GW embargo to the southern hemisphere?

[The Hoff]

20% is not bad actually, the best I can find in Brisbane is 10%.

That said, ordering from Maelstrom I got, quite literally, 45-48% off the RRP. And it as only at that price point that I felt I was getting some sort of value.

While GW can cut us off, the cats out of the bag for many gamers here in Australia. Those people who once bought overseas, can now only continue their GW purchasing (at double the price) knowing that they are being ripped off, leaving a very sour taste in their mouths. These negative emotions are not something a company wants people to associate with purchasing its product, or at leasst any company in its right mind (ie. not GW)

[Occulto]

This is very disappointing, and unless there is some way to circumvent this it will mean the end of my involvement in GW products.

For vehicles at least, the way to circumvent is to buy FW stuff.

I think that's one of the signs of the Apocalypse: when FW is cheaper than GW retail.

[spaint2k]

I can see a business decision for this which would make good business sense, but it would be lost on here.

Let's assume it's true.

If GW's global retail sales don't see an upturn after this decision that exceeds the consequent downturn in British sales, wouldn't that be a poor business decision?

From a business point of view, that's the only thing that counts, right? I can totally see this backfiring right in GW's faces... and it's exactly what blongbling says below.

Rod, one of my big bugbears when I wa at GW was the way the trading terms GW was putting place was deliberatly setting out to hinder the indies in Europe from maximising sales through all available channels and to push people to buy from GW's own website or retail outlets.

I was in a meeting with all the Heads of Sales departments globally and I was the only person who felt that the trade terms were there to hinder indies and not help them. I felt the trade terms were being used to drive people towards GW's website; my suggestion was to make the GW web offer so good that people would go there as their first port of call instead of people going elsewhere. Needless to say the only good thing that came out of that was Mark Wells thanking me for having the courage to say how I felt when noone else did

If this is the latest twist to the trade terms then it is deliberate and calculated and isnt a random, "oh look what we just did" action. Sales in the UK, through its indies, are dominated by the big two internet accounts, Maelstrom and Wayland (and I mean really dominated). This measure would allow them to effectively stop all overseas transactions and would reduce the turnover of the UK trade business without any potential pick up of sales coming in through normal channels...in my opinion another way for GW to further reduce its income and worsen its reputation

I think it's awesome that you had the stones to stand up and say what you believed.

[Trasvi]

I'd like to point out that GW isn't the only company doing this. I remember trying to order a HP laptop from the US to AUS 2 years back, and I needed both an American shipping address AND credit card (so I couldn't even use one of the post-through services). I'm surprised GW has taken this long.

I stopped being able to afford GW Aus retail prices a long time ago. The vast majority of stuff I buy now is either eBay or Maelstrom. If Maelstrom et all stop being an option for me, I won't be buying any new-in-box GW models anymore, and I think the vast majority of gamers in the clubs in my area will agree with me.
Currently many of the players in my club are looking with envy at Malifaux and WM/H at the low cost of entry, and I can't say I blame them. I can see many people ceasing to buy new armies from GW if this does actually happen.

[venus_redscar]

Read about this on Table Top news. Makes me very glad I found another game and company to keep me busy. A friendlier one too.

And I live in America, so this doesn't effect me, but it does put me off from anymore first hand GW products. Hell, I skipped out buying some GW stuff a few months back when I found my favorite eBay seller shut down.

[eldargal]

A friend of mine in Australia contacted Wayland about his order, said they seemed to be quite scornful of the idea and asked for his source (this thrad via me) so they could correct misinformation or something.

[orlanth1000]

A friend of mine in Australia contacted Wayland about his order, said they seemed to be quite scornful of the idea and asked for his source (this thrad via me) so they could correct misinformation or something.

I hope your right.

This would leave me with a bad taste in my mouth, like when Wizards of the Coast stopped online PDFs of all their old DnD products.

[yabbadabba]

Let's assume it's true.

If GW's global retail sales don't see an upturn after this decision that exceeds the consequent downturn in British sales, wouldn't that be a poor business decision?

From a business point of view, that's the only thing that counts, right? I can totally see this backfiring right in GW's faces... and it's exactly what blongbling says below.

As I said, pointless talking about it on here. I haven't even explained, and the idea is shot down

[strewart]

A friend of mine in Australia contacted Wayland about his order, said they seemed to be quite scornful of the idea and asked for his source (this thrad via me) so they could correct misinformation or something.

Well, from the post from Maelstrom earlier in the thread, clearly something is happening. And clearly it will impact customers. Mostly, I'll stay quiet until I see the announcement. I honestly can't believe GW would destroy their most profitable source of income.

[The Hoff]

Well, its not their most profitable source of income, which would be one of the major reasons they are doing it.

