"Games Workshop USA 2nd price rise?" Topic

No rants or raves please but if you have real clarification, please speak up. In separate threads, Pictors mentioned a GW price rise (USA) with boxes of metal going up as much as $10 each. Another thread mentioned White Dwarf pricing.

GW USA just had a price rise in January 2004 with plastic kits going up $5 each and paints to $2.50. Does anyone know if another change is coming and, if so, when it goes into effect?

PS - not to doubt you Pictors but I had not heard this til from you yesterday.

Thank you.

As of today I think, plastic box sets went up around $5 and blisters are going up $1-2.

My local game store had everyone order what they could on monday to beat the price hike.

Trying to figure out what has changed in their online shop but it is confusing. Warhammer and 40K have gone up $5 (even though 40K is being discontinued). Warhammer metal regiments all now seem to be $40 or $45 instead of a $30 to $45 spread. Army books up $5 too.

In 40k, looks like they're picking and choosing to up certain box sets. For example, terminator squad (plastic) was selling for $30---I've had my eye on a box contemplating doing a rebuild of space hulk. The same box of 5 plastic models now costs $40!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are other 25% examples such as the Necron destroyer (also plastic); it was going for $15 a pop but now they're $20. Doesn't look like they're messing with basic troop boxes---perhaps those price changes would be too obvious.

This is hilarious! With quality stuff like Privateer Press' WarMachine eating away at the edges, GW is quickly moving itself to the point of pricing itself out of the market. Keep up the good work, boys!

Not to bash GW more than necessary, but do they call it 'War Hammer' 40K because you need $40K to invest in a decent army to field?

Ack! I'm a dolt.

The increase of $terminators (Was: $30/ Now: $40) and the necron destroyer (Was: $15/ Now: $20) was not 25%. It was closer to 33%.

I apologize for my math error.

I really hope warmachine does not take over GW's place as fantasy king... I HATE mecha fantasy...it's the dumbest crap around..

ogre your wrong about warmachine its totally superior to gw fantasy.

Play a few games and you'll know.

For Ogre13's sake, I hope he doesn't have to settle for 'the dumbest crap around.'

Warmachine is really putting a dent in GW's sales in the shops that I go to. A lot of folks are totally dropping 40k for it.

I for one think that having a few other game companies in the upper echelon can only improve prices and games all around for us. Competition means that the consumer benefits.

I'm perfectly fine with GW price hiking all the way to the point that they have to seriously reconsider their business model, which at this time seems to be 'raise prices as high as the market will bear.'

I have to agree with Ogre on that one - Warmachine as a theme doesn't do anything at all for me. Steampunk is just ridiculous to me. Having said that, the miniatures are really nice. More power to 'em for carving out their own niche.

Before we wax too lyrical on how wonderful Warmachine is compared to GW, let me note I just bought a single human Warmachine figure... for $8.99. Like 'em or not, their price range is comparable to GW.

Most blisters are up. It had to happen with teh "tin going up and the costs increasing"

Now, Michael... Thata character you got. ONE buck less than a GW one, and a bit bigger, too.

To me, that's fair pricing, if still a bit high.

And to those who "don have athing for steampunk", just think about the silly "gothic technology" 40K has and the stupid SOB hardware they are puffing out.

I eman, please, guys... Throwing rocks at glasshouses.

You are right Weaver, however what other miniatures game has you playing tournaments right out of the box for only $40 retail?

Don't like steampunk? Then Confrontation has some of the best fantasy sculps I've seen come out of Europe.

Well, after checking the 'Classic/Collectors' part of the GW online store, some of the figs there have jumped way up; $3.50 is now $5.00, some are $6.50 and $12.50. Sheesh.

"...however what other miniatures game has you playing tournaments right out of the box for only $40 retail?"

Well, a point, sort of. But WM is a skirmish game, and for $40 you can put together a good warband for GW's skirmish game, Mordheim.

Myself, I use miniatures for RPGs primarily.

Javier, the figure I picked up was Allister Caine, and he seems comparable to GW hummie size.

