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Hey all, heard a somewhat troubling rumour, and was hoping you could help me out. I was hanging out at the local GW, and a long time friend of mine whom happens to also be an employee asked me if I had heard about the HQ talking about removing all of the gaming tables from the GW stores, the main idea being that it would "help enable better sales through the removal of barriers between employee and customer." I was shocked to say the least as I was there to play a game on their tables, as is my custom before I make my purchases for the day. Personally, I would just shop online if not for the tables, as I am one of the ones who feels a sense of community and duty to support the store I play at. Given the removal of said tables, I would quickly relocate myself to an independent shop with tables; I buy so I can play the game moreso than collect.

So Dakka, what have you heard? Similar stories? Am I being fed a line?
You decide!

that sounds like you're being fed a line

While nothing would shock me coming from GW, I would say that I could see them removing the general use gaming tables but I cant imagine they would EVER remove the demo tables. Running demo games for random passer bys is the primary source of new players

I can't see them removing gaming tables, even the open ones. One of the best ways to advertise the product (especially in the stores that are located in malls) is for passersby to see people playing and enjoying the game. A couple of employees standing around doing nothing is no way to advertise product.

 Tannhauser42 wrote:
I can't see them removing gaming tables, even the open ones. One of the best ways to advertise the product (especially in the stores that are located in malls) is for passersby to see people playing and enjoying the game. A couple of employees standing around doing nothing is no way to advertise product.

I agree. But employees being distracted by games is what I believe they'd be trying to combat. Don't think it's happening.

 Tannhauser42 wrote:
I can't see them removing gaming tables, even the open ones. One of the best ways to advertise the product (especially in the stores that are located in malls) is for passersby to see people playing and enjoying the game. A couple of employees standing around doing nothing is no way to advertise product.

Agree with this, back when I worked at GW it was pretty common practice to "play" a game with another staff member when no one was in the store....nothing draws people into the store like seeing too people going crazy over a game

Yes, but if it is a problem that has been observed (as I have at our one and only GW that serves in French, on the continent), then I could see a big company making a sweeping generalization. It's easier for someone in a cushy office to say: "No more games in store, our staff is giving crappy service."

Although to be honest, it ain't only the gaming, it's the chatting with friends instead of working that really irks me. But anyone closer to the ground would realize that this stems from staffing choices, not gaming in store.

At the local one man shop, there are two tables for demo games. One is also used for their weekly events, but is never available for open gaming.

Perhaps a similar setup is coming to your GW?

Sounds like they're trolling you.

Although if they aren't, that's troubling.

When they stop letting people play the game the game they are trying to push on them, it's all over.

I've known a few GW employees over the years, at various levels of employment within the company.

All of them have made it clear that the principal purpose of GW stores in malls and the shopping highstreet are as points of introuduction to the gaming world and the Hhhhobby. That little Timmy and his mum can wander into the store and a highly enthusiastic GW staffer can give Timmy an introductory game. It was the counter argument to GWs lack of advertising because the stores do the advertising.

Seeing painted minis, games in progress and folks sitting at tables painting and modelling is little Timmy's introduction to the wonderful world of warhammers. Whilst there are clubs in the UK, the US model is different and gaming in store is the expectation of the customers.

I could maybe see the tables getting pulled from the 1 man stores in strip malls, but the ones in regular malls I dont see this happening

It is really reassuring to hear that no one else is hearing anything like I am. I was talking to my employee-friend and he said that since the manager of the store seemed so serious about it, that he had considered quitting should that day come. It isn't like him to jump straight to ultimatums, hence my belief this might have merit. Alas, the internet has again been a great source of relief for said worries. If I hear more, I'll post about it again, but for the meantime (and given the general consensus), I'll leave well enough alone.

Thanks guys!

 xlEternitylx wrote:
It is really reassuring to hear that no one else is hearing anything like I am. I was talking to my employee-friend and he said that since the manager of the store seemed so serious about it, that he had considered quitting should that day come. It isn't like him to jump straight to ultimatums, hence my belief this might have merit. Alas, the internet has again been a great source of relief for said worries. If I hear more, I'll post about it again, but for the meantime (and given the general consensus), I'll leave well enough alone.

Thanks guys!

um your friend is going to quit his job if they remove the gaming tables?

Tables with games going on are the main point of GW store, its a live advertisement. Getting rid of is impossible, for what incentive do we have left to go to GW? We would rather go to FLGS then, and we know no FLGS that is loyal only to GW.

