GW Price Increase??

[NobleSeven]

Just surfing through the GW site and their prices are...well, crazy. This has got to be an error. $450.00 for the Citadel Battle Realm Board? $450.00 for the Mega Paint set? Everything is increased. Is anyone else seeing this?

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/home.jsp

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/2527/gwprice.jpg

[justsam]

something tells me you perhaps are viewing it in another currency without meaning to. i know the sticker shock from being used to USD prices and seeing AUD prices is rather surprising.

[greenstuff777]

all good on my end

[NobleSeven]

You mean they play Warhammer in places OTHER than the United States? I don't know about this...


Hmm. You must be right, though, for whatever reason my browser refuses to let me view the site showing USD.

I thought GW might just be pulling a Christmas fast one. =)

[Eeps]

They are Aussie prices not US ones. Its a bit silly yeah. Thats despite 1AUD=0.98USD at the minute.

A huge number of Aussies buy from online stores in the UK for this very reason. With the AUD>GBP exchange rate at the minute, UK online prices are almost exactly 50% of AU retail prices. It's madness, and makes the "support your local store" instinct very hard to maintain at all times unfortunately.

[Farseer Uthiliesh]

They are Aussie prices not US ones. Its a bit silly yeah. Thats despite 1AUD=0.98USD at the minute.

A huge number of Aussies buy from online stores in the UK for this very reason. With the AUD>GBP exchange rate at the minute, UK online prices are almost exactly 50% of AU retail prices. It's madness, and makes the "support your local store" instinct very hard to maintain at all times unfortunately.

So true. I really don't support any local stores due to the fact that I can order models from Maelstrom so much cheaper there without paying for shipping costs. I know they say support your local store, but why throw away money?

[Eeps]

Indeed, if it was 20% different then sure, but when you can buy twice as many models for the same money...

[Farseer Uthiliesh]

Indeed, if it was 20% different then sure, but when you can buy twice as many models for the same money...

That's right. I was in Edinburgh a few months ago and noticed that the fantasy battleforces were around 50 pounds sterling. My brother got me to purchase two of them, which meant he owed me just under $200 AU, as opposed to $300.

Seriously, what is it with GW's prices in Aus? :confused:

[eldargal]

I can understand GW not changing its Australian prices all the time because of the exchange rate variability, but this is just ridiculous.

[Farseer Uthiliesh]

I can understand GW not changing its Australian prices all the time because of the exchange rate variability, but this is just ridiculous.

A GW staffer in the UK told me that it was because they set the prices some years ago when the Australian dollar was low relative to the pound. Now that's it so much higher, we're looking at GW making quite a lot more money. Which, I guess for a company makes sense. ;)

[eldargal]

True enough, but its not good for your local GW presence if it drives people to online stores. It won't hurt GW that much, I mean they still make the profit they want from 3rd party online stores, but if they dropped the Australian prices a little surely sales volume would go up even if it was still more than Maelstrom and Wayland charge.
Oh well, I'm just going to be thankful I pay British prices and refrain from complaining about the price of the hobby.:rolleyes:

[Gir]

I can understand them not dropping the prices, but it really pisses me off when we get a price rise along with everyone else.

[Farseer Uthiliesh]

True enough, but its not good for your local GW presence if it drives people to online stores.

Oh, definitely agreed.



Oh well, I'm just going to be thankful I pay British prices and refrain from complaining about the price of the hobby.:rolleyes:

Well, after I get my PhD and move to the UK, I'll probably enjoy that luxury too.

[Eeps]

True enough, but its not good for your local GW presence if it drives people to online stores. It won't hurt GW that much, I mean they still make the profit they want from 3rd party online stores, but if they dropped the Australian prices a little surely sales volume would go up even if it was still more than Maelstrom and Wayland charge.
Oh well, I'm just going to be thankful I pay British prices and refrain from complaining about the price of the hobby.:rolleyes:

Absolutely. I think it really hurts in terms of impulse purchases more than anything else.

As an example, I was in the shop recently admiring the Kommando figures. The problem is, they are only in metal, and come as a fixed box of 5 including the nob. Flamers are really handy in a Kommando team as you are likely to be very close to things very quickly.

Lets say you want to get a set of them: So 2 of the box sets + 2 of the mail order only burna kommandos. Total price for a playable squad of 1 Nob, 8 normal & 2 burna Kommandos = $176

Awesome.

