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 Peregrine wrote:

Ok, let's be nice and clear on this:

People who have worked for GW in their retail stores have stated that owning (at your own expense) armies for all three systems was mandatory (if not in explicit rules, at least as an implied threat of firing if you don't).

GW's representative posts a statement that owning those armies is "voluntary", but they only want to hire people who will volunteer.

Conclusion: GW's "must own armies" policy is still in effect.

As a former Store Operator, and former Store Manager, I can tell you that under no circumstances was I ever pressured by my direct supervisor (or upper management) into owning armies for all three systems. I've had lots of staff who didn't care much about LOTR and WFB in their personal gaming, but as long as they could encourage that excitement in the shop (through great demos and lessons,) they made fine staff. The store normally has some "store armies" that staff can use for activity, there was no need for members to own their own stuff.

I can't speak for all staff in the history of GW NA, but in the Toronto area in the last decade I have never heard of staff being reprimanded or let go for such a petty reason.

 Kingsley wrote:

 Alkasyn wrote:
I'm not really sold on the idea that GW requires its employees to buy and paint armies for all 3 systems. Is it really so? Can any of the people that worked there confirm that?

Well, think of it from GW's perspective. You have someone selling three main products-- 40k, Fantasy, and LotR. It makes sense to hire people who have knowledge of all three.

This.

IMO the worst part would be the inability to admit to playing any other games or having to only play GW games. Ive never played WHFB or LoTR but the current 40k rules are some of the worst Ive ever seen...and the previous ones were already pretty bad.

Clarence wrote:
As a former Store Operator, and former Store Manager, I can tell you...

Sadly, I don't think you can, Clarence. You see, Peregrine simply doesn't care enough to listen to anything that contradicts his position on GW. I don't know what his reason for being so butt-hurt is but apparently it's enough that he just can't be very civil to (or about) the OP who hasn't broken a single Dakka rule despite all the trolling and flame-baiting taking place.

Clarence wrote:
As a former Store Operator, and former Store Manager, I can tell you that under no circumstances was I ever pressured by my direct supervisor (or upper management) into owning armies for all three systems.

Congrats. I know a guy who worked at GW who was told he had to have a WFB army for a mandatory staff tournament and was denied the receipts to claim it as a work expense.

 Kingsley wrote:
Well, think of it from GW's perspective. You have someone selling three main products-- 40k, Fantasy, and LotR. It makes sense to hire people who have knowledge of all three.

That they have knowledge of all three, sure. There's nothing unreasonable about that requirement and at the end of the day what good is a salesman who only knows 1/3rd of your products?

But buying armies for the games is a different story. How many car salesmen get told they must buy a car from their lot? I work for a phone company and I get neither my phone or my Internet through them.

 Empchild wrote:
I do know they are rated as the second worst company on the Forbes 500 only being beat by Walmart.

I'm actually curious what article you are getting this from? The Forbes and Fortune 500 company lists involve companies with minimum revenues in the billions.

@Adam LongWalker
Thanks for the link, some interesting comments there. Surprised you didn't also mention the last post on that link:
Former Regional Manager
Advice to Senior Management – Tom Kirby is blinded by the yes men withing the US retail leadership. This company could be great and truly expand as rapidly as it desires if it starts being honest with itself. If you want company values to drive the company than look at the results of the values you teach. If the bottom line matters most than let the managers do what is needed to get the sales results in their area and let them know that is what really counts.

*edit* Wait, they get medical and generous medical to boot? I think I know where those GW price hike costs go to...

I don't know if this is against Dakka's Terms of Use but I'm desperate. I have a college degree, experience with all microsoft office, experience in retail, and have been involved with Warhammer (40k, Fantasy, and Blood Bowl) for 11+ years. If you need someone even in sales, I will gladly send you my resume, references, cover letter, etc. PM me if you still need people, willing to relocate (on my own dime for US and CA).

 Peregrine wrote:

 Alkasyn wrote:
I'm not really sold on the idea that GW requires its employees to buy and paint armies for all 3 systems. Is it really so? Can any of the people that worked there confirm that?

Just go back a few pages and look at the GW propaganda account's response to the comment where I first brought it up: "you aren't required to, but if you don't like our miniatures why do you want to work for us?". In other words, it's entirely "voluntary", but you'd better volunteer or we'll replace you with someone else who will.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Kingsley wrote:
Well, think of it from GW's perspective. You have someone selling three main products-- 40k, Fantasy, and LotR. It makes sense to hire people who have knowledge of all three.

Sure, that's why GW should have (paid) training time to learn the basics of each system, and provide fully painted and playable demo armies to each store. The problem isn't having people who know enough about each of the major products to offer useful sales advice to customers, it's that GW employees are required to spend their own time and money on making armies for the store.

Wow. Kind of aggressive there. Thanks to your prompting I did look back. The reply you put in quotes is absolutely nothing like the actual reply. That is shown below. What you have actually done is paraphrase and twisted it for your own agenda.

"No we don't require you to buy models. I would question why you would want to sell miniatures, if you were not into them."

So the rep actually clearly states that you are NOT required to buy models. The second part is, I believe, a requirement. I would expect any salesperson to be into or at least know about the product I want to buy whether it be a tablet, PC, car, tumble dryer or miniatures.

Two staff members have said they have been under no pressure to buy. HBMC knows someone who had to buy an army for a mandatory competition (which stinks by the way). Does anybody actually know someone who has been fired for not buying across all three systems?

In my case all of the staff members I have met have always collected across the systems, even before becoming staff so I have no knowledge of it being a problem.

Plus in this thread there have been words and phrases like "jumped up till monkey", "stooge" and "drone" bandied around. Ever consider that you may have received poor service because you were looking down your nose at the person on the other side of the till?
All of these stink of a superiority attitude. The fact that you may have a better job than someone else, be more intelligent than someone else does not make you superior.

silent25 wrote:

 Empchild wrote:
I do know they are rated as the second worst company on the Forbes 500 only being beat by Walmart.

I'm actually curious what article you are getting this from? The Forbes and Fortune 500 company lists involve companies with minimum revenues in the billions.

@Adam LongWalker
Thanks for the link, some interesting comments there. Surprised you didn't also mention the last post on that link:
Former Regional Manager
Advice to Senior Management – Tom Kirby is blinded by the yes men withing the US retail leadership. This company could be great and truly expand as rapidly as it desires if it starts being honest with itself. If you want company values to drive the company than look at the results of the values you teach. If the bottom line matters most than let the managers do what is needed to get the sales results in their area and let them know that is what really counts.

Some article i read in forbes in late 2010. If i can find it i will post it.

Six pages of comments on why you should or shouldn't join GW are enough.