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The word "Anxious" is a very interesting choice and I think a completely appropriate one. I do NOT have any kind of anxiety issue going on - but I think that word accurately describes my feeling when I am in a GW store.

It isn't a comfortable, friendly, shopping environment. It's a high pressure environment that really doesn't leave me feeling like I want to take my time there. I am very much about get in and get out as fast as possible... or shop elsewhere.

 Icarusthepilot wrote:


I dread the day I have to buy my next car haha!

I can help you with this at least. I hate buying cars more than anything else there is but i really like cars. What i did was eventually found a "wholesale" dealer. This dealer only sold at one price and sold in volume. I just emailed the salesmen what I wanted, gave him a down payment and in 3 months picked up my exact car. He was there and said hello, nice to meet you here is your car, can i do anything else for you? I said I already have financing, he looked over the paperwork, i signed the dealer paperwork and that was it, i drove away. I drove 225 miles for this experience (and the super low price) and can't say I have been happier with a car buying experience.

Anxiety is very much the same sort of feeling I would get when going in there, especially if i had no plans to purchase anything.

My local GW is a battle bunker, but I can't bring myself to play or game there simply because of these feelings of anxiety.



...well, that and the fact that they've had the same CD on perpetual loop for the last 10 months.

Japan is great for GW. I cannot even fathom what it would take for a Japanese staffer to be overbearing. It's simply not part of the culture when dealing with "foreigners". I'm caucasian, so Japanese people generally give me a wide birth, lest I start speaking English and drudging up the nightmares of their high school language classes. In the country where I lived before, I developed an excellent frostiness that caused even the most rabid redshirts to slink away in under 60 seconds.

To the OP, don't be too nice. The pressure the staffers are under to get sales shouldn't be your problem. You may want to say simply, "Look, my friend, your hovering is making me uncomfortable. I'll ask you for assistance when I'm ready, thanks."


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also,

<---------- That is a picture of my face when shopping at a GW store.

Always good to see another Antivan popper

To quote GW Fulchester .... "When we ask you "What army do you collect?" it's not because we're trying to sell you paints and glue. We ask that question of everyone we meet.

At all times. In all circumstances. "What army do you collect?" is the ultimate chat up line."

Whilst I don't want to diminish the OP's experience or feelings I have to say that I haven't had this sort of experience beyond being asked if I want some brushes/paint/random compulsive counter purchase when browsing a GW.

I often go to various GWs by way of killing time while shopping with the Mrs or popping into ones near worksites and can't remember GW staffers ever being any thing but courteous and helpful. I went in the Enfield one the other day, it was empty but the chap said hello and helped me order some direct order stuff at the terminal and we chatted about gaming. He was polite enough to not flinch when I mentioned Dakka!

I mention this as this seems to be the norm from my experience. The OP had a poor experience and like falling off a bike I suggest he gets back on it and gives it another go. I'm no medial professional but I would suggest revisiting/worrying about a poor experience is more likely to cause anxiety than giving it another go.

It will either prove that it was an aberration or that the staffer was a dill weed who is better ignored. Either way you will move on to a place where you can enjoy poking around GW looking at models.

I know a tactic for getting around GW staff but it only works in groups.

Take a sacrificial lamb with you

No joking, we go in, throw one of my mates at the GW staff member that approaches, browse, tag one of us in and him out, he gets to look, then tactical withdraw for food. To be fair, that's for the more personable stores, if we REALLY don't wanna talk to people, being in a group of people over 6 foot tall who have got the "Menacing Aura" off to a tea works pretty damned well

danp164 wrote:
being in a group of people over 6 foot tall who have got the "Menacing Aura" off to a tea works pretty damned well

I'm now picturing several large, unsavory looking types wearing leathers and chains, stomping off to go have a nice cup of tea in a garden. My morning has just gotten so much better, thank you.

danp164 wrote:
I know a tactic for getting around GW staff but it only works in groups.

Take a sacrificial lamb with you

No joking, we go in, throw one of my mates at the GW staff member that approaches, browse, tag one of us in and him out, he gets to look, then tactical withdraw for food. To be fair, that's for the more personable stores, if we REALLY don't wanna talk to people, being in a group of people over 6 foot tall who have got the "Menacing Aura" off to a tea works pretty damned well

If your over 6' tall why do you need a group to be menacing to some little saleman?

I just say no thank you when asked for assistance. It really works.

As my nan used to say: you get further with a spoonful of sugar than salt.

