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 insaniak wrote:
To be fair, the 'Porsche' comparison originally came from GW themselves, from one of Kirby's financial preambles...

The main issue is that people who buy things because others can't afford them are donkey-caves. Like legit, unpleasent to be around. If you buy a porsche because you dig sports cars and take it out at 3 AM to go 120 down the highway, more power to you (don't do this, you'll kill yourself). If you buy a porsche so you can sneer at people who can't afford it then, well, GW said it best, you won't be missed. Except by GW, because they want money more than they actually want exclusivity. GW becoming the porsche of hobbies in the way people mean it is fething terrible even FOR people who can afford it, because all the people you have to play with are jackoffs now. Unless you are one of those jackoffs. But, like, just don't be.

yukishiro1 wrote:
Sure. I don't think there's any doubt GW likes the idea that it's a "premium brand." I was just pointing out that this has not really historically been the case - at least, not nearly to the extent it is now. Measured in Land Raiders - his example, not mine - the hobby is now more than twice the cost it was in the 90s. That's a dramatic difference in affordability. It is not tenable to say that nobody has been priced out by a doubling of cost, or to suggest that this latest 10% couldn't have priced out anybody who had been hanging on until now.

You know what else has more than doubled in price since 1990? A loaf of bread. No point, just context.

 MonkeyBallistic wrote:

yukishiro1 wrote:
Sure. I don't think there's any doubt GW likes the idea that it's a "premium brand." I was just pointing out that this has not really historically been the case - at least, not nearly to the extent it is now. Measured in Land Raiders - his example, not mine - the hobby is now more than twice the cost it was in the 90s. That's a dramatic difference in affordability. It is not tenable to say that nobody has been priced out by a doubling of cost, or to suggest that this latest 10% couldn't have priced out anybody who had been hanging on until now.

You know what else has more than doubled in price since 1990? A loaf of bread. No point, just context.

Depends which loaf. According to a quick Google an 800g white sliced loaf was on average 50p back in 1990. Even today you can still get 800g white sliced loaves for 55p in the supermarkets.

Rob Lee wrote:

I put together a 100+ models Dark Angels army (6 tactical squads, 2 assault squads, 1 devastator squad, 1 Deathwing squad, some bikes, all the metal characters, 1 metal dreadnought, couple of rhinos, and a Mk1 Land Raider) + a few other models in the mid-late 90s. On a very tight month to month budget, before the UK had a minimum wage policy for workers or the unemployed.

You may have done that earlier than you remember... The Mk1 Land Raider wasn't available from about 1996 onwards, after the mould broke. But even so, that would have been a sizeable investment.

I got started in 1995, on a student payment (Oz's version of welfare payments for people studying full time) - my first Space Marine army was the Marine half of the starter set, the Marine bits from a couple of boxes of Space Crusade bought stupid cheap on clearance, and (after the aforementioned sudden price hike) a rhino and a couple of dreadnoughts built out of cardboard and assorted scraps.

Anyone who bought Games Workshop products in the 90s is not thinking the 90s was about ten years ago.

That was tongue in cheek. It's a not uncommon joke commentary amongst people who grew up in the '90s to underestimate how long ago it was unless they actually stop and do the maths.

 insaniak wrote:

You may have done that earlier than you remember...

I doubt it.

I'm only 42. I was at school until 1993, never bought GW models during my school years, it was all Prince August metal stuff and Airfix type kits. Went to college (UK college, not University) between 1993 and 1995. Again, no models bought during that time. Parents weren't keen on the hobby, seeing as it would have been their money I would have spent...

It was only after 1995, when I moved out of my parents house, that I started buying GW product. The Landraider could have been one of my first purchases from the solitary model shop selling GW stuff we had in my part of the UK...

You must have been really lucky with the Land Raider then, unless you got it second hand... People were clamoring for them by that point. They ran an article in White Dwarf in early '95 featuring a Deathwing Army that had a WWI tank subbing in for the Land Raider, because the actual kit was no longer available.

Through the whole of 2nd edition, playing in multiple cities, I think I played a single game against an army with a Land Raider.

Which White Dwarf was that? I've been looking through old White Dwarf's recently, researching a WFB building I'm going to build, 1992 through 1995. Didn't spot a Deathwing army. There's a Dark Angels 1500 point army in a bat rep in #194. No sign of any tank though.

