How much do you spend on GW a year?

[HsojVvad]

I have been reading alot of threads, and I am reading alot of people pissed off at what GW is doing. Alot of people get upset and they are not GW target audiance. I believe GW only wants the parents of little kids to come in spend their $200-$1000 and get out and not come back in again.

It seems GW has been doing this for years now and they are still making millions. Well maybe from reading that 2010 was the worst year for GW EVER in stuff being sold (not making money because of the price increases they still make the millions sold but actual units sold) and seeing that GW is doing so much changes maybe the adults with little kids will not be their market audiance no more.

But I am curious though. Who actally buys from GW? So many people say they don't buy from GW and buy used or from new but from other sites. Some of the people actually boast about this, and you can see why GW want people actually coming back to Brick and Mortor stores instead.

So I am making a poll to see how many people actually buy from GW or if they buy else where. I also wonder how much they actually spend, and if people don't spend from GW or lots of money, how come so many complaints then if it doesn't effect you?

Are we just ragging on GW just because that is the latest craze now? So lets see who put's their money where their mouth is.

[eldargal]

I spend far, far too much on GW products.:rolleyes: I also buy from AoW, Scibor, Spartan Games nad numerous other companies (not PP or Mantic though). But I'd say 90% of my spending goes to GW simply they have most of the products I love (WFB and 40k).

I voted 250-500 because that was the highest, but it really doesn't cut it for my expenditure but I'm far too embaressed to say exactly how much I spend.

[DrLove42]

I've voted full amount. Always from GW or their website. Not to mention FW and bitz websites

Frankly I'm a little scared of working out how much exactly...its nearly £300 in the last 2 months alone...

God knows how much the years I've been doing this add up to....

[Necron2.0]

The one and only thing that GW puts out that I have any interest in at all is 40K, and in that I only spend around $250+ in real money a year. I usually end up buying more because I'll use credits and what not to extend my purchasing power, but I've limited myself on how much I'll blow on this pass time.

[Lord Azaghul]

I think you’re missing a few options there. If I am making anything greater then a 50$ I ordered from discount places online – usually twice a year. Everything else was either bought from my FLGS (non-gw) , usually a few blisters or a transport once or twice a month, or I would buy from OTHER players selling crap.

My spending on GW has drasticly downsides in the last few months.
However: prior to that I was prolly spending between 400$-700$ USD a year between all of my major sources. I don’t forsee my buying any other GW products for the remander of the year, in fact in the past year I have sold off 3 armies.

I’m still spending money, just not on GW products or games.

[SotonShades]

Having recently cried at my finances I know exactly how much I've spent in the last 12 months... your pole doesn't quite cover it. That said, I know a lot of people who spend an aweful lot more on going out drinking (don't get me wrong, I love doing this as well, but don't spend anywhere near as much on it) and having nothing but killer hangovers and hazy memories to show for it. One of my mates even admitted to me recently he doesn't really have fun when he goes out, or if he does he never remembers it...

I may spend a lot of money, but I get a lot of value from it, having countless hours of fun modelling, painting, photogrpahing and gaming, not to mention reading books, socialising in the real world and arguing on this fine site. Only very rarely does it give me a headache (nothing a little fresh air doesn't fix!) and I can't remember the last time it caused me to vomit or lose my memory. Unless ofcourse I just can't remember that I forgot!

As for the GW vs discount store debate; well I can see my local GW from my flat (for the next week or so til I move) so I tend to end up going there as I don't have to pay any postage, can get what I want within 5 minutes if I need to and enjoy the chatter of like minded-nutters. You don't get any of that from an online retailer, nor a place to sit down and paint without the distractions I have all around me here.

[Deadlift]

Anywhere between £100 to £200 pcm. Then there's tools, paints etc from other company's that's around £30 pcm.

However that's small potatoes compared to my other hobby, with extra food and supplements plus gym memberships etc that's £400 + pcm. But I can justify it easily as my wifes handbag habit eclipses that easily lol :)

[wittdooley]

I have been reading alot of threads, and I am reading alot of people pissed off at what GW is doing. Alot of people get upset and they are not GW target audiance. I believe GW only wants the parents of little kids to come in spend their $200-$1000 and get out and not come back in again.

