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 WillyBRags wrote:
it's kinda funny...my friend was at the games workshop store in halifax nova scotia in the last couple weeks (I just seen him today after a chunk of time) and he was telling me how he was being harassed by a worker there to buy something....so I'm starting to figure that's how games workshop people are suppose to act....like used car sales men

about the whole child thing....if the people know you are there usually spending money and you just want to browse or do something related to the hobby they should just piss off....I say the op should go back there at night with a huge rock and smash the place! lol probably not a good idea...rage against the machine man!

Your post screams 12 year old. An adult would not advise using a rock on a store they disagree with.

They would use a hammer.

Silly adult putting his hammer hand near smashing glass, should've used a rock or a....gun?

 notprop wrote:

 azreal13 wrote:

PredaKhaine wrote:

 azreal13 wrote:

 SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
I work retail

Like a beam of light from the heavens, all becomes clear.

Please tell me what that means?

I'm assuming his attitude is because he works a gakky job in a gakky store and he resents his customers, hence the bitterness.

In fact the whole picture I'm getting is the "dead end job, lives in mom's basement, spends all his money on Warhams and all his time being anonymously rude to people to try and make himself feel better" vibe right now.

It's ok Solofalcon, its ok. There, there, let it out, we can't all be Unicorns.

Your being somewhat rude too. Is this a case of you're shouting loudest therefore you're right?

Oh and excusing him for working retail and being rude should make it somewhat easier for you to see the point he is making, no?

Turnabout is fair play, and there's a whole world of difference between taking the piss, hence my smiley and the abrasive, blunt and abrupt manner he frequently employs.

I have, like Solofalcon, worked entirely in retail or hospitality my entire career (albeit at management level for a goodly portion of it) and I completely disagree with any "point" that might lie behind his comments.

Unless someone is outright rude, disruptive or acting in a criminal manner (and this does happen) you never throw someone out! Even if they don't buy something today, you always do your utmost to give them a positive experience to enhance the chances of their business in future.

I've even sent potential customers to competitors if I wasn't in a position to help them with their specific needs, because in 6 months time, all they'll really remember is that my store was friendly and helpful.

Much like GW though, this employee has apparently taken the short term view of take his money now, sod if he comes back in the future, which I guess makes him some sort of success of their training program.

j.d.hart wrote:

Fenrir Kitsune wrote:
One sided original story is one sided. I'd like to hear the full thing before jumping up and denouncing GW staff and policies.

The kid could have been a total gobshite for all we know.

Judging by the fact he posted here, in a VERY civil manor (especially for a youth) and described the situation in the manor he did, I would venture to guess that this was a case of "discrimination" by a cranky neckbeard.

I would venture to say no...anyone can be polite when expressing their own story. Then we find out in reality they were total wastes of human skin.

 SoloFalcon1138 wrote:

 ThePrimordial wrote:

 SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
Quit whining because you were asked not to loiter. Remember why any store exists: making money. It isn't a library or a lounge.

I've had experience with you and I have an honest question: Why are you such an argumentative ass? Seriously be nicer, damn.
In the end here the manager is in the wrong because he could have added something to the army and bought a wraithknight or whatever big ticket item.
The FLGS is indeed a place to hang out, GW stores aren't of the same kin though.

I'm argumentative when people are obviously acting foolish and asinine. This kid is complaining because he was asked to leave a store he was loitering in. When people think that a game store entitles them to lounge around and get indignant when asked to pateonize the business or leave, it is ridiculous. The OP was whining because he was asked to leave and then was arguing with the employee. I work retail, and we have asked people to leave who are just loitering in the store, its well within a store's rights.

Strange, since the first post, you haven't actually responded directly to me, you have offered no help to my situation other then 'Stop moaning' and have in my opinion been biased against what ever I post. I was not originally, in your opinion, loitering because I was playing a game. He then decided to ask to see my rule book (This is fine I guess, but why he would ask me specifically is beyond me) I said I couldn't fit one in my current case so I was sharing with my friend I was playing, he then told me to pack up. I don't understand why you are calling the Hobby centres 'Gaming Stores'. No where on the gamesworkshop website does it refer to its stores as 'Gaming' stores, but in several places does it refer to them as hobby centres. These stores also advertise a 'Come in and play' to people of all ages, so if a new person to the hobby came in to play, but didn't buy the Rulebook, should we assume little Timmy can't play either, even with his parents supervision? Because I little voice is telling me that the new player wouldn't of been asked about where HIS rulebook was. The store advertises itself for people to come in and play, paint and collect, I was getting indigent over the fact he was asking me to leave when I was fulfilling 2 of these 3 criteria as well as regularly patronizing this store. Sure you may of worked in retail, but unless you worked in retail for a GW or Independent hobby centre, then your experience and what a hobby store employee would be expected to do may well be different things. Work in retail all you like, but from your obvious dislike of people, please don't branch into customer service.