EDIT: Apologies, that was 1996. Gone back and looked at Jan-Apr of UK WD in 1995 and still no sign of a Deathwing army.

Although GW did have localised versions of WD with occasionally differing articles. Certainly between the US and UK versions.

 MonkeyBallistic wrote:

yukishiro1 wrote:
Sure. I don't think there's any doubt GW likes the idea that it's a "premium brand." I was just pointing out that this has not really historically been the case - at least, not nearly to the extent it is now. Measured in Land Raiders - his example, not mine - the hobby is now more than twice the cost it was in the 90s. That's a dramatic difference in affordability. It is not tenable to say that nobody has been priced out by a doubling of cost, or to suggest that this latest 10% couldn't have priced out anybody who had been hanging on until now.

You know what else has more than doubled in price since 1990? A loaf of bread. No point, just context.

It's done more than just double. At least in terms of physical product. Not sure pointswise.

 insaniak wrote:

yukishiro1 wrote:
Sure. I don't think there's any doubt GW likes the idea that it's a "premium brand." I was just pointing out that this has not really historically been the case - at least, not nearly to the extent it is now. Measured in Land Raiders - his example, not mine - the hobby is now more than twice the cost it was in the 90s. That's a dramatic difference in affordability. It is not tenable to say that nobody has been priced out by a doubling of cost, or to suggest that this latest 10% couldn't have priced out anybody who had been hanging on until now.

It was in 1995 that a large chunk of their product range jumped in price by 30-50%, at least here in Oz. I remember it well, because I had been saving to buy a Dreadnought, and I waited a week too long... I suspect you're falling into the common trap of thinking of the '90's as 'about ten years or so ago'... 'Historically' GW has been considerably more expensive than almost every one of their competitors for far more of their lifespan than they've been commonly regarded as offering decent value for money.

I don't think I'm really taking your point. There are lots of people around who started 40k at a time when it was much more affordable than it is now. It doesn't really matter how long ago that was, there still was that time.

It's like saying "Arsenal tickets have been ridiculously expensive for twenty years now," in response to someone lamenting the prices of modern football. Sure, but it doesn't really matter to someone who grew up 40 years ago when they were cheap.

GW has never been cheap, but it's also never been as expensive as it is now.





Automatically Appended Next Post:

 MonkeyBallistic wrote:

yukishiro1 wrote:
Sure. I don't think there's any doubt GW likes the idea that it's a "premium brand." I was just pointing out that this has not really historically been the case - at least, not nearly to the extent it is now. Measured in Land Raiders - his example, not mine - the hobby is now more than twice the cost it was in the 90s. That's a dramatic difference in affordability. It is not tenable to say that nobody has been priced out by a doubling of cost, or to suggest that this latest 10% couldn't have priced out anybody who had been hanging on until now.

You know what else has more than doubled in price since 1990? A loaf of bread. No point, just context.

My numbers included inflation, as I noted in my initial post.

Adjusted for inflation, the price of a loaf of bread has not only not doubled...it is very close to flat. About a 5-15% increase, depending on which numbers you look at.

I think you've made my point for me: bread costs the same as it did in 1990, but GW minis cost double (more than double, but we'll round down).

Rob Lee wrote:
Which White Dwarf was that? I've been looking through old White Dwarf's recently, researching a WFB building I'm going to build, 1992 through 1995. Didn't spot a Deathwing army. There's a Dark Angels 1500 point army in a bat rep in #194. No sign of any tank though.

EDIT: Apologies, that was 1996. Gone back and looked at Jan-Apr of UK WD in 1995 and still no sign of a Deathwing army.

Although GW did have localised versions of WD with occasionally differing articles. Certainly between the US and UK versions.

Yeah, I missed a year when I counted back... It would have been '96, but no idea on the issue number. May not have been a full army - had the tank, and the main Dark Angel characters painted in Deathwing colours.

OK well I can't see it in the WD I have.

Not saying your wrong though, I actually vaguely recall something like your saying.

I didn't start buying and painting GW product until I moved out of my parents house in 1995 though. Obviously, like you said, I got lucky with the Mk1 Landraider, although I wasn't aware of it at the time.


