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A reply to GW from Wayland Games
May 23, 2011 by beerogre
Richard, the CEO and webstore demi-god in charge of Wayland Games has issued a personal message to fans of GW and his customers, addressing the latest message from GW and other concerns.
Hi Everyone,
Before we start, if you'd allow me to present a little background about Wayland before we get into the meat of the issue I'd be grateful.
We laid out our little web store back in August 2008, our beginnings were humble, with my brother and I packing orders in a spare room. It wasn't ideal but it was what we had to start with and we grew and grew through the continued business of our loyal customers through four warehouses to our current location. In thirty three months we have gone from a spare room in Essex, UK with my brother and I packing boxes to a global operation with fourteen full time staff which is now positioned as one of the largest if not the largest independent hobby retailer in the world. We run our business today as we always have done, in a professional and ethical manner both within the letter and the spirit of the law. Almost all suppliers like us, customers enjoy our openness and service-oriented outlook and whilst we're realistic enough to know we're not by any means perfect we will always strive to improve to ensure our central tenet of great prices and better service.
Managing such growth has been far from simple; we have experienced growing pains like any business in any sector that has exploded in market share terms. Our growing pains have also been more painful as we continually seek to adjust to a shifting commercial landscape from our dominant supplier, Games Workshop. Like many of you, I believe that Games Workshop produce a fantastic product which gives endless joy to countless people. I am proud to be associated with them. Unsurprisingly, therefore, I read with real concern the statement by the CEO Mark Wells over the new trade terms which effectively prevents us selling Games Workshop supplied products outside Europe. Mark’s statement can be found here
Mark seems to be clearly of the view that on-line retailers ( and we are not purely that, of course given our bricks and mortar presence) “free ride” on the back of Games Workshop’s bricks and mortar outlets. We have sought over the years, and I thought with some success and recognition, to demonstrate to Games Workshop the value that we provide not just in terms of sales but also in terms of pre and after sales service (not to mention our activities at trade fairs), which is clearly equivalent to the service that is provided on the “ground” by bricks and mortar outlets. Quite aside from the legality of Games Workshop’s actions, we are confused by the commercial attitude of Games Workshop which hampers our ability to sell to hobbyists to the clear disadvantage of both Games Workshop (albeit maybe not their retail arm) and the hobbyists themselves.
I will not air anyone’s dirty laundry in public. Therefore, I am writing to Games Workshop separately (its board, lawyers and their principal shareholders) to share my concerns in greater depth. I hope that commercial common sense will prevail and that we can continue to work with Games Workshop to expand their market and bring a great product to as many people as possible at the best price possible. After all, Games Workshop not only has a clear responsibility to the market but also a clear responsibility to its shareholders (which, after all, could be you and me!).
In the meantime, we believe after the announced terms are implemented we shall be able to continue to offer all of our loyal customers the same product range that we offer today. There may be a small lead time to implement but we've been given a rather short period to react. We will comply fully and completely with the new terms and conditions of sale imposed upon us and will not contravene them in any capacity whatsoever (albeit we would not wish that to be seen as acceptance of their legality), all we seek to achieve is that customers both old and new are able to benefit from our view of the market wherever they are located. We all love our hobby.
Over the next few weeks we'll be providing updates as to how the process of implementing these changes is coming along, the chances are we'll use Facebook to disseminate this information as it is a great platform for customers to interact with us and each other.
We look forward to continue to serve you and we always will.
Keep on Wargaming.
Richard
Wayland Games
If you have any response that you want to make, Richard reads our site and often contributes to discussions, so there's a good chance he'll read your comment.
As I said in the other post about the actual Mark Wells letter, if a company ceo had described my business in the way he did Wayland Maelstrom and other online retailers, I’d be seeing him in court.
Its difficult for these guys, GW products must make up a huge percentage of their total sales, so getting legal with them could be a case of commercial suicide (which is exactly why Wells thinks he can say such things in the first place of course).
I think stepping away from the whole restriction of trade issue, which I hope Wayland etc can sort out for gamers in Australia and New Zealand, the striking thing about this episode is how staggeringly unprofessional Wells appears to be, I’m unsure how he got it past GW legal to be honest its that bad.
