Finecast limit increased

[Emperorsmercy]

Hadn't seen this anywhere, so I thought I'd post.

The citadel finecast, 'due to high demand' had a limit of three but it has now gone up to five pieces per customer.

Does this mean they've sorted out the issues with the material?

[Wildeybeast]

Depends on what 'issues' you mean. It could be that they have improved the speed of the casting process, it could just mean that they have had enough time to build up some stock in the warehouse. TBH I think that limit is just there because they don't want a load people ordering a ton of finecast stuff all at once and then having a backlog of orders to get through. The limit will have no effect on most people since virtually every model that is finecast is something that you will only use in limited numbers in your army (you can only field 2 librarians, so why would you want to buy 3 at once?).

[eldargal]

It probably has more to do with stock levels stabilising, so stores not selling out of popular models and needing to order more in constantly, perhaps fewer returns so fewer replacement kits being sent out and that sort of thing. I doubt they have solved the problems with Finecast completely yet, though most of the problems now seem to be with kits from the first waves.

[Lane]

Maybe GW was worried about people buying up all the Finecast and selling them on Ebay at huge profits. It's happened with other companies, at least local shortages, and we know how GW hates anybody but themselves making money off their games.

[MarneusCalgar]

Good news, and logical ones, if they are increasing their Fai... Finecast range.

Nice!!

[vman]

Good news, and logical ones, if they are increasing their Fai... Finecast range.

Nice!!

:D

[wittdooley]

/antagonistic voice on

In other news, Privateer Press will not be releasing anything new in August....

/antagonistic voice off

But seriously, I think this is a good thing. Though GW would never admit it, based on the models they had at Games Day Chicago (notably absent were the models that seemed to have high incident rate--I'm looking at you terminator librarian) they're obviously aware of the shortcomings and are working to fix it. This seems to be an indicator that they're doing that.

Here's hoping that I can soon buy the Orge Maneaters in Finecast!

[Xas]

it had no practical effect anyway.

I ordered a total of 4 grotsquen simply by placing two order of 2 models each at once...

[Porty1119]

Good news, and logical ones, if they are increasing their Fai... Finecast range.

Nice!!

I see what you did there, and I like it. I highly doubt that I'll ever buy any Failcast, especially since I'm loyal to my mostly-plastic IG Flying Space Rednecks.

[wittdooley]

I see what you did there, and I like it. I highly doubt that I'll ever buy any Failcast, especially since I'm loyal to my mostly-plastic IG Flying Space Rednecks.

Let me be the first to let you know how much you'll be missing out as the improve the product, then.

[Emerald Rose Widow]

Let me be the first to let you know how much you'll be missing out as the improve the product, then.

Have to agree, I have had a few minor issues with finecast, but overall the medium is good. My recent zoanthrope is borked, but once I get it replaced all will be good.

[eldargal]

Once they get the QC issues sorted Finecast will be great, so long as they don't go raising the prices every year like they (understandable) did with metal. And plastic, to help subsidise the cost of metal.

[Wildeybeast]

Once they get the QC issues sorted Finecast will be great, so long as they don't go raising the prices every year like they (understandable) did with metal. And plastic, to help subsidise the cost of metal.

Sadly prices will increase year on year as it isn't based soley on the cost of materials. They have to factor in transport and storage, wages etc etc (not to mention shareholder dividends) so I sure prices will go up same as they do on plastic products. At least, that is how GW will justify it.

I'd also be interested to see exactly what their figures are on returns for finecast models. All we have is anecdotal evidence from the interweb - I for example have bought 8 finecast models and bar some minor cleaning up, they have all been excellent quality. Anyone know how we can get hold of this info?

[wittdooley]

I haven't seen anything, as they've been ridiculously (see: typically GW) hush-hush about it. Again, I can give you the anecdotal evidence from Games Day, which I think would be relatively indicative of what they're having problems with.

[eldargal]

Actually if they just raise prices to cover inflation rather than rising material costs they should only have to raise prices every two or three years instead of yearly. Remains to be seen how this will go though.

In the last financial statement they said Finecast had a 89 or 97% success rate, which I find to be a bit high I have to admit. However, it could also be the internet echo chamber is having a bit of an effect and genuine miscasts are being blown out of all proportion. If that figure isn't accurate hten GW could be accused of lying to its shareholders which is extremely illegal.

