Harassed BY GW Staff on facebook for leaving hobby

[Xarius]

I have not been at my local store for about 4-5 months and one of the staff members of whom I used to get on with very well (though we were not friends on facebook or outside of the shop) messaged me yesterday to ask if i had 'abandoned GW.'

Honestly, I hadn't really. Yes I was on the verge and could not afford to buy any new models but in reality i had been so busy and my gaming group had all stopped attending the local store.

I gave him an honest response about what I perceived to be the reasons why I was a bit disenchanted and also that I had been busy in other areas (politics) at my weekends. I stressed that this was in no way directed as criticism at him or the other staff in the store who i had generally got on well with as well.

He seemed to take this as a personal insult and proceeded to send me fairly angry and (what I felty were) deeply unfair messages considering that I had been carefult to be polite and emphasised that my honest responses were not directed to cause him offence. I had stated at the start that he asked an honest question and i would give an honest answer and at first he seemed to accept it but not by the end where messages of the above tone came.

He then proceeded to block me before I could reply.



Has anyone else had this situation?

[Chucklemoney]

No, but if I had, his message would be forwarded to GW HQ.

[Caiphas Cain]

Messaged how?

[Malorian]

The internet is one of the worst forms of communication.

Things can be misread and easy turn into insults.

People also have bad days.

If you got along with him I wouldn't go and get him fired.

[Grimmeth]

The internet is one of the worst forms of communication.

Things can be misread and easy turn into insults.

People also have bad days.

If you got along with him I wouldn't go and get him fired.

I agree - unless they really offended you I'd be the bigger man and just ignore it.
Even if you do feel offended I'd at least sleep on it and see how you feel before thinking of forwarding anything on.

[Xarius]

I'm not particularly offended and I wont be reporting it, mostly because I do not care. i was just interested if anyone else had came across this. I was a bit confused at how offended he got though i could not say whether it was out of character or not.

@Caiphas PM'd on facebook

[carlisimo]

Whether it’s harassment or not depends on how many times he messaged you. If it all happened over a short period of time (say, less than a day), I’d assume he had a bad day and let it go.

[Havock]

I'd probably have said something liek 'yes, I am totally into Warmachine now though."

Seriously, prodding like that turns the Troll Mode on.

[Dr Zoidberg]

Can we see the message?

[zoggin-eck]

Weird. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt. "Speaking" on the internet doesn't always work quite right. Chasing up on customers is not a new thing, particularly when it's so easy now, but it's kind of weird when it's a "luxury" or not always needed item. I'm in timber and construction materials, so my customers expect and even appreciate it when we call to check up on them if we've seemingly lost them as a customer.

Asking why you've "abandoned GW" is just a stupid way to put it, however. I would assume (other than the usual rage-switching/ sick of prices reasons) many people who stop buying GW/wargaming products do so for personal reasons, usually money. If I'd lost a job, for instance, I'd be annoyed if someone put it that way. Similarly, having children etc. and reigning in hobbies, for instance, would hardly be "abandoning" them. Perhaps it's just in jest, though. I've known bakeries/stores who used to see me every secod luch break, who did a whole mock "and where have you been?" routine after not seeing me, only for me to explain I've moved house/work.

Occasionally I've had customers ask why a co-worker was rude/unhelpful when in reality they are model employees, just having a particularly bad day or made a simple error. If he was cool otherwise, I'd let it slide.

[Kaptajn_Congoboy]

The internet is horrible for communication, especially as some people have "internet personalities" they presume everybody else either knows about an/or have to respect, even if they break the obnoxious thermometer. I have experienced a mod deleting my posts on a wargaming forum because he didn't want to respond to the issues raised in them, then behave like a 5-year old child on PM's afterward - including lying/seriously distorting the truth. I am told he can be a perfectly fine human being in RL, but on the web he definitely can act like an angry, obnoxious child.

[Max Jet]

Chasing up on customers is not a new thing, particularly when it's so easy now,

It isn't?

Actually the whole idea of it sounds so outworldish to me, that I really have a hard time... with all due respect... reall, really hard time believing the story. Nothing against the OP, this is just a point little to low beneath something I would believe to be possible.

[zoggin-eck]

Nah, I wouldn't worry about it mate. Doesn't seem to really be that bad, just someone who could elarn a thing or two about contacting people/customers on the internet, particularly when he's representing a company.

The one thing I don't get is the number of times he claims that you're "complaining" about this and that. He's the one who contacted you, asked for a reason, then kept pushing the subject.

It isn't?

Oops, read the rest of my post buddy. What I was trying to say (and failing, it seems!) is that it's not a new idea in an essential services/products industry (like in my own given example), but kind of odd when the product in question is a "luxury". A hobby. I would feel weird if a movie theatre with my contact details, for instance, asked why I haven't seen any movies for ages, but if I were a builder who bought timber every day from a trade centre as per my own job, then stopped, I wouldn't find it odd.

[comps]

depends how you read it I guess, It looks more like the following to me.

"Hey I know you well enough to have your Facebook so thought I'd make a light hearted comment asking why we haven't seen you?"
"because your store is crap"
"I disagree. and i take offense to that when we put a fair bit of effort in to it"
"stop harassing me man!"

[Max Jet]

Oops, read the rest of my post buddy. What I was trying to say (and failing, it seems!) is that it's not a new idea in an essential services/products industry (like in my own given example), but kind of odd when the product in question is a "luxury". A hobby. I would feel weird if a movie theatre with my contact details, for instance, asked why I haven't seen any movies for ages, but if I were a builder who bought timber every day from a trade centre as per my own job, then stopped, I wouldn't find it odd.

I get what you where trying to say. My reaction applied to any product, even your mentioned example. Sorry if I wasn't clear enough.

I run an indie, and if someone told me they didn't like stuff in my store, I'd be upset by it.

You would be upset if someone told you he/her doesn't like company XY miniatures? Or did I misunderstand?

[enyoss]

I think it's unprofessional of him to contact you in the first place, never mind the second time. If it doesn't bother you I would just forget about it, although if I saw him again I would (very politely) explain that my reasons for being involved with the hobby are my own, and that he should maybe be careful messaging other people in future (I have no doubt that GW HQ would take a very dim view of his contacting you).

[Nighthawke]

just to chirp in, my friend had a bad ordeal with a GW staffer, got home told some friends and sent off a complaint and was then contacted when the staffer found out about him not being happy , but teh GW staff memeber used their personal account and not the stores to contact him even though they wernt friends on facebook so would of had to go through friend contacts.
so i think that this could of happened and probally did.

[theunwantedbeing]

Has anyone else had this situation?

Nope, infact the GW staff don't even talk to me when I do turn up!

It'de be interesting to see the actual messages sent that caused the issue here though.
Just so we can have an ubiased look at what was said.

[The bearded one]

It's usually me annoying them in the store

[Art Is Resistance]

This is the reason that Facebook isn't always the best medium.

Is he your friend? Do you know him outside of buying minis from his store?

If the answer is 'no' why the hell have him as a friend on Facebook?????

Seriously - sometimes I wonder.