My Complaint Letter to GW HQ
- Thread starter sillyface
- Start date
On the one hand I appreciate what you\'re trying to say, and applaud the light and friendly tone with which you expressed it in this letter. But on the other hand, what exactly are you expecting in the way of a reply? The GW price gripe is legendary and I\'m sure they get dozens of these emails a day.
Has White Dwarf\'s quality risen and fallen like a roller coaster over the last few years? I think it\'s fair to say \"yes\" to that. Some great articles and painter showcases have come out of the magazine, but there are not very many highlights per issue anymore.
Have the prices risen faster than some of their competition, especially with regards to hobby supplies? Yeah it sure seems that way.
Some times I really wonder about who\'s making the decisions around GW, and I would dearly love to know the specifics about how they spend their piles of stinky gamer cash. This is a massive company, and from my experiences working for GW Retail and being friends with people at all levels of the food chain in the company there are surely some ways they could save a ton of money instead of raising prices every year... as much as I hate to admit it, closing down the Canadian HQ and making us essentially a new region for the US head office makes a lot more sense. Lots of good people lost jobs and the quality of service in Canada has really been dodgy during the transition, but they must be saving a mint in salaries and the cost of running another office and warehouse.
But does anyone actually expect them to respond to (even very nicely worded) complaints anymore?
Has White Dwarf\'s quality risen and fallen like a roller coaster over the last few years? I think it\'s fair to say \"yes\" to that. Some great articles and painter showcases have come out of the magazine, but there are not very many highlights per issue anymore.
Have the prices risen faster than some of their competition, especially with regards to hobby supplies? Yeah it sure seems that way.
Some times I really wonder about who\'s making the decisions around GW, and I would dearly love to know the specifics about how they spend their piles of stinky gamer cash. This is a massive company, and from my experiences working for GW Retail and being friends with people at all levels of the food chain in the company there are surely some ways they could save a ton of money instead of raising prices every year... as much as I hate to admit it, closing down the Canadian HQ and making us essentially a new region for the US head office makes a lot more sense. Lots of good people lost jobs and the quality of service in Canada has really been dodgy during the transition, but they must be saving a mint in salaries and the cost of running another office and warehouse.
But does anyone actually expect them to respond to (even very nicely worded) complaints anymore?
generulpoleaxe
New member
FOW is over priced, take a look at other 15mm WWII products (most people use 1/72 models as they are far cheaper)
any company that floats on the stockmarket is only interested in keeping it\'s shareholders happy, why? because they can kill that company instantly if they wish.
Customers come second and to be fair GW does a lot to help people who go into their stores.
If you don\'t like the product/service or price then don\'t part with your money.
If you want to see changes within a company then don\'t wright a letter bitching about them, write a letter giving constructive critisism including things you would like to see (GW has responded to these sort of things in the recent past)
ColtheReaver
New member
Posted by Darkwind - \"@ ColtheReaver
I don\'t see why having Lots of LotR in WD is problem - it is a core game after all, and there are very few issues that have nearly as much LotR as 40K or WHFB. In fact, there were a few issues recently which contained no LotR content at all even after the release of WotR.\"
@ Darkwind
I\'m talking about when GW first released the LOTR range. Every issue was jam packed with LOTR and stayed that way for a long time. While I have no problem with LOTR and do love some of the minis I felt a bit seen off paying subscription fees for a magazine that had maybe one or two articles in it that I was personally interested in. For me LOTR is the system I\'m least fond of (its not a bad system, I was just raised on warhammer and warhammer 40k) and to suddenly have it jammed down my throat at the cost of not as much of the games I prefer was a bit of a kick in the ribs. I\'m sure fans of lord of the rings would feel the same way if all of a sudden the lord of the rings content was confined to a scattered article here and there.
I don\'t see why having Lots of LotR in WD is problem - it is a core game after all, and there are very few issues that have nearly as much LotR as 40K or WHFB. In fact, there were a few issues recently which contained no LotR content at all even after the release of WotR.\"
@ Darkwind
I\'m talking about when GW first released the LOTR range. Every issue was jam packed with LOTR and stayed that way for a long time. While I have no problem with LOTR and do love some of the minis I felt a bit seen off paying subscription fees for a magazine that had maybe one or two articles in it that I was personally interested in. For me LOTR is the system I\'m least fond of (its not a bad system, I was just raised on warhammer and warhammer 40k) and to suddenly have it jammed down my throat at the cost of not as much of the games I prefer was a bit of a kick in the ribs. I\'m sure fans of lord of the rings would feel the same way if all of a sudden the lord of the rings content was confined to a scattered article here and there.
