snowblizz:
However, a lot of people complaining about the price are comparing them to similar products by companies run elsewhere and in different ways. The GW product includes the services offered by the Hobby Centres. You are paying for this. If you don't use it then, yes, it is overpriced.
slev
Let's make it clear though, there are a LOT of gamers that are paying for this network that we have absolutely no opportunity to use.
It is rather ironic that they removed the only services everyone could use: their forums, the bitz service.
I've never seen any of the things I'm supposedly supporting with my hobby purchases. As such paying full retail is not highly motivating, which sucks for the local toy store I'm sure. But at the current GW prices I just don't feel justified in doing so.
slev:
Let's make it clear though, there are a LOT of gamers that are paying for this network that we have absolutely no opportunity to use.
snowblizz
Now that is a fair and logical argument, so I have no problem with it.
Being in the UK, we're well-serviced by hobby centres, and hence have no problem with that side unless you live somewhere very awkward.
Thorne:
I've worked for GW's retail arm, and I know this is nonsense. If it is going on, it isn't originating from within the company.
I've heard many other tales of "GW's misdeeds" all of which seems to be a step away from reality.
slev
Games workshop whom I have worked with as a once independant hobby store in the facility of selling largely games workshop produce make things incredably tight where it comes to selling other products from other companies, Indeed during the warzone and many other competitors I was advised that I wouldnt be allowed to stock both sets of stock and I would be looked at very unfavorably if I were to do so. Having also stocked many other hobby kits like toy soliders tanks and aircraft I would be damned if I were to sell only games workshop produce.
Another bugbear of mine became the bumbrol acrylic stand, Many nicely painted models of aircraft tanks and even the odd games workshop models in the display of what had been achieved using these paints didnt go down too well either and this was the humbrol offical point fo sale that did have permission to use gamesworkshop models in its display.
Indeed these days many people are abbandoning orcs goblins elves and dwarves to play other wargames types such as historical and others because of the constraints of pricing and the ever evolving white dwarf syndrome of younger gamers comming into your store buying only the newest models that had been featured in white dwarf last and this month.
This point was proven to me when a fourteen year old boy came into the store I worked in asking for 5 thousand sons boxed sets and I simply hadnt got them all to hand, Jervis johnstones article about Why not build a khorne bezerker army I did swift bussiness selling off over 20 boxes of bezerkers the same day, Not to metion 3 years before the khorne beserker multi part came about I already had purchased 3 boxes of the old school plastic kit for only £36 i recall. Then just year later the contents of the knorne bezerker was halved, Inflation or not we all recall the switch from lead to white metal when each blisters contents were reduced by one model. Admitedly the white metal is more expensive but then only 6 months later they then increaced the price by at least £1 to all blisters.
Im not saying I hate games workshop or that I total disagree with there pricing and profit margians but if you want to wargame you can look to many alternatives to the standard GW branded models and in some cases converted right you can use them in any store or hobby centre.