trying to understand GW's retail chain it's probably best to assume that they're doing the opposite of whatever makes sense. You'll be right at least 80% of the time.

One of the many reasons GW is virtually extinct in my area, their 1 tiny broomcloset of a store that is relying heavily on 1 guy to run it. WE have lots of great local stores, who mostly wont bother to carry GW stuff and they are all doing much better. I would not be surprised to see GW simply fold here and not bother.

 Howard A Treesong wrote:
Always felt that having a single employee in a store aimed at teenagers is a child protection issue. How they’ve gone this long without an accusation being made, true or false, I don’t know. But ‘weird D&D type shop that sells models of demons to children’ isn’t the best place to start defending yourself, which you know is the angle some news sources would take.

I would assume that they make their employees go through a basic DBS check. If not, that is a bit worrying.

 Ketara wrote:

 Howard A Treesong wrote:
Always felt that having a single employee in a store aimed at teenagers is a child protection issue. How they’ve gone this long without an accusation being made, true or false, I don’t know. But ‘weird D&D type shop that sells models of demons to children’ isn’t the best place to start defending yourself, which you know is the angle some news sources would take.

I would assume that they make their employees go through a basic DBS check. If not, that is a bit worrying.

Also there's loads of retail outlets that work with only one or two staffers. In fact many small shops have only one person serving at any one time; there just isn't the demand for more than one person to work there.

SeanDrake wrote:There "Store Managers" are on the whole treated worse than most retailers keyholders.

Before the one slave stores GW we're having big problems getting actual real store managers due to there general tightness.

Someone decided To kill 2 birds with one stone and cut costs by having 1 staff member and hiring that person normally with no experience at minimum wage and calling them a Store Manager.

Outside of a few of the biggest stores the managers are glorified sales assistants who will develop very few of the skills needed to be a Manager.

I would add that I have no issues with the staff everyone needs a job, more that GW could and should treat it's staff better and should make better use of it's stores.

I'm going to need to see your working here I'm afraid champ. The same development opportunities are available for all employees, and store employees are constantly encouraged to show ingenuity for painting competitions, tournaments, weekend activities etc. It's not minimum wage either. It's personally less that what I would take to work there, but I know a few that do, or have, and your informed opinion seems to be ill.

Peregrine wrote:There is no point. It's inexcusable incompetence, and why GW stores can only succeed in the absence of good independent stores. In trying to understand GW's retail chain it's probably best to assume that they're doing the opposite of whatever makes sense. You'll be right at least 80% of the time.

They exist in places where the average parent with enthusiastic child can interact. There are independent stores in Manchester, including one of the best in the UK. You see that Arndale centre one shutting? It's making great profits.

We have two FLGS stores in Lincoln, 2.5 if you count the GGG/Comic store that stocks them. The lincs store hasn't gone anywhere at all for years.

They are a friendly POC for younger players. GW use them very well. As soon as you become savvy with the hobby, you will end up in a FLGS, or buying online and going to a local club. But they remain a gateway to the hobby.

Thebiggesthat wrote:
The same development opportunities are available for all employees, and store employees are constantly encouraged to show ingenuity for painting competitions, tournaments, weekend activities etc.

Having a painting contest is not the kind of employee development they are talking about. Relevant employee development is something you can put on your resume when you're looking for a better job: being an actual manager and in charge of people. That requires and demonstrates responsibility, leadership, etc. A GW "manager" is not managing anything, and has no way to ever be more than just a low-level retail worker. At the end of the day it's no more impressive than working as a cashier at any other retail store.

They exist in places where the average parent with enthusiastic child can interact.

Why can't this happen at a non-GW store? What specific advantages does a GW store have in this area? As far as I can see there aren't any, a GW store is just another retail store.

Peregrine they might not have underlings to manage but they are managing the whole store on their own. Ergo they've got stock, sales, community relations, marketing, consumer interaction, etc.... About the only thing they lack is having other staff to manage to delegate too.

 Overread wrote:
Peregrine they might not have underlings to manage but they are managing the whole store on their own. Ergo they've got stock, sales, community relations, marketing, consumer interaction, etc.... About the only thing they lack is having other staff to manage to delegate too.

In a very limited form. For example, GW sets their stock levels and provides the inventory, the "manager" just provides their transaction records to the GW system. They aren't making decisions about which products sell well or what to buy more of.

Because GW long ago decided to use stores as kiosks basically with a minor consideration to gaming, instead of actual stores. My GW is closed Monday and Tuesday (because "corporate" he says despite a newer store opening like 3 hours away that is open 7 days a week, when my store is allegedly top 10 in the US), but the manager trusts us enough that he won't shut down for lunch (he either brings lunch or one of us will offer to grab him something); I think this might be the GW that fresus is talking about above actually now that I think about it . But it has only 3 tables (two for 40k, one for AOS, however two of them are at 8x4 so you can have two small games simultaneously), no restroom access because it's by the product (which is kept in an unlocked room and not the lockable storeroom in the back for reasons).

