Rant - Has Games workshop gone too far?

So Has Games Workshop gone too far?

Games Workshop have over the last week or two made two rather large announcements, both of which have made their customers very angry indeed.

The first announcement was the new terms and agreements between the company and 3^rd party companies in the EU who sell on their products.

Basically, GW have told the independent sellers that they can ONLY sell to EU customers. That means that Australia, Canada, South America and America can’t buy from Independent stockists for a lower price that set for their own countries.

Now this doesn’t affect me, but it does affect many people all over the world.

The second announcement was that the old metal figures were being pulled and a new material was being introduced. The new material was supposed to have a more stable price than Tin (which was used as part of the metal figure). This stabilisation of their costs should have meant that the new ‘Finecast’ line should have been cheaper if not the same price as the old metal one. However GW have increased their price.

This also has angered customers.

And in a way, I’m pissed off too. First off, how can GW do that to their customers abroad when they can’t offer the same service themselves that the independent stockist can? Internet means fair and international trade. GW seems to be stuck in a time warp. And dictating who Independent (INDEPENDENT) stockists can sell too seems to counter the global harmonization that’s happening. I say if someone was to bring them to the EU court they’d be told that they can’t dictate who the end purchaser is if a third party seller is involved. And how are they to know who the independent stockist is selling to anyway?  

And secondly, we are in a recession, less and less people have disposable income and many as giving up their hobbies to survive. GW doesn’t seem to notice this and have on cue every year, increased the price of their products. Sheer madness.

GW has made alot of people very unhappy.

I only got into this hobby less than 4 years ago and I’m thinking that it’s time to slow down on my expenditure on GW products. Alot.

Just get a few terrain pieces, finish off my Grey knights, Space Marine and Tyranids army and leave it at that.  No new armies for me!

Anyway enough of ranting. Must build something!