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As much as I love the Warhammer 40k hobby. It's miniatures and the people involved in it, today has left me with a very bad impression of Games Workshop.

In GW today, in Rotherham UK, me and a friend went to pick up some paints. The usual guy running the store was not there, instead was a staff member that usually comes to step in, in his place. We only called in to collect some paints and we got talking to two other 40k enthusiasts about their armies, how to improve their army lists, recent experiences against different opponents. (funnily enough, I spend alot of the time bigging up the new eldar codex and how much i suffered at the hands of it this weekend)

Our topic of conversation moved on however, (whilst still browsing the stock and inspecting painted miniatures and scenery), to the recent E3 advertisements regarding the latest consoles. PS4 and Xbox One. A few minutes into our discussion the store owner chimed up shouting "Is this a hobby related discussion?" - To which I was stunned. He asked us to take our conversation outside. I then told him I would, along with my money and not return to this store.

What irritates me the most is that all he has done here is alienate three of us from going to Games Workshop in Rotherham again. Because we weren't discussing a Games Workshop product in their store? Is it company wide policy to ban discussions based on anything other than their products in their store?

Don't get me wrong, the guy who regularly runs this store is ace. Honestly, one of the most decent guys you'll meet. I'll be calling up in future to make sure the regular manager is in that store. If he isn't, I won't be going there. Because I am quite frankly disgusted at being talked to like a child, by someone representing a company I have given quite a lot of my hard earned cash to recently.

Has anyone had similar experiences with GW recently?

Report your complaint to customer services, clearly stating it's nature.

Retailers should be fighting tooth and nail to get people into their shops and spending money, not kicking them out for talking about something 'not games related'. If you are otherwise a good customer, polite, friendly and not a freak of nature, then yes, raise hell about it.

Yeah, Im not saying you where wrong, but gw you got to be carefule what you say, they dont like people talking about anything that isnt sanctioned.

 MeanGreenStompa wrote:
Report your complaint to customer services, clearly stating it's nature.

Retailers should be fighting tooth and nail to get people into their shops and spending money, not kicking them out for talking about something 'not games related'. If you are otherwise a good customer, polite, friendly and not a freak of nature, then yes, raise hell about it.

The bearded one is correct. Call the regular manager and tell him what happened and how it cost his store $$.

Should have picked a Baneblade off the shelf, took it to the counter then said, "y'know, **** you." then leave it and walk out

I'm glad I have a good couple of GW stores near me.

I'd have just told him I was discussing GW related video games.

Well, either that or I would have told him to feth off obviously.

One of the two.

I wouldn't say you have to boycott the store though, basically some people are feth heads and some arent. I've met plenty of donkey-cave soldiers, policemen and sales clerks, it doesn't make me loathe the lot though.

Basically.. the world is full of chislers.. get used to it, but dont let it get you down!

Regardless how shortsighted a retailer is... "buy something or get out" is a universal right of establishments. (as long as they are not doing it because of protected class)

And invoking freedom of speech on private property doesn't get you far.

All you can do is vote with your wallet. If you know the regular manager and feel it would do any good, you could complain.

I would have done much the same - not made a purchase, left, and never returned. then complained publicly on a message board....

And, Hell yeah, made complaint against the store through the appropriate channels.

The Auld Grump

Ouch, that suck's dude... I have not set foot in a GW store for well over 2 years. If the regular Manager is a good guy, as you say, then let him know and just don't go back if that other Douche happens to be working there.

Other than that, I find myself in complete agreement with mattyrm... Don't let it taint your view on salespersons as a whole.

Yup, Liam is great. Lincoln's loss was Rotherham's gain. I came into this thread expecting someone to have a problem with him (as astounding as that would be).

Just take your business elsewhere. GW has some great staff, but it also has some major indoctrinated assclowns. Sadly the latter is becoming more prominent as the old guard fall away.

Fairly sure this is company policy on the matter?

I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I suspect the OP won't say anything to the manager or cusromer service, but instead insist that GW stores are staffed by jerks for the rest of his life.

Seriously, talk to the manager. That's why he is there.

 SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I suspect the OP won't say anything to the manager or cusromer service, but instead insist that GW stores are staffed by jerks for the rest of his life.