We see this problem in a lot of industries today. Games Workshop made their first mistake by even getting into the retail side of the equation…..just another example of greed. You either want to be a Wholesaler or a retailer….it’s hard to be both. If you do want to do both then the only place to buy GW products is from them exclusively. Otherwise you will always be stepping on the other retailers toes. I truely believe they should only sell Wholesale to local shops and online stores. Local shops are always a better choice as opposed to “corporate” chain stores. GW is just pissed because currently online hobby suppliers are KILLING the local shops and the GW shops on volume and price…..we all need to keep buying and ordering from our local shops or we will wake up one day and they will all be gone!! Cheers!
P.S. I any of you own a small local hobby shop….you need to be selling your inventory online AND out of the shop or you will go under eventually. The local Hobbyland stores in our area are going down….they don’t sell online. The only store I know in our area that is making it is promoting in store gaming nights every night of the week. The times they are a changin’…..either step up and compete or go under…….how about my concept for a “HOBBY CENTER”…..brick and mortar store, online store, gaming areas, snack bar, flatscreen lounge, free painting area, gaming club room rental…..wow this could hit all of the bases and be a great place to come and hang out with other gamers and hobbiests!!!! Nudge, nudge……..
The problem there is GW didn’t ‘get into the retail side’ .
GW was a retail hobby shop, selling DnD and its ilk, and laterly created warhammer RPG themselves, long before they became manufacturers as they are now.
The shops came first.
Indeed, from memory, the miniature line (citadel) and the paint line(the predecessor of coat d’arms) were separate companies they subcontracted and eventually bought up.
I do think though that the internet and the global marketplace its created means the retail and manufacturing sides , along with wholesale, no longer function in the way it did 20 years ago, and that is the root of a lot of the problems.
Very interesting! If the shops came first and they created the Warhammer genre later, aquiring and getting into the manufacturing and wholesale side…I think they should continue selling to small shops and online stores without reprisals….the GW stores will simply have to step up and compete on price! The GW stores have to give someone the strong desire to go in…as John said below….service and comradere is the key here…..but they also must compete on price.
As a loyal customer of Wayland Games i have to say I only ever buy Games Workshop products through Wayland so if GW stop supplieing them i wont be buying anymore GW products, simple’s 🙂 Its sad but i am loosing all faith in GW, i wish they would sort themselves out.
I’m no legal expert (obviously, otherwise I would be a lawyer) but, as I stated on TGN, I think Wayland have avenue to push back against this change. Article 82EC of the EU Commercial and Competition law states that (not the exact wording…) ‘refusal to supply is an abuse when it is an action taken by a dominant company in order to stifle competition’. This is called ‘abuse of position’.
So, by changing their terms, they can refuse to supply a retailer if they sell to the banned area, which ‘can be seen’ as an ‘abuse of position’ to stifle competition in that area. This is my interpretation of the situation however.
Not sure how far it would get them, but it’s route that I think would be worth talking to a lawyer about, which I have no doubt Wayland already have done as they don’t appear to be a company that jumps in feet first with out knowing what they are doing.
Thanks Gavin
Elsewhere it has been stated that GW are entitled to act as they have.
Not having a background in commerce I cannot refute, but intuitively it felt what GW have done is anti-competitive and restricts free trade. It seemed to me that the practice ought not be allowed.
It is good to at least see an actual refrerence to some EU Trading Regs..
rather shocking how GW are shooting themselves in the foot of late, but also how they are taking retailers like Wayland down with them. That ain’t right bro.
God Bless Wayland!* hums British national anthem* A company we can be proud of!
And I should say more, Maelstrom and Wayland, please continue working like you have always done!!
Don´t let GW stupid CEO´s compromise your trades worldwide…
yes i got this in my email from wayland too seems gw are alienating everyone shame really
Thanks guys for the update, I hope you guys at Wayland can reach a “common” ground with GW. I still fail to understand how it makes any sense for GW to be doing this. I no longer buy in store (although I’d like to), and haven’t for a while now & don’t buy from them direct because I know I can get a discount (like any other sensible consumer would – as it stands I am taking a long sabbatical from GW until/if they sort themselves out) – now times this by 100 & that’s how people in Australia & New Zealand etc must feel. Surely it’s in their best interest to allow trader’s such as Wayland to sell to these places – as it still expands interest in the hobby?
