Has anyone actually questioned the new GW policy's?

[ozeo]

So has anyone at a Gamesday or anything else with actually higher-ups from GW questioned there recent policies regarding the news blackouts and policies? I'm curious if they even know that this idea is the dumbest move they have ever pulled.

Would a open letter or petition help at all? I'm sure if we were to unify we would be able to sway someone or at least get them talking about it? What if everyone sent in a empty sprue or something?

There has to be something we the consumer can do, I even thought about purchasing a share or two and going to there share holders meeting and bringing up some questions.

Anyone got any ideas?


(I'm attempting to get something started as this is my exact post over at warseer and hoping I can get the Bols people in on this too)

[pauljc]

I don't believe a petition or open letter will do much good. Of course, feel free to voice your opinion to them, and send a letter.

Thing is, what you see as the worst policies ever have been undertaken after a lot of research and have been put in place because GW think they are necessary to safe-guard their business and ensure future profitability.

I believe there was a blog recently where one of the higher-ups explained why the changes were necessary. In it, he stated things such as internet stores basically getting a free-ride off everyone else's hard work. And I agree with him.

Most of the new policies are designed to get people coming back into stores, and I think that's a good thing. I don't need to explain why.

Of course, pricing in countries outside of the UK is always going to be a contentious issue. I understand that for various reasons, GW products in Australia cost like double than they do in UK. And it sucks. I'm guessing one of the major reasons is that it costs an absolute fortune to ship stuff overseas. If you saw the shipping bills that GW pay each month to send containers of plastic models to Australia every month, your eyes would bleed.

For example, the company I work for in Finland simply converts dollar price of their products straight to euro price. The euro price should be significantly less, but after shipping, costs, profit, and a host of other reasons have been figured in, the straight conversion works out to be marginally in our favour.

Thing is, they're not putting these policies in place because they're the devil. Sure, they might seem cynical at times, but they are a big company, with a lot to lose, so they are doing what they believe is necessary for their continued 'dominance'. And why shouldn't they? More money for them means better models and games for us.
GW has always had an interesting, and sometimes totally odd, approach to business. You ever notice how they hardly ever have sales? Even on models over 15 years old.

Anyhoo, back to your original post. By all means write or call GW, and voice your opinion. But the best way to make that voice heard is to simply stop buying GW products. And I don't mean switch to internet purchases (as they are still getting your money - you're just helping to put a LGS out of business), but quit altogether. If enough people do that, GW will get the message.

But they will not turn around tomorrow and reverse their policies simply because you got 5 million people to sign a petition.

I'm not being snipey or anything, but GW needs time to see if these policies work. What if they do work? It could well be that these new policies are super-smart, and gamers start flocking back to their LGS's.

I'm sure you can agree that LGS's are a good thing, right? I would say essential to our hobby.

[Mauglum.]

Hi all.
If you want to protest about GW plc policy.
The best way is to join the 34% of customers that have quit the GW hobby (tm) in the last 6 years.
You can simply continue to play wargames from companies that offer better VFM.

Remember only 24% of the GW retail price is the cost of production development and distribution.

And if GW plc did not price gouge certain areas , independant retailers could not sell at such massive discount on local prices.

Could you please post a link to all the research GWplc have done recently?

Because calling you largest independent retailers 'freeloaders' doesnt sound very professional to me.
And the trade imbargo looks like a childish knee jerk reaction to ligitimate competition in retailing options.

How dare they expoit our exploitation!

Have you noticed Mr Wells is STILL hoping for a return to growth for the 6 th year running.
Constantly increasing prices over inflation didnt work the five previous times , so why not try something different ?
Like offering good value for money.

Like Spartan, Warlord.AoW,Mantic,PP,Urban Mamoth,FF etc do?
In a time of recession all these companies are GROWING thier customer base.

[Wildeybeast]

Hi all.
If you want to protest about GW plc policy.
The best way is to join the 34% of customers that have quit the GW hobby (tm) in the last 6 years.

Where have you got this figure from? And is this the gross number of people leaving or the net figure taking into account the number of people who have started/taken it up again?

I'm honestly not worried about the news blackout as its doesn't seem particularly effective. We had pictures of new, painted Ogre Kingdom models a month before their release, basically as soon as they were announced in this months WD. Coincidence? I doubt it very much. GW has deliberately leaked stuff to the web for a few years now and I doubt that will change. All it means is that you will get news of what's coming a few weeks in advance, rather than a few months.

[daboarder]

Most likely from GW's annual reviews where there have been steady sales losses for the last few years. That doesn't mean less people are PLAYING GW games just that less are buying GW product.

[JxKxR]

Where have you got this figure from?

Don't you know that about 85% of statistics are made up?

[Pendragon38]

I havent bought any GW stuff for at least a year I go through other sites like ebay or craigslist and pick up1500pts sm armys for 30-70$ and sometimes its good and other take time to make them look good. But if you want to mess with you can spend the money and fly out there with your gameing buddies and pickit there office and that might get news and then more might come to your cause

[wittdooley]

Oh Mauglum. You and your invented statistic never cease to crack me up. Watch what I can do:

41% of boys aged 13-17 spend 73% of their waking hours watching porn on the internet. 18% of the remaining 27% is spent cursing on Call of Duty.

But seriously; write a letter if you feel inclined. Like, a real, type or hand written letter, signed in pen by you. Don't call. The guys on the phone don't need your berating, nor can they do a single thing about it. They're just there doing their jobs.

[Drew da Destroya]

I think your stats are a bit off. It's more like 75% of men aged 13-45 spend 80% of their time on the internet watching porn.

95% of time spent on X-Box Live is profanity. The other 5% is spent complaining that somebody is cheating.

To stay somewhat on topic, a letter will only do so much. Voting with your wallet is more effective. While their recent policies seem silly to me, ultimately I've decided that the enjoyment I get from the game and surrounding hobby is worthwhile. I'm not entitled to see models from 3 months out, or to know their release schedule for a year ahead of time, and while it was nice while it lasted, it won't seriously affect my gaming purchases, either.

[HsojVvad]

The OP is forgeting something. We here on the internet forums is not GW customer base. Right now, (but it does seem to be changing) is that GW customer base is rich parents with Tweens, kids in the 10-15 years of age. They come in, spend their $250-$1000 and never come back again.

That is GW primary focus, not GW vetreans, because either, about 99% of vetreans have bought all they will, or if they buy more they buy from other places, like discount stores (still GW gets their money) or places like E-Bay or Kijjijj (where GW gets no money at all) so GW focus isn't Vetreans. So when GW doesn't give out rumours on upcoming releaese, it doesn't effect their fan base, the rich parents. The rich parents don't care for it.

Yes I know there is a few vetreans, even on these forums who still spend $1000 a year but there is not enough of them for GW to really care about them.

I know, I said this before, and some people argue saying this isn't true, but it's funny how I go into a GW store, they will talk to me, but AS SOON as some FRESH BLOOD comes in, I am dropped like a hat and they go to them, like sharks.

GW does seem to be changing from rumours, but so far, I haven't seen that happen yet.