Monday the 16th - The End of the World?

[Primarch]

Hey folks.
As you've probably noticed by now, GW have stopped selling metal models from their stores and from independant retailers. There have been several rumours floating round about this, the two most 'popular' ideas are that A) GW is replacing all their metal models with resin or B) GW is making ALL metal models direct order only, thereby forcing everyone to pay full price for them.

Retailers have been told that GW will be making an announcement to them on Monday the 16th of May (UK time I guess).

But that is old news.

On warseer there is another thread that is getting a lot of attention.

There is a possibility that GW may be imposing limitations on where indepedant retailers can ship to if they want to continue selling their products. The suggested limitations are for UK based webstores to stop shipping to the southern hemisphere including: South and Central America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. For example Maelstrom and Wayland would only be able to ship to addresses in Europe and the US and maybe some parts of Asia. Whether that includes Japan or not....who knows.

Again, the official announcement will be made on the 16th. This is what Maelstrom Games had to say when contacted about these possible changes.

Hi there,
We have had some news regarding this. We will make a post about it once we have spoke to GW about it ans found out what exactly we can and cannot do.
Cheers,
Chris

And this is what they said further down the thread.

Guys,
I thought I'd better just add something here before we are misquoted or misrepresented - I'm not saying that's happening in this thread, I just want to make sure that doesn't happen!

Games Workshop told me their new terms and conditions regarding trade accounts on Wednesday, but they have asked me to not reveal what was said until Monday the 16th of May, which is when they will reveal them to the general public. At that point we will inform all our customers what is happening.

Cheers
Rob
Maelstrom Games Ltd

You can read the full warseer thread here

[job]

Honestly, GW's treatment of customers at times really reeks. What's up with all the secrecy? Whatever they have in mind apparently they figure we will presume it to be adverse to hobbying.
If they restrict online sales to the E. Asia region I presume gaming in our group may be adversely effected. Almost makes me want to leave GW games again... Yeah, right.

Any plans for last minute orders from Maelstrom?

[Primarch]

Honestly, GW's treatment of customers at times really reeks. What's up with all the secrecy? Whatever they have in mind apparently they figure we will presume it to be adverse to hobbying.
If they restrict online sales to the E. Asia region I presume gaming in our group may be adversely effected. Almost makes me want to leave GW games again... Yeah, right.

Any plans for last minute orders from Maelstrom?

I sent rather a large sum of money back last week actually to pre-order the shiney new dark eldar. However, it wont arrive until after monday. So unless there is some sort of grace period between the announcement and any changes......I'll be buying up those shiney new khador models?

But you're right though. What's up with all the secrecy? If there were more transparency in what they do then all my pointless rumour-mongering would be unneccesary.

Roll on Monday 16th

[me_in_japan]

from a business perspective, what the heck do they hope to achieve with the secrecy? I mean, if they are going to cut us off, and thereby prevent us from buying minis from the UK, why not tell us and thereby get the money for last minute splurges? But then, they still cant make us buy at japanese GW prices. All people will do is buy the same stuff from wayland etc and get it shipped to their relatives addresses, then have their folks ship em here. Net result: more money spent on postage, less money spent on minis. If they ever did manage to cut us off from UK stuff, do they really think people are going to buy from GW(local area?) I'd have to take a spevna stance if it came down to that level of wankery.

*edit* took a look at the thread. Meh. More Warseer unsubstantiated rumours. Lets wait till monday and find out...

[Admiral-Badruck]

I guess I will only be buying plastic from them... or nothing at all. I assume you can still get plastic from over seas... if not I will be done with GW. those silly bastards. if they do not want my money then they shall not have my money...and to think had an order lined up for over 30,000 yen just waiting to get paid... I guess it might be time to pick up Flames of war of even get that trollbloods army that has been looking me in the face.

[Primarch]

Well, we'll have to wait until next monday to hear the offical version. What they are doing with their metal models and what changes they are making to their shipping policies will certainly make a big difference to us here in Japan.

I assume you can still get plastic from over seas...

If this 'shipping' rumour comes true. You can still buy everything from GW Japan, but you wouldnt be able to purchase anything from overseas.
Of course, there are some caveats to all this
1.) This is only a rumour and I am hoping to the God-Emperor that it is wrong. (Though Maelstrom didnt deny it).
2.) If it is true, I hope there is a grace period between the announcement and it being put into place.
3.) The rumour states "the southern hemisphere" but mentions asia and central america. Asia and central america are primarily in the northern hemisphere. (And I cant see GW being bothered by something small like the equator).

[me_in_japan]

Id be happy to buy from GW japan if they sold their models for the same price Wayland do. I mean, presumably Wayland are making a profit, so why cant GW just cut out the middle man and make that profit themselves, hmmn? Greed - thats why.

[ashmie]

It's a real shame if this is happening. i like the metal models and the postage to Japan.
Star Wars fans were recently disappointed with George Lucas too as he announced there would be a big announcement for the franchise and something special for the fans this May the 4th. Turned out it was the series getting repackaged and put onto blu ray again with extra annoying animated scenes put in.
Fans complained it was a complete anticlimax and they hated the secrecy that surrounded it all in the build up. The series had been repackaged too many times and they would have preferred a release of the original theatre versions if anything.

[Primarch]

It's a real shame if this is happening. i like the metal models and the postage to Japan.
Star Wars fans were recently disappointed with George Lucas too as he announced there would be a big announcement for the franchise and something special for the fans this May the 4th. Turned out it was the series getting repackaged and put onto blu ray again with extra annoying animated scenes put in.
Fans complained it was a complete anticlimax and they hated the secrecy that surrounded it all in the build up. The series had been repackaged too many times and they would have preferred a release of the original theatre versions if anything.

True.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/4/6/

Mind you, both GW and George Lucas keep making money.

[jus]

ugh, the suspense! Just another day.

if the shit hits the fan, I expect all of Oceania to rise up in revolt against having to pay full dollar, Australians especially. Doubtless there will be outrage.