But then I'm 6' 4" and she was tiny. Ymmv?

 mattyrm wrote:

 Tappers wrote:
Same here. I don't have PTSD, though I still dread GW stores because of their owners.

Yeah, I don't have PTSD after five combat tours, and frankly I'd rather get parachuted back into Helmand province armed with only a fething Nerf gun and my underpants than go into my local GW.

Armed with a nerf gun and your own underpants?
I've never seen underpants classed as a weapon before

I'm lucky - the two gw's I frequent are run by people who give me time and space to browse. They even let me leave if I haven't bought something.

I find there are two tactics for if you don't want them to speak to you
1) Ask for some space
2) feed them a weaker member of the herd - look round for someone in the shop and say "I think that guy needs more help than I do"

 Lansirill wrote:

danp164 wrote:
being in a group of people over 6 foot tall who have got the "Menacing Aura" off to a tea works pretty damned well

I'm now picturing several large, unsavory looking types wearing leathers and chains, stomping off to go have a nice cup of tea in a garden. My morning has just gotten so much better, thank you.

I have gamed with somebody like that.... Biker, not a ganger. Very polite, and into martial arts.

Used to talk about when he was biking across the US and stopped in Alabama. While there one of the other patrons came over and asked:
Alabama Patron: You ain't from around here, are ya? (Yes - he asked the cliche question....)
Biker Gamer: Uh, no....
AP: You wanna fight?
BG: No....

And the fellow from Alabama went and asked the same question at another table. It took a while for my friend to realize that the fellow wasn't being threatening - he was being polite. He wanted a fight, and wanted to know if my friend wanted one too.... And as a visitor, well, ask him first.

Last I heard my friend had headed off to California, haven't seen him in years.

Back on topic... not just GW stores have the sales vultures - I cannot go near the Apple store at the local mall. Went in once.... It was the assumption that if I did not use an Apple then I know nothing about computers that drove me out.

They were trained in the hard sell - but there are folks that are offended by the hard sell.

And... in the end, I do not think that sales vultures are worse than FLGS folks that ignore their customers because they are playing a MUD on the store computer.... (I had something stolen from three feet away from the store manager because he was playing a Battletech MUD.)

On the other hand... Trader Joe's in the local area has a born salesman - I saw him help a customer decide what she wanted by asking the customer for advice... 'I'm thinking about getting one of those for dinner tonight, myself, what can you tell me about them?'

Worked like a charm.

The Auld Grump

 notprop wrote:
. He was polite enough to not flinch when I mentioned Dakka!

Blimey! He was a very very nice guy!

Well i went to my local GW for a game today, and at my store they have itroduced a 'voucher' system.
Its basically you get one for every ten pound in store, and it is how you book tables (painting and gaming) and how you participate in sepcial events. It was really clear to me that it is obviously a very desperate attempt to stop second hand sales and people from buying from online companies. It really puts me off going there, its like he doesn't realise that this will encourage people to go to independent stores for games and the suchlike - thus reducing the stores sales. He made me feel very uncomfortable when he was saying this to me, like he was commanding me to stop sourcing my miniatures from elsewhere definetely going to my FLGS now instead of GW

I don't have a problem with them trying to sell me stuff. Every time I go to Nottingham HQ I want away with a ton of forge world goods. But what I do fined annoying, Is the elitist attitude of some of the staff. Winds me right up.

cerbrus2 wrote:
I don't have a problem with them trying to sell me stuff. Every time I go to Nottingham HQ I want away with a ton of forge world goods. But what I do fined annoying, Is the elitist attitude of some of the staff. Winds me right up.

I have never had an issue with just saying "I only buy online mate, its 20% cheaper" they stop the hard sell then, I really hate the volume though. Its probably just the store in York, but there is this blonde kid whose about.. I dunno, 25? He fully fething shouts at me all the time... Like I said "Oh yeah.. the new forsaken are pretty good" and he sorta.. addresses me and the entire shop simultaneously like "YEAH THE NEW MODELS ARE FREAKING SWEEEE..."

At which point he turns around and I have fled the store in shame just incase somebody I know walks within a 500 yard radius, investigates his lung busting shrieks and sees me stood next to the fether.

Oh I know what you mean, I am pretty shy guy and a loner, and usually only have the company of my girlfriend (mostly cause she lives with me). I never go to the stores, but when I used to, once I walked in, all I would here is "HII'mRon (No, I never met any GW employees named Ron)whatwouldyoulike!" It bothers me when they do that, and I'll just tell them, "I'm here for a game."