[isotope99]

I'm not sure that GW's strategy of staggering their price rises is working for them. What they seem to do at the moment is put up prices on a portion of the range every few years and then rotate round so that some kits go up every year, with some exceptions where they catch up the prices on kits that have a similar role e.g. Basilisks & falcons (hate it when they do that :mad:).

The result is that every year some of the prices go up by several years worth of inflation and they get the reputation of jacking prices by 15% every year. If they made it small annual increases on every kit <5%, or occasional increases every three-four years mid edition they might get more understanding?

[wittdooley]

Well here's the thing: I'm sure there's some sort of threshold that they had to come up with for which to determine a "failed" product. I'm sure that's where they're getting their percentages from, and I'd wager the statment goes along the lines of, "if a reasonable novice hobbyist can fix it, it's not a 'problem." That's actually a sentiment I agree with, too, as there has been too much internet whining about really miniscule bubbling, etc. Your metal models had this stuff too, folks.

I think the whole Wayland thing exasperated the problem for a few reasons: 1) Wayland's "failure" rate was high, and their "failure" standards very loose; 2) Wayland, IMO, was trying to prove a point due to the embargo and the fact that they'd subsequently lose overseas customers--to which I say, Boo Hoo; you can only skirt the system for so long before your hand gets bitten; 3) Wayland should have been directing their customers with ACTUAL problems back to GW anyway. GW, not Wayland, is the one replacing the product. I understand that Wayland doesn't want their customers unhappy, but a very simple statement or inclusion ( a slip of paper) in every order containing Finecast solves that problem, right then.

[wittdooley]

If they made it small annual increases on every kit <5%, or occasional increases every three-four years mid edition they might get more understanding?

Sadly, we both know this isn't true. Like the new Avatar, BTW!

[eldargal]

I agree, I also think they missed a golden opportunity to boost their public relations by not giving a token price decrease with Finecast. At the very least keeping the prices the same and making a fuss about how this would help them keep prices low would have been good.

[JxKxR]

I agree, I also think they missed a golden opportunity to boost their public relations by not giving a token price decrease with Finecast. At the very least keeping the prices the same and making a fuss about how this would help them keep prices low would have been good.

To be honest they miss golden opportunities for public relations all the time.

Maybe they should specify that it makes prices lower for Games Workshop not the customer, and apologize for the confusion.

Although I doubt that would make anyone feel better.

[wittdooley]

I think we can agree on two things: GW has fantastic customer service and terrible Public Relations.

It blows my mind that two facets that, in every business I've ever been a part of, go hand in hand can be so diametrically opposite in terms of how GW handles them.

[Wildeybeast]

I don't think they actually have anything resembling a PR department. They don't see the need for one. They have a captive market, no serious competitors and all their advertising is by word of mouth/WD. Their idea of PR is flinging shiny new stuff at us to keep us happy (which I must say is usually a fairly sound strategy). The problem occurs when people don't like the shiny stuff or there are problems with it (like Finecast). Their response is a) ignore it until people stop moaning; b) distract people with more shiny stuff; c) eventually fix the problem and carry on as usual. They haven't quite grasped the idea that for big business, the customer is king and thus needs to be actively placated whenever they make unreasonable complaints. They still have the old mindset they had as a small company in the 70's of 'we make stuff we like. Other people like it too and thus we can chargethem money for it'.

[flekkzo]

Actually if they just raise prices to cover inflation rather than rising material costs they should only have to raise prices every two or three years instead of yearly. Remains to be seen how this will go though.

In the last financial statement they said Finecast had a 89 or 97% success rate, which I find to be a bit high I have to admit. However, it could also be the internet echo chamber is having a bit of an effect and genuine miscasts are being blown out of all proportion. If that figure isn't accurate hten GW could be accused of lying to its shareholders which is extremely illegal.

Question is, how many miscasts are reported? How are they reported? For instance did my two extra Queek Headtaker count as 1 or 2 since it replaced just one original model?

Love finecast, when not miscast.

[Tynskel]

I have purchased two finecast minatures. One of them was Draigo, the mangled, but mine was fine.

The models are truly incredible. Best stuff that GW has ever produced.