Most amazing GW deal ever

[shponglefan]

Their current business model seems relentlessly protectionist. Especially their policy towards internet ordering. I can't recall ever seeing a business forbid third party stores from selling their products online. It completely back-asswards with a myopic focus on driving short-term sales to their web store.

But then again, the people calling the shots there are all getting up there in years (50's and 60's). It will be interesting to see how GW changes its approach once the old guard retires/passes on and the younger generation start leading the company.

 

[cannon_fodder]

OK numbers breakdown

box of Marneus Calgar and Honour Guard; $59.00
1 Chief Librarian Tigurius; $19.25
1 Chaplain Cassius; $19.25
1 Space Marine Captain in Terminator Armour; $19.25
1 Space Marine Terminator Chaplain; $21.50
1 Captain Sicarius; $19.25
1 box of Space Marine Masters of the Chapter; $33.00
1 Space Marine Captain: $30.00
Lord Executioner; $22.25
1 Space Marine Captain: Master of the Marches; $22.25
1 Space Marine Captain: Master of the Rites; $22.25
1 Space Marine Captain: $30.00
Master of Relics; $22.25
3 Space Marine Command Squads; $35.00 (X3)- $105.00
2 Space Marine Librarians; $30.00 (X2)- $60.00
1 Space Marine Librarian in Terminator Armour; $22.25
1 Space Marine Librarian with staff & book; $16.00
1 Space Marine Librarian with Force Sword and Bolt Pistol; $16.00
1 Space Marine Librarian with Force Axe and Plasma Pistol; $16.00
3 Space Marine Chaplains with Crozius and Power Fist; $16.00 (X3)- $48.00
3 Space Marine Chaplains with skull helmet; $16.00 (X3)-$48.00
1 Space Marine Chaplain with Crozius and Bolt Pistol; $15.00
1 Space Marine Chaplain with Crozius and Plasma Pistol; $15.00
1 Space Marine Chaplain with Jump Pack; $19.25
8 Space Marine Terminator Squads; $50.00 (X8)- $400.00
4 Space Marine Terminator Close Combat Squads; $50.00 (x4)- $200.00
4 Space Marine Vanguard Veteran Squads; $40.00 (x4)- $160.00
4 Space Marine Sternguard Veteran Squads; $50.00 (x4)- $200.00
39 Space Marine Tactical Squads; $40.00 (X39)- $1560.00
47 Space Marine Rhinos; $37.25 (X47)-$1750.00
4 Space Marine Drop Pods; $37.25 (X4)- $149.00
14 Space Marine Assault Squads; $33.00 (X14)- $462.00
14 Space Marine Devastator Squads; $35.00 (X14)- $490.00
12 Space Marine Centurion Devastator Squads; $78.00 (X12)- $936.00
4 Space Marine Razorbacks; $41.25 (X4)- $165.00
2 Space Marine Techmarines; $21.50 (X2)-$43.00
4 Space Marine Thunderfire Cannons; $56.00 (X4)- $224.00
7 Space Marine Dreadnoughts; $46.25 (X7)- $323.75
5 Space Marine Ironclad Dreadnoughts; $46.25 (X5)- $231.25
1 Space Marine Sergeant Chronus; $19.25
7 Space Marine Land Raiders; $74.25 (X7)-$519.75
3 Space Marine Land Raider Crusader/Redeemers; $74.25 (X3)- $148.50
7 Space Marine Stalker/Hunters; $65.00 (X7)- $130.00
2 Space Marine Vindicators; $57.75 (X2)- $115.50
5 Space Marine Predators; $57.75 (X5)- $288.75
3 Space Marine Whirlwinds; $57.75 (X3)- $173.25
3 Stormraven Gunships; $82.50 (X3)- $247.50
7 Space Marine Stormtalon Gunships; $45.50 (X7)- $ 318.50
13 Space Marine Bike Squads; $40.00 (X13)- $ 520.00
1 Space Marine Bike; $15.00
5 Space Marine Attack Bikes; $27.25 (X5)- $136.25
11 Space Marine Land Speeders; $30.00 (X11)-$330.00
1 Space Marine Sergeant Telion; $16.00
10 boxes of Space Marine Scouts; $25.00 (X10)- $250.00
4 boxes of Space Marine Scouts with Sniper Rifles; $25.00 (X4)- $100.00
5 Space Marine Land Speeder Storms; $30.00 (X5)- $150.00
and 6 Space Marine Strikeforces. $225.00 (X6)- $1350.00
MSRP BY BOX $12842.25
ASTARTES ULTRA COST $11690.00
Difference $1152.25 or 8.97%