The Sisters Repentia box set shot up from $30 to $45. 50% hike!

The LOTR Cave Troll is $30!! Good grief!

To make another Warmachine to GW comparison, compare a 40k space marine dreadnought (any metal version or even plastic version) to a heavy steamjack.

The models are roughly the same size but jacks top out at about $25---many of them are only $20. GW Dreadnoughts run about $40. Similar concept for minis for up to double the price if you go the GW route.

WM is also moving toward larger games with larger forces including more infantry models. Strangely, you can still field a really decent army for $100 or less.

I have not asked my local shop but if GW is hiking their prices that much they just killed themselves. I have no doubt after years and years of doing this they just crossed an invisible line. The old prices were keeping alot of people from playing a hike of 25-40%, even on select items, will kill their business growth. New gamers will not play and old ones will not build new armies they were planning. I know I have canceled at least one army I planned to build and if they are hiking the prices I certainly will cancel my intention to get back into Fantasy Battle. Two teenagers I know were really wanting to play any one of the 3 main GW games and even with me really telling them how much fun it is they ended up walking away from all the GW products when they saw just how out of line the prices were.

BTW, the tin prices were not enough justification. Here is a secret. Even with the increased cost of tim GW's metal cost per figure is right at 25 cents USD. Do the math.

I do not play Warmachine but it is doing huge business at our local shop in Atlanta. Even though GW has 10 times the precence in the shop Warmachine is having much faster growth. There must be something to that.

The fastest growing game I have ever seen since Magic is the growth of FOW. Our local shop has to place multi thousand dollar orders every week to keep up with the demand and he still cannot keep it in stock. It is the biggest cross-over game I have ever seen. Fantasy and historical players can not get enough of it.

If you work for GW and your reading this you had better get a grip and figure out a way to get your company out of the hands of the sales winnies that are killing it.

This may be a bit over the top but it breaks my heart to see a company with so much going for it just self destructing.

Jeff

Man...once I get my Kasrkin, I think Copplestone's going to start getting a lot more of my business. Too bad I still need a bunch of 28mm pilots, and the Sentinel ones are almost perfect. :(

Ah, yes, he's a "smallie"... Only a wee bit bigger than those Gw hummies.

But I cannot believe the 3.50 to 5.00 bucks thing. I just can't... WHOA! Moth.. in Heav...! The Black Orc character on the online store homepage, that was 10 last Sunday, now is 12!

The Classic Dogs of War regiments (that I intended to eventually get for my Mordheim "Kaleborraka" (Crowd Streetfighting, in Basque) campaign, were 35 bucks!

Those were nice prices, all things considered.

Now they really are 54 and 58 doggone dollars! Or 5.00 to 5.50 A PIECE!

This is completely ridiculous. I can't see people paying such prices for so few models!

Damn it, even Foundry offers better "deals" and they do mark up their pieces. For the 112 dollars, with GW I get 20 figures... Add 13 bucks to that, and Foundry send me at least 30 quite BIG orcs (but I'd be an idiot if I payed for those at that price) or up to 60 historicals (a bit more sensible a deal)!!!

GW has finally made it, I doubt they will sell as much minis as they used to do prior to July this year.

Something gotta give, and I'm betting it going to be the wallets.

Oh, brother...

Another finger up...

Bah, never mind.

Maybe GW is trying to make up for all that lost revenue from putting some of their gamebooks on-line. I know a lot of people (epic for instance) who refuse to pay $40 for a book when you can download it directly from the net.

I just got a thread nominated for lockage over on GW's Epic Armageddon site. I asked if this new price hike was going to affect the Epic line.

Got a few responses on how they had noticed a couple of prices had shifted upward, that there was little surprise and the same old stuff about how we should just "expect it".
Everyone there is pretty blaise about the whole thing.

They also pointed out an important fact: If people still buy enough to give them profits, the company will continue to raise prices. Friends don't let friends...

And people decry VOID and CELTOS?

