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Yeah this seems more like the story I was expecting.

If you're in there making a lot of noise and annoying other customers by doing so, even unintentionally, the store manager has a right to ask you to leave. Obviously it's been a case of being excitable, but loud teenagers are hardly conducive for a pleasant shopping experience.

The sad thing about this experience by the OP is that it reinforces experiences that people have had in GWs in the past ( i remember similar crap happening in the 1990s).

GW do not understand how to make sales. The easiest way to make sales is to drop most sales techniques, establish a relationship with someone, then hit them with all the sales BS. You can't establish a true relationship with someone if you only talk about the product , that is the antithesis of establishing a relationship , and most people find being bombarded with product annoying.

Just my 2 cents having been a door to door salesman and a phone salesman.

Bullockist wrote:
The sad thing about this experience by the OP is that it reinforces experiences that people have had in GWs in the past ( i remember similar crap happening in the 1990s).

GW do not understand how to make sales. The easiest way to make sales is to drop most sales techniques, establish a relationship with someone, then hit them with all the sales BS. You can't establish a true relationship with someone if you only talk about the product , that is the antithesis of establishing a relationship , and most people find being bombarded with product annoying.

Just my 2 cents having been a door to door salesman and a phone salesman.

I started the hobby like 22 years ago. I stopped for close on 15 years (rough guess) cos I had kids etc. Everytime I went into a GW shop they would get giddy and Id walk out. Im to old n long in the tooth for that. Rotherham store was different. Still did the job of showing me around and explaining the changes etc, and for once I felt like starting up again. Since then Ive spent a fortune and all cos the manager was a cool kid and not a shark. Ill give it to liam he knows how to approach a customer weather its some clueless kid (or clueless big kid) or some rough necked vetran

It's because the Emperor doesn't like Xbox or PlayStation. He's Nintendo all the way.

Still the situation was handled poorly by the GW employee. If you are going to have a store that is very much dedicated to teenagers then guess what, teenagers will come in and behave like teenagers. So the kid was passionate about some gaming console, big fething deal isnt this what you would expect?

There are 100 better ways of handling something like that. Many of the policies that are implemented in GW stores are draconian, which is a really stupid way to run a business, especially in the retail sector.

I disagree 100% with JWhex.

If a customer is not acting in a civil manner and is disrupting the other customers, you show him the door.

If he returns and behaves himself, reward him with a game of 40k.

JWhex wrote:
Still the situation was handled poorly by the GW employee. If you are going to have a store that is very much dedicated to teenagers then guess what, teenagers will come in and behave like teenagers. So the kid was passionate about some gaming console, big fething deal isnt this what you would expect?

There are 100 better ways of handling something like that. Many of the policies that are implemented in GW stores are draconian, which is a really stupid way to run a business, especially in the retail sector.

But since it seems a good portion of the OP's post is exaggerated one-sided BS, we have no way of knowing if the GW person handled it poorly.

Asking loud non-customers disrupting paying customers to 'please quiet down or take it outside' to which the person freaks out and potentially makes a scene doesn't seem like it is the store's fault. I have seen many loud non-customers thrown out of retail establishments and I am the first to give the manager feedback that I was appreciative that they got rid of that person to make my experience better.

It still seems like people actually thrown out of GW and FLGS stores always seem to be people who deserved to be via their own actions... And they come to the Internet to whine and then get busted. Same goes when people throw temper tantrums at Tourneys and then dog on the TO or the event, the truth always comes out.

I am skeptical about the OP's situation being as he described and it sounds like he may have been asked to stop being disruptive or leave in an appropriate manner and the problem is with him.

 kronk wrote:
I disagree 100% with JWhex.

If a customer is not acting in a civil manner and is disrupting the other customers, you show him the door.

If he returns and behaves himself, reward him with a game of 40k.

If he was talking too loud or in an animated manner you politely ask him to lower his voice you dont drop the "GRR GW ONLY IN HERE, GTFO" bomb on him. If he persists or is swearing that is a different situation. Also, it is not if the person was directly bothering the other customer or even realized he was bothering him.

So I guess I 100% disagree with your approach as an over reaction instead of just trying to smooth the situation over which takes an equal or less amount of energy and produces less drama and hard feelings.

