For the past few months, Games Workshop has hyped every release like crazy but then has allowed scalpers to take over just days after the actual release.
It feels like every week in 2023, we saw caps and allocations for every big release, which are generally quite harsh. However, it’s not just the stores that get the short end of the stick, as the GW webstore also sells out in what feels like minutes.
This has not only made it hard for people to get the new releases, but it also forces people to go to the secondary market, and the scalpers are taking advantage and basically controlling every release.
Betrayed by GW, Hobbyists Left to Fight for Scraps From Scalpers
For the most part, every release since February, 2023 (except Agastus) has been heavily allocated. If you don’t get on the release within a few hours, you have to go to the secondary market or wait a really long time to get the minis.
However, that’s another problem, as a lot of these releases are meant to be a way to not only get new models but also save some cash. With the box sets generally having some good value, if you have to go to the secondary market, you start to lose out when boxes are generally going for 1.5-2 times the original price than the release price.
Plus, for something like Lion, it’s one of the most hyped releases in a long time, and basically, no one was able to score it. 
It really seems to make no sense for GW to devote all those previews and additional marketing resources to these products and have them just immediately sell out.
AdpetiCon previewed the Lion, and Warhammer Fest had a special Monday 1/2 hour preview for Ashes of Faith. Not to mention all the social media posts and articles, and of course, sending two reported copies of each release to all of their influencers online.
That has even led to them getting attacked on their own social media by angry hobbyists who are tired of not being able to get what is being marketed to them.
At this rate, it’s not looking good for the release of 10th edition Warhammer 40k… Let’s hope these shortages of late is GW ramping up production for 10th Edition so the supply can meet the demand.
How to Fix it All:
We had previously suggested that GW put all of these allocated items on Made To Order to satisfy both stores and hobbyists, but four months into this debacle, Games Workshop seems to be the only one satisfied with how things are going and has doubled down on recent allocations of Ashes of Faith.
Strangely, they even put last year’s event-exclusive Primairs Champion model (pictured above) on MTO instead.
Instead of offering things that just went out of print or previously exclusive items (which is nice to get at lower prices, don’t get us wrong), how about doing MTO for all the items that have been seeing allocation/caps that have robbed stores of much-needed revenue, and hobbyists of affordable access to new releases.
Just think about it: Did they put The Lion on MTO? They would have made way more money, hobbyists wouldn’t be mad, and people wouldn’t have to spend a ton of cash for a non-exclusive miniature.
Currently, if they keep making it nearly impossible for people to get the releases they want, the release of 10th edition Warhammer 40k might just flop on its face sadly…
Have you been forced to go to the secondary market for your Warhammer minis yet?
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.
