[vorlon]

Hmm.

Have just been to GW UK to look to buy particular figures and some spare sprues etc.

They all appear to have disappeared from ALL ranges - looks like pre-chosen blister packs or boxed sets and that's it.

Of course you might still be able to get spare bits over the phone - but without the online reference that could be tricky - unless of course the catalogues have all the codes and you now have to buy one of those?

:|

 

[Izzinatah]

The online store seems a bit bleh at the moment, try again later maybe?

 

[vorlon]

The online store seems a bit bleh at the moment, try again later maybe?

Could be - or it could be they're cutting staff overheads and costs by doing away with all that bespoke rummaging in component bins??

The site was fine and dandy otherwise - I don't think it was a glitch :|

 

[4theEmperor!]

They are restructuring how they sell them. I looked for a bit online and didn't find it so I called the Rulez Boyz (which are the Direct sellers in the US) and was able to order the bitz. The guy who helped me, Keith, told me this...

 

[vorlon]

They are restructuring how they sell them. I looked for a bit online and didn't find it so I called the Rulez Boyz (which are the Direct sellers in the US) and was able to order the bitz. The guy who helped me, Keith, told me this...

I did the same just now in UK - apparently the re-structuring will take "6 to 8 months" and then you'll be able to "buy them in bags" which will make it "a darn sight cheaper".

The quotes are direct and accurate - WHO it will be a "darn sight cheaper" for I leave you to guess - if I have to buy a whole "bag" to get those 1 or 2 pieces - hmmmmm

I almost felt like asking how many lay-offs they were expecting - but he didn't seem inclined to talk much - poor bloke!

He also didn't offer me the chance to buy over the phone - double Hmmmmmmmm!!

 

[Horus Lupercal]

My local store told me they are bringing Bitz packs back in, so we can get some serious component packs, great for converting stuff!!

 

[vorlon]

My local store told me they are bringing Bitz packs back in, so we can get some serious component packs, great for converting stuff!!

Yes in 6 to 8 months if the guy was right - and if the pack happens to have all the bits you want - apparently they will be all heads, all shields etc.

So you may end up buying a lot of stuff you don't need to get that one piece you do.

OTOH it will presumably be cheaper for them to handle pre-filled packets.

We'll just have to see?

 

[Deltaguard1894]

Same is going on w/ US store, tried to get the parts of a chaos slaanesh fiend under "classic" no where to be found

 

[Leech]

I have noticed alot of components vanishing from the online store too. I think this could have something to do with selling those collectors guides. This is one of these things for anybody who hasn't seen them.

GW Online : Warhammer 40,000 : Tyranids : Tyranids Collectors' Guide

The collectors guides include all of the codes. They may of decided to make us pay to buy things. I think also the guides haven't done as well as they would like as they aren't guides but catalogs. I took mine back as it had no new info in it.

Then again there is this. Games Workshop Online Store — Dark Eldar Prisoners

These two 'prisoners' are components for Asdrubael vect. I think they can still sell components when they are in the mood.

 

[Deltaguard1894]

Hey kids! They found another way to MAKE MORE MONEY!

 

[Tekore]

Here's the new catalog:

http://uk.games-workshop.com/shopping/assets/2008-Bitz-Catalogue.pdf

Tekore

 

[alextroy]

I was at my local GW Store on Friday (Feb 1) and they told me it was the last day to order under the old Bits selections. Good thing I went in as I needed to buy an Immolator Sprue to use in Sisterfying a couple of Rhinos I purchased.

 

[Jared van Kell]

What is actually happening is that GW are streamlining what spare bits they sell. They have looked at what they sell the most of an they have catered towards that on a supply and demand way of thinking.

Take for example harpy wings. Nobody buys just one harpy wing, instead quite a lot of people buy at least five of them. GW can now cater to this by selling a set of 5 harpy wings in a bag as standard and for a lot cheaper I would imagine as the cost of shipping is overall less. Other examples include certain monsters such as the Carnosaur and the Rhinox which are mentioned in the new catalouge.

The main reason for this is simple. GW were losing too much money with the cost of storing all the bits that hardly anybody ever orders. So they have come up with this new system of ordering parts.
It might make certain conversions impossible now but since that most of the boxed sets avaliable now contain all the options for each unit in every army for both 40K and Fantasy the need for certain parts is going to drastically reduce other than the parts that there will still be a need for such as Iron Warrior shoulder pads.

In addition if the demand for a certain part suddenly increases it allows GW to bring back that particular part or parts to meet this demand. ;Y

JvK :happy:

 

[vorlon]

As Jared points out it's a commercial decision - and to be fair not an unreasonable one - most figure manufacturers will sell parts in bags e.g. spears, shields etc. There are some that do sell individual heads, that sort of thing - however by and large they sell whole figures. The multipart nature of much of GW output means they have a much, MUCH, bigger "bits box" than anyone else - and clearly there's a cost to somone ordering 1 x Speeder Assault Cannon and the "left arm of that bloke in the classic range with what looks like a wine glass".

I think where I'm somewhat ticked off is the lack of warning - it would have been a courtesy, and surely worth something in good will, to give everyone say 14 days notice of withdrawing the service - I suspect they've lost more in sales due to that, than they will have saved financially.

It's also all of piece with the winding up the RPG division - Dark Heresy is hyped, it's pretty much sold out, and once everybody has bought the book they announce it's all folding.

They have said the supplements in hand will come out - but you have to wonder.

I can understand GW is a business not a charity for miniature-holics, and even if you think their prices are high, they have delivered a range and quality on the hight street no-one else does.

But somebody in corporate suit land needs to remember that there are ways to implement decisions, however valid those decisions are, and just at the moment there's a sense GW are taking the fan-base for granted - which is ironically what put them in the hurt locker over the last months in the first place imo.