EDIT - I found it. November 1996 issue #203. It was an interview with a guy called Fred Reed. It wasn't an official GW studio squad. It was his. It does indeed say in the article the Landraider kit was no longer available. Also included some other models, one of which is a Chaos Thunderhawk.

Just as a comparison, because there's a price list in the back of old WD's, A metal Van Saar gang, back in 1996, cost AUD$34.95. A plastic Van Saar gang today is AUD$70. And Necromunda is supposedly a cheap entry point...

Can't work that out in GBP £ for 1996 though, but they were £9.99 in 1995, they cost £26 in today's money.

Interestingly, individual infantry models haven't changed much in price - the switch to much cheaper plastic has roughly offset the added margins. A 10-man tactical squad was ~£15 in 1994, which is about £25 in today's pounds; not *too* far off from the £30 it costs now.

What has changed dramatically is everything else. In particular, GW's pricing in the early 90s was based on materials cost, which meant that, for example, characters either cost the same or only a bit more than normal troopers. Now, characters typically cost at least 4x what a normal trooper costs.

Vehicles have also seen a lot larger price hikes than infantry.

Cadian Shock Troops, box of 10, in 1995 was £12.99. Today, £22.50.

Yes, granted, they were metal single pose, and now plastic "mutli" pose with extra bits.

You could buy them individually at £1.25 each. You can't buy them individually now, new at least. You have to spend £6 whether you want 1 or 5 extra models for your squad...


Metal Catachans were exactly the same price in 1995 as the Cadians. Today, not great moulds, arguably worse looking models, and plastic for £20. And they've been around since 1999. No option for buying spare models from GW. It's £20 for 10 or nothing.

Chimera was £16.99 in 1995. Now £30. Still the same model.

Leman Russ Demolisher was £19.99 in 1995. Now £35, guessing it's the same model as it was in 1995? That's a 75% increase overall, or 2.88% every year.


Debatable that people in general in the UK have seen a 75% hike in their wages since 1995. Some might have, the "average wage" has supposedly gone up by around that, but those that live in the UK know that the reported "average wage" is fiction, cost of living has also risen, and according to the BoE £10 from 1995 now costs £19!

 Sqorgar wrote:
You don't buy your kids a Porsche for their first car.

My youngest kid wanted to try playing Age of Sigmar with me and I had all these sweet models and they got a bunch of Khorne models from the starter set. And they were like, "why can't we play with the big snake lady?" And I told them that it cost four months allowance to replace. And that one over there would cost two and a half months allowance. And they were like, "what the feth, that's nuts." And I was like "Would you rather play Monsterpocalypse instead?". And they were like, "capitalism is an unsustainable pipe dream so long as the proletariat are unable to transform their labor into comfort." And I'm like, "are you sure you are only 6 years old?", and they're like, "Control the means of production!" And I'm like, "Okay?" and they're like, "Go Galt!" and I'm like, "objectivism is diametrically opposed to communism, you can't combine the two" and sent them to their room to contemplate the true meaning of a social ruling class.

I have to say, that's how every Monsterpocalypse game I play ends as well, glad I'm not the only one.

Rob Lee wrote:

Just as a comparison, because there's a price list in the back of old WD's, A metal Van Saar gang, back in 1996, cost AUD$34.95. A plastic Van Saar gang today is AUD$70. And Necromunda is supposedly a cheap entry point...
.

Also for comparison, that $35 was a quarter of my weekly income back then. If I was on the equivalent student payment now, the $70 for the current gang would still be a quarter of my weekly income. We were complaining just as much about the prices in the '90s... We were just doing it face to face, because we didn't have forums yet.

To be fair, though, that was also the era of GW using plastic as cheap filler, which was handy to save money. Building armies did become more expensive when plastic fully replaced metal as their 'premium' material.

Necromunda is the 'cheap' entry point only because you theoretically need only a small number of models. It's still insanely expensive compared to most non - GW games.

 insaniak wrote:

Also for comparison, that $35 was a quarter of my weekly income back then. If I was on the equivalent student payment now, the $70 for the current gang would still be a quarter of my weekly income. We were complaining just as much about the prices in the '90s... We were just doing it face to face, because we didn't have forums yet.

To be fair, though, that was also the era of GW using plastic as cheap filler, which was handy to save money. Building armies did become more expensive when plastic fully replaced metal as their 'premium' material.

