The end is nigh for the deep discounting of Fantasy Flight Games products like Star Wars X-wing, Armada and more. Come see how much you’ll have to pay soon!
Depending who you ask the deep discounting of FFG’s products is either the best or worst thing that’s happened to the tabletop hobby in the last 3-4 years. Obviously it’s an issue for most brick and mortar stores, but a blessing to players who are trying to save a buck.
Well it looks like FFG is about to take a bite out of online selling PERMANENTLY!
According to ICv2 who interviewed the new CEO Christian Petersen:
Online sales and mail order will be prohibited with exceptions granted for online retailers that “contribute either significant scale, unique service, or other exceptional differentiation,” the company said. Those sales will take place under separate terms of sale from the Specialty Retail terms.
So it looks like they are specifically targeting the deep discounters and allowing the ones that respect their brand via “significant scale, unique service, or other exceptional differentiation” to continue providing selling online.
Rewind back to 2003 when many online retailers were selling Games Workshop for up to 40% off retail, and you can draw some interesting parallels to this new policy.
However I like how they are still remaning open minded about their sales channels: “The marketplace has long been distorted by providing one-size-fits-all sales terms to every retail account, regardless of its channel of sale,” something that a certain company in Nottingham should perhaps take note of.
Overall it may prove to be good news for building up a loyal player base in stores for 2016, who may see tons of new players on the Star Wars side of game play via the new movie that just opened last week.
Would you prefer a different target, a military one? THEN NAME THE SYSTEM!
The Real Truth About 40k’s Pre-Game: Long War Episode 31
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