Bullockist wrote:
The sad thing about this experience by the OP is that it reinforces experiences that people have had in GWs in the past ( i remember similar crap happening in the 1990s).

GW do not understand how to make sales. The easiest way to make sales is to drop most sales techniques, establish a relationship with someone, then hit them with all the sales BS. You can't establish a true relationship with someone if you only talk about the product , that is the antithesis of establishing a relationship , and most people find being bombarded with product annoying.

Just my 2 cents having been a door to door salesman and a phone salesman.

When the manager of Rotherham was at Lincoln i would go in have a chat buy some stuff and leave happy. Last time i went i got a lot of pressure sales talk got pissed off and bought nothing. not been in since and buy my stuff online now

We don't know that he didn't ask the guy to calm down once or 10 times.

We also don't know that he's been asked several times in the past to keep it down. He is a regular customer.

They may have a no F-Bombs policy and have to enforce it with an iron fist.

Lots of unknowns, and we certainly don't have to agree on it, either way.

I can only imagine what that twerp would have done had I been talking about my ChapterHouse rhino doors! Hehehe

I talked about my Chapterhouse true scale SM in my GW, and I even have the okay to play with them there.

Of course I also went out of my way to have my models cleared by the manager before even bringing them up there. I talked to them about all my other models to make sure they followed the % rule about third party bits, and then I specifically told him about the PA marines and told him "only the legs are third party, but they are a company currently being sued by GW so I understand if you don't want me to bring them in here." He was okay with me playing them in the store and our official story (should anybody ask) is that they are an out-of-production Forge World thing. Like I said, my GW has had two cool managers. Of course that might also come down to two things:

1) as a customer I respect that it is a GW branded store, and I know that while I am there to enjoy the space to play I am also a de-facto advertisement for the game.
2) I clear things before to make sure that there is no problem, and I leave my third-party counts as models at home and make sure that what I do bring follows the rules. Their house, their rules.

Lutharr101 wrote:

blood lance wrote:

Lutharr101 wrote:
How about posting that it was the 3rd time you had been to the shop that day?
How about pointing out that you had already told the lad running the shop that ya wasnt purchasing anything til the following week as you were skint?
How about mentioning the fact that ya went into GW and was ranting on about console stuff to the point that it was another PAYING customer who had enough of listening to it so actually asked the lad running the store if he could deal with it.
How about manning up and not acting like a kid when asked politely if ya could stop.

Since i go into the shop regularly and have NEVER had any issues with the full time manager or and covering staff I think more than likely ya just easily butthurt.

The amount of sheer presumption in this post is ridiculous.
You have no evidence he was ranting; You weren't there. You have no proof another customer asked them to leave. He isn't "Being childish" By making a formal complaint. The fact you used to term "Butthurt" Towards the end completely removed your credibility altogether.

not really since i was talking to the chap who complained. I know as a FACT not a guess

And i never said or even suggested another customer asked for them to leave. Re-read if that helps

Well considering your facts wrong... (or aimed at the wrong person) I feel inclined to reply.

Firstly:
a) "How about posting that it was the 3rd time you had been to the shop that day?"

It was the first time I'd been into GW in weeks. I don't get chance to go in much because of work. I'd only got off work at half 2 and we got there around 3. I'd also like to point out the fact that I was never ONCE asked to be quiet. I had not been into that store multiple times in that day. I had been in once during that day. Perhaps one of the other fellows that were there had been in multiple times, but you are wrong in your assumptions. or you have been informed incorrectly.

b) "How about pointing out that you had already told the lad running the shop that ya wasnt purchasing anything til the following week as you were skint?"

Yes, I personally had told the GW staff member I wasn't buying anything today because I was skint. I say that EVERY SINGLE TIME I go into GW. Because firstly, I don't want them pushing sales on me. It irritates me. But every single time, I come out having bought something. Even if it is just one pot of paint.. I actually have some Tau fire warriors on order from Wayland games. They have taken 3 weeks to still not deliver the items I am awaiting. I was going to call them and cancel had they still not dispatched them, and pick up the items while I was in Rotherham as the £3 saving was certainly not worth waiting a month for items.

c) "How about mentioning the fact that ya went into GW and was ranting on about console stuff to the point that it was another PAYING customer who had enough of listening to it so actually asked the lad running the store if he could deal with it.
How about manning up and not acting like a kid when asked politely if ya could stop."

