To GW Chester, A letter of concern

This is my account of what happened on Wednesday 14th August.

I took the bus into Chester and arrived at the store at around 11 o'clock. I went into the store with the intention to buy an army figure case, but upon seeing it was out of stock I decided to wait until my dad came out of work to ask him to order one in for me. The member of staff welcomed me but was engrossed in watching a game. I greeted my friend playing the game and decided to watch the game until its finish, then play a game with him.

After the game finished my friend and I were discussing point limits and such and began to place models on the table. Upon rolling for mysterious objectives I realized I didn't have my Main Rulebook with me (it wouldn't fit in the smaller case I brought with me in anticipation of bringing a new figure case home) and my friend didn't either so another friend offered to let us use his. The member of staff then came along and told us to pack up because we didn't have our own main rulebooks. I explained why I didn't have mine, he remarked ''Should have bought a bigger case'', I pointed out the irony that I intended to buy one that same day. He said ''not my problem''. My friend, who had come in specifically to play some games, decided he would leave. I thought I could wait in the store until my dad got off work or one of my buses home was due.

I sat down on my figure box near the painting table and began to work from my codices on new army and purchase lists. After a few minutes the staff member came up to me and asked what I was doing, I told him I was creating an army list. He said ''You could do that at home, have you got anything to paint?''. I replied that I had not brought my painting equipment. He said I would have to find something to do otherwise I would have to leave. I reminded him I was creating an army list. He walked away to talk to a customer. I continued making an army list. When the customer was gone, he called to me ''I am serious, either find something to do or you have to go''. I said I was waiting for my bus, he said ''Well this isn't a day care, either buy some painting equipment or you have to go''. I said that wasn't fair, he remarked ''Life's not fair''. I then said that it's also not in GW's policy of 'We encourage people to come in and play, paint and collect our hobby in our stores', he said that if I didn't leave he would call the police. I asked what he was kicking me out for, he said for ''Doing Nothing''. I once again said this wasn't fair and that I had nowhere to go, he simply said to take it up with you. I said gladly and left.

I waited 1 hour 45 minutes at a bus stop until a bus came to take me home. My normal bus came later at 5 so the bus I caught dropped me off about 45 minutes away from my house. On the way home several of my models found themselves broke by the mileage, although I don't think I can blame that unfortunate consequence on him directly but this understandably soured my day further. Now I am not sure if what he said and did were within his rights to do, they probably were, but I believe how I was treated was not fair to a loyal customer or any customer at all.

I come to the Games Workshop store because of the friendly staff, welcoming environment and like-minded people. These are the things that make the hobby for me as much as the hobby itself, but if the store were to change from the friendly and welcoming environment I am accustomed to, I'd be forced to move to online discount suppliers. People pay the added premium because the Hobby centres are places to pursue the hobby with the help and guidance of friendly staff, and I was disappointed to find, for the first time in many years, that this wasn't the case.


I dearly hope this doesn't occur often, as I know it has never happened before with either you or Adam, so I can continue returning to my favourite hobby in my favourite hobby store again and again.



Highest regards.
Alex Wallace