queues at GDUK

[10 ball]

Got this through from Gw apologising for the queues for forgeworld at black Lib.
The queues were an absolute mess when I had a quick peak (on the way to the bar!)

"To all Games Day 2011 customers,
It was great to see you all on Sunday at what proved to be our busiest Golden Demon and Games Day in quite
a few years. The gaming tables, hobby areas and displays were packed all day, particularly the Dreadfleet
demo games and our staff have fed back how much they enjoyed talking with you throughout the day. We
hope you enjoyed it too.
It was good to see how popular some of the new activities were, such as the Masterclass demonstrations and
Armies on Parade, both of which we will run again next year. We will also continue to show more of the Golden
Demon entries on the big screens, which again proved popular. As always the reviews are already under way to
build on what worked well and look at what we can do better.
On the latter, I'd like to apologise to those customers who had to queue for the sales stands in the morning. I'm
afraid we were unable to cope with the sheer volume of people wanting the new Warhammer Forge,
Forgeworld and Black Library releases. Lessons have been learnt and we will ensure that next year we are
better prepared in the sales area so that any queuing is kept to a minimum. I'd like to thank you all for your
patience while we sorted this out and I cannot speak highly enough of the behaviour of those in the queue
during this time. You were amazing. Thank you."
Mark Wells
CEO

View attachment 8552

 

[RuneBrush]

Yup, got one of these yesterday in my e-mail. Nice to see that they've taken on board that it was a mess and have said that they'll tackle it for next year. I headed there straight away with the intention of buying the limited edition "Promethian Sun" - took one look at the queue and admitted defeat... Didn't want to spent half an hour in a queue and likely not get what I wanted.

 

[ColtheReaver]

Those ques never dropped all day as far as I knew. I was looking forward to grabbing a relic contemptor but could not face being stood in the que for an hour only to be told theyhad sold out which would have undoubtedly happened to me.

 

[noneedforaname]

I spent two hours in the queue, some spent three hours and stock levels on certain items were erratic to say the least

 

[Cleezy]

I do feel the sales area was poorly managed but I didn't find them too bad. I did not queue at the black library stand (this was at 9.50) and got both books I wanted and both signed, Forgeworld was worse (in my opinion they should have set out a specific queue area and used a larger part of the arena) we were at forgeworld for about 25-30 minutes. The only annoying part really was the queue for the till area but they quickly opened a cash only set of tills also.

For me it was more frustrating how busy dreadfleet was and how ignorant some people were around the golden demon and armies on parade areas.

Was really good to talk to the sculptors and 'eavy metal people though.

 

[Azouzoo]

Really wanted the Tamurkhan book and some Chaos Dwarfs but even though I thought I got there quickly there was no way for anyone with a polite bone in their body to actually get to the counter. I can almost excuse kids and teenagers lacking a few social skills but my God when an adult barges his way by with not so much as an excuse me it was time to cool off and walk away.

Didn't fancy a night in the cells of the local constabulary

Last year FW was given a lot more space and could barely cope, beggared belief to see all the retail crammed into that tiny area.

Here's hoping they do sort it out for next year or it will be porridge for me next morning

 

[RuneBrush]

I honestly don't understand why there is a problem - the Black Library utilised the "Post Office Queue" system using the metal barriers a few years back, why in the world ForgeWorld hasn't done the same I don't know because it attracts some of the most ignorant arses in the whole NEC

 

[Azouzoo]

Fully agree, I don't honestly know why this hasn't been implemented.

I wan't to enjoy my day, pick up some nice FW gear and a book or two, not feel like several hundred people have tried to get to 1st base with me.

 

[mud duck]

Wait a sec? You all don't have to line up for Forgeworld? I think that Forgeworld here in the states has had its own que at least the times that I have been there. Mind you the wait time is a hour and half most of the day, and it seems like they never have enough stock on hand of the popular stuff. Ran out of the latest WD (the first half of the Sisters codex), and the Black Library was fully stocked with everything, including the new Ghost's book, but nar a soul to buy...

 

[Azouzoo]

You have to see the UK FW stands to believe them, its a complete free for all.

Picture a 4th and 1 at the goal line, now multiply that by say 300 players per side and that is the FW queue system in the UK

I've seen it 5 or 6 deep at previous games days and this from a nation that prides itself on its queuing

 

[10 ball]

A picture I found from last year.

View attachment 8565

 

[Dragonsreach]

To be honest Forgeworld in the UK GD's has always had a scrummage to get near. (And at all other shows as well).
After 6 years at the NEC and However long before at the NIA, normal forward looking companies would have adapted long beforehand and ensured that queueing was managed correctly.
However this is GW we are talking, about who can't even consider the simple process of arranging electronic pre-registration of Golden Deamon entries to stop the scrummage there as well.

I suppose that if someone pointed out how much money they could increase their sales by with proper queueing then it would have been sorted out and (cynically) we'd have been charged for the privilidge of queueing.

 

[PegaZus]

I suppose that if someone pointed out how much money they could increase their sales by with proper queueing then it would have been sorted out and (cynically) we'd have been charged for the privilidge of queueing.

Purchase a ticket to get in line to purchase products? Inspired genius!

Hope for all your sakes that GW doesn't read these forums.