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Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:What everyone is forgetting is that I did state that I didn't know what it is like in the USA

Your statement was "Oh sorry. Forgetting some people only shop for toys".

Sometimes, that's all one's local shop will actually have. "The toys".

But it cannot be beyond the wit of man to see when one is getting short of supplies to arrange things in advance.
I have a train journey and other limiting factors to contend with if I need some poly cement.
So make sure when in town I get what I need if getting low on supplies. I don't get much in the way of hobbying supplies from grocers.
A bit of simple forward planning is all that is required.

There's only so much that planning will do if the place doesn't actually have it in stock when you go, wouldn't you agree?
It's gotten to the point where I make one journey to my LGS a month, make a fairly big purchase(modelwise) and get my hobby supplies from Squadron or The Warstore. It's cheaper, I can get them in bulk, and what's more--they actually stock primer that I like and Vallejo Model Air paints.

I live out in the sticks and rely on public transport. I also have a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which buggers up my sleeping patterns and energy levels.
I haven't managed to get into the main nearest city of Sheffield since around October 2010.

If something is out of stock it is hard lines. There is always the internet as a last resort.

Maybe have lived in South Yorkshire so long that thrift has rubbed off, I don't know.
I will pay a little extra for something if it means I don't have to expend energy I don't have looking for it.
But screw paying way over the odds because it has a label on it, whatever the shopkeepers say.

We have no public transport worth mentioning here in North Carolina.

When it comes to PVA glue, you're absolutely right about it being a ripoff--but people will buy anything if you brand it properly.
When it comes to polystyrene cement or cyanoacrylate, you can actually be starved for choices.

Michael's is closing?!?!?! Please tell me it isn't true. If so, that just may be the worst news I've heard all year, including the GW price hikes in may. Michael's is where I get all of my art supplies, both for wargaming and any other art I do.

I don't know for certain if they are Guildsman, but I had 3 Michael's near me--and they've all gone under.

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:

Fact is, to people like me who work long hours and have children, time is often the most precious commodity we have. If I had to go to another store to buy the supplies I can tell you I almost certainly would have walked out with nothing.

Don't know about the USA but it is fairly easy to get a lot of the cheaper alternatives while doing a normal shopping run. Actually for me it is easier than going into Sheffield or Meadowhall to a GW store.

Try wargames emporium in orchard square.

This purchase still fills me with shame, but the very first time I went to a gaming store, I got a few paints a a bottle of Games Workshop PVA glue. It wasn't until I got home and opened it that I realized I had just paid $8 for 80 cents of Elmer's glue.

Yes its overpriced, but if they can get some fool to pay that price, then more power to them.

Buyer beware, as they say.

Ouze wrote:This purchase still fills me with shame, but the very first time I went to a gaming store, I got a few paints a a bottle of Games Workshop PVA glue. It wasn't until I got home and opened it that I realized I had just paid $8 for 80 cents of Elmer's glue.

I lucked out, I had been doing scale models before I got into miniatures so I knew that PVA is Elmer's.

Meh, our GW manager tells us where to go to get alternative supplies...

Like when he tells new purchasers they can buy it here, hangs the conversation, then tells them the place to get el cheapo supplies which are better.

mikhaila wrote:

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:

Fact is, to people like me who work long hours and have children, time is often the most precious commodity we have. If I had to go to another store to buy the supplies I can tell you I almost certainly would have walked out with nothing.

Don't know about the USA but it is fairly easy to get a lot of the cheaper alternatives while doing a normal shopping run. Actually for me it is easier than going into Sheffield or Meadowhall to a GW store.

Sure, you can run around and save some money. That's not news. His point was that for some people, they don't mind paying a bit extra if it cuts down the run around.

Convenience and one stop shopping are always appealing, and will always increase sales.

Exactly the point I was making.

I was not about to trek all over the city in Friday night rush hour traffic to find a miserable bottle of polystyrene cement so I can save a whole two dollars. I also know that PVA glue is Elmers glue, and I happen to have tons of it, so I'm set there. But you know what? If I needed it that night, I would have bought it from GW. Just to cut down on trips.

I think this is one of those things that the older folks are going to see one way, and the younger folks will see differently; and I don't mean that in a nasty way at all. It's just a different mindset. Making an extra stop at Walmart, fighting the parking lot traffic, then hunting the entire store for the one item you need, then waiting for the brain-dead cashier to ring out the dozen people in line in front of you, while all the time your wife was expecting you home a while ago to help with the chores, and every minute that ticks by is another you won't get to see your kids before they have to go to bed..... well a simple trip to Walmart takes on a whole new meaning that is not worth the few dollars you would save on some glue.

Any one would think you had a choice as a customer. I didn't realise you had to purchase something directly from GW when you needed it.

I've been doing it wrong all these years!

Phobos wrote:I think this is one of those things that the older folks are going to see one way, and the younger folks will see differently; and I don't mean that in a nasty way at all. It's just a different mindset. Making an extra stop at Walmart, fighting the parking lot traffic, then hunting the entire store for the one item you need, then waiting for the brain-dead cashier to ring out the dozen people in line in front of you, while all the time your wife was expecting you home a while ago to help with the chores, and every minute that ticks by is another you won't get to see your kids before they have to go to bed..... well a simple trip to Walmart takes on a whole new meaning that is not worth the few dollars you would save on some glue.