Aliengod3
Active member
I remember a couple years ago I used to be able to buy a plastic box set of 20 40k orks for $25. Nowadays a plastic box set of only 10 orks costs about $22. So I think any propaganda used to promote plastic minis as cheaper is BS! What is worse is that the plastic ork models have not changed! The same plastic orks that were in the box set of 20 are now in the boxed set of 10. How is it that they get away with doubling the price of their plastic minis? I am glad I stocked up miniatures when I worked there and receive a big discount because I do not feel very satisfied knowing that my money is purchasing a substantially less amount of the products I want.
R
Roy Rogers
Guest
I agree with your complaint letter. The lack of competition does give them the green light to charge whatever they want. We all know that 15 years from now, nobody will be able to start playing this game, or getting into the hobby without having a 40 hour a week job, no wife to say\" you are not spending 500.00$ on some @*&%%!! gaming pieces\"!! And that is just to get started at like 2000 points! For alot of us ( like me) we have like 6000 points. We all need options, right?
I know alot of us buy off ebay because we hate being bent over, and being charged 5 times as much for models made of the same plastic that everything around us is made of, and is dirt cheap! We are stuck. GW knows it, we have no choice. We love the hobby, love to play warhammer, and we will continue to pay whatever they charge, regardless...Sucks, I know. This is why it take\'s me a year to build an army, because we are essentially pissing away our hard earned cash on toy\'s that won\'t matter when we\'re dead. Sorry, I am a little cynical
Good luck with the letter, but you would have better luck holding back the tide with a paper napkin
I know alot of us buy off ebay because we hate being bent over, and being charged 5 times as much for models made of the same plastic that everything around us is made of, and is dirt cheap! We are stuck. GW knows it, we have no choice. We love the hobby, love to play warhammer, and we will continue to pay whatever they charge, regardless...Sucks, I know. This is why it take\'s me a year to build an army, because we are essentially pissing away our hard earned cash on toy\'s that won\'t matter when we\'re dead. Sorry, I am a little cynical
Good luck with the letter, but you would have better luck holding back the tide with a paper napkin
Tercha
Member
Hi
A little research before complaining may be a good idea, if you check ot GW shares at the moment they are not too hot (LSE:GAW-google it) and the company is running at around 60% debt so no real hope of a price cut, also now they are sponsoring Ultramarines the movie no hope for a cut in the near future, the best way to get cheaper stuff is to a) become a wholesaler I think you get 10-20% off or b) buy shares and use the dividend to buy figures....effectivly they are free then.
there are countless hobby based companies that fall by the wayside to me it sems that you think they should be priced as toys rather than miniatures, if you want cheap there are still airfix / ESCI / Revell 20mm plastics....and yes i do paint them occasionally
A little research before complaining may be a good idea, if you check ot GW shares at the moment they are not too hot (LSE:GAW-google it) and the company is running at around 60% debt so no real hope of a price cut, also now they are sponsoring Ultramarines the movie no hope for a cut in the near future, the best way to get cheaper stuff is to a) become a wholesaler I think you get 10-20% off or b) buy shares and use the dividend to buy figures....effectivly they are free then.
there are countless hobby based companies that fall by the wayside to me it sems that you think they should be priced as toys rather than miniatures, if you want cheap there are still airfix / ESCI / Revell 20mm plastics....and yes i do paint them occasionally
Excellent letter ! If more people wrote something might be done. All companies will take notice of letters if ther is enough of them. I wrote 2 too G.W. about judging at G.D.
I did get replies .
Lone prophets are easily overlooked, a major ground swell with threats of boycott would get a response.
GOD bless ....................V
I did get replies .
Lone prophets are easily overlooked, a major ground swell with threats of boycott would get a response.