Still great casts at low prices & a fast paced fantasy and sci-fi game system... UM has been churning out new CELTOS sculpts at a record pace since taking over, are reworking the Koralons and coming out with new vehicles...

UM is for real and is here to stay people.

Not a sock puppet, just an enthusiast frustrated that UM has not gotten a US distributer yet - they are seriously missing out market share (a comment from my LGS owner, who has supported my demos for three months now despite not being able to stock any VOID figures at the store)

I'm a VOID fan, too. I think the minis are nicely done and reasonably priced for the market (and they're metal too--save the ones in the game box).

I always used to laugh when people would compare a box of Viridian marines to a box of Catachans. Sure, the GW plastics can come out cheaper there. But they're plastic. Comparing a blister of metal Catachans to a blister of VOID marines is a much better idea for seeing how much mini you get for your buck.

Yeah, I think I'll take a look at Void minis again, too.

Too bad I'm such a big Tau fan, too. GW will still get some scratch out of me, now and then, but damn.

I'm over them... I'm over them... Really, I am!

=Þ

I have no rush to go back to Void... Warzone is here and the prices remain the same, the game is sound and works efficiently.

And of course, this could very well make BTD to churn out more Science Fiction models at far more attractive prices.

Then, there are the Grymn and the new space critters coming from Kevin and Sally White's retiled "World Domination" HQ.

=D

They, and Crusader, and Artizan, Renegade, Copplestone, Heresy, Vendel...

Ah, I love this hobby. I really do.

Wow I just checked today and most all of the LotR line has had their 7-9 dollar blisters rise to at least 10 dollars. Their 15 dollar supplement books (think codex size) are 20 now (cost of tin rising affects publishing their books?). Most box sets have risen about 5 bucks too.

Well, I was seriously considering getting into 40k when the new version gets released later this year, just because some of my buddies have armies, but this price hike has put me off of that entirely.

My business will continue to go to other places in hopes that the 'smaller' companies get some leg up on this blunder by GW. And then, months/years later when this price hike and the more that will inevitably come have crippled the already ailing GW US sales, I'll pick up some armies out of the bargain/discontinued bin.

I think there are several reasons the prices have increased:

The metal markets have gone bananas so the cost of the components of casting alloys have gone through the roof.

Oil prices have gone up so plastic and distribution costs have gone up.

The dollar has tanked so badly against other currencies that this
rise just brings worldwide prices into line. If you look at US $ GW
prices and convert them to £ and compare that figure against UK
prices you were getting about 20% off in that comparison. You are
still getting many items cheaper than the UK-about 5-10%.

It was actually reaching he point where in the UK you were almost cheaper buying from GW US mail order than GW UK. There are some rumours that some UK shops have stocked up from US retailers as despite the freight costs it was actually cheaper.
Ten pewter figures at $35 equates to around £19.40, with the price
rise £22.

We can't get the same boxes as you but our blistered
figures are £2 to £3 each. Depending on what the box is UK price
equivalent would be £20-30.

I'm sad. I had totaly quit buying from GW until the LOTR range was released. I liked that line, but I can't pay $10.00 for 2-3 figs when I can get 5-8 figs for the same price from other manufacturers. I guess my LOTR days are comming to an end. Pitty.

The whole thing has me somewhat depressed. Sure, I've got other games I enjoy. I'm really groving on 28MM WWII stuff right now as well as N-scale WWII, but I *love* the GW models and I have to say I think they just crossed the line where I no longer want to pay the premium for their product.

Hmmm... Privateer4hire has a point. When you look at the larger models, there is a big discrepancy between the 40K dreads and the larger WM 'jacks.

Here's a weird thing: much as I loathe GW, the only game store in town is a GW store, and I was contemplating picking up a small force to participate in the Big Chaos Thingie tournaments they'll be having. Guess that idea's going down the tubes... My wallet is heaving a sigh of relief.

The price hike is official and was quite an ambush job. Retailers received a week's notice. I am so sick and tired of going back thru and changing GW prices every 6-12 months. For each item we have to change the wholesale price, the trade price and the retail price by hand.