Necromunda is the 'cheap' entry point only because you theoretically need only a small number of models. It's still insanely expensive compared to most non - GW games.

No argument from me on that. I think we all agree GW was expensive even back then.

Just looking through other issues of WD I have access to, the Chaos Land Raider in March 2001 was £30. So that's gone up between 66% and 67% in 19 years. Can't find a price for the original Mk1 Land Raider unfortunately, but I suppose it could be argued that wouldn't be a fair comparison as it's not the same model as we have today.

 Eldarain wrote:

 insaniak wrote:
To be fair, the 'Porsche' comparison originally came from GW themselves, from one of Kirby's financial preambles...

While I don't miss that regime those reports were always a highlight. Objects of jewel like wonder indeed.

I'm not sure why you're bringing that up. Such things are otiose.

Rob Lee wrote:

Chimera was £16.99 in 1995. Now £30. Still the same model.

Leman Russ Demolisher was £19.99 in 1995. Now £35, guessing it's the same model as it was in 1995? That's a 75% increase overall, or 2.88% every year.

Just to clarify on these 2 examples, they have both been redone at least once since then. They both used to have a load of wheels inside the tracks which have been removed from the current kit. The demolisher also used to be a metal turret whereas its now plastic and includes the options for two other variant turrets as well

 insaniak wrote:
It's still insanely expensive compared to most non - GW games.

Is GW stuff really that much more expensive than other companies products? Saw people on here complaining about the latest price rise and saying they would be switching to Marvel Crisis Protocol, went and had a look at that and you're generally looking at £39.99 for two human sized models, so pretty close to GWs character model prices and the model quality looks a long way behind, looks similar to the FFG Star Wars Legion stuff. You do get a few cards etc. but I remember people moaning about the traitor command set for Blackstone Fortress from GW being ridiculously overpriced, and that's 2 models (one larger than human sized) and some cards (including thick cardstock) and it's £37.50.

 mekkiah wrote:

Rob Lee wrote:

Chimera was £16.99 in 1995. Now £30. Still the same model.

Leman Russ Demolisher was £19.99 in 1995. Now £35, guessing it's the same model as it was in 1995? That's a 75% increase overall, or 2.88% every year.

Just to clarify on these 2 examples, they have both been redone at least once since then. They both used to have a load of wheels inside the tracks which have been removed from the current kit. The demolisher also used to be a metal turret whereas its now plastic and includes the options for two other variant turrets as well

Fair enough. Wasn't sure if the demolisher had gone over to 100% plastics by 1995 or not.

yukishiro1 wrote:
As stated before, it's not about singular raises. It's about the effect overall. Just like someone doesn't get priced out of their rent because of a single 2% increase, but they may be if those increases happen often enough. At some point, the straw breaks the camel's back.

And it doesn't even have to be "cannot afford GW products any more at all." If price increases limit a person's ability to accumulate the force they want on a reasonable timeline, it can seriously impact their enjoyment of the hobby, even if in theory, given enough time, they could slowly accumulate it. Or it could be someone who didn't used to be able to afford new minis, but who could afford to buy them off ebay...and now they can't do that, because these price increases cascade down. There are a million possibilities. It takes incredible myopia and hubris to insist it's impossible that anyone could be priced out of an enjoyable version of the hobby by this increase.

If you are stuck making the argument that price increases don't impact peoples' ability to afford things, you are generally not making a winning argument.

This is not hubris, I'm talking from experience.
I have been in the situation where I had absolutely no money left to spend on 40k. No money in my account (7.49€ to be exact), my wive's account was cleared out by her ex and in debt by a few thousand, a student loan to pay off, stuck with an inheritance that cost me thousands every month and a child underway.
There were times when my hobbies were in direct competition with food, gas, rent and stuff you need for the baby. I just didn't buy anything. IIRC I got two or three boxes as presents across two years, but otherwise I was stuck with what I had. I still could continue joining regular games and campaign days with the stuff I had, and sometimes borrowed models from friends. I was still able to enjoy 40k despite spending absolutely no money on it.
Things got better and I was able to set aside a few bucks per month for hobby money again. Not enough to buy most boxes, but it adds up over the months. Note that this the money is shared between all my hobbies, not just 40k, but also P&P, pc games, tabletop games, books, etc. I also dropped MtG because I had to decide between it and 40k. You just can't have two expensive hobbies when you don't have the money.
From just that money I was able to start a DG army, buy everything released for orktober, a bunch of paints and brushes and all the books that dropped in between. I even got Da Red Gobbo and Thrakka.
Today, I have a better job and need a lot less gas to drive there, I paid off all the debts and got rid of the inheritance with almost no losses. I could easily afford to start a third army, but seeing how well my previous system worked, I'd rather stay with it. My money is still finite and there are still so many things more important than 40k.
And guess what? GW still raised their prices every ear during all that - and it was utterly irrelevant to me. When the amount of money in my hobby bank enough to pay for the things I want, I order them, otherwise I wait. Right now, there is enough money in there to order War of the Spider when it goes up for pre-order and by the time 9th drops, it will be enough for those books as well. If there is enough money in there to order stuff from my wishlist, I will do so, otherwise I wont.

