Games Workshop has finally tried to purge their product scalpers after community backlash, and they can’t go back on this standard now!
Scalpers Corner The Market on Last Signed Horus Heresy Books
Games Workshop has taken action to address the issue of scalpers buying up limited edition items and reselling them at exorbitant prices, as we saw with The End and The Death Part 3. The company canceled scalper orders for the limited edition books and set another limit of one per customer on the second pre-order to ensure a fair distribution to genuine fans. This move sets a new standard for the company to continue to combat scalpers in future limited releases and ensure oversight to prevent them from cornering the market.
As you can see on eBay, the average buy-it-now price was nearly $450 (compared to $80) after the initial pre-order which is just wild. However, this is one of the few times GW has done something substantial about the issue.
Games Workshop Sets a New Standard, They Can’t Go Back Now
If you missed out on a copy, there was another chance to score one as GW purged the scalper orders and set up a second pre-order at the same time worldwide for everyone.
With just 2,500 copies available, we expected exceptional demand and set a limit of one per customer on the webstore, to keep things fair and to give as many fans as possible the chance to complete their collections.
Unfortunately, we saw an influx of people trying to purchase multiple copies, some aiming to make a resale profit – underhanded tactics worthy of Erebus himself.
We are committed to only selling one per customer, so we have rejected any orders where a purchaser has tried to get more than one copy. Our tech-savants aren’t revealing their methods, but needless to say they are not to be trifled with.
Perhaps best of all, the stock will come from accounts that bought more than one, which is great news for fans who missed out on the first pre-order. The company’s decision to cancel scalper orders and limit the purchase to one book per customer ensures a fair distribution of the limited edition copies to genuine fans.
With Great Power…
Now that consumers know GW has the power to cut down on scalpers and cancel orders from people or groups who ordered tons of limited edition offerings. Just think back to the Lion’s first release. They sold out in seconds, and then they again showed up on eBay for wild prices. If GW does another big limited release (which they will and already have two in the pipeline), they should use the same measures to provide for actual customer purchases and cancel scalpers who are working the system.
We’ll even be so bold as to say they should do it in real-time so they don’t have to do a “second pre-order,” which costs everyone their time and money.
We all know how hard it has been to get products from GW at pre-order release lately, and scalpers only make this more challenging. Plus, as Games Workshop said, they indeed sell out of every pre-release, so the lack of pre-orders has been tough.
Comes Great Responsibility
That being said, they also need to continue oversight of limited releases to ensure hobbyists get them. They know about the scalper issue. However, this is one of the first times they have openly admitted they know about it. So, the second thing they need to do is be more open about the releases and take action when needed.
Let’s hope this isn’t the only time we see them do something like this when the scalpers manage to grab everything before the hobbyists can actually get them. They have the power to stop people from ordering too much at once, and they have a responsibility to keep using it for future pre-order offerings.
What do you think about this idea from Games Workshop to deal with the scalpers and pricing for the last Horus Heresy book, The End and the Death III?
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.