Then after the game, if I lost then they would say "Youknowifyouhadmoregenestealersyoucouldhavewon,here,I'llgogetyouabox."

It bugs me so much I feel like punching them sometimes.

I have to say the only store i have been in where all the guys where actualy just there for the love of the hobby, was nottingham HQ. I haven't been to southampton since i was a young teenager, it has probably changed now. but there where the "LOCALS" and there was all ways this look on there faces when you walked in. Like i didn't belong there. And the sales people where just like if your not going to buy anything then get out sort of attitude. winchester store all though small was all ways welcoming, to some extent.

 notprop wrote:
Whilst I don't want to diminish the OP's experience or feelings I have to say that I haven't had this sort of experience beyond being asked if I want some brushes/paint/random compulsive counter purchase when browsing a GW.

I often go to various GWs by way of killing time while shopping with the Mrs or popping into ones near worksites and can't remember GW staffers ever being any thing but courteous and helpful. I went in the Enfield one the other day, it was empty but the chap said hello and helped me order some direct order stuff at the terminal and we chatted about gaming. He was polite enough to not flinch when I mentioned Dakka!

I mention this as this seems to be the norm from my experience. The OP had a poor experience and like falling off a bike I suggest he gets back on it and gives it another go. I'm no medial professional but I would suggest revisiting/worrying about a poor experience is more likely to cause anxiety than giving it another go.

It will either prove that it was an aberration or that the staffer was a dill weed who is better ignored. Either way you will move on to a place where you can enjoy poking around GW looking at models.

After reading this, I decided to go back in today. The regular manager was there. We've always been friendly and chatted a bit. Then he said, "Well I'll let you look around. You know the drill. Let me know if you need anything". It was really great. I guess it's important for those of us who live with increased anxiety to not be afraid to do things that make us anxious. I still have a life to live, and I really do love going in and just looking at all the cool art on the books/boxes.

 Icarusthepilot wrote:

After reading this, I decided to go back in today. The regular manager was there. We've always been friendly and chatted a bit. Then he said, "Well I'll let you look around. You know the drill. Let me know if you need anything". It was really great. I guess it's important for those of us who live with increased anxiety to not be afraid to do things that make us anxious. I still have a life to live, and I really do love going in and just looking at all the cool art on the books/boxes.

Here's a question for you:

Was the person who'd asked about your eBay item someone you have seen regularly at the shop? Was it the first time you had seen this particular person there before?

The reason I ask is that Games Workshop is known to utilize mystery shoppers, who are given a certain set of criteria that the employees have to meet. Generally I have found that employees are a lot less relaxed in environments like that when they are just meeting you or when someone new is around.

 Icarusthepilot wrote:
After reading this, I decided to go back in today. The regular manager was there. We've always been friendly and chatted a bit. Then he said, "Well I'll let you look around. You know the drill. Let me know if you need anything". It was really great. I guess it's important for those of us who live with increased anxiety to not be afraid to do things that make us anxious. I still have a life to live, and I really do love going in and just looking at all the cool art on the books/boxes.

Great to hear you went back in, confronting an issue is always better than letting it brew. If the worker who is pushy acts like that again, just have a word with the regular manager, I'm sure he'd be happy to have quiet word or something.

 Icarusthepilot wrote:

 notprop wrote:
.........stuff..............

After reading this, I decided to go back in today. The regular manager was there. We've always been friendly and chatted a bit. Then he said, "Well I'll let you look around. You know the drill. Let me know if you need anything". It was really great. I guess it's important for those of us who live with increased anxiety to not be afraid to do things that make us anxious. I still have a life to live, and I really do love going in and just looking at all the cool art on the books/boxes.

Good man, that's the spirit!

I'm glad you found the post helpful, it was that or post Monty Pythons "always look on the bright side of life".

Anxiety sucks. I don't have anywhere near close to what you're describing, but there are times where I find my heart racing and my breathing accelerating just because of large crowds of people. Elevators drive me nuts. I'll avoid taking one and wait for the next one sometimes if there's even just one other person in it.

 mattyrm wrote:
Yeah, I don't have PTSD after five combat tours, and frankly I'd rather get parachuted back into Helmand province armed with only a fething Nerf gun and my underpants than go into my local GW.