Forgive me the cheese everyone, but Confucius said: In order to succeed, you must help others succeed 🙂
It seems GW are trying to reap what they haven’t yet sown?
Independent stores & online retailers have been helping to spread the ‘GW Hobby’ no end – often with more dedication (such as going to trade fares etc) to places that GW obviously hasn’t been successful in ‘setting up shop’ just as yet – or else does so at enourmous, if not unsupportable, cost. I feel they’re chasing an expensive dream, surely it would be better to support independent stores & slowly build up their own Stores as demand & interest in the hobby increases – rather than shutting off that avenue of growth altogether?
I just feel that GW’s ”Hobby Centre” business model doesn’t work in large sections of the world & that it makes no sense for them to pursue this philosophy so aggressively given today’s online global shopping preference & communicative ability. It seems they are living in the past.
The internet is a way for gamers to meet & greet & many gaming clubs have their own forums, websites etc…Games Workshop must feel that only they can spread their hobby to these countries is by having a ‘High Street’ presence? If they want to be the only ones to sell their products through “ground” retail at continually increasing costs, that’s fine – I wish them good luck on that 🙂
Anyway, I hope they’ll realise that what they are doing not only doesn’t make sense in regards to the expansion of the hobby, but also in that it will affect Wayland’s and others business to these areas (although that’s clearly the idea) & this results in negative interest/press for them within the community whilst insulting such retailers with their “free ride” BS – not such a nice ‘thank you’ is it? If they didn’t want their products to be made available in such a fashion then why supply retailers like Wayland etc in the first place?
If they realised that to many people their stores aren’t the ‘hobby centres’ they once were, nor that they offer a variety of supported, interesting, easily accessible games in such stores (they are called ‘Games’ Workshop right?) as well as charging people for “quality” that “they WILL pay for” rather than on a material/production premise (or a happy medium between the two) they might be best off to re-consider themselves & think very carefully about how they became what they are today. Surely it’s better to cut back on retail growth, put more into their product output & variety, while slowly building interest in countries beyond Europe – even if that meant less dividends for share holders for a number of years? Do they have a long term strategy or do they think the world will indeed end next year? Do they know something we don’t? I’m confused… 🙁
I’d like to thank you guys at Wayland for the update & for the service you provide to people such as myself & others in the community & will be looking out for any updates you can give us 🙂
D’oh! Sorry for the long response guys – I just…arrrrggghhhh 🙂
Hats off to Wayland on this one. The whole matter is a joke. I believe GW think they have more clout than they actually have.
For example do you remember all the cease and desists? How many people turned round and said “Sorry I can’t hear you! Might wanna get off that pedestal and join the real world”
Same thing should happen here. A large company like GW does need a slap in the face and told to wise up before they ruin the hobby they apparently love so much.
On the flip side however I do buy from my local GW, simply because of the staff in that particular store. I can walk in, have a chat, watch a game, pick something up and leave knowing I just enjoyed a bit of gaming geekery 🙂
I’ll shop on-line for that special project or a new army. Like I just bought 20 cadians and a bunch of secrets of the third Reich German infantry heads to make some veteran squads.
I do feel the pain for our distant brothers of the 6×4 And I really hope that the issue does get resolved without the use for pistols at dawn (since I prefer tanks at dawn… Much more noise to help you wake up!)
Good luck to Wayland, Maelstrom and all the others out there who are facing the same brick wall!
I SALUTE YOU!
I agree John there in a position to ruin the hobby if left unchecked…
Well said!
It seems to me like GW need to be reminded who keeps them in business, maybe all the independant stockests need to collectivly say ” Thats it, no more, we will not sell GW products in store or online anywhere” then see how long it takes GW to realise how much they have lost by forcing people into one of their stores.
Let GW go bankrupt. The games’ rights will be sold to another company that know how to do business…
If GW are so concerned about others making profit from there product, they should only sell there product from there own stores and there website.
What there doing is trying to do is have there cake and eat it.
And that’s just not on.
Well I pulled a couple of replies that could be deemed as in poor taste to only size up this one thing. That Richard may have failed to mention. Wayland deals with more than just GW. Even if things are smoothed out over this issue. I’m still not buying GW, its too over the top. It will be all the other great products offered by wayland.