I think you're a bit off, here. Sure, a one time influx is good and all, but it's the dedicated hobbyist that brings in their money year after year. That's why credit card companies hate when you pay off your card...


But I am curious though. Who actally buys from GW? So many people say they don't buy from GW and buy used or from new but from other sites. Some of the people actually boast about this, and you can see why GW want people actually coming back to Brick and Mortor stores instead.

Here's the deal, though: If you buy directly from GW online or from a B&M, it's all the same. GW has set their desired profit margin at the amount they sell to their Independent Retailers. The money they make from direct purchases is icing on the cake.



So I am making a poll to see how many people actually buy from GW or if they buy else where. I also wonder how much they actually spend, and if people don't spend from GW or lots of money, how come so many complaints then if it doesn't effect you?

I'd actually argue that your numbers on the above poll are low. $500 over the course of one year is...well, almost nothing, comparatively speaking. It's $42 a month. That's less than most people spend on their cellular plan. That's one box & one blister a month. That's a Codex and 4 paints. I budget around $2000 a year for my hobby. That's around $100 a month, plus an additional $800 for Adepticon/GenCon/Convention. It's really not an outrageous amount.



Are we just ragging on GW just because that is the latest craze now? So lets see who put's their money where their mouth is.

You know the answer to this question. It's because it's GW. We wouldn't even start to have this conversation about Privateer, despite the fact that, for that $500, my dollar doesn't stretch as far. Using my above budget, nearly my whole July wad is already planned for my Storm Strider (and yes, I know I can get it online for about $65, but I prefer to buy from my LGS).

For me, for June:

Finecast Vanguard Vets - $45
Three Confrontation Minis - $30

So I've got about $25 monthly left, and may go up to Origins this week. Not quite sure yet.

[HsojVvad]

I have no idea what poeple's habbits are so I thought this might be ok. A bit low? Could be. Most I spent in one year was about $500 years a go, and then a few years nothing. This year seemed to be a fluke for me, about $250 so far but I think that is if for the year.

I wouldn't have thought people have spent a $100 a month because I thought most people would collect 2 or 3 armies so once all was bought they wouldnt really get anymore. So yes new things come out, but I didn't think people bought everything that came out. If they did, they would be a select few.

This is why I made the pole to guage how much people bought and see where I stood. :)

[Poncho160]

Except for buying new Codexs / Army books, which i always pre-order from GW everything else I get from ebay. I guess I spend between £50 - £100 a month.

[wittdooley]

I have no idea what poeple's habbits are so I thought this might be ok. A bit low? Could be. Most I spent in one year was about $500 years a go, and then a few years nothing. This year seemed to be a fluke for me, about $250 so far but I think that is if for the year.

I wouldn't have thought people have spent a $100 a month because I thought most people would collect 2 or 3 armies so once all was bought they wouldnt really get anymore. So yes new things come out, but I didn't think people bought everything that came out. If they did, they would be a select few.

This is why I made the pole to guage how much people bought and see where I stood. :)

Oh no, I wasn't begrudging your poll at all; sorry I wasn't clear about that.

I think we'd get more telling results with a bit broader categories, is all.

[Grailkeeper]

I no longer buy models etc but I spend quite a lot on BL books usually from waterstones but often from a Games Workshop. Waterstones is cheaper in Ireland, and in England and Ireland is more likely to do three for one or other offers. I buy the odd one second hand if i can find it in a shop but dont do much online.

[MarneusCalgar]

My answer was:

$251-$500 per year at a GW store or B&M store

But not dollars... euros. And not in a GW Store... Is about 2 years or so that I only look their windows without going in.

I always buy GW products on my independent retailer or by forums/ebay ways!!

[Wildeybeast]

I tend to go for big spurlges and drop a few hundred quid on a new army every once in a while, or updating one of my armies when they get shiny new stuff. After that i won't spend much as I'm paying off my credit card bill, but I'll maybe pick up one box of things every couple of months to keep me ticking over so it's quite hard to judge how much I spend monthly.