Assuming exchange rate of 1 pound= 1.65 dollars (calculated from US vs. UK ULTRA MSRP) cost ‘by box’ is 12842.25 / 1.65= 7783.20 pounds.
UK
MSRP BY BOX 7783.20
ASTARTES ULTRA COST 7065.00
Difference 718.20 or 9.3%

Ok, so the conversion is using one number and may be inaccurate, but for US, the savings is about 9%. or just over a thousand dollars. Not an amount to sneeze at, but then I got a wake up call as to why this is stupid, as I was doing the math...

One of my graduated students (I work at a University working with working adults) came in and gave me a rundown of his life since graduation 8 months ago:
He was (honorably) discharged from the military with no employment since to date
His wife left him
His house burnt down in the big fire this summer...

Yeah, the luxury of miniatures is moot, and spending that much is just not worth it. . .

 

[Storms_End]

Their current business model seems relentlessly protectionist. Especially their policy towards internet ordering. I can't recall ever seeing a business forbid third party stores from selling their products online. It completely back-asswards with a myopic focus on driving short-term sales to their web store.

But then again, the people calling the shots there are all getting up there in years (50's and 60's). It will be interesting to see how GW changes its approach once the old guard retires/passes on and the younger generation start leading the company.

I agree totally, so many simple adjustments could completely change the game for them, for the better.

 

[me_in_japan]

I suspect many here will have read them already, but this ongoing series of articles by Zaphod Beeblebrox over on masterminis is really one of the best analyses of GW I have read in many a year. Sure, it's just one guy's opinion, but it's an uncommonly well-constructed one. Well worth a read.

http://masterminis.blogspot.de/2013/08/the-future-of-games-days-games-workshop.html?m=1

As for what they're trying to achieve with this mega-deal, I'm honestly not sure. I guess maybe someone crunched the numbers and decided that the potential for someone actually buying it outweighed the potential for bad press that it would generate. Or maybe they just don't care about bad press.

 

[Dragonsreach]

I suspect many here will have read them already, but this ongoing series of articles by Zaphod Beeblebrox over on masterminis is really one of the best analyses of GW I have read in many a year. Sure, it's just one guy's opinion, but it's an uncommonly well-constructed one. Well worth a read.

http://masterminis.blogspot.de/2013/08/the-future-of-games-days-games-workshop.html?m=1

As for what they're trying to achieve with this mega-deal, I'm honestly not sure. I guess maybe someone crunched the numbers and decided that the potential for someone actually buying it outweighed the potential for bad press that it would generate. Or maybe they just don't care about bad press.

Or maybe they just don't care End of Story!

 

[RuneBrush]

I think everybody is agreed that its for the "wow, have you heard GW have just..." effect. It would have had an even better effect if it were April 1st though Although it's a horrendous amount of cash (I'd get a new kitchen and patio for that), if somebody has just pulled in a million from premium bonds, on gardening leave from work with a massive severance payout or won a big lottery prize, I can see it being quite worthwhile. And in truth it probably only took a couple of hours to work out what it needed to contain and poke it on the website.

One thing though - GW are giving a discount on a bundle! I've not seen that for years

 

[wacca]

I don't see why they are getting bad press for selling their models. I'm sure over the 20 years or so that I've been painting I've spent small fortune, granted not in one hit like this.
At the end of the day GW are not forcing any one to cough up 7 grand at gun point.
At least they have finally offered a Discount. I don't see many taking them up on the offer but folk being folk i'm pretty sure at least a couple will, just look at some of forgeworlds larger models. I've seen several Tau Mantas out there and they cost a grand a pop.