Another point is not everyone has a hobby store near them to make purchases and we rely solely on internet purchases, to further our hobby.
Hey guys we waited like all weekend to have youtube get on with it and unload the BOW channel and nothing has happened.
I for one would like to have the bow channel back
Here’s the contact info. for youtube join me in letting them know how we feel about it…
http://www.youtube.com/t/contact_us
thanx
Let these guys take over GW and toss the board or whatever control entity the company slaves under in front of a herd of stampeding buffalo.
Change your pic, thats disgusting!
yeah though I do see the humor in it.( a little….) It’s quite inappropriate for some of the younger members of our community. Sorry about it, really none of my business but yeah. please understand
I live in the UK so im not affected but i still feel for my fellow wargamers who are affected. I buy from the GW store when im starting a new army so then i can chat with the guys there on whats best to get and maybe pick up some tips and tactics. When im just buying stuff to add to an existing army then i buy from Wayland. If Wayland are able to carry on as selling to outside europe that would be great, so fingers crossed they can! 🙂
That’s the thing though even here in the UK we would be affected, if not directly.
If retailers such as Wayland are forced to stop supplying some of their customers they lose money, which could very well have knock on effects that these retailers have to pass on in price increases or reduction of services to customers within their own country.
For me in Sweden, I’m very dependent on internet suppliers, why you ask, because I live in south Sweden, the closest GW store for me is a train ride northbound for about 3-4 hours, or I can go to another country to get my GW stuff, sure we have some small independant stores but to go to them is a game of chance, many times the stuff I’ve been after is out.
Yeah I know that we all should give them a hard time when they act like this and don’t buy their stuff, but i can’t help my love to the 40k and fantasy universes!
But if GW thinks that this is their way to go then at least start some new hobby centers so more pepole can use them to get their hobby needs, I mean, I was in London last year, and they had in a 30 min radius form my hotel 3-4 stores!
Ethzor, are you perhaps refering to the GW store in Stockholm? If so I think that one has been shut down, wasn’t there a couple of weeks ago when I visited Stockholm.
Good on you Richard!
Hey and don’t worry, With the huge amount of people shifting and turning to different games I’m sure you’ll ride it out. Especially with Mantic possibly releasing a Sci-fi game somtime. Wayland is going to be VERY busy 😉
*Hats off
Perhaps the saddest part of an all out boycott of GW is that companies like Wayland will feel the consequences of “nerd rage” as well, which is rather unfair since, unlike GW, Wayland is obviously still trying to push the hobby forward. Don’t get me wrong something needs to be done, and there will always be collateral damage, I just wish that the right people i.e. GW suffer, not independent retailers trying to make a decent living.
does anyone have a good idea to stick it to GW then? something that won’t affect these guys who do what gw should be doing.
Well the obvious way would be to stop buying GW products and instead take the money you would have spent and buy rules and/or models from the large range of other companies supplied by Wayland, and other retailers.
That way the retailers don’t lose money, but they won’t sell out of GW product as fast, so won’t need to order more GW stock, which in turn hits GW.
I think that’s how it would work anyway.
I agree with asmodai… but like a couple of other people said Wayland doesn’t only sell GW. If they work with other game producers to take advantage of this situation, they could diversify their sales and increase the market share of other companies like Privateer, Fantasy Flight, Dream Pod 9 and Infinity. Then hopefully GW will start to get the point that a large portion of us do have other interests. And even though we like GW products alienating us will only drive us to pursue those other interests more. The problem with being on top is it takes some more effort to stay there. These other companies could quickly reach GW’s level of quality, where as to stay ahead of them GW will have to work so much harder.
Like almost every fellow wargamer, i am also furious about the recent changes GW has made.
You can either complain about it for another week or 2 and then buy their new “finecast” products for unreasonable prices, OR you can just switch to a different Game System.
I already ordered my Infinity Army, and right now i am trying to make it more popular in my gaming club. The thing is, only complaints will not solve anything, you would actually have to invest money in other companies, so they can get a bigger market share. Be it Warmachine, Hordes, Infinity, Malifaux etc., they are all pretty good games.