So to me, complaining how cruel raising prices during the pandemic and how GW is going to take away people's hobby is just whining.
If you are struck by economic crisis for any reason, not just a pandemic, you need to get your gak together and make rational decisions. Either you have extra money to spend on luxury goods, or you don't.

When you do, but you don't have lots to spend, you need to set priorities what you spend your money on.
You can't have all the newest games, the best gaming PC, consoles, competitive MtG decks, go for a drink every Saturday night, every new release from 40k for multiple armies and buy a new BL novel every time you finish one unless you are rich. Most people complaining about how expensive 40k is, are also sinking money in one or more other areas.
Make an effort to reduce the cost you are spending. I've already listed dozens of options in a previous post, not doing any of them and still complaining about prices is just being lazy and waiting for stuff to fall into your lap.

If your financial situation is so bad that none of that works and is not about to get better, you also need to make a rational decision and get out now. GW is going to raise their prices next year, the year after and in the year after that. And every time there will be a dakkadakka thread complaining - whining - about how they everybody should be entitled to consume a purely luxury product instead of finding a way to make it work for them.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

stratigo wrote:

 Jidmah wrote:

People who have not taken a financial hit because they could continue working as before (home office, well-paid essential personal) now have an abundance of cash due to the lack of possibilities to spend it, since people can't go out, attend festivals or go in vacation. Apparently, those people invest that cash in things they can use while staying at home, and I'd be surprised if GW were vastly different in that regard than our company.

Yes, the rich remain rich and have extra money to spend for their jobs were largely not lost, and if you are in an industry that caters only to selling goods to the rich, you're probably in a grand ol' spot.

The poor can only look up and wonder at the security and privilege these people have while they lose their homes after losing their jobs.

Man do I not want GW to turn into an industry only upper middle class and rich mostly white people can afford. I can just imagine sitting around having to listen to people smarm about how the poors should really lift themselves up by their own bootstraps (I don't have to imagine actually, this is a conversation I have had to sit through more than once at my local GW). Those people are insufferable. And I know because I am one.

To be fair, this is a problem with a social system in the US, and not GW. The poor here Germany are usually not losing their homes (unless you own property, which kind of makes you not poor), and I know quite some jobless people who are still regularly buying 40k. In fact, the guy who brought me into the hobby build up a 4k+ points tzeench daemons army while being out of a job.

Rob Lee wrote:
Cadian Shock Troops, box of 10, in 1995 was £12.99. Today, £22.50.

Yes, granted, they were metal single pose, and now plastic "mutli" pose with extra bits.

You could buy them individually at £1.25 each. You can't buy them individually now, new at least. You have to spend £6 whether you want 1 or 5 extra models for your squad...!

It's worse than that.

The plastic Cadian Shock Troops - literally the same kit we have now - used to be 20 models for £15. They're now 10 for £22.50.

Even the GW Pay Piggies will struggle to refute that as 'but inflation!'.

 Jidmah wrote:
snip...

All I got from that is "I'm doing well for myself". Good for you. Golf clap. Would you like to brag some more about how you amassed your hobby budget (which clearly wasn't meagre at the outset) and then spent hundreds of Euro buying all Orktober releases?

I don't think there's anyone who doesn't already know the bleeding obvious that you have stated about personal financial management, whilst implying that being caught in a global crisis, or even just hit by price hikes in a hobby, is someone's own fault.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Arbitrator wrote:

It's worse than that.