I don't believe its possible.

 ironicsilence wrote:

um your friend is going to quit his job if they remove the gaming tables?

Yeah. He, much like me, is much more interested in the actual gameplay that 40k is than the painting or collecting. Many a time on his off days we will meet at the store he works at to play on the tables. With those tables gone, not only does he feel that a massive chunk of the point of him playing the game (and hence him working there in the first place) would be gone, but he feels that it would ultimately hurt his sales ability leading to a poorer performance in the long run. He often shows off the veterans playing to help close a pitch. While I (and he) know that this is not ideal by the corporate standards, it helps him be #1 in the store, so he doesn't really care. If they shut down his selling tool, he doesn't want to be there anymore.

They have to have tables... how else will they sucker in 6th graders in with the cleverly hidden ruse of 20 ork boys being equal to a tac. marine squad?

Help enable better sales through the removal of barriers!?

It even sounds ridiculous.

It sounds like something phantom would say to wind people up.

I have done no research at all, but common sense demands this is nonsense.

Enable better sales through the removal of barriers... Hah! That's the funniest thing I've read all week.

I thought a lot of the smaller one man stores pretty much already had this in effect? I know a lot of them only have 1 or 2 tables left.

 MeanGreenStompa wrote:
I've known a few GW employees over the years, at various levels of employment within the company.

All of them have made it clear that the principal purpose of GW stores in malls and the shopping highstreet are as points of introuduction to the gaming world and the Hhhhobby. That little Timmy and his mum can wander into the store and a highly enthusiastic GW staffer can give Timmy an introductory game. It was the counter argument to GWs lack of advertising because the stores do the advertising.

Seeing painted minis, games in progress and folks sitting at tables painting and modelling is little Timmy's introduction to the wonderful world of warhammers. Whilst there are clubs in the UK, the US model is different and gaming in store is the expectation of the customers.

I think so as well.. makes absolutely no sense at all, the main reason for being these days of the GW store is in providing intro games for kids and getting them hooked on that experience.

Never heard of such a rumor, but I don't see it happening. More than once passers-by have stood over the gaming table as I play, just watching or asking about the game and rules. It is probably their best ad. On the other hand, this is GW we're talking about so...

For the many reasons stated above (or the one reason stated many times?) I can't see this happening.

They removed tables at mine.

My store would be a ghost town if they got rid of the tables. No tables means I have zero reason to go to that store. I can get everything there cheaper online.

If your talking about a particular GW store in the GTA. Then yes its true. No gaming tables as of this weekend im going in there my self tomorrow to see if it is what is said.

 frozenwastes wrote:
At the local one man shop, there are two tables for demo games. One is also used for their weekly events, but is never available for open gaming.

Perhaps a similar setup is coming to your GW?

yeah we have the same here. 2 tables for display and 1 table for gaming THURSDAYS ONLY! and we have to book 2 weeks in advance >.>

apparently it was to make the store more "managable" which is cowgak seeing as me and my mates were pretty much the only customers -.-

GW Exeter has lost its gaming tables (they actually sealed off the area at the back of the shop), now there is just the demo ones.

Mick

It could be funny...

But nah, they will not make that... Imagine it.

And them what? They will prohibit european free stores from selling internationaly?

(just playing Devil's advocate) I'm not the least bit surprised. If a staff member is running a game then they aren't watching the shop, which could lead to shoplifters. If they are running a game they can't be doing their sales pitch to Johnny Random who just walked in. Free use tables often end up with people who don't buy much and generally look intimidating. This scares off Grandma and little Johnny Random who were about to spend all of little Johnny's birthday money.

That said my local store runs campaigns and has intro days for new players so I can't see them getting rid of their tables. We've also got a FLGS opening up in our town so I can see a lot of people heading there. Myself I can't understand the fuss, in 25 years of playing GW games I've never played a game in one of their shops. I'd rather play at home where I can swear and curse and eat and drink.

I've never once seen my local store manager play a regular game at the store. He knows damn well that he isn't paid to play. He paints, he builds, he talks, but he doesn't play, unless it's an intro game for new potential players.

So yes, if 1 man stores have the one man playing games on the clock, something needs to be done. But punishing the customers is the wrong move. If the sales are lacking, or a complaint is made, change employees. Removing the tables will end up hurting sales, when the tables themselves aren't the reason for the initial slip in sales to begin with.

Basically, if GW takes away tables from your store, yell at the asshat running the store. It's very much his fault.

From what I can tell this only seems to be happening to certain stores, not all of them, which would indicate that those stores posited the decision by HQ to pull the tables.