Which is exactly why it is so important for store staff to give customers a good impression. The vast majority of customers who have a problem with a store's service won't complain about it to the store, because most people aren't comfortable making a fuss. They'll just leave, tell everyone who will listen, and likely spend their money elsewhere in future.

Guy is clearly a dick. Most gw staff will happily chat about anything nerdy, including video games.

Sounds like the guy was a jerk, do as others suggested and talk with the store manager or GW customer service.

If the guy had any ounce of sense then it would've been better if he joined in the conversation and perhaps talk a bit about GW based games on next gen consoles, build up a friendly report with the customers.

A few years back, the former manager of the Settle Bunker had this sort of policy in place. Don't talk about non-GW games or GTFO. Once he left and a new manager stepped in, the policy was quickly forgotten and the Bunker thrived as a store and gaming place. It still does today with the newest manager.

Still, "corporate" does seem to want strict policies on what can an cannot happen in their stores. :(

Hell my local GW thankfully is the only one in Colorado. The manager knows people come in to talk and have fun with the hobby and it will transition sometimes in conversation to other stuff non gw related. On two separate occasions, about a month or so apart, I go in looking for a kit the FLGS doesn't carry. I am looking for it and he comes over and gets it then asks how the Avs are doing and talked about going to a game with on of his regulars. I shocked! The second time we caught up on work. My GW Manager treats everyone like a regular regardless if they are or are not. The other thing too is he helps the non GW FLGS by telling people to go here or there for other hobby related stuff they dont carry, or if looking for gaming on the days he is closed.

I'd like to make a quick aside, which I think is warranted by the subject line used by the OP.

"Freedom of speech" in the US is a concept which appears to be greatly misunderstood in modern times, awareness of which struck me most recently when Juan Williams was fired by NPR (among other issues).

Freedom of speech protects you from the government retaliating against you for lawful speech.

It does not protect you from private entities doing so.

If you make a posting on Facebook saying "your job is dumb", and your boss sees it, you will get fired, and you had no freedom of speech protection there. If you're in Walmart and saying how you think the merchandise is ugly, and the manager kicks you out, you had no freedom of speech protection there.

If you post about how you think the political party in power sucks, and then the police arrest you for that, then your freedom of speech protections kick in.

TL;DR you have no freedom of speech when dealing with private entities. All of hat I said is US only.

 Ouze wrote:
TL;DR you have no freedom of speech when dealing with private entities.

I'm pretty sure the OP was talking in general about freedom of speech, not "freedom of speech protection", especially given the OP isn't in the US to begin with.

But on topic, yeah, my local GW managers have never had problems chatting about video games or music or whatever while in the store. There's been times where I've been painting stuff in store and chatting to the manager about what I do for work and so on.

Some of the ruder people feel they have a handle on what is expected of them in their job.

I have frequently found they had no clue to the reality.

Speak to the manager.
Describe the event and what that person said.
Describe how it made you feel.
Describe what you were thinking as "punishment" for being rudely treated.
Ask the manager what he can do to "fix" this problem.

Decide from there if you want to deal with that store again.

I have a particular dislike for suppliers acting like they are your customers. It always pays to set that viewpoint right.

Was it a discussion or was it turning into an argument? My bet is it was turning into a heated conversation about Xbox's new 'features' regarding content control which is utterly inappropriate in a store.

My local GW bans all talk about religion and politics and any discussions that start getting a little heated get ended, either by subject change or being asked to leave.

If your conversation was getting the least beat heated or negative or going in that direction I say good on the employee for intervening before it became a problem.

 Physh wrote:
Hell my local GW thankfully is the only one in Colorado. The manager knows people come in to talk and have fun with the hobby and it will transition sometimes in conversation to other stuff non gw related. On two separate occasions, about a month or so apart, I go in looking for a kit the FLGS doesn't carry. I am looking for it and he comes over and gets it then asks how the Avs are doing and talked about going to a game with on of his regulars. I shocked! The second time we caught up on work. My GW Manager treats everyone like a regular regardless if they are or are not. The other thing too is he helps the non GW FLGS by telling people to go here or there for other hobby related stuff they dont carry, or if looking for gaming on the days he is closed.