Also you dont have to give up on GW, because you probably have an existing Warhammer army, so you can keep playing with it. Personally, i will really try to boycott GW, no matter how much i want my Hive Tyrant.
And this way Wayland games and other online retailers will stay in business. If one wargames producer runs out of business, the total number of wargamers does not have do decrease, if they then buy different wargames products.
Wow, I had no idea Wayland Games was made up of such a bunch of cry babies. Just grow up and get over it. GW is tiered of you devaluing their products and screwing over the local retail stores.
Suck it up and take your licks like everyone else in business who has difficulties to overcome. I’m not saying I agree with everything GW has done but don’t forget it is just as simple a decision not to sell their products to Wayland as it is to sell their products to Wayland. Be grateful they have not completely banned your sell GW entirely.
*ahem* simply no… just no.
God Save Wayland Games…
Why did GW make this stupid decision, they are still makign money through them in whatever form.
Wayland Games and Mark… I salute for all you have done!
Let GW see there mistakes… and they will just make another price rise and stop all Indy’s from selling…
Nice of Mark Wells to pop in isn’t it everyone? Hello Mark…
LOL
You actually made me lol, well done sir
the only way I can see of supporting wayland and other independents is to go find other game systems that you like and buy from them. sorry if thats already been said but thats what i’m, doing it still supports independents but kicks GW in the metaphorical teeth
@dirtydog35: I don’t really know what to say to that, apart from I suppose every village must have it’s idiot
Words escape even me on this one 🙂
Just took advantage of waylands voucher, plus getting my order in before the price hike.
Got myself some warhammer, avatars or war, perry miniatures and wargames factory zombies.
But with 12 fulltime staff at wayland, that cost to me is only an hour of waylands wages xD
Then all of the other orders made in that hour are puure profit! Halleluja!
I got to hand it to Wayland and the others that have this hurtle to overcome. Im from Canada and have made the decision to buy from Wayland even if the price is on par with the stores just to say that I support them.
I don’t know the law very well, but Canada has strict rules in place to prevent unfair market fixing. This is the Competition Bureau of Canada http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/h_02758.html#ShareContainer have to say about some slanted practices. Grant it GW is dealing with a company in Britain and online, so I don’t know if this applies with them. In any case Canada is for fare trade, Wayland is OK in its books.
I’m in Australia, and if not for the independant retailers I would have never started on GW products, the independants put their own sweat and blood to bring the product to places GW don’t bother with. The prices as they were before ticked us off, but soon this hobby will become something that is joked about for only the rich and patient. Surely they must see this will not pull them out of any sort of debt, only drive customers and potential customers away.
I’m now considering Warmachine, Infinity, Hordes etc
Behind wayland 100%
To me this all still looks like a bigger plan by GW to have all their product sold in house. Basicly you’ll only be able to buy GW stuff directly from them and not from independants like Wayland games. I hope its not, but with what their doing now and what they’ve done in the past it sure looks like it. Seems to me the guys selling on-line are taking the biggest hit and I can see in the next couple of years GW making it that no independants can sell their product on-line. Mostly by making it so difficult for an independant to sell their product that it’s not worth the hassel.
I hope not. I can see it happen though, eventually 🙁
I think that’s pretty spot on and something I have suspected for some time. By removing all the middle hands (independent retailers) they get a better profit margin on the stuff they sell. They have made life for independents stores so damned difficult these last five to ten years for this very purpose!
GW are eating too fast. they need to slow down or they’ll choke.
Wayland goes to 11
That’s fine Richard, do what BoW are doing and push the other games into gamers attentions even more perhaps. By way of videos perhaps? Do you and your lot play any non GW games? If so, how about an in house video showing some stuff? Or how about embedding BoW’s videos where applicable of THEM playing other games?
Big companies have always tried to maintain strangle holds on commercial avenues that provide easy to reach profits throughout history. GW is just another in a long line of wannabe monopolists who’ve purchased too many houses on Boardwalk. I for one am dumbfounded that GW would try and stifle these independent retailers with the excuse that these independents are some how damaging GW’s precious profit margins. How they cannot see that this problem lay solely in their own hands and that they could achieve better sales if they offered lower prices for their loyal customers is beyond me. It just goes to show that the big boys are trying to hold down those who just want a tiny sliver of pie, a common theme that runs rampant throughout the modern and historical world. I think everybody, Wayland included, should boycott GW for a while and let them feel a real squeeze. Sadly I don’t think that this will ever happen and that just gives the marketing “wizards” down at GW more ammo for their every increasing corruption.