The plastic Cadian Shock Troops - literally the same kit we have now - used to be 20 models for £15. They're now 10 for £22.50.

Even the GW Pay Piggies will struggle to refute that as 'but inflation!'.

Doesn't surprise me to be honest.

I think what annoys me most about this thread is that there are just so many people shouting into the abyss.

yukishiro1 wrote:
I apologize for referencing your background; even though you brought it up yourself to try to grant yourself an unwarranted aura of authority, I should have resisted the temptation to do turn that back around against you. Your profession is completely irrelevant to this discussion, and the fact that you behaved otherwise doesn't mean I should have as well. I should have been the bigger person, and I apologize for failing.

Your comments literally embody everything that's wrong with the internet, and Dakka in particular; where people assume that their own personal opinion is worth more than the comments of a professional -- an actual expert -- who is trying to explain things to you in clear, simple terms.

My background *is* relevant, because, quite simply, I have a PhD. This is called *knowledge*, it's called *expertise*. I teach undergraduates, and postgraduates, about this very subject and related subjects, at an advanced level. I'm not just some random guy on the internet talking: I am someone with relevant background and experience, trying to help you reach some understanding.

If, after hearing what I have to say, and just ignoring it because it doesn't fit with your world view, then fine... it seems there is no helping you, or some of the other people on this thread.

I get that you don't like price rises -- none of us do. The thing is, some of us on here are realistic enough to understand the way the world works, and the way business works in particular.

Just to restate some of my key points again in case you, and anyone else has missed them:

1) Things cost money.
2) GW doesn't owe you, or anyone else, anything.
3) Raising prices is not a sign of a company 'behaving badly'.
4) Just because you don't like something, doesn't mean it is either 'immoral' or 'unethical' (to call it such is to show you don't understand either term).

I'm not trying to troll you here -- I'm genuinely trying to explain things to you, and to anyone who is interested in learning more about management and marketing practice. If you want to know more, I am happy to expand. However, what I am not prepared for, is for you to get on the defensive because I've come along and presented counterarguments to your false narrative.

 Arbitrator wrote:

Rob Lee wrote:
Cadian Shock Troops, box of 10, in 1995 was £12.99. Today, £22.50.

Yes, granted, they were metal single pose, and now plastic "mutli" pose with extra bits.

You could buy them individually at £1.25 each. You can't buy them individually now, new at least. You have to spend £6 whether you want 1 or 5 extra models for your squad...!

It's worse than that.

The plastic Cadian Shock Troops - literally the same kit we have now - used to be 20 models for £15. They're now 10 for £22.50.

Even the GW Pay Piggies will struggle to refute that as 'but inflation!'.

What annoys me is GW are absolutely capable of rescinding something due to enough backlash. When AoS dropped there were Stormcast in boxes of boxes of 5 for £20 IIRC, no one bought them so GW repackaged them into the current box of 10, which was £32.50 (now a fiver more ). GW had an experiment to release WHFB cavalry kits at lower price points (Cold One Knights and Chaos Knights), they quickly abandoned the idea as quite clearly correlation equalled causation as they didn't fly off of the shelves (maybe fix the underlying problem of the game system they were in, eh?). GW actually lowered the price on the plastic CSM box when people quite correctly pointed out that it was stupid they were the same price as Tactical marines who got two more in the box. They even offered partial refunds to anyone who had bought them at the old price.

But that last one is just an anomaly. I've only ever seen GW lower prices on WHFB and AoS stuff, but never really 40k. They know 40k is their golden goose and people will happily pay anything and call it ice cream. They know their customers are happy to pay for something that literally quadrupled in price overnight (those used to be 10 to a box, remember?) so will continue to do so.

 Grimtuff wrote:

 Arbitrator wrote:

Rob Lee wrote:
Cadian Shock Troops, box of 10, in 1995 was £12.99. Today, £22.50.

Yes, granted, they were metal single pose, and now plastic "mutli" pose with extra bits.

You could buy them individually at £1.25 each. You can't buy them individually now, new at least. You have to spend £6 whether you want 1 or 5 extra models for your squad...!

It's worse than that.

The plastic Cadian Shock Troops - literally the same kit we have now - used to be 20 models for £15. They're now 10 for £22.50.

Even the GW Pay Piggies will struggle to refute that as 'but inflation!'.