But that's the point, you are paying for the convenience of it. If you need it RIGHT NOW you are right, it probably doesn't pay to leave the GW store, drive a few miles and hunt out a cheap bottle. But most sensible people don't do that, they just pick up a huge tub occasionally whenever they go to these places for other reasons and then store it, so they aren't in the position of finding themselves stuck in GW at 8pm realising they need it by the next morning.

Hi all.
My LFGS stocks general hobby suplies as well as the GW branded ones.
And even though thier is much better and/or cheaper alternatives available ,(Testors, Humbrol,Railway Scenics.) The 'kiddies still buy GW branded suplies !

GW plcs greatest achivement is the level of brain washing they manage in thier more gullable customers.

I asked Steve why he stocked GW branded stuff AND regular stuff.He said some customers wouldnt buy anything but GW branded hobby supplies.

'Stupid is, as stupid does...' as Forest Gump said.

abaddonsdrummer wrote:

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:

Fact is, to people like me who work long hours and have children, time is often the most precious commodity we have. If I had to go to another store to buy the supplies I can tell you I almost certainly would have walked out with nothing.

Don't know about the USA but it is fairly easy to get a lot of the cheaper alternatives while doing a normal shopping run. Actually for me it is easier than going into Sheffield or Meadowhall to a GW store.

Try wargames emporium in orchard square.

Just be prepared for a healthy jog up the circular staircase to get to it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:

Fact is, to people like me who work long hours and have children, time is often the most precious commodity we have. If I had to go to another store to buy the supplies I can tell you I almost certainly would have walked out with nothing.

Don't know about the USA but it is fairly easy to get a lot of the cheaper alternatives while doing a normal shopping run. Actually for me it is easier than going into Sheffield or Meadowhall to a GW store.

I think they tried to fit a bottle of PVA glue into Meadowhall GW once, and found that they had to throw a customer out to get it to fit. Meadowhall GW, the only genuine MINIATURE store.

lol
Man, those bloody stairs but the trek through Meadowhall from the station to the GW boxroom is far, far worse!

I can assure you that I do NOT jog up the spiral. How I wish that I could
Would be good if there was a helter skelter to get back down again
Still I like the guys that run the joint.

We all know this "slap a company logo on something and sell it for 10 times the price" from nearly every product; be a company with a popular name, buy a tshirt for 3$, print your name on it, sell it for 80$. Its simply capitalism

Yeah but it only works cos of the suckers that buy into that crap!

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Yeah but it only works cos of the suckers that buy into that crap!

But the value is what people are willing to pay for it.

Can GW continue to price hike its products?

So long as people are willing to pay and the company sees profits.

But only because... etc

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:But only because... etc

True...but you do your best not to indulge if you don't like forking over 6 gallons worth of gas for a thing the size of your thumb.

Get models second hand or switch hobbies.

It comes naturally, there is no need to try.

I buy GW, because that's what I know works. And, last time I asked for PVA glue from a relative, instead of going to GW for some, I got wood glue, which might work but by the name itself, probably not.

I lost my track of thought, but basically, I will continue to occasionally buy GW glue and paints, because it's what I know is good and not too hard to get, but I ain't picky so If someone buys me some cheap stuff, I won't throw a tantrum, I'll just use it till it dies

DukeBadham wrote:I buy GW, because that's what I know works. And, last time I asked for PVA glue from a relative, instead of going to GW for some, I got wood glue, which might work but by the name itself, probably not.

I lost my track of thought, but basically, I will continue to occasionally buy GW glue and paints, because it's what I know is good and not too hard to get, but I ain't picky so If someone buys me some cheap stuff, I won't throw a tantrum, I'll just use it till it dies

Wood glue is that same stuff man. Draw your own conclusions through research as opposed to just taking GW's word for it.


Do you buy GS from them too?

Doctadeth wrote:Meh, our GW manager tells us where to go to get alternative supplies...

Like when he tells new purchasers they can buy it here, hangs the conversation, then tells them the place to get el cheapo supplies which are better.

Your manager is...AWESOME!
Seriously, there needs to be more like him. It'll give GW a much better rep, which'll serve them better in the long run.

Also, where else can you buy GS? There are alternatives?

You went to hobbycraft didn't you...

But like I say wargames makers are politcans...

Cthulu
GS is generically called Kneadatite
A quick search on googlre or ebay will throw up results that are cheaper than GW

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Cthulu
GS is generically called Kneadatite
A quick search on googlre or ebay will throw up results that are cheaper than GW

I see. I trust that it could be found at any hardware/hobby store?

Goodness I hate spotting a typo in a quote!

You might find it in some but tbh I don't know.
Is there a problem ordering online?

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Goodness I hate spotting a typo in a quote!

You might find it in some but tbh I don't know.
Is there a problem ordering online?

Not really, but I generally prefer to get things physically. Much lower chance of getting cheated.
I'm just paranoid like that I guess.