Here’s to hoping that GW grows a collective conscience…..
88’s
LC
good news!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve just checked and it will still be cheaper for me to buy from Wayland or whoever and have it shipped to a UK address (relative/friend/etc) and then have them reship it to me than it is to buy local.
As I said in the other thread GW really are trying their hardest to go the way of DnD. They have to remember that their main market is still children and they respond by buying the most popular thing. So the GW product has to have the biggest exposure of any “toy” and by restricting the sale of items will only reduce the exposure. Think how many GW stores goto tournaments etc ? none they are all independents that support that part of the hobby.
With a price rise as well you then have “sticker shock” when a parent takes their child into a store and unless that child has seen the product everywhere (so is willing to push hard) it isn’t that hard to convince the child that they may want an electronic toy or something else which is cheaper.
Hopefully normal service will resume soon.
TSR= fab company, lots of great stuff. Then Dave and Gary had an alleged row…Dave left followed by Gary…then corporate think started taking over. 2nd ed looked ok but was the start of the slide IMO…Magic didnt help and started stealing limelight plus other rpg’s started stealing interest. Then the bully boy tactics…wheres tsr these days? GW should look hard at TSR
As to local price vs uk ship+ship to you, id laugh cos thats so wrong its funny…but its to painful to laugh. Shades of other failed companies for sure.
I also feel for Wayland and co…..its just so wrong
That turning point (1st edition beofre it was 1st edition was the best or ADnD) was when they stopped making a product and started to make a profit. I’ve seen it where I work now, the sales don’t grow as fast as they used to and market share starts to slip etc.
Back then it was as you said after the split and then the mentatilty changed WoTC bought them out and the end was in sigth with banckruptcy and being bught out.
Maybe GW will start making product in China to reduce costs and hence raise profits further.
Sounds like trying to smuggle contraband, GW has now created a black market 😉
Its like Games Workshop wants to go bankrate.
Is GWs main market children? I would have thought it was men in their 20s much like most other “nerd” products like computer games and comics. They have a higher disposable income than kids and are more loyal.
I’m only surprised GW hasnt tried this sooner. They have invested massively in shops over the last 20 years but in the last five especially they must have simply heamouraged money to independents. In their heads these guys where supposed to pick up the customers who could not get to the big cities rather than nick all their big city customers like me. This is sadly their predictable reaction. And it will fail. Not because of a boycott but because their UK and US business which is their main cash cow is getting creamed by Wayland just as much and they cant go after that. Of course it might have helped if the shops actually stocked all their products….. Let alone things like Dark Heresy!
What they must already realise is they cannot keep running shops at a loss. So you will see vast numbers of shops close and GW will concentrate on doing what I still think they lead the market in. Making very cool toy soldiers and pushing the boundaries of figure production techniques. Dont harp too much though a lot of people are going to be laid off because of this.
GW is being ridiculous, I’m glad to see that the industry isn’t going to stand idly by as they treat the market this way.
This is why I’m fully supporting Privateer Press and the Makers of Infinity. GW Has made it’s hobby very unfordable.
Got to agree with all those praising Rich and everyone at Wayland.
I’ve sorta watched them grow from the corner of my eye over the last few years just by being on forums they’ve had ties to, I’ve not been buying many miniatures in recent times but I have made a few purchases from Wayland so I feel I’ve at least done a little to help them too.
Certainly I have always been impressed by their interaction with the community across various mediums, be it supporting Beasts of War, going to shows or having threads on forums.
Why I don’t shop at my local game store.
