GW Cambridge reduced gaming night hours (and whether all GW stores will follow suit)

[RGilbert26]

On Sunday i was watching the Beasts of War Saturday video and they had a discussion about a 'letter' they had recieved regarding the Cambridge Games Workshop store reducing their gaming night hours and certain restrictions being applied. At the moment it is not clear whether this is due to the new Manager or an order by Games Workshop HQ, as apparently the Manager says it's orders from HQ and HQ says up to the store Manager. Today a former employee of the Cambridge store posted on my local club's Facebook page stating that the store now only has two 4x4 tables, gaming night is restricted to 6pm-8pm and you can only play the current boxed games on them plus no painting tables.

My local store Manager is currently back home in Norway for holiday and so i dont know what will happen when he returns, should be interesting to see what happens on Thursday when all the regulars turn up for their usual Thursday night gaming.

Has anyone else encountered this in other stores?
Anyone been to Cambridge GW since the change?

Thoughts as well?

[spaceman91]

the Reading store is doing the same. Some of it is down to the manager.

[Psychosplodge]

One I used to frequent banned specialist games for a while, don't know if they ever started them again.

[RGilbert26]

Specialist games haven't been allowed for years, only the bigger stores allowed them (to some degree).

Im talking specifically about GW removing the playing aspect from it's stores from vets/regulars who would go to the gaming night every week and play. There are those of us who can't play at home or go to clubs and so playing at GW stores is the only way we can play the hobby.

[DrLove42]

Ours is closed 2 days a week now.

And Vets night doesn't exist anymore, theres now campaign and tutorials during the late night.

And i don't trust anything from Beasts of War. Those guys are so heavily anti-GW sometime

[Mr Mystery]

Sunday evenings are my time in store. Just need to book one of the two available tables.

I could join a club, but restrictive working hours are restrictive, and if I'm honest, I don't gel terribly well with some of the local members. What I can do is extract the proverbial and crack on painting my realm of battle! Then my chosen chums can come round for a game.

[Caitsidhe]

I am merely waiting for the other shoe to drop. All the things we have been seeing over the last year are typical in companies that have manipulated their stock prices (often runs hand in hand with someone like a CEO who leaves) and are actually not doing near as well as they claim. Reduction in overheard, spread out through entire business, is used to prop up stock either with fake "increases" or maintain steady level. This allows the people at the top (who do have inside information) to sell stocks while the getting is good.

While the symptoms we have been seeing aren't ALWAYS associated with this string of events, it is a common enough situation to make me wonder. One could speculate that Games Workshop paid too much for its Lord of the Rings options, going somewhat out on a limb for it. Projected returns might not be as good as hoped. Likewise an increase in viable competition has changed the landscape and Games Workshop has been rather reluctant to admit to this change or take steps to adapt to it. In short, they would rather slash overhead than admit to the requirement of a new business model.

[RGilbert26]

Guys i think some of you are missing the point of this thread which i'll state again.

Has anyone else noticed their local GW gaming nights being heavily restricted?

Im already aware that gaming on Saturdays is gone and that some if not all bigger stores now shut on Monday and Tuesdays.

[Mr Mystery]

Hours aren't any more restricted, but they have lost a table. Size depends on what you've booked. All games in store are encouraged to be part of the current campaign, which only makes sense if you ask me.

Catsidhe.... How did you go from 'has your local store reduced gaming access' to insinuating GW are attempt to manipulate their stock value? I mean that's a logic leap of prodiguous proportions.

[Caitsidhe]

Guys i think some of you are missing the point of this thread which i'll state again. Has anyone else noticed their gaming nights being heavily restricted?

No. Your "rights" aren't affected at all since you can always play somewhere else. What is being restricted (curtailed) is the service and amenities which Games Workshop provides. It pays to be accurate in the description of things. I think it is poor service and sales planning on the part of Games Workshop, but it in no way affects your so-called "rights."

Im already aware that gaming on Saturdays is gone and that some if not all bigger stores now shut on Monday and Tuesdays.

Stop buying from them. If you are concerned or upset about this (and I can understand why), stop giving Games Workshop ANY direct money. That is the only vote you get. It is the only thing they "might" listen to if enough people do it. If you feel that you aren't getting any games because accessibility is reduced, why would you buy their product? At the very least get it from someone else and pay less.