What annoys me is GW are absolutely capable of rescinding something due to enough backlash. When AoS dropped there were Stormcast in boxes of boxes of 5 for £20 IIRC, no one bought them so GW repackaged them into the current box of 10, which was £32.50 (now a fiver more ). GW had an experiment to release WHFB cavalry kits at lower price points (Cold One Knights and Chaos Knights), they quickly abandoned the idea as quite clearly correlation equalled causation as they didn't fly off of the shelves (maybe fix the underlying problem of the game system they were in, eh?). GW actually lowered the price on the plastic CSM box when people quite correctly pointed out that it was stupid they were the same price as Tactical marines who got two more in the box. They even offered partial refunds to anyone who had bought them at the old price.

But that last one is just an anomaly. I've only ever seen GW lower prices on WHFB and AoS stuff, but never really 40k. They know 40k is their golden goose and people will happily pay anything and call it ice cream. They know their customers are happy to pay for something that literally quadrupled in price overnight (those used to be 10 to a box, remember?) so will continue to do so.

Oh I think they're definitely consciously aware of situations where they've gone too far. Fyreslayers sold like crap, so the Start Collecting bundled the Magmadroth and Vulkites together for the same price as what the standalone Magmadroth was. Rather than reduce the price of the Vulkite Berserkers (£35 for 10), in the future similar 10-man units (Nemarti Thralls, Arkanaughts) were cheaper despite arguably having more detail/poses/accessories.

As you say though, 40k is their golden goose and they know that 99.9% of the time, some whales will happily lap up whatever they'e offering. The problem is that whilst I'm the first person to criticise GW, it's really the people who complain about their prices and then KEEP BUYING who are the problem. A good example is The Outer Circle on YouTube, whio has no lack of videos criticising GW's prices both generally and in AUS... but not a month ago he posts a video about his big, new Nighthaunt army that probably cost $1000+. Until people stop complaining and actually stop buying, why should GW feel the need to change? Even a lot of their loudest critics are as bad as some of the biggest whales, if not the majority of them. I'm in the fortunate position of having almost everything I could 'need' outside of rulebooks but even defending my rulebook purchases makes me a crack addict saying, "Haha I only shot up once this month haha" and I think with their continued market dominance that's why they could care less.

Rob Lee wrote:

 Jidmah wrote:
snip...

All I got from that is "I'm doing well for myself". Good for you. Golf clap. Would you like to brag some more about how you amassed your hobby budget (which clearly wasn't meagre at the outset) and then spent hundreds of Euro buying all Orktober releases?

If "I'm doing well for myself" is all you got, then I'm really sorry. The orktober release were three buggies (less than 25€ at a British-based store) as well as the speed freeks box (~80€). I got them 10 months worth of wages after their original pre-order date, 13 month after their first announcement. I did not buy any models in the meantime.
If you can't even afford to save up that much, they game simply isn't for you and a 10% raise on a landraider does not change that.

implying that being caught in a global crisis, or even just hit by price hikes in a hobby, is someone's own fault.

Don't put words in my mouth, that's a blatant lie.
I'm saying that when you are hit by a crisis you should either take actions to stay with your hobby, or find a hobby that is more suitable to your new financial situation. I did that, so can everyone else.
Whining and complaining about how GW is cruel is the lazy option.

Quick show of hands: has anyone in this thread been priced out of the hobby by this price increase?

Partially: 40k has ceased to.have value to me. I might drop back in if new guard set get released to do some modeling and conversions and painting for my own enjoyment, but not.anything playable.

At the moment only.fantasy gives me models that that I'm willing to buy in enough quantity to theoretically play a game.with (Though I havent) and in particular its warcry and underworlds that are the most.appealing.

soviet13 wrote:
Quick show of hands: has anyone in this thread been priced out of the hobby by this price increase?

Out of buying GW product? Technically I have. Prices have risen on what I was considering buying this year. I have other things that money could be spent on. The least expensive purchases get made first.

Given that I am currently locked down, as we all technically are (not that you'd know it given how some are carrying on), under advice to shield until June 30th, don't drive so rely on public transport that has been decimated in my area, cannot visit my regular gaming buddy some 20 miles away as a result, it is a case of being able to justify purchasing GW products.

Guessing we won't be seeing your hand though...