In their mind, they are forgoing a huge chunk of their profit margin every time an Australian orders from a UK discounter, as opposed to buying from a GW store at full retail. However, I think the reality is that these were sales they never would have had in the first place, if the only option was full retail.

So, you are right about them destroying a revenue stream.


The reaction from Wayland games (mentioned above) is encouraging though. Maybe this will turn out to be nothing but a cruel hoax *fingers crossed*

[spaint2k]

As I said, pointless talking about it on here. I haven't even explained, and the idea is shot down

You mentioned a "business decision" that would make "good business sense".

From a business point of view, decisions are supposed to improve revenue stream, whether long-term or short-term. I was pointing out that if this decision (if it's real) could create a downturn in revenue both in the short-term (failure to shift purchases to the local distributors) and in fact I'd say it could do so in the long-term as well (erosion of player base).

It was actually the chance for you to point out the ways in which this could improve turnover for GW, rather than shooting you down, so please put away your rolling eyes.

Steve

[FabricatorGeneralMike]

Well, its not their most profitable source of income, which would be one of the major reasons they are doing it.

In their mind, they are forgoing a huge chunk of their profit margin every time an Australian orders from a UK discounter, as opposed to buying from a GW store at full retail. However, I think the reality is that these were sales they never would have had in the first place, if the only option was full retail.

So, you are right about them destroying a revenue stream.


The reaction from Wayland games (mentioned above) is encouraging though. Maybe this will turn out to be nothing but a cruel hoax *fingers crossed*

Sighs, I hope this is a crew hoax. It's the same in Canada when compaired to the Us prices. With our dollar at $1.05 US it's so much cheeper to order from the states. Even with the shipping and duty costs it's that much cheeper.

Well props to blongbling for standing up to the 'evil overlord' Mr Wells. The funny thing is that even by comming here we are not part of GW's business strategy. We are just the icing on the cake profit wise. Altho to me this reeks of curing the paitent by killing him.

[Niibl]

Altho to me this reeks of curing the paitent by killing him.

If "keeping the patient alive" is not part of the KPIs, it does not matter.
(If fighting a fever is just defined by getting the body temperature beneath 37°C a corpse will do to get the bonus)

[eldargal]

Something is being announced on monday yes, we don't know what it is, and there is any number of things it could be and many of them would impact on shipping things places.

I'm not saying GW aren't doing this, I'm just saying we don't know, it may be something else and there is no point having a hissy fit about it.

Well, from the post from Maelstrom earlier in the thread, clearly something is happening. And clearly it will impact customers. Mostly, I'll stay quiet until I see the announcement. I honestly can't believe GW would destroy their most profitable source of income.

[Chaos and Evil]

This could all be linked to the switch to resin perhaps?

I can't say I'm surprised to see GW implementing trade terms that hurt Maelstrom and Wayland (Don't want the competition growing too big, because GW is a retail operation not a manufacturering operation, heh).

[blongbling]

You know...there's plenty of margin space left for someone with no terms or trade agreement with GW to set up an Ebay store after buying from Maelstrom or Wayland and still sell at a discount. It'll add shipping time and stock issues, but it's certainly viable.

GW isn't really adapting to the modern age, although to be fair, being a blended manufacturer/retailer prevents them from doing so.

There is also a clause on the T&C's that the retailer will have their account closed if they knowingly sell to someone who sells on ebay in the fashion you suggest. Someone tried that already and the loophole got closed

[The Hoff]

Blongbling, you mentioned you were at one stage a member of the GW executive, or at least at head office.

I would be really interested to hear any other tidbits you can give us (without compromising your anonymity) regarding what the GWHQ thought process is on pricing. Do they seriously feel that the demand is inelastic to the point that hobbyists will swallow any price rises? or is there a realisation that there is a ceiling that is fast approaching (or for many here in Aus, has been and gone)?

Would they have discussed the causes of the tendency to order from online stores (in Australia particularly, with our inexplicable pricing), or is there no interest in understanding and possibly addressing the causes of the problem?

[Crymson]

If this is true, and unless there is a price drop in Oz, I'm afraid I won't be buying much more. I'll continue to play, and buy some stuff from eBay, but won't be able to afford Aussie retail prices.

Games Workshop won't care.

EDIT: My fear is that prices on the 2nd hand market in Australia will also rise.

[Axel]

This is warseer mate. You are fighting a losing battle.

Indeed. Here at warseer not only whining in advance is a culture in itself, but also whining about that whining

Seriously, nobody improves on praise (even when its good or the ego). If somebody at GW would be inclined to listen, we certainly could help with the criticism

Now waiting for Monday.

[Llew]

There is also a clause on the T&C's that the retailer will have their account closed if they knowingly sell to someone who sells on ebay in the fashion you suggest. Someone tried that already and the loophole got closed

There's no reason they'd have to be involved in that knowledge at all. I can think of a number of ways to make sure they stay entirely ignorant.