How much can the market bear of this? I have no idea. Fantasy was actually making a comeback when this came down the pike. I am not optimistic any more. But predicting GW's fall due to price increases has never come true in the past.

Personally I am glad we are no longer so dependednt upon GW, even tho I do like their games. However, I am not really investing in the line any more - neither time nor money. There needs to be a major regime change at GW before things get back on track.

Neal

Maybe everyone will get turned on to the cheaper Historical models and games? that could be good for somebody ...

"what other miniatures game has you playing tournaments right out of the box for only $40 retail?"

Reaper's C.A.V. starters have a fully playable tournament army for $40. They also include the actual, full rulebook as well.

But nobody plays with just starter forces for long in any game system, so such comparisons don't really mean much.

I just talked to my local GW store and yep it is true. I cannot believe it. Every Blister has gone up around $2.00 each, some more, and plastics have shot up as well.

Not only that but they are changing all the prices on the inventory they currently have on the walls. They are not even going to sell through it until the new "more expensive" products are all that's left.

This really is very upsetting. I REALLY love their products but I will have to buy a whole lot less if any. Paying $10.00-$12.00 a figure for single characters or even $6.00-$8.00 for regular troops is just not not going to hack it.

The worst part of it is that there is no other option out there that fills the genre. Warmachine is great for some but I really love traditional fantasy and the 40K enviroment.

A sad day in my gaming world.

Give Black Tree Designs a look. They have great minis, and have a well rounded selection. Their Legions of the Realms line is their old Lord of The Rings line renamed. Their other fantasy lines are compatible with the older GW minis.

Also the Dwarf Wars minis look outstanding. Some of the best looking dwarves in 30mm that I have seen.

Vendel also has great dwarves. Their orcs and goblins are more "realistic" looking, and vastly different than those of GW, but I like the look.

All of these are vastly cheaper than GW.

My business partner and I are buying our local game store which has never really pushed GW products. We pulled out our old models for 40K and began polishing up on the rules because we felt that we could demo a few games of 40K and start moving some of the product. But after learning of the price increase we have decided that we do not want to subject our clients to the abuse of over pricing practices. We therefore have decided to work with Excelsior games (who, by the way, are extremely nice people). With the new edition of Warzone we feel we will be succesfully filling our sci-fi genre. Excelsior games has a wonderful package for retailers which includes trade-offs for miniatures that set on the shelf without moving. Also they have no minimum order. There is a lot of things that they have to offer that is too numerous to mention here. Any shop owner should go to their website to check these guys out. Being the owner of a shop, I have to look out for the welfare of my patrons (These people are my neighbors) and GW has priced themselves out of our little corner of the world anyway.

DoubleSix66... Even with the prices going up, the cost of putting the figures out is minimal...

We are talking about OBSCENE profiteering, here.

There is no justification to this.

You know...if Hasslefree started putting out humans in the same style as their Gryms (sp?), I'd buy those instead of Space Marines.

I'd buy the Void Viridian 'Assault Marines', except the poses leave me cold. Just not dynamic enough for my tastes.

Wait a minute,ANOTHER price increase?? Didn't they just have a 20% increase in the last year? ANd another they snook in in January? Now this? ONce again I'm glad I'm in historicals, this makes OG's 20 cent price rise afew months ago appear minimal. Still there are a lot if silly-ass fan boyz that willl continue to put up with it. What a pity.

Why would any retail store mark up their existing stock? Unless you are positive that you will sell through that stock before the end of your fiscal year, you could be inviting some serious inventory creep. Just a thought.

And a good one Cyrus. A good example of how real inventory moves. That is where the price:value relationship is so pronounced. If it's sitting there unsold then pricing it up isn't going to move it.

I spose they could announce they were leaving the miniature business altogether and going into collectible card games. Then they'd move.