In reply to what I meant when I said I got agitated, I meant I began to argue my point rather then just getting up and leaving straight away. Maybe I should of just left without question, as some of you are saying, but I strongly believed what he was doing was unfair. If what he was doing was within his rights to do or not, I think if something is unfair to anyone, it should be questioned, that's how I was brought up. I understand this would probably not make me a good house or car salesmen because of how they usually 'sugar-coat' the truth behind there wears.

Alex

 Grimtuff wrote:

 aliusexalio wrote:

 SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
Quit whining because you were asked not to loiter. Remember why any store exists: making money. It isn't a library or a lounge.

The kids 14, give him a break.

Have you not read the thread? At 14 he should be toiling in the fields whilst the fiery ball is in the sky!

At least according to some...

Now there is someone who understands. This thread should not be about GW's handling of a 14 year old. It should be about whether or not this 14 year is going to get his 6th anniversay cupcake in the mine itself or topside.

 azreal13 wrote:

....Unless someone is outright rude, disruptive or acting in a criminal manner (and this does happen) you never throw someone out! Even if they don't buy something today, you always do your utmost to give them a positive experience to enhance the chances of their business in future.

I've even sent potential customers to competitors if I wasn't in a position to help them with their specific needs, because in 6 months time, all they'll really remember is that my store was friendly and helpful.

Much like GW though, this employee has apparently taken the short term view of take his money now, sod if he comes back in the future, which I guess makes him some sort of success of their training program.

Indeed you are right, but the leap that many (including myself) have made is that unless someone is doing something out of the ordinary (ala the type of activities you denote) why would push the proverbial big red button and eject/threaten police. The Op has indicated that he was crossing the line between acceptable behaviour and not (becoming agitated). There is something missing from this tale, me I like to fill it with DRAMA!

I also worked in a customer facing job pre-Career as a Nightclub Doorman. Now that was customer service with a (gappy) smile!

 ALEXisAWESOME wrote:

 SoloFalcon1138 wrote:

 ThePrimordial wrote:

 SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
Quit whining because you were asked not to loiter. Remember why any store exists: making money. It isn't a library or a lounge.

I've had experience with you and I have an honest question: Why are you such an argumentative ass? Seriously be nicer, damn.
In the end here the manager is in the wrong because he could have added something to the army and bought a wraithknight or whatever big ticket item.
The FLGS is indeed a place to hang out, GW stores aren't of the same kin though.

I'm argumentative when people are obviously acting foolish and asinine. This kid is complaining because he was asked to leave a store he was loitering in. When people think that a game store entitles them to lounge around and get indignant when asked to pateonize the business or leave, it is ridiculous. The OP was whining because he was asked to leave and then was arguing with the employee. I work retail, and we have asked people to leave who are just loitering in the store, its well within a store's rights.

Strange, since the first post, you haven't actually responded directly to me, you have offered no help to my situation other then 'Stop moaning' and have in my opinion been biased against what ever I post. I was not originally, in your opinion, loitering because I was playing a game. He then decided to ask to see my rule book (This is fine I guess, but why he would ask me specifically is beyond me) I said I couldn't fit one in my current case so I was sharing with my friend I was playing, he then told me to pack up. I don't understand why you are calling the Hobby centres 'Gaming Stores'. No where on the gamesworkshop website does it refer to its stores as 'Gaming' stores, but in several places does it refer to them as hobby centres. These stores also advertise a 'Come in and play' to people of all ages, so if a new person to the hobby came in to play, but didn't buy the Rulebook, should we assume little Timmy can't play either, even with his parents supervision? Because I little voice is telling me that the new player wouldn't of been asked about where HIS rulebook was. The store advertises itself for people to come in and play, paint and collect, I was getting indigent over the fact he was asking me to leave when I was fulfilling 2 of these 3 criteria as well as regularly patronizing this store. Sure you may of worked in retail, but unless you worked in retail for a GW or Independent hobby centre, then your experience and what a hobby store employee would be expected to do may well be different things. Work in retail all you like, but from your obvious dislike of people, please don't branch into customer service.

In the OP - Why did the staff guy threaten to call the police?
What did you mean by agitated? is agitated angry and discousive or is agitated smacking the employee with his own pc for being a douche?

In all honesty, I think you've alreday got the right of it - speak to the manager.

At 15 pages I think this has been discussed appropriately, with opinions recycling heavily at this point. Two ways to see it, just depends on personal values where you fall.

Locking it up

Re-opening as there is new info.

I warn you all to treat each other civilly and focus on the matter at hand and not attacking each others opinions over and over.