Battleforces here are generally $150, and a squad of tac marines is $62. Think of the poor suffering antipodeans next time you have a moan about GW prices!

[UltramarineFan]

Basically GW pricing goes by their version of the economy, not everyone elses. UK loses out sometimes too funnily enough. For example, when 5th ed was released and they were selling the gamers edition(with the metal ammo box) which was $90, at the time it was roughly $2 : £1 so the UK price was...£60. Admitedly it is better to buy from the UK most of the time though, especially if you live in Australia.

[HsojVvad]

Problem is, it is just not GW doing this, it is everyone who shafts the Australian consumer. Same goes for games, what we pay $50 in Canada or USA, the Austrlian person has to pay $80 or $100. Same goes for music, movies on DVD, and what ever else.

I guess they use the excuse they are surronded by water and they are a little island that they need to pay more for everything.

It is sad that Australians have to do this. Only if they stopped buying everything would the prices fall, but since they know people will not stop buying things, they can charge as much as they want. Again, a marke will bear what people are willing for. Sadly lots of people are willing to pay for these prices. Not you or me, but others, so the prices stay high.

[w7west]

I was visiting my uncle in Australia and working at his reptile park for a few weeks four summers ago. The prices there seemed very high for most everything.

For example, we would go to mcdonalds and a combomeal that would be $5.00 in the states was $11.00 there. I never figured out the gas exchange rate since the gas stations there measured everything in liters of petrol... being 17 I really had no clue what petrol is compared to gas. I still don't but apparently if you put petrol it your car it can drive places.

Those Aussies pay a lot more for stuff but let me tell you that country has it figured out. I have another year to go for my biochem degree before I start the process of moving down under. Beautiful beaches, loud friendly and laid back pubs, kangaroos in the back yard, and of course koala bears who urinate all over your work outfit are things I am convinced I cannot spend my adult life without.

[Gotthammer]

Petrol here in Aus is roughly $4.50 USD a gallon - pretty cheap for recent years, and the Aussie dollar's doing well. At the worst point (both in terms of fuel price and Dow vs Greenback) it was closer to $9.50 USD a gallon.

Importing stuff long distance adds a lot of $ to the price tag.

[NobleSeven]

Poor Aussies.
On top of worrying about dingos taking your babies you wargamers have to deal with some truly insane pricing.
Looking back at my first screenshot of the $100+ Landraider I can't help but be haunted with a disturbing premonition- will there come a day when GW raises USD prices to these heights?

[pinchy]

Absolutely. I think it really hurts in terms of impulse purchases more than anything else.


And new people getting into the hobby as well- if they see the AUS/NZ price tags most people would just walk away, whereas if they saw the 40-50% savings from buying overseas I'm sure a great deal more people would get into the game.

Quite frankly I'm not sure how/why many of the local retailers keep selling GW stuff. They definitely can't compete on price not that any of the ones near me will charge you a cent less than full retail anyway and if they think they can get away with it more (like the local Toyworld chucking another $2.50 onto their Black Library prices over and above what GW suggests despite the books already being a third more expensive than converting the UK RRP). My experience would also suggest that they don't compete on service/product knowledge or any other aspect either- it's just a case of there's only two places in town if you don't like it leave it (hence why I now use Maelstrom).

Given that they've just brought back the OZ gamesday I'm hoping that GW will start paying some attention to this part of the world again and stop screwing us on pricing. They won't ever decrease prices across the board (cause let's face it the independent stockists would ***** like mad or want some sort of compensation as their stock on hand would have been bought at a higher price and would now need to be sold at a lower retail price) but it would be nice if they were to exempt us from a few of the price rises to restore some parity.

[Porty1119]

Poor Aussies.
On top of worrying about dingos taking your babies you wargamers have to deal with some truly insane pricing.
Looking back at my first screenshot of the $100+ Landraider I can't help but be haunted with a disturbing premonition- will there come a day when GW raises USD prices to these heights?

And I retire from the game and sell my army at a higher cost than when I bought it. I got all my Guardsmen when they were 20 for $35, so that's not too hard.

[HsojVvad]

Importing stuff long distance adds a lot of $ to the price tag.

Since most things are made in China, isn't Austrlia closer to China than the USA? I think all cargo goes to the USA, even if it comes to Canada, not sure if China ships to Canada directly or not.