That might just be the most awesome thing you've ever said.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:

 mattyrm wrote:
Yeah, I don't have PTSD after five combat tours, and frankly I'd rather get parachuted back into Helmand province armed with only a fething Nerf gun and my underpants than go into my local GW.

That might just be the most awesome thing you've ever said.

Quite so, that my freind, is going on my signature

Saw something like this in my local store a few weeks ago, a young kid (about 12-13) was walking towards the till, i was chatting to the manager (a good mate) and i saw the kid and he looked doubled over in pain almost so we both worried about him, but the manager just asked him if he was okay and if he needed to sit at the painting table for a bit.

I thought he was ill, and noticed he was crying, basically my mate must know the kid as a regular and he must be very shy and the shop was very busy at the back so he must of had a panic attack.

So we set him up on the shop front paint station\training game area so he could paint and sit with less people around and myself and the manager standing nearer to him so he felt he wouldnt be crowded.

Was a crying shame as it must be very difficult to get that anxious in a crowd.

I was in one yesterday picking some paints up. When asked what I was collecting I just said 'I'm collecting for a range of different systems that arent sold here'.
Strangely enough they left me alone after that point!

When I go into a Gamesworkshop, I'm usually going to either the one in the CBD or the one a bit further away, in a place called Mt Gravatt.
The city is a run-of-the mill small shop with two or three tables, but if I've driven there there's literally one parking space which is a legal parking space from 9 to 3 during a weekday and I think it has a time limit but it's right outside of the store so I use it rather than paying $15 for parking in the city.

If you haven't guessed yet, I don't frequent the city store. I have a habit, since the Tau release at least of calling before I make the trip out. If they have what I want, I ask them to reserve it in my name. This has the added benefit of meaning they know they're going to get a sale out of me, so one might expect that they won't badger me.

Here's a snippet of conversation:

"Hi, I called on the phone."
"What for?"
"Some Tau. Should be under Robin."
"Ah yeah it's here. D'ya need any pain-"
"Nope. Just the models thanks."
"White Dwarf?"

Now I know they have a quota to fill. But I mean, they've already got the sale. They know it's going to happen. Why do they then insist on forcing me to sit through their sales pitch?

It's like trying to sell a Volkswagen on top of the mercedes you just bought. (Comparative prices between the XV8s and the Pathfinders against white dwarf, it's probably about the same ratio.)

Anyway, that's the city. Mt gravatt is a bit easier to get to (by virtue of their being free parking.) and I go there regularly enough to play games, so most of the salesmen know me by name. I still order things on the phone, just because I'm not going to waste my time driving the half-hour trip to mt gravatt if I don't get what I came for.

I enjoy the conversation a bit more with the two or three people who work here (the manager I haven't seen in a while.) but the two who I See on a regular basis are both good at letting you buy what you want without being harassed. They do ask me if I need any paint or anything and are very good with old scheme to new palette conversions. (I need something like mordian blue, for example.) but I've not once been asked if I have the new white dwarf.

I don't have PTSD but GW's oppressive sales technique isone reason why I have not been in to their stores in over a year and buy online or elsewhere. I find the attention distinctly unwelcome, and often I couldn't remember everything I wanted to look at after I'd been interrogated. When I used to go in, I would try to avoid the staff without looking like a shoplifter. I grew ever more uncomfortable with the spiel about how great everything they produce is, and it felt rude to point out that Finecast wasn't an improvement, I wasn't going to buy their overpriced pot of sand or superglue and I had no intention of coming back on games night or going to Games Day. Now they have limited stock on the shelves, I can't think of any reason to visit their stores. Perhaps they don't actually want me in the shop, but it seems counterproductive to me.

 Scipio Africanus wrote:
When I go into a Gamesworkshop, I'm usually going to either the one in the CBD or the one a bit further away, in a place called Mt Gravatt.
The city is a run-of-the mill small shop with two or three tables, but if I've driven there there's literally one parking space which is a legal parking space from 9 to 3 during a weekday and I think it has a time limit but it's right outside of the store so I use it rather than paying $15 for parking in the city.

If you haven't guessed yet, I don't frequent the city store. I have a habit, since the Tau release at least of calling before I make the trip out. If they have what I want, I ask them to reserve it in my name. This has the added benefit of meaning they know they're going to get a sale out of me, so one might expect that they won't badger me.

Here's a snippet of conversation:

"Hi, I called on the phone."
"What for?"
"Some Tau. Should be under Robin."
"Ah yeah it's here. D'ya need any pain-"
"Nope. Just the models thanks."
"White Dwarf?"