The interesting thing about GW is while they're greedy by even corporate standards, they're still very selective and intend to drive away certain niches of customers. Frankly put, they do not want the money of older veteran gamer-orientated customers. Or if they do, they simply want you to order it online and stay away from their stores. The management has a huge disdain for the aforementioned group.

 MajorTom11 wrote:
Re-opening as there is new info.

Where is the new info? I can't see anything new in the OP, nor in a post since it was unlocked

 motyak wrote:

 MajorTom11 wrote:
Re-opening as there is new info.

Where is the new info? I can't see anything new in the OP, nor in a post since it was unlocked

Maybe OP alerted MajorTom so that he could post new info but, prehaps due to differing time zones, by the time it was unlocked OP was not able to post the new information up?

 Harriticus wrote:
The interesting thing about GW is while they're greedy by even corporate standards, they're still very selective and intend to drive away certain niches of customers. Frankly put, they do not want the money of older veteran gamer-orientated customers. Or if they do, they simply want you to order it online and stay away from their stores. The management has a huge disdain for the aforementioned group.

Yeah totally.

 redkeyboard wrote:

 motyak wrote:

 MajorTom11 wrote:
Re-opening as there is new info.

Where is the new info? I can't see anything new in the OP, nor in a post since it was unlocked

Maybe OP alerted MajorTom so that he could post new info but, prehaps due to differing time zones, by the time it was unlocked OP was not able to post the new information up?

Darn you and your sense making

 redkeyboard wrote:

 motyak wrote:

 MajorTom11 wrote:
Re-opening as there is new info.

Where is the new info? I can't see anything new in the OP, nor in a post since it was unlocked

Maybe OP alerted MajorTom so that he could post new info but, prehaps due to differing time zones, by the time it was unlocked OP was not able to post the new information up?

I was thinking similar, especially as Alex is only 14, he won't be up til the wee small hours.

Will be interested to see what's occurred, as it was me who originally PMed Tom and suggested he send Alex a message that if he wanted to reopen the thread to post a resolution, to get in touch.

Tom agreed, so I guess that has happened, we'll probably have to wait til tomorrow now.

Honestly, I think it's best to always assume 14 year olds are at least a little bit full of gak.

 cincydooley wrote:
Honestly, I think it's best to always assume 14 year olds are at least a little bit full of gak.

I think its best to assume everyone is full of a little bit of gak. Some more than others

Having taught 14 year olds for 5 years, I can safely say that based on my experience they rank highly ;-). That any anyone that calls themselves a "trader" as a profession.

I used to teach military history, military science, and role playing games to folks around that age, but then it was at a program for the gifted and talented, so my sample may be biased.

I miss that program, been more than a decade since it folded....

The Auld Grump

Well, things have moved along a bit. I went into the store this weekend thinking I would simply let it go and never see him again, but then the Store manager asked me for a written letter of complaint. I said I didn't really want to take it that far, given I am unlikely to see him again. He then said that he would like a letter from me because some other people have complained FOR me and he wanted to hear the story from me. I was a little surprised to be honest, I never thought anyone would go so far to write in and complain to the manager about the substitute for me. But I've decided that if some other people took my side, who although he didn't say there names, then I should at least give an account of what happened.

I think I will keep the letter brief and simply explain circumstances without bias (So without adjectives it seems ) so he can get the full picture. Would anyone be up for reviewing my letter when I finish it? I would like someone to point out grammatical errors Word may miss and say if I sound demanding or 'Entitled' which I wouldn't want.

Thanks.

Edit: Sorry I'm late, I was waiting on a PM notification from the Mod, never thought to actually check the Thread (Doh!).

I'll check.it if you like.

See, now if other people were complaining for you?

That makes the incident far more believable.

And I'll gladly review the letter you're writing, if you want.

I'll write it if you like!

Hope if things were correct from your perspective the jerk learns to have a change of attitude.

I'm happy to proof read your letter. I have a degree in English and several published short stories, so am, in essence a complete grammar nazi.

I've personally hung out in a GW store all day and not bought anything. They never kicked me out. In many of the stores I go to they let you sit down and read through the codex's while you are waiting. I've read almost every fantasy codex in this fashion.
I do find it annoying however that the second you step in through the door you are assailed by a horde of sweaty shop assistants begging you to buy their products.

I know right, It's almost as if their jobs depend upon it?

Yes but they are so persistent and obtrusive it makes me want to leave. Not a very effective strategy.

Others have already chimed in, but I'm also certified to be a high school English teacher, and I can be a total grammar Nazi too, so I'd be happy to help proofread as well. I'd only let you know of punctuation and spelling errors, as I'm not going to suggest word changes (unless something looks potentially very offensive) as it's your letter, and should totally be in your own words. What is your time factor for having it reviewed? Work this week will be busy until Thursday evening, so I may not be your best bet, but if you can wait that long, I can certainly help out.