So shouldn't Austrlia be paying cheaper? I am shocked there is no revolt in Austrlia for the prices. Over 200 years ago, some certian people revolted when their tea was hiked up. I guess in this day and age, nobody does anything anymore.

[NobleSeven]

The Australian Sprue Party?

[Eeps]

Since most things are made in China, isn't Austrlia closer to China than the USA? I think all cargo goes to the USA, even if it comes to Canada, not sure if China ships to Canada directly or not.

So shouldn't Austrlia be paying cheaper? I am shocked there is no revolt in Austrlia for the prices. Over 200 years ago, some certian people revolted when their tea was hiked up. I guess in this day and age, nobody does anything anymore.

Cmon now! Your average wargamer specialises more in the impotent nerd rage end of the spectrum, rather than the angry get militarised and overthrow your oppressors type of rage.

I'm sure they've worked all the numbers out and presumably this is their optimum strategy. I suspect the ludicrous cost of child care over here is a factor as well: Parents can dump their kid at GW stores all day for the price of an occasional box of space marines. Even games workshops finest chargepeopletiltheirearsbleed team have nothing on the child care professionals over here.

From a personal perspective, I end up buying 90% of my kit online, but I do play games in a store every so often so I always try and buy something while Im there to wash away the guilt.

[DarkLink]

So shouldn't Austrlia be paying cheaper? I am shocked there is no revolt in Austrlia for the prices. Over 200 years ago, some certian people revolted when their tea was hiked up. I guess in this day and age, nobody does anything anymore.

Yeah, but those people really liked their tea.

[Farseer Uthiliesh]

Given that they've just brought back the OZ gamesday I'm hoping that GW will start paying some attention to this part of the world again and stop screwing us on pricing. They won't ever decrease prices across the board (cause let's face it the independent stockists would ***** like mad or want some sort of compensation as their stock on hand would have been bought at a higher price and would now need to be sold at a lower retail price) but it would be nice if they were to exempt us from a few of the price rises to restore some parity.

What Games Workshop needs to do is to, maybe for a week, have a sale. That way, Australians won't feel that our strong dollar is ignored. Maybe tie it in to some Aus-only games week.

[HsojVvad]

Cmon now! Your average wargamer specialises more in the impotent nerd rage end of the spectrum, rather than the angry get militarised and overthrow your oppressors type of rage.

I am not talking just GW products or wargaming, but everything as I said, Music CDs, DVDs, computer software and games, etc etc.


Yeah, but those people really liked their tea.

LMFAO, that was good.


What Games Workshop needs to do is to, maybe for a week, have a sale. That way, Australians won't feel that our strong dollar is ignored. Maybe tie it in to some Aus-only games week.

GW, sale? In the same sentence? You must be dreaming. :p

[Thorsson]

GW is the main maker of minis for their games, and a long as that remains true GW will continue raising prices.

Why?

They know people will pay. But 100 bucks for a LR is crazy!

The closest you will get to a sale is free shipping.

[Lucian Kain]

The New Zealand dollar is roughly $1.20 to the Australian Dollar its **** as,They've vertually priced them selves out of buiseness here in Kiwi (NZ)...:cool:

[Daemonette666]

The cost for 10% ethanol Unleaded petrol just rose to about $1.35AU a litre (mertic).

I heard the reason the cost of GW miniatures went up in Australia was because of the increased postage and fuel costs. Logically, if the Austraian dollar is now about 60% of the value of the english pound, and it used to be about 40%, then the cost of miniatures should be less, not more.

[Daemonette666]

The New Zealand dollar is roughly $1.20 to the Australian Dollar its **** as,They've vertually priced them selves out of buiseness here in Kiwi (NZ)...:cool:
A friend of mine buys a lot of stuff from NZ. Not gaming miniatures, but groceries, Ipods, etc. He said that the big busineses sell thing cheaper in N.Z. because Kiwis will not stand for them putting up the prices. The Aussie businesses know we are just a bit more gullible, or less confrontational, and generally go with the flow. Well that is what he told me anyway. But it is actually cheaper for him to get stuff from N.Z. and ship it over here, than buy it here.

I think it could also be the way our governmentss have been taxing us, overtaxing us that is. And it does not matter if it is coalition party, or labour, we still get charged a lot for goods and services. Damn the GST.