GOD bless ....................V
Legacy Account
Active member
\"Darling Fascist Bully Boy
Give me some money, you bastard.
May the seed of your loin be fruitful in the belly of your woman.
Neil.\"
Give me some money, you bastard.
May the seed of your loin be fruitful in the belly of your woman.
Neil.\"
dogfacedboy uk1
New member
An interesting, funny letter, but is a sad day when you feel that the company it is written to won\'t pay attention to it. Customers make or break companies to, if people vote with their wallets it will harm them, but it is pretty much shooting yourself in the foot too. Doesn\'t work when they have the monopoly unfortunately.
I think they stink as a company mainly for the reason of ignoring the gamers as people and seeing them as cash cows. I don\'t doubt that people who love their local GW store and visit it regularly, game there, know the staff as friends and so on have a different persepctive, but on the whole the moment you go into a store you get the routine. Yawn. I am immune to your sales pyschology so please shut up now is what I usually think, but the staff are usually still friendly and good people when you get past that GW staff training banter bs. Another reason I dislike them is because of the White Dwarf point mentioned earlier. WD has been for a long time now a glorified product catalogue. Very few issues have stuck in my mind as being good. The WD team have done a very poor job with it really. I am old enough to remember the day WD changed from a full on gaming magazine to the GW only product catalogue it is today and as kids we moaned about it then. I don\'t waste my money on it anymore, I just flick through in the shop. GW need to get back closer to the ground, bring back the forum on their website, get gamers into the WD magazine, I like the interviews they are doing with top painters etc. More modelling tutorials, if they are in the business of writing a magazine then they really should know what people really want, and I\'m pretty sure it isn\'t the rubbish that currently resides within its pages.
dfb
I think they stink as a company mainly for the reason of ignoring the gamers as people and seeing them as cash cows. I don\'t doubt that people who love their local GW store and visit it regularly, game there, know the staff as friends and so on have a different persepctive, but on the whole the moment you go into a store you get the routine. Yawn. I am immune to your sales pyschology so please shut up now is what I usually think, but the staff are usually still friendly and good people when you get past that GW staff training banter bs. Another reason I dislike them is because of the White Dwarf point mentioned earlier. WD has been for a long time now a glorified product catalogue. Very few issues have stuck in my mind as being good. The WD team have done a very poor job with it really. I am old enough to remember the day WD changed from a full on gaming magazine to the GW only product catalogue it is today and as kids we moaned about it then. I don\'t waste my money on it anymore, I just flick through in the shop. GW need to get back closer to the ground, bring back the forum on their website, get gamers into the WD magazine, I like the interviews they are doing with top painters etc. More modelling tutorials, if they are in the business of writing a magazine then they really should know what people really want, and I\'m pretty sure it isn\'t the rubbish that currently resides within its pages.
dfb
Ickthorne
New member
I agree with your letter. I did the same thing back in ‘95, ‘96 when they were releasing the new Great Unclean One for $25.00 (that’s right $25.00). I swore then that I wouldn’t by GW minis again. They replied back to me “to bad you’ll miss out on all the new models” that tore it I was beyond furious. I didn’t but a GW mini for a week! That showed them. I stopped supporting the local shops in my area, but to be serious I’ve cut back since then. I don’t think I bought any GW in ’07 and if I did it was during a sale. That’s the way I get most of my GW minis now. I dropped my subscription that I had for that last 12 years in ’04. I haven’t even bought a set of rules since 3rd edition, although I did get 6th for a Christmas gift. Its flea markets and swap meets for me lads, no more direct from the store or dealer. I’m done with GW. Oh and by the way I now have two of the new Greater Daemons and I paid less then $10 for each.
P.S. have you seen the new Skaven? I’m so all over them. I got the email yesterday. There I am hook in mouth, laying in the boat, being beaten over the head by the GW fisher man.
P.S. have you seen the new Skaven? I’m so all over them. I got the email yesterday. There I am hook in mouth, laying in the boat, being beaten over the head by the GW fisher man.
Aliengod3
Active member
It is about time they update Skaven. I am sick of them constantly updating their favorite armies over and over (chaos, empire, you get the idea...).