I, for one, was never asked once to quieten down. Politely or otherwise. That I was making too much noise or that I was disturbing other customers. I was advised, loudly, by an arrogant member of staff, that I was not allowed to discuss "non GW related hobbys" in a GW store. There was nothing polite about it. The guy running the shop was more interested in sitting with a female customer who was painting than addressing the fact my friend had come here to buy some paints. Even when prompted, my friend ended up asking another customer in the store to compare paints with him.

d) "Since i go into the shop regularly and have NEVER had any issues with the full time manager or and covering staff I think more than likely ya just easily butthurt"

Let me underline something. I am not for one minute saying anything bad about the Rotherham store itself, or the guy who usually runs it. I am not trying to tarnish it's reputation or smear anything negative around it. But that guy was out of line in my opinion. I came here with my experience, wondering if anyone had seen anything in common.


The whole thing has left a sour taste in my mouth.

(I'll add more later when I get chance. It's a bit ridiculous that it's been responded to in this manner I'll be honest.)

Edit:

I just wanted to point out I certainly wasn't swearing. There was a customer with a young baby in the store. I have a daughter. I'm not entirely unaware of the effects of swearing around children.
And we didn't come into the store and start ranting about consoles.. Someone was telling me about the PS4 advert during E3 when we were talked to like children.

I spent a good 45 minutes talking strategy and counter strategy with an eldar player before that!

Well ive gone over the top in some jokes etc while being in the shop and have been politelty asked to calm it down or flat out refrain from speaking such and Ive never had the urge to post up a thread slating them. Maybe cos at 37 Im mature enough to realise when Ive over stepped a mark.

Lets face it, contray to what alot of people try to project. GW stores are buinsesses not glorified drop in centres. Their life blood is the pound and pence. Without those stores being open these managers and staff memeber are on the dole queue.

Lutharr101 wrote:
Well ive gone over the top in some jokes etc while being in the shop and have been politelty asked to calm it down or flat out refrain from speaking such and Ive never had the urge to post up a thread slating them. Maybe cos at 37 Im mature enough to realise when Ive over stepped a mark.

Lets face it, contray to what alot of people try to project. GW stores are buinsesses not glorified drop in centres. Their life blood is the pound and pence. Without those stores being open these managers and staff memeber are on the dole queue.

We'd just come from work to pick up some paints.
Got talking about eldar.
Someone commented on E3, it was discussed for 2 minutes and we were told off.

Edit: Maybe it was even longer. Maybe it was 5 minutes. But it wasn't long enough for me to be told anything about that advert.

Lutharr101 wrote:
Well ive gone over the top in some jokes etc while being in the shop and have been politelty asked to calm it down or flat out refrain from speaking such and Ive never had the urge to post up a thread slating them. Maybe cos at 37 Im mature enough to realise when Ive over stepped a mark.

Lets face it, contray to what alot of people try to project. GW stores are buinsesses not glorified drop in centres. Their life blood is the pound and pence. Without those stores being open these managers and staff memeber are on the dole queue.

That's not what GW themselves say. They refer to their stores as "hobby centres" where you can come in and have natter. If they stop this, then what is their purpose? Everything else they provide can be bought online from their own website or cheaper elsewhere.

@Pitboy. Lincoln's glory days are long behind it. The old guard of Ollie, Tim, Stu, Morty etc. have all moved on. I was in today to *attempt* to look at the new Eldar stuff IRL all there was in there were the manager and 2 other staff I'd never seen before. I was immediately given the "He's just here to mooch" look (esp. after I was somewhat coy as to what my parcel contained which was the parts for an Extremoth. I was simply showing a little tact and not mentioning PP products instore. Go figure ) by all 3. I got my paints then got out.

I'm not sure GW realise how intimidating a store that has nothing but staff in it can be. You want to promote this as a social hobby then don't let people come in your stores except to buy stuff. That plan is about as nutty as squirrel gak to me....

I don't get how customers are being scared away by enthusiatic kids talking loudy about video games.

I am not talking about this case specifically but in general. Customers aren't wild deer spooked by movement or loud noises for goodness sake.