I want to shop at the local game store. Its a fun place. I’ve played many a good game on their tables. The hamburgers are tasty. If they sold beer I would stop paying rent and live in the back seat of my car in their parking lot. I’m ok with paying full retail. I’m ok with paying another 8% sales tax on top of full retail. But at this rare and premium price point I still have to wait a week, or more. I’m not talking about some rare or unique items. A tyranid codex took over a week. A box of tactical marines was two weeks. It has come to the point I will only buy what is on their shelves and only then If I’m down their anyway. They are loosing out to convenience of the internet. The almost 30% savings is just gravy. Luickly they do a mean business in burgers and frys. If one day they expand to beer their futures will be set. Perhaps it is the way of things. Gaming stores become just another venue. Instead of pool tables they have gaming tables loaded with miniature castles, mountains, hills, and dragons.
I would love to shop at my local game shop but the closest shop that carries gw is about 80 miles away. The closest one that will order stuff for me is 20ish miles away and I wont order from them cause they order from wayland then resell it to me for gw online prices. (yes I asked them what they could get me an eldar battleforce for and I watched the guy go to wayland games look at the price and then tab to gw’s website and quote me gws price and then act surprised when I told him I could order it from wayland myself)
The closest gw store is over 200 miles away and I have been there twice. This hole in a wall that is supposed to be a store had one 4×4 table in it and I was knocking things off the racks and walls just trying to walk through it whilst being badgered about how I really should get into LotR even after telling the kid that I had no interest in the game and really just wanted I dont rember what. I can tell you though that I finally bought I dont rember what off line.
In the past I have supported my local indies as I play alot more than just gw games. If some one were to open a store in my town I would most definetly support them as long as they didnt try to take my first born child as a down payment on everything in their store.
As a long time GW gamer in Australia, I started back in the Rogue Trader days, I think this may be the final straw. I’ll continue playing the games, but the big order I just got in to beat the new rules is going to be the last in a long time. When GW price their product so much higher here I just cannot justify buying it anymore. We still pay a price that made sense when it was nearly AUS$3 to the pound but now it’s half that and frankly I don’t feel it’s reasonable to pay the equivalent of 98 pounds for a Battleforce that people in another country pay 51.25 for. Extra shipping and higher operating costs do not excuse this kind of price gouging. Unfortunately this will price a whole lot of people out of the hobby in this country.
I should say except for Forge World stuff. I mean a FW chaos Dreaddie costs me 20 pounds less than a hideous 2nd ed one from GW.
Thank you everyone for the kind words. You can imagine this issue creates all sorts of problems when announced at short notice.
One thing we are keen to dismiss is free rider claim, We need you the community to make those points. If you could continue articulating those points we think we can convince them.
ok 1st of all i havnt bought anything off you but i am on your mailing list but what im wondering is has gw put up there prices much for you as a retail buyer? i.e. can you still sell at your old prices or even just a small price rise without effecting your profits?
In a way, I understand GW decision. If you deal with their stuff abroad, Wayland or Maelstrom can kill you. Because of import taxes and posting costs. But that should be dealt by GW selling cheaper to dealers abroad, so they can keep with international prices and still breed the hobby. While I am still able to get other brands from those shops at good prices, I might just change from GW to those. The hobby here in South america cannot, or does not want to pay more, so many preffer to keep on buying from UK online shipping-free shops. I think that is the future here, and not 1 GW shop every couple of countries (and the one near here does not stock!!! it sells on preorder).
I love Wayland. They used to be a little slow on delivery but these days they are pretty much spot on in terms of price, product range and service.
GW are suffering the same way that all the bricks and mortar stores are suffering these days. But for some reason they have decided to act in a totally counter-productive manner. Unfortunately GW is operating a business structure which is 20-30 years old, they need to move with the times like everyone else.
Can you imagine the board meetings?
Suit A: Sales are falling, We cant afford to run our stores anymore!
Suit B: It must be the internets fault
Suit C: And people keep stealing our ideas!
Suit D: Maybe we should take a long hard look at our business model, maybe we need to move with the times rather than trying to fight against them?
Suit B: Get out
Suit A: Ok, so heres the plan. We restrict the ability of people to sell our products online, we raise prices and we threaten customers with court action if they dont do what we like.
Everyone: Hurrah!
(Suit D sets up Mantic Games)
help us wayland games, your our only hope…
I only buy GW from wayland, never from GW directly (Almost 40% more expensive directly from GW…) So if they stop suplying wayland or other online store I will not buy GW stuffs at all and I’ll probably not be the only one…
We have an update that should be ready for Monday.