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 Azreal13 wrote:

stormboy wrote:
If you are buying a bunch of stuff anyway, getting something for free is better than getting nothing for free...

If you have no plans on buying anything, well... I guess you wouldn't get anything regardless.

Which makes it a lousy incentive.

It would be nice if they just did it, with no fanfare and just let people be surprised when it arrived, which I dare say many other companies will do over the next few weeks across all sorts of sectors, but they're promoting limited edition packaging.

It just boggles every commerce orientated part of my brain.

It really shouldn't.

You understand that the Christmas season is coming up. Things like this are functionally no different than the "Gift Wrapping Kiosk" that a large number of department stores have. Given how hamfisted they went for online bundles this year, alongside of the emphasis they put on the in-store ordering point, the gift lists that they have people fill out at their stores, etc--this is actually a pretty logical move.

But hey. Let's just keep complaining that they're packing things in a special box.

 Kanluwen wrote:


But hey. Let's just keep complaining that they're packing things in a special box.

Except that very specifically wasn't my point, but as your shields are obviously already engaged, we'll leave it there.

 Avatar 720 wrote:

 insaniak wrote:

 Pacific wrote:

alphaecho wrote:
All the fuss over a free box...I just don't get it.

It's because GW are making a fuss over it.

This. Most companies don't bother sending out promotional messages to tell potential customers that their orders will be packed into a box.

"You will also receive a custom-printed invoice free of charge!"

Enjoy it while it lasts, in the new year they'll probably charge for the Citadel Branded invoices...


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 Kanluwen wrote:

 Azreal13 wrote:

stormboy wrote:
If you are buying a bunch of stuff anyway, getting something for free is better than getting nothing for free...

If you have no plans on buying anything, well... I guess you wouldn't get anything regardless.

Which makes it a lousy incentive.

It would be nice if they just did it, with no fanfare and just let people be surprised when it arrived, which I dare say many other companies will do over the next few weeks across all sorts of sectors, but they're promoting limited edition packaging.

It just boggles every commerce orientated part of my brain.

It really shouldn't.

You understand that the Christmas season is coming up. Things like this are functionally no different than the "Gift Wrapping Kiosk" that a large number of department stores have. Given how hamfisted they went for online bundles this year, alongside of the emphasis they put on the in-store ordering point, the gift lists that they have people fill out at their stores, etc--this is actually a pretty logical move.

But hey. Let's just keep complaining that they're packing things in a special box.

Well, you don't have to spend £100 to get things gift wrapped at a kiosk either, you just pay a fiver or whatever. And they don't advertise it as if it's some awesome promotion.

 Kirasu wrote:
It's not a free box first of all. This "free gift" costs you the difference in discounts you aren't getting because you choose to buy from GW direct. Do people still do that? Why would you not get 20% off from warstore or something similar?

So, no, this box is not free. It costs you 20% of your order.

This. A zillion times this. I don't understand why anyone buys direct from GW.

Its an insultingly crappy promotion, considering they're making more off each sale than they do through retail channels. At least Wyrd gives you exclusive minis when you get gouged for the extra 20-30% from not buying pretty much anywhere else.

A bit off topic: what the hell is that yellow troll/demon thing that's appearing on all of GW's new useless merchandise from?

 Harriticus wrote:
A bit off topic: what the hell is that yellow troll/demon thing that's appearing on all of GW's new useless merchandise from?

It's the golden daemon, from the painting awards of the same name.

Ooooooooh a box!

Now that is handy, I can ship off my some of my larger Ebay auctions in that, some lucky Ebayer is going to get absolutely spoiled by me.

But hey its the Christmas season after all.

A box. Better than nothing.

Maybe when I give out my Christmas presents this year I should tell everyone that it also includes a free box.

Everyone will be so impressed. Free boxs ....... what an great age we live in.........

And when you open the box, a tom jumps out and claws you in the eyes. You know, Kirby's cat.

No, it's a spy box with a built-in chip and antenna that will record conversation and send it to a GW cloud.
GW will not listen? Pah.

 streamdragon wrote:
Yeah, from my reading of the email this morning, the promotion is just literally a decorated delivery box. I had to read it twice to be sure, because it seemed too ludicrous to be true.

That's the way I read it too.

I don't think it is the delivery box. The GW app states it is not sealed, so it can't be the box that it is delivered in.

Otherwise, anyone could open the box and take your 150 dollars worth of stuff (or 100 pounds or whatever).

 Azreal13 wrote:
Except that very specifically wasn't my point, but as your shields are obviously already engaged, we'll leave it there.

GW Non Potest Peccare, remember?

 Rolt wrote:
Now that is handy, I can ship off my some of my larger Ebay auctions in that, some lucky Ebayer is going to get absolutely spoiled by me.

It doesn't look like its particularly re-usable... It has a tear-off strip to open it.

stormboy wrote:
I don't think it is the delivery box. The GW app states it is not sealed, so it can't be the box that it is delivered in.

Otherwise, anyone could open the box and take your 150 dollars worth of stuff (or 100 pounds or whatever).

Possibly, but you'd need to have a postman/delivery guy with a use for 7 Space Marines and half a Codex for that to be a problem.


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 H.B.M.C. wrote:

 Azreal13 wrote:
Except that very specifically wasn't my point, but as your shields are obviously already engaged, we'll leave it there.

GW Non Potest Peccare, remember?

Apparently!

Bossk_Hogg wrote:

 Kirasu wrote:
It's not a free box first of all. This "free gift" costs you the difference in discounts you aren't getting because you choose to buy from GW direct. Do people still do that? Why would you not get 20% off from warstore or something similar?

So, no, this box is not free. It costs you 20% of your order.