MWalston - I think you may be right. 2 definite but probably 3 prices rises in 18 to 24 months. January or summer 2003, definite Jan2004 and now July2004. Quantities sold must be dropping although they would now make more money on each sale. Where is the fanboy breaking point though? When does it cut your growth if you make more profit now but fewer people will play and recruit others to play? It could take a few years for fewer new players to cover "retired" players to hit the bottom line.

The other rises stepped around LOTR and LOTR is what kept me buying some GW. I guess that's it for me. Thanks Neal and everyone who could confirm the truth.

If your in the market for fantasy figs check out Reapers Army packs for Dark Heaven. They are nice and fairly cheap if I recall for metal figs. As for this new price hike, I think I can finally say I am done with GW. Void is a great system with nice figs and so is Armies of Arcanna. Ive just recently started getting into WWII 15mm. I think Ill be just fine without GW.

Crap, I was just getting re-interested in LotR with my son. It's time to switch scales and go with Reaper and the like.

Up yours GW!

I'm in agreement with those who say this is the last straw.

I've only been gaming for four years and while I may be wrong, this seems like the THIRD price hike. The second time was'nt quite as significant because they "rounded" up their blisters and boxed sets. It went up nickels and quarters.

I could hear their argument if they were raising prices on new models or their latest releases, but to raise the price on everything is a little much. The quality on new items is generally better or better constructed. To use "real" models as an example, AMT/ERTL is entry level stuff, while Tamiya is expensive and geared towards the detail fanatic. So you're paying more for the detail, but you are paying flat prices. Two years later they don't hike it on a whim.

I think less than two years ago I paid $32.99 for a Dreadnought, and kicked myself THEN for doing it. In two years that same model has risen $7.00 ?!?! Tac Squads were $20 when I got going, and now they're $30? I don't want to sound like an old man because I'm not even 30, but I had a paper route when I was 14 and I think I was lucky If I made $50 a week. Times change, but I don't think I know any 14 year olds, related or otherwise, that make enough to Play GW games. Thats sad, because kids are the very foundation of GW's Future, and unless they are independently wealthy or have rich parents they just got phased out.

I've been trying to get back to my Flames of War army, and GW just showed me the way. I CAN'T afford these guys anymore, and I really like their stuff.

The only way I'd pay $40 now for a dreadnought was if it was as detailed as the ones from Forgeworld, or sculpted by Joe Orteza. $40?!!? It's a @#$@% model!

Neal I don't know if you'll keep tabs on this thread or not, but a couple of months ago you tracked down a bretonnian boxed set for me...Thanks.(Insert Free Publicity and shameless plug here) For those of you out there who don't know Neal, he is a straight shooter, and the epitome of customer service. Dealing with Neal has always been a pleasure.

Coupled with this year's GT scene fiasco, this is the last straw for me. I have been an avid GW player for over 10 years, have been involved in the high-end fully-converted army Grand Tourney scene the last four years or so and a weekly WFB player. I had two new WFB armies in the works, but I am now putting the brakes on both. A few weeks ago I picked up the Flames of War rules and I have already "converted" a few of the regulars over into building WWII FoW armies.
This price hike will result in Friday nights at our local store changing from WFB night to FoW night. I guarantee it.
I already e-mailed GWUS telling them exactly these thoughts, and I hope somebody there takes it seriously because they are going to lose an assload of money on sales just from our store as people switch to FoW or another fantasy/sci-fi system.
Enough, already.

I think the success of warmachine will entice other companies to produce quality games and this in turn will really blow GW out of the water......im just waiting for a sci fi line to challenge them.

Yep, my FLGS had the price increase today, I went to find out. The store clerk was pretty disgusted and I know he's glad he kicked the GW habit long ago. He told me Eldar walkers went up a lot, too.

I mean, GW isn't here for you or me, they're here to stay in business, and hiking prices only changes who buys their product which they understand. It's one reason they've lasted 25 years.

However, my son and I won't buy any more LotR (and I forbid him to buy 40K as long as I can). We'll use the pieces we have and add on with minis from another company. Meanwhile, I'll do my best to speak ill of GW to all my school students when they ask (they know I paint and play).

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:-)