[Defenestratus]

More than $1000 retail. < $500 from Ebay. More than $2000 total with Forgeworld orders.

[Xas]

pal, make those numbers you used for the poll a "per MONTH" thingy or else it won't tell much.

ya know that 500$ per YEAR is less than many teenagers get pocket money and there are many nerds who don't use it on much else?

on average I'm leaving 200€ per month at various warhammer related places (GW store, FW orders, online retailer bulk purchases, ...) which would relate to 2400€ per year which in US$ should be probably around 1million at the current exchange rate? :P

[Gir]

I used to spend 4k+ a year from GW stores and forgeworld, but that slows down when you realize there's nothing else you really need to buy.

[SMC]

When I make large orders I buy from online discount sites. Single items and impulse purchases are made at my local GW. I like having a GW fifteen minutes away from my house. I want it to stay there.

On the other hand, money is money so if I'm buying...say five Raiders...then I go for the cheapest way possible.

[HsojVvad]

Per month? Wow I would neve have fathom that. Yes I know lots of people have lots of money to spare, but still spending all that money, I am shocked. Again, I think that is a rarity that some one buys that much year in and year out.

I am sure for most of us we are under a $1000 year :)

So for people spending that much money, I can see now why we call it plastic crack. :P

[wittdooley]

I don't know...It's really not that much.

Get season tickets to a football team in the US. There you're looking at ~$200 a month in tickets alone, completely leaving out food and drink at the staduim.

Go on a date to a show at the theatre once a month, and go to a nice dinner before/after. That single night is easily $200.

I think you'd get much more telling results if you did it on a monthly basis.

[Lord Azaghul]

I don't know...It's really not that much.

Get season tickets to a football team in the US. There you're looking at ~$200 a month in tickets alone, completely leaving out food and drink at the staduim.

Go on a date to a show at the theatre once a month, and go to a nice dinner before/after. That single night is easily $200.

I think you'd get much more telling results if you did it on a monthly basis.

I like quarterly...

But I usually spend around 50$ a month on 'game' stuff (board games, hobby stuff, a blister ect), and almost quarterly I usually make 1 'bigger' purchase.

Most of that USED to go to gw.

in fact it may be more telling to ask what do you spend 'monthly/quarter/annually on your hobbies!'

[Melissia]

At the moment, ~1-50, as I'm too poor to really dedicate money on plastic soldiers.

[Necron2.0]

I don't know...It's really not that much.

Get season tickets to a football team in the US. There you're looking at ~$200 a month in tickets alone, completely leaving out food and drink at the staduim.

Go on a date to a show at the theatre once a month, and go to a nice dinner before/after. That single night is easily $200.

I think you'd get much more telling results if you did it on a monthly basis.

That's the thing. I've heard people compare 40K to their scuba diving hobbies, their skydiving hobbies, and what have you. Except (for me at least) these activities aren't even in the same league. I paint miniatures because I enjoy painting. I play wargames to socialize, but mostly to kill time. 40K simply allows me to kill two birds with one stone (or would that be rip apart two heretics on one rack). I'll easily blow a few grand on something I am truly passionate about, but for me 40K simply is not it. In fact, I routinely spend much more on miniatures other than Citadel's, because they intrigue me more. That's why, for me, I'm only in the $250+ range.

[Lord Azaghul]

That's the thing. I've heard people compare 40K to their scuba diving hobbies, their skydiving hobbies, and what have you. Except (for me at least) these activities aren't even in the same league. I paint miniatures because I enjoy painting. I play wargames to socialize, but mostly to kill time. 40K simply allows me to kill two birds with one stone (or would that be rip apart two heretics on one rack). I'll easily blow a few grand on something I am truly passionate about, but for me 40K simply is not it. In fact, I routinely spend much more on miniatures other than Citadel's, because they intrigue me more. That's why, for me, I'm only in the $250+ range.