I must say I've spent quite a lot of time loitering in GW Glasgow and have never experienced anything like this.

 d-usa wrote:


1) as a customer I respect that it is a GW branded store, and I know that while I am there to enjoy the space to play I am also a de-facto advertisement for the game.
2) I clear things before to make sure that there is no problem, and I leave my third-party counts as models at home and make sure that what I do bring follows the rules. Their house, their rules.

I have a lot of ork 3rd party stuff too, and I took basically the same approach. They are generally OK with some head swaps here and there and all my old Epicast stuff, but it is not appropriate (and I agree) to show up in GW with straight up 100% non GW models. And if they ask me to put away models because they are non-GW, I do it and don't get upset about it.

It has never really been a big deal unless someone *makes* it a big deal, usually by making a scene in response to a reasonable request like "no Cursing, Don't loiter, don't loudly walk around the tiny store talking at full volume while on the phone, don't use or heavily promote 3rd party models, or don't be a generally disruptive pain in the ass."

 Holy~Heretic wrote:
I don't get how customers are being scared away by enthusiatic kids talking loudy about video games.

If it is a small store (I've never been there), or if they are being particularly loud as to impede other people's discussions, or otherwise be disruptive, then I think that the staff have every right to ask them to quieten down, or ask them to vacate the premises.

nkelsch wrote:

 d-usa wrote:


1) as a customer I respect that it is a GW branded store, and I know that while I am there to enjoy the space to play I am also a de-facto advertisement for the game.
2) I clear things before to make sure that there is no problem, and I leave my third-party counts as models at home and make sure that what I do bring follows the rules. Their house, their rules.

I have a lot of ork 3rd party stuff too, and I took basically the same approach. They are generally OK with some head swaps here and there and all my old Epicast stuff, but it is not appropriate (and I agree) to show up in GW with straight up 100% non GW models. And if they ask me to put away models because they are non-GW, I do it and don't get upset about it.

It has never really been a big deal unless someone *makes* it a big deal, usually by making a scene in response to a reasonable request like "no Cursing, Don't loiter, don't loudly walk around the tiny store talking at full volume while on the phone, don't use or heavily promote 3rd party models, or don't be a generally disruptive pain in the ass."

The old epic cast stuff was licensed by GW so they should be cool with that.

JWhex wrote:

nkelsch wrote:

 d-usa wrote:


1) as a customer I respect that it is a GW branded store, and I know that while I am there to enjoy the space to play I am also a de-facto advertisement for the game.
2) I clear things before to make sure that there is no problem, and I leave my third-party counts as models at home and make sure that what I do bring follows the rules. Their house, their rules.

I have a lot of ork 3rd party stuff too, and I took basically the same approach. They are generally OK with some head swaps here and there and all my old Epicast stuff, but it is not appropriate (and I agree) to show up in GW with straight up 100% non GW models. And if they ask me to put away models because they are non-GW, I do it and don't get upset about it.

It has never really been a big deal unless someone *makes* it a big deal, usually by making a scene in response to a reasonable request like "no Cursing, Don't loiter, don't loudly walk around the tiny store talking at full volume while on the phone, don't use or heavily promote 3rd party models, or don't be a generally disruptive pain in the ass."

The old epic cast stuff was licensed by GW so they should be cool with that.

You'd think so, but when it's older than many of GW's current staff; who will simply not even try to have a discussion with you about it under threat of you getting kicked out.

So, yeah...

I've never even seen an actual GW store.

After years of hearing about how terrible they are, I hope I never do.

 DeffDred wrote:
I've never even seen an actual GW store.

After years of hearing about how terrible they are, I hope I never do.

Because people will only report bad news...

The store in the OP I can imagine is great, simply due to Liam (the normal manager) being an all round top bloke, GW, like a lot of retail outlets has it's fair share of douchnozzles, it's just they can thrive, and even rule, in GW's toxic corporate culture.

things that did not happen: this story. Honestly, who believes this? I know you all think GW is the devil incarnate, but I really have a hard time believing any shop keeper would be this pedantic and juvenile. OP invented this story to smear GW, probably an associate of Chapterhouse or some such nonsense.

775B53 wrote:
things that did not happen: this story. Honestly, who believes this? I know you all think GW is the devil incarnate, but I really have a hard time believing any shop keeper would be this pedantic and juvenile. OP invented this story to smear GW, probably an associate of Chapterhouse or some such nonsense.

DEFEND THE KEEP!

