Dark Sphere falling out with GW

[Finnigan2004]

That's only true if they are doing it to make a point. It's entirely possible, from what I've read about shipping charges and wonky product, that mail order's simply not turning enough of a profit. True, they could have just said 'we're stopping mail order because it's not profitable' but if they have (if!) had a bad experience and poor service from GW, I think they should inform people.

When you stack the losses for making good defective product with the loss of overseas markets, it's hard to say how profitable mail order is for them at this point. I'm guessing that defects are partly due to serious defects, and partly due to the fact that when the price on a product is as high as GW charges, that many consumers are not going to be willing to accept small defects that they would otherwise simply fix via modelling or put up with in books. If I pay 30.00 Cdn for Arjac Rockfist, it had better be perfect. Likewise with their books. When GW Canada sent me a banged up Ogre Kingdoms book, you'd better believe that I called and asked for a replacement. If it was not a $50.00 (now $55.00) book, I'd have been more forgiving. At their price point though, the condition had better be pristine.

I suspect that if Dark Shpere were making money hand over fist from GW that they would put up with inconveniences. It seems likely that profit was not that high because not many businesses are willing to write off copious amounts of money.

[ModelCalamity]

A local shop quit stocking GW after they put in an order, but the order turned out to have products from three different product tiers. The order itself was large enough to qualify for free shipping to the store, but GW broke the order up into three parts and sent three different shipements and charged the store shipping three times. They then refused to budge on any of it, so the store fired them as a supplier.

I couldn't imagine trying to deal with GW trade sales if one was also trying to sell a ton of stock over the net.

This sounds like its not true. GW doesn't charge shipping to retailers. It's in the trade terms.

[Inquisitor Engel]

This sounds like its not true. GW doesn't charge shipping to retailers. It's in the trade terms.

Indeed. Sounds like this place wasn't a proper GW retailer.

[frozenwastes]

This sounds like its not true. GW doesn't charge shipping to retailers. It's in the trade terms.

Indeed. Sounds like this place wasn't a proper GW retailer.

It's how it worked for the store in question in Canada. They definitely had a GW trade account and a shipment that should have qualified for free shipping by hitting the minimum got split and GW sent it in three parts and charged them shipping.

Maybe things are different if you regularly make orders above a minimum, but this store only ordered when they got enough special orders to hit the minimum.

[xxRavenxx]

It's how it worked for the store in question in Canada. They definitely had a GW trade account and a shipment that should have qualified for free shipping by hitting the minimum got split and GW sent it in three parts and charged them shipping.

Maybe things are different if you regularly make orders above a minimum, but this store only ordered when they got enough special orders to hit the minimum.

GW's policy is simple: If your order is too small, it doesn't get shipped. You HAVE to order enough to get free shipping. There is no way I know of to actually pay shipping.

[Nubl0]

A shame, as for people saying that darksphere have issues? I have never had any issues iwth them instore or ordering from them. Once a miniture from my large hordes orders was missing, but I emailed them and got in the next day. That said I started ordering most of my warmahordes stuff from wargames workshop, they are super fast. Guess I'll have to order my GW items from wayland now.

[Inquisitor Engel]

GW's policy is simple: If your order is too small, it doesn't get shipped. You HAVE to order enough to get free shipping. There is no way I know of to actually pay shipping.

Having worked for an RT store back in the day, I can confirm this. There is a minimum order. Don't meet it, it doesn't get shipped. Don't meet it for a few consecutive months and they pull your agreement.

[frozenwastes]

Maybe I misremembered the story. Easy enough to do. All I know is that the store now does GW special orders only and uses one of the very few distributors that sells GW.

[blongbling]

Theres a possibility that you and a lot of others are not picking up. This probably isn't a rage quit from DS over Finecast or even GW itself but GW being anal over their low delivery prices which is the unsaid message I can discern from their message. Of course if thats the case they can't actually say that publicly as a large proportion of their stock in store is GW. Of course it's still possible DS are rage quitting hell for all we know GW could be sending its sloppy seconds over to non GW retailers. But seeing what GW did to Oz and their stance on independent traders "leeching" off their cash flow the alternative sounds more feasible.

Suffice it to say this doesn't bode well at all for me and I hope Waylander and others can maintain their decent prices. If what I suspect is true, expect Wayland to follow suit.

In the grim dark future there are only suits.

nah it isnt the case, GW policy doesnt and cannot extend to controlling prices

[Sotek]

They want to promote other games, failcast combined with GW basket order issues and picture issues makes it easier for them not to do it via website.

[Count Zero]

maybe count as a bit of threadromancy but I have just received an email from DS advising they will be shipping GW again

[I3uLLioN]

That is good news in my book.

[RunepriestRidcully]

Any word on what's actually going on with Maelstorm? Since it seems they are going down I've been thinking of trying dark sphere.

[Wintermute]

Its all speculation at the moment, but its being discussed here.

[RunepriestRidcully]

Thank you

[Shadey]

You would hope that GW can ship their own products safetly, without damaging them. This seems to sound like a more general problem. Maybe GW keep sending them the lower quality batches and keeping the better ones for their own stores?

Possible. But I wouldn't be prepared to believe that or spread it without at least anecdotal evidence. Would be awfully hard to prove too.

GW's policy is simple: If your order is too small, it doesn't get shipped. You HAVE to order enough to get free shipping. There is no way I know of to actually pay shipping.

I will check with my local but that does sound right.

[Clockwork]

You guys should try http://elementgames.co.uk/ The price isn't that far off DS, and shipping is a flat rate (and much, much cheaper), so after you order enough it works out cheaper overall.

They are also extremely quick - I put an order in Sunday evening, was dispatched on Monday and with me by Tuesday.