I disagree. I think the thing that needs to be remembered is that ALL of these things are items/events bought with ‘discresionary funds’ IE not food, rent or bills money. To me its kind of like paying for having cable, going out to the movies or a bar; none of it is stuff I MUST do, or continue to buy/pay for in my day to day life. So it all kind of falls under ‘luxury’ to me. So skydiving/golf/scuba = luxury. Cable, war gaming, hobby stuff = luxury.

[wittdooley]

I think that's a fair point (and we're in the same ballpark as killing two birds with one stone, BTW), but you have to consider that it is a hobby, just like scuba diving or sailing. Granted, something like sailing is a hobby most generally associated with the particularly affluent, it still remains a hobby.

I also don't discriminate when it comes to purchasing miniatures. I buy what I like the look of. Lately I've been snatching up old C3 Kelt Sessairs. Love em.

As other hobbies go... my others are more or less free. I play rugby on a men's Club team. I have to pay my dues every year ($110) for refs, etc., and I buy a new pair of boots every year. But beyond that, it's cheap, especially since we're sponsored and all our post game booze is free. Same with going to the gym. $40 a month isn't really much at all.

[Deadlift]

I think that's a fair point (and we're in the same ballpark as killing two birds with one stone, BTW), but you have to consider that it is a hobby, just like scuba diving or sailing. Granted, something like sailing is a hobby most generally associated with the particularly affluent, it still remains a hobby.

I also don't discriminate when it comes to purchasing miniatures. I buy what I like the look of. Lately I've been snatching up old C3 Kelt Sessairs. Love em.

As other hobbies go... my others are more or less free. I play rugby on a men's Club team. I have to pay my dues every year ($110) for refs, etc., and I buy a new pair of boots every year. But beyond that, it's cheap, especially since we're sponsored and all our post game booze is free. Same with going to the gym. $40 a month isn't really much at all.


Which position you play and what style, rugby league or union mate :)
Sorry to hijack but as soon as ruggers mentioned lol. Me I played loose head prop for my town and have the ear to prove it.

Back on subject. It would be interesting to see for those who have kids, do you spend more on your hobby, or on theirs ?

[wittdooley]

Which position you play and what style, rugby league or union mate :)
Sorry to hijack but as soon as ruggers mentioned lol. Me I played loose head prop for my town and have the ear to prove it.

Back on subject. It would be interesting to see for those who have kids, do you spend more on your hobby, or on theirs ?

Same thing! I Think the style in the US is Rugby League; truth be told I'm not entirely sure. I had my cauliflower ear from wrestling; loose head has just made it worse :). Can't wait for the cup to start.

[Lord Azaghul]

Back on subject. It would be interesting to see for those who have kids, do you spend more on your hobby, or on theirs ?


Generally a strong corrilation to spending there!

I have no kids. But I don't spend nearly as much as the guys don't have a mortgage and aren't married!

[Pendragon38]

Generally a strong corrilation to spending there! I have no kids. But I don't spend nearly as much as the guys don't have a mortgage and aren't married!
Im married and have a house payment with my other hobbies and sports like Boxing I spend about 100$ or less. But my army is about 30,000 points from 15+ years of collacting.

[laestli]

I spent about 150 on supplies from my local hobby store for casting my own copies last year and about another 100 on a codex + plus models from the used bin from the not so local FLGS.

[Psychosplodge]

A lot less than I used to,
only really spend on black library these days except for the odd limited edition or character model I want to paint...

[HsojVvad]

Back on subject. It would be interesting to see for those who have kids, do you spend more on your hobby, or on theirs ?

It's hard to say. I buy the stuff, I paint, they paint, and then they play with it. So it's "our" hobby. Yes my Ork Trukk got broken and I have to rebuild it again, but at least it's getting used and the kids are having a blast.

So I guess the answer is the same.

[Necron2.0]

Back on subject. It would be interesting to see for those who have kids, do you spend more on your hobby, or on theirs ?

My daughter is only 3, but I definitely spend more on her, as opposed to her hobbies - things like dance class, swimming classes, zoo and museum passes, etc. I don't think you can call the interests of a three year old "hobbies." I don't think they're quite that refined yet.