In general, it's not awful but nowhere near great. Also while I like the manager his game knowledge is sketchy at best and seemingly nonexistent at worst and his demos consist of like barely anything, basically taking two models, rolling some dice and making up the target numbers and results and adding nonsense like the ability to "power up" or "mind control" the enemy; I have seen exactly 1 person (well, a husband/wife) come back to play the game after being given a demo and foisted a box upon; I've heard this is corporate policy to not "bog down" a new customer with the real rules, but it feels incredibly dishonest. He's a nice guy and I like talking to him, but the way GW runs the stores are awful, they need to have more employees to be open more and have more things going on (they used to have leagues/tournaments/painting days in the old days) and at least double the space that it currently has, but that costs more money that GW won't pay.

Of course, IMHO the best option is for GW to not have their own stores (at least in the US, they might be better in europe) and rely on independent game stores, but GW also feels that many independent stores are "stealing" their profits.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
GW stores aren’t there to service the gaming needs of existing customers anymore. They’re recruitment stations.

They make pretty awful recruitment stations, by both being out of the way and closed when anyone wants to visit.

They do fit the description of a destination store - their visitors are already customers making the trip specifically to the store, the people who aren't relying on impulse purchases and can go at a time that it's open.

I barely register mine is there now; it's closed at least 75% of the time I pass it (usually a Saturday/Sunday lunch time).
My FLGS has pretty spotty opening times too, but I can forgive that because it's not a big business. They usually have 2 staff at key times too, just the owner opens late a lot.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Thebiggesthat wrote:
They exist in places where the average parent with enthusiastic child can interact. There are independent stores in Manchester, including one of the best in the UK. You see that Arndale centre one shutting? It's making great profits.

Is that the one that's hidden behind the dress shop (in that it's not even visible from the main shopping centre) with the huge titan?

We went into the centre specifically to visit it, and it took us about half an hour to find it, even knowing it was there.

 Peregrine wrote:

 Overread wrote:
Peregrine they might not have underlings to manage but they are managing the whole store on their own. Ergo they've got stock, sales, community relations, marketing, consumer interaction, etc.... About the only thing they lack is having other staff to manage to delegate too.

In a very limited form. For example, GW sets their stock levels and provides the inventory, the "manager" just provides their transaction records to the GW system. They aren't making decisions about which products sell well or what to buy more of.

that's all too common even with retail in huge stores with loads of staff,

head office send stuff and the manager just has to sell it and has no ability to decide what comes in (even if customers are clamouring for something and they put in a request they may not get it)

UK stores are open Weds-Sun, 12-6.

And if a store isn't profitable, seems it gets shut down.

Now we can comment till the cows come home on this one. But ultimately, we're not GW. We don' have the same data as them to say whether it works or not.

But given they continue to roll it out.....I'd say it is working. Which is rubbish for me because it lead to my redundancy in 2010, and loss of discount!

 cuda1179 wrote:
I've only been inside my local GW store once. It's not open on Tuesdays (my day off), and is closed before I get off work the other days.

Kind of a bit disappointing, as I'd love to use them for getting GW shipments.

This happens to me all the time, we only have one in my town and it's located in an area that I have to drive out of my way to get there..

Plus, I do look for odd things (releases a few months old) Or something like containers after the release of SWA, Store stock seems to be one and done

if it isn't marines.. Or the guy isn't keeping up with stock... Just know in the past if I am looking for a certain GW thing. Odds are the GW store will not have it in stock.

Yet I can go down the road to my FLGS and find it... kind of silly that a brand store is worse stocked than a local store with less shelf area for GW product.

I do get the 15 minute sales pitch when I go in, even thought I have collected GW for 30 years; then ask item I am looking for, only to find out its out of stock but can order to ship to store.

GW needs to review about stores..
Stock
Hours
Location

Wayniac wrote:
I think this might be the GW that fresus is talking about above actually now that I think about it . But it has only 3 tables (two for 40k, one for AOS, however two of them are at 8x4 so you can have two small games simultaneously), no restroom access because it's by the product (which is kept in an unlocked room and not the lockable storeroom in the back for reasons).

Given you live in Tampa, I'm pretty sure it is

Yeah the whole point of management development is managing people .coaching. Training .growing your people so they grow your business to hit your k.p.i's one of the first things you are going to be asked when going for another management job is how many people were under you what did you do to develop them .if you turn round and say "um none but I did learn to glaze and edge highlight " what do you think they will say ?

Thebiggesthat wrote:

SeanDrake wrote:

They exist in places where the average parent with enthusiastic child can interact. There are independent stores in Manchester, including one of the best in the UK. You see that Arndale centre one shutting? It's making great profits.

Ours is in a place where that is not at all possible, its in a terrible spot near downtown. no parking, no other stores nearby, a couple restraunts and a 7-11 is about it and in a "bad" neighborhood.