As for their view of the customer I have this to say. When I worked for GW my manager told me that we were there to sell starter sets to new customers and that the veterans have no value and should not be catered to. I thought that was complete BS. :cussing:
As for their view of the customer I have this to say. When I worked for GW my manager told me that we were there to sell starter sets to new customers and that the veterans have no value and should not be catered to. I thought that was complete BS. :cussing:
Must be why I never made it as GW manager I was all about the gamers had them coming in mid week to challenge me to games any size, had groups helping make the gaming boards. that was really funny as I had let it be known I was making new boards on the sunday and anyone was welcome and about a dozen lads showed up but stood there watching not sure they were aloud to do anything, did not last long had all of then elbow deep in flock and sand by the close of play... those were the days paid to play games and paint soldiers (not paid enough :~(). I think I may have gone off thread a little call it a senior moment
freakinacage
Well-known member
yes i have seen them and yes they are nice but ill be buggered if i shall pay £8 for a single skaven character.
I think GW have stepped up their game last few years, certainly in terms of minis, the plastic kits now are superb with all the bits they come with and other products like terrain are good.
WD is a bit crap, but then I never have time to play to make use of any rules they might put in there, so its not so bad for me that its just one big advertisement.
As for price, maybe a bit on the expensive side, but I have so much lead I\'ll never get round to painting a quarter of it, so it doesn\'t really matter.
WD is a bit crap, but then I never have time to play to make use of any rules they might put in there, so its not so bad for me that its just one big advertisement.
As for price, maybe a bit on the expensive side, but I have so much lead I\'ll never get round to painting a quarter of it, so it doesn\'t really matter.
ColtheReaver
New member
Agreed. The new plastic minis are awesome and the amount of extra kit you get on the sprues is great. £13.20 for a box of plastic Choas knights with 2 weapon options compared to the £30 I paid for the old metal knights with no options is a bargain in my opinion
Braveheart712
New member
As for the letter, GW doesnt care, they stopped caring many years back when they closed their forums and stop putting user content in White Dwarf. Now all that publication exist for is to help market their newest products. I never minded paying slightly higher prices for their relabeled junk but they lost me when primer became $15 per can.
The way I see it is like this. GW has lost alot of its fan base due to the increased prices that it charges. With less people buying, it is imperative that more profit be made per unit sold. Now if GW would drop its prices would more units be sold and would some of its fans come back? Possibly, by GW is not in a position to take that risk hence the prices will stay inflated or even go higher to maintain current profit levels. What this spells in quite simple, a downward spiral which only leads to one end. When I first entered the hobby it was commonplace for multiple gamers in the local store to pick up the newest and latest army. While being a little pricey it was within the budget of many gamers to add another army to their collection. Now days due in part to the current worldwide economic woes, the latest army is priced outside of what most people can afford. Most players around me tend to recycle armies maybe picking up a few choice new pieces or save up for some time. The whole impulse buy of an army or a unit is all but gone mainly due to price. Hell I need to take out a loan just to buy paints for my models now.
I guess what I am trying to say is this. Prices will not change. GW doesnt care it cant afford to, you either buy their product or you are dead to them. Theyare now much different than the hobbyists who once started that company. Dont hold your breathe awaiting a reply!
The way I see it is like this. GW has lost alot of its fan base due to the increased prices that it charges. With less people buying, it is imperative that more profit be made per unit sold. Now if GW would drop its prices would more units be sold and would some of its fans come back? Possibly, by GW is not in a position to take that risk hence the prices will stay inflated or even go higher to maintain current profit levels. What this spells in quite simple, a downward spiral which only leads to one end. When I first entered the hobby it was commonplace for multiple gamers in the local store to pick up the newest and latest army. While being a little pricey it was within the budget of many gamers to add another army to their collection. Now days due in part to the current worldwide economic woes, the latest army is priced outside of what most people can afford. Most players around me tend to recycle armies maybe picking up a few choice new pieces or save up for some time. The whole impulse buy of an army or a unit is all but gone mainly due to price. Hell I need to take out a loan just to buy paints for my models now.
I guess what I am trying to say is this. Prices will not change. GW doesnt care it cant afford to, you either buy their product or you are dead to them. Theyare now much different than the hobbyists who once started that company. Dont hold your breathe awaiting a reply!