Similar incidents have been reported in many other threads over the years. This is not an isolated incident.

Edited by AgeOfEgos

 DeffDred wrote:
I've never even seen an actual GW store.

After years of hearing about how terrible they are, I hope I never do.

Its not that big of an issue for those of us that live in the USA since GW stores are rare. There is a GW store about 60 miles from where I live and that is as close as I have ever been near one. Based on their facebook postings and responses it does sound like they have their fans, so they cant be that bad if people are going to their events and posting they had a good time.

With all the flgs in the area they would go out of business pretty quick if they behaved like some of the UK stores.

A lot of the stuff that GW apologists defend as store practices seriously would not fly in the US. I am as astonished at what some GW defenders say as I am at many of the practices in place at SOME GW stores.

Disruptive or not, I'm not really seeing how asking if it was a "hobby related discussion" was an appropriate question to ask, if he was moving the OP along for being disruptive, then he was being disruptive regardless of the subject matter of the conversation. Either they are being disruptive and should be asked to leave, or they are not.

Still, not like there's anything you can do about it. just another anecdote about how bad someone's experience in a GW was. At least this particular thread didn't make the common mistake of assuming it was some blanket dictat from Nottingham to all stores.

(oh and incidentally it was a hobby-related discussion, video games are a hobby)

775B53 wrote:
things that did not happen: this story. Honestly, who believes this? I know you all think GW is the devil incarnate, but I really have a hard time believing any shop keeper would be this pedantic and juvenile. OP invented this story to smear GW, probably an associate of Chapterhouse or some such nonsense.

I had the same disbelief.
I actually love GW and its products.

But, it happened. It's sad, but true.

ascended_mike wrote:
I, for one, was never asked once to quieten down. Politely or otherwise. That I was making too much noise or that I was disturbing other customers. I was advised, loudly, by an arrogant member of staff, that I was not allowed to discuss "non GW related hobbys" in a GW store. There was nothing polite about it. The guy running the shop was more interested in sitting with a female customer who was painting than addressing the fact my friend had come here to buy some paints. Even when prompted, my friend ended up asking another customer in the store to compare paints with him.

6
This, he was basically not paying attention to the store. He was that interested in the female customer that was there, that I could have put the paint in my pocket, and left and he wouldn't have been the wiser.

We had only just got to the store, and if it makes you happy, ill take a picture of the ticket I paid for, for parking. Will that be proof enough that I got there after 2:30 and not been before there multiple times. I could take a picture of my schedule for work that day if it pleases you Lutharr.

Honestly mate, if you are going to comment on a matter, please get your facts straight. I would have bought more from the store but they weren't carrying the models I am looking for(Ork Meganobz). So I just bought paints, my biggest gripe is the fact that not once did he offer to help me or even ASK if i was ok. That is poor customer service. The fact that he went all dictator on us and basically told us to leave because he didn't like it(or some other customer), was wrong, never talk down to your customers, talk to them like an adult, and you get respect back. He did not show ANY respect to the 4 of us that were talking there. It wasn't a loud conversation and if he had said, "can you keep it down lads" then we could have, we probably would have moved the top of conversation on. Considering there is a WHFB game coming out in the future(based around Rome Total War) we could have talked about that.

Liam never would have had an issue with the coversation that we were having. He would have joined in, considering the conversations we have had with him before, I honestly think this guy is a douche.

Which one of the 4-5 people at the back of the store were you then? Did you even notice me looking at the paints for at least 10 minutes? I bet ya didn't and neither did the guy running the store. If he is such a shining example of not doing anything wrong, please give me his name so I can send in a letter of reccomendation for promotion for this guy because clearly I am wrong about him!

Charax wrote:
Disruptive or not, I'm not really seeing how asking if it was a "hobby related discussion" was an appropriate question to ask, if he was moving the OP along for being disruptive, then he was being disruptive regardless of the subject matter of the conversation. Either they are being disruptive and should be asked to leave, or they are not.

Still, not like there's anything you can do about it. just another anecdote about how bad someone's experience in a GW was. At least this particular thread didn't make the common mistake of assuming it was some blanket dictat from Nottingham to all stores.

(oh and incidentally it was a hobby-related discussion, video games are a hobby)

That is exactly what my friend said to the GW guy as we were leaving.