Now I know they have a quota to fill. But I mean, they've already got the sale. They know it's going to happen. Why do they then insist on forcing me to sit through their sales pitch?

It's like trying to sell a Volkswagen on top of the mercedes you just bought. (Comparative prices between the XV8s and the Pathfinders against white dwarf, it's probably about the same ratio.)

Anyway, that's the city. Mt gravatt is a bit easier to get to (by virtue of their being free parking.) and I go there regularly enough to play games, so most of the salesmen know me by name. I still order things on the phone, just because I'm not going to waste my time driving the half-hour trip to mt gravatt if I don't get what I came for.

I enjoy the conversation a bit more with the two or three people who work here (the manager I haven't seen in a while.) but the two who I See on a regular basis are both good at letting you buy what you want without being harassed. They do ask me if I need any paint or anything and are very good with old scheme to new palette conversions. (I need something like mordian blue, for example.) but I've not once been asked if I have the new white dwarf.

Not really it's their up sell, most shops do it. In fact it's proven to be an excellent revenue generator. How many times do you go to a BK or Maccy D's and they don't ask you if you'd like to go "Large" on your meal? It's par for the course I'm afraid. Maybe if there was a McDonalds forum people would be griping about it there too.

 Flippa wrote:

 Scipio Africanus wrote:
When I go into a Gamesworkshop, I'm usually going to either the one in the CBD or the one a bit further away, in a place called Mt Gravatt.
The city is a run-of-the mill small shop with two or three tables, but if I've driven there there's literally one parking space which is a legal parking space from 9 to 3 during a weekday and I think it has a time limit but it's right outside of the store so I use it rather than paying $15 for parking in the city.

If you haven't guessed yet, I don't frequent the city store. I have a habit, since the Tau release at least of calling before I make the trip out. If they have what I want, I ask them to reserve it in my name. This has the added benefit of meaning they know they're going to get a sale out of me, so one might expect that they won't badger me.

Here's a snippet of conversation:

"Hi, I called on the phone."
"What for?"
"Some Tau. Should be under Robin."
"Ah yeah it's here. D'ya need any pain-"
"Nope. Just the models thanks."
"White Dwarf?"

Now I know they have a quota to fill. But I mean, they've already got the sale. They know it's going to happen. Why do they then insist on forcing me to sit through their sales pitch?

It's like trying to sell a Volkswagen on top of the mercedes you just bought. (Comparative prices between the XV8s and the Pathfinders against white dwarf, it's probably about the same ratio.)

Anyway, that's the city. Mt gravatt is a bit easier to get to (by virtue of their being free parking.) and I go there regularly enough to play games, so most of the salesmen know me by name. I still order things on the phone, just because I'm not going to waste my time driving the half-hour trip to mt gravatt if I don't get what I came for.

I enjoy the conversation a bit more with the two or three people who work here (the manager I haven't seen in a while.) but the two who I See on a regular basis are both good at letting you buy what you want without being harassed. They do ask me if I need any paint or anything and are very good with old scheme to new palette conversions. (I need something like mordian blue, for example.) but I've not once been asked if I have the new white dwarf.

Not really it's their up sell, most shops do it. In fact it's proven to be an excellent revenue generator. How many times do you go to a BK or Maccy D's and they don't ask you if you'd like to go "Large" on your meal? It's par for the course I'm afraid. Maybe if there was a McDonalds forum people would be griping about it there too.

Yeah, all you have to say is "No thanks." It's their job, and it's what puts food on their table and pays the bills. If you go into a GW without automatically going into negative-defensive-mode-ultra and just smile and say "No." everything will be fine. Now in terms of sales people leaving you alone to browse, just tell them you don't need any help at the moment and leave it at that.

I'm not in any way saying that GW's sales techniques are the best they could be, but seems like many people forget these people are doing this for a job/career and not because they like to annoy people.

 Flippa wrote:


Not really it's their up sell, most shops do it. In fact it's proven to be an excellent revenue generator. How many times do you go to a BK or Maccy D's and they don't ask you if you'd like to go "Large" on your meal? It's par for the course I'm afraid. Maybe if there was a McDonalds forum people would be griping about it there too.

This really annoys me. How many times have I gone to a BK? None. I'm not American. It's like in P&M when people say "you could get this at Walmart" I CAN'T.

You're on a British forum, not An American one. Cater your responses to the world, not America.