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I was looking at the Warhammer store and noticed some 40k models (like the Landraider) were now "online only."

What do you think this means? Will they discontinue this model and/or move its rules to Legends? Or is it something else?

You tend to see older &/or slower selling kits as "Online Only". Expert (aka FW) & specialist game kits as well. Sometimes they get eventually discontinued. Other times not. And things sometimes change status....

In the end there's only so much space on a retail shelf.
So when you've got x shelf space & 40k/AoS/HH/Old World/LI/Necromunda, LoTR, etc to support? Something stays in the warhouse until called for.

GW has an insanely huge SKU so they tend to weight it toward boxed sets and new things; older models often end up "online only" along with limited run items that might be replaced sooner.

Some stuff though could sit "online only" for years.


Also keep in mind 3rd parties can get "online only" stuff. They just don't like too because the profit margins on them are really tiny compared to regular stock stuff. So for many its more of a "I can order it for you" than something they'll keep on the shelf. Though some of the very big stores will hold some on stock.

Huge range, small shops with limited shelf space. So the shelf space is, by and large, reserved for new releases and proven strong sellers.

I was in the Ashford store around this time last month, and their Heresy/LI section is tiny, as is that of Canterbury. And when I was in Edinburgh earlier in the year, they had much the same much smaller section for both of those.

To really understand this, you need to understand how GW sees in-store terminals. Essentially? It’s a virtual warehouse. So if you’re after a specific kit, provided it’s not sold out at head office, you can order and pay for it in store to be collected later.

Whilst perhaps not the most convenient thing for established hobbyists, it does free up the shop to be geared toward recruitment, prioritising the basics from boxed games to paints, glues and brushes. Because ultimately? Warhammer Stores are primarily selling the hobby, rather than the actual product.

And it’s been that way for a long time. Pretty much since John Stallard, now of Warlord Games, was given the job of Head of Retail. Here’s a highly informative video interview with the man, hosted by Filmdeg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcbStv645XU

Hobby First, Product Second. Same as White Dwarf. You sell the hobby? And the product will shift itself.

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
I was looking at the Warhammer store and noticed some 40k models (like the Landraider) were now "online only."

What do you think this means? Will they discontinue this model and/or move its rules to Legends? Or is it something else?

Most of the Online Only is or were Subfaction Specific Characters which is more visible in non-Marines lists. The Yncarne, Visrach, Yvraine, Solitaire. Now it also looks to be large vehicles and boxed set sprues that haven't been turned into their own box - the Vanguard Spearhead, the Heroes of the Chapter etc.

In lotr they used to pull stuff from direct only to normal when a new book with those models was released.
I'm not sure they're doing the same in 40K when a Codex drops. A lot of failcast stuff has been relegated to direct only before being taken down entirely.