This. A zillion times this. I don't understand why anyone buys direct from GW.

Well, a lot of GW stuff is only available direct nowadays.

I dont see a problem but its a bit much pushing it as a promotion, although i guess technically it is one.

 Kirasu wrote:
It's not a free box first of all. This "free gift" costs you the difference in discounts you aren't getting because you choose to buy from GW direct. Do people still do that? Why would you not get 20% off from warstore or something similar?

So, no, this box is not free. It costs you 20% of your order.

Actually it's kinda gross how much stuff is direct only now. Even plastic kits including everything from beastmen ungors to IG basilisks.

The mark up is so high on these items FLGS don't get any benefits from stocking the blank white boxes and a messily 20% of for retailer.

geeze didn't know how much was direct. Figured it was just finecast junk.

 Theduke07 wrote:
Figured it was just finecast junk.

Even if it was, that's still a fairly significant chunk of the range.

Does it come with a free santa sled?

Meanwhile, the competition is priming up for special "Black Friday" releases and holiday bundles featuring competitive armies, rules, and tokens at a heavily discounted rate. So you, know, providing incentive to purchase versus a fancy box.

Don't forget- they aren't just offering a cardboard box, they're also offering a Christmas card.

Good god, it's just an awful promotion. I'd prefer to not get anything for free. Giving out a gakky cardboard box (which really isn't much better than the packaging the miniatures usually come in), is almost an insult. Crazy.

Insert "the more you tighten your grip, the more [customers] slip through your fingers" in reference to the massive number of kits in "direct-only."

Seriously, if they keep that up they will kill off most of their market share. Even the most ardent GW supporter often admits to buying at discount, I think the switch to direct only will only further the exodus of customers.

I'm also assuming this Christmas box does little (if not outright discourage) use of the GW B&M store, since I'm guessing things get bundle-shipped there.


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 Grimtuff wrote:
But the box is so alluring...

Came from the Grimtuff, was not disappointed.

 Kanluwen wrote:

You understand that the Christmas season is coming up. Things like this are functionally no different than the "Gift Wrapping Kiosk" that a large number of department stores have. Given how hamfisted they went for online bundles this year, alongside of the emphasis they put on the in-store ordering point, the gift lists that they have people fill out at their stores, etc--this is actually a pretty logical move.

But hey. Let's just keep complaining that they're packing things in a special box.

Gift wrapping serves an actual purpose those; it saves you the hassle of wrapping the gifts to give to people. They are usually a couple of £ and are often for charities.

This is a one-size, one-use, pre-printed shipping box, with your address printed on the outside and the invoice inside. Are people really going to give *that* to someone as a present? To get the invoice out, you have to tear the strip on the box. If it doesn't all fit, they'll maybe put it inside another box, so that you need to wrap them separately anyway. It's also going to be a bit of a giveaway as to what's in the box if you left it under the tree.

Having a special edition box is a good idea, it's called advertising - I get all sorts of things delivered in branded boxes (but to be honest I'd pay more for GW to send me stuff in a plain box so my co-workers don't see me for the man-child I am), but as something to advertise and incentivise it's absolutely stupid. Would I buy another paint to get me over the threshold for the limited edition box? No way, so it completely fails at it's basic premise - to upsell.


As for actual Christmas promotions - most other gaming companies throw in some freebie (normally a metal Santa figure) or run an offer. I've bought all sorts of things I didn't need to get the promo deal or freebie. The other day I bought a few boxes of metal Zombies I have no actual need for because each box came with a free Limited edition zombie that was kinda cool. I buy books direct from Warlord for at least 20% more than anyone else because of the free figures. Hell I even bought a ton of Catachans to get a free blister of Ratlings at an official GW store opening once in the dark ages. That's how promos as supposed to work. But I won't buy anything direct from modern GW just to get a printed box.

They did have one great incentive/promotion recently, but never advertised it (because they don't like money?); if you bought Space Hulk from the webstore, it came with a limited edition A4 Space Hulk art print. People would totally have bought from GW direct for the print, if they knew it existed.

Sorry, that turned into quite the rant.

Bossk_Hogg wrote:
I don't understand why anyone buys direct from GW.

Its an insultingly crappy promotion...

QFT.

I think GW has got to be scraping the bottom of the barrel, now...

Thoughts reading this thread:

"But only if you order before they're all gone!"
... what?

Oh. Yes. I feel the... itch. The itchy itch that... itches. I need that box. Not.

This box will be my companion cube. My friend through all lows and highs of life. For about 10 seconds.

There will be many boxes like this, but THIS box will be mine. Until the trash collectors rip em away from me.

The things I'm gonna do to that box... I'll open it. Discard it. Never look at it again. The joy!

Maybe my cats will have fun hiding in that box. Before urinating in it like the buggers always do. And I won't even mind.

Oh, and adding insult to injury - if you happen to pay in €, you need to spend 150€ (about 125... where... where the feth did the Pound sign go...? What.... I...) so even 25% more to get that beautifully crafted piece of hard paper without any value whatsoever.

 SlaveToDorkness wrote:
Just when I thought GW couldn't get more asinine...

How dare they give you an interesting box for free with a moderately large purchase!

This discussion is exactly why GW shouldn't EVER listen to the internet. When there are legitimate issues, then complain. By complaining about nonsense issues, you pretty much degrade the ability for commentary to impact practice.

So, am I right in reading that you only get one special box with your order? GW will fit as much in the special box as they can, but overages...you know, they go in a normal box.

 wuestenfux wrote:
A box. Better than nothing.

You'd get a box in any case. Just not this printed box.

I'll laugh my ass off when I read the first complaint that someone's box got damaged/scratched during shipment.