You talking about the one in Denver right? Yeah, the manager there's downright awesome every time I've been in when I lived in the Springs.

 SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I suspect the OP won't say anything to the manager or cusromer service, but instead insist that GW stores are staffed by jerks for the rest of his life.

Seriously, talk to the manager. That's why he is there.

Wrong. I intend to speak to the manager as soon as possible.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
(Thanks for your responses everyone)

 Grimtuff wrote:
Yup, Liam is great. Lincoln's loss was Rotherham's gain. I came into this thread expecting someone to have a problem with him (as astounding as that would be).

Just take your business elsewhere. GW has some great staff, but it also has some major indoctrinated assclowns. Sadly the latter is becoming more prominent as the old guard fall away.

To true, i could have a chat with him. Lincoln GW seems like a hostile environment for now.

I was the guy buying the paint, the guy basically spent all hi s time with one customer(female) whilst I was trying to find the right colour for my dark elves, nd I ended up going thru it with another customer in the store nd I think I ended up buying the wrong one, I was stood by the paints for at leadt 5-10 mins, wandering from the boxes to the paints, nd then he reacts like that...

It wasnt getting heated at all, just discussing it, the chats we have had with Liam about random stuff is borderlining wierd nd just plain old wrong, if I spoke to customers like the way he did to us, id probably be having to look for another job...

The colour I did get says its the replacement for the old one"lich purple" but it looks too pale compared to the old one

Talk about what you want to.

He doesn't like it, tell him to mind his manners and feth off.

As to NOT talking about what you want, heck with that. You are free to do so, and exercise it whenever you want.

In case you missed it, this is the point of contention-


Our topic of conversation moved on however, (whilst still browsing the stock and inspecting painted miniatures and scenery), to the recent E3 advertisements regarding the latest consoles. PS4 and Xbox One. A few minutes into our discussion the store owner chimed up shouting "Is this a hobby related discussion?" - To which I was stunned. He asked us to take our conversation outside. I then told him I would, along with my money and not return to this store.
What irritates me the most is that all he has done here is alienate three of us from going to Games Workshop in Rotherham again. Because we weren't discussing a Games Workshop product in their store? Is it company wide policy to ban discussions based on anything other than their products in their store?

I mean, seriously? He "doesn't have a right?" Are you joking?

Assclownery at its best. Talk about what you want to, and that guy can shove it. That guy was a bonifide assclown TFG. Tell him so, as well. He needs to hear it from someone other then his parents.

OP, the guy was being a mutt and drunk on the power of Rule-aid delivered to him via tin-foil hat from the mighty GW. Ignore him, or taunt him a second time.

Or, you know, listen to the proprietor of the shop and complain upwards when you can.

Acting like a jerk to him does nothing but get you ordered out (and police called for a forcible ejection if you refuse that) which doesn't help your point at all.

rigeld2 wrote:
Or, you know, listen to the proprietor of the shop and complain upwards when you can.

Acting like a jerk to him does nothing but get you ordered out (and police called for a forcible ejection if you refuse that) which doesn't help your point at all.

Not going back there and telling a hundred other people why does even more. Especially when the tool in charge outright called the kid out on a baseless issue. kicked him out for talking about videogames? unless I missed where you insulted his mom.

Start no gak, if you want no gak.

How was this kid acting like a jerk? Talking about videogames, and looking an miniatures?


OOOHHHH, call the coppers!!!

What you really do is go down to your local chamber of commerce and file a complaint, but taunting him a second time is much more amusing... as well as squishing his head.

I would have shouted back " yeah! "
take out my sunglasses and

If I was browsing my local supermarket, computer games shop, or fast food restaurants with a friend, and happened to be engaged in discussion whilst doing so, I would be more than a little affronted if treated thusly. I would request their name, ask them why they felt the need to hassle customers in a rude and counterproductive fashion, and then write to their customer services division.

I don't believe I've ever heard of this sort of thing ever happening outside of a games workshop. Mainly because most businesses are aware that people will move on after twenty minutes, buy their things and leave. If someone settles in in a games workshop on a regular basis and never buys anything, that is different. But ejecting customers who stop to chat for ten minutes? Ludicrous.