GW is changing how they are allocating new releases to stores but the overall impact remains to be seen… Let’s look at the details.
We were really hoping that with the delays in the releases, stores would be going back to a normal amount of stock. But the thing is, they didn’t and stores seemed pretty heated about the Lord of Virulence in particular. As stores only got a few of them, less than their allocations, and now the minis are going for basically double the original price on the secondary market.
Basically, they are changing the language they use for allocations and are giving reps products to distribute as they see fit, up to a cap. So now there is no promise of a certain amount of minis.
1 Big Change to how GW is Allocating New Releases
GW reps in North America now have reserves that they can use to supplement caps to the retailers they choose. We’ve heard this confirmed from a few stores now. The change to the wording made its first appearance on the newest Dark Angels/Space Marine stuff. This now allows GW to say, well, the most you can have is x, but you won’t necessarily be getting that many. Because before, the word allocation gave the idea that you were actually getting that many.
The Lord of Virulence Issue
This is the mini that we believe really drove GW to make the change. We understand why stores were upset because their order said they would be allocated a certain amount and less just showed up. When you are allocated something, that means you should get it. So now with the new strategy from GW, they can basically avoid promising anything to local stores. The reps can decide which stores will get how many, with only a certain number of stores getting the cap. This means stores will be getting up to, and not promised any number.
Because of such severe shortages, the mini is already going for double the original price on the secondary market. If you want to see and not just take our word for it, you can check out the mini on Amazon here. We hope stores get restocked before too long or the prices will continue to rise.
Even More Changes To Ordering From GW
This week for the Hedonites of Slaanesh release, the pricing sheet doesn’t even indicate any “caps” or “allocations”, it wasn’t until GW reps started calling stores on Monday that they realized ordering restrictions would be verbalized over the phone to them.
The stores we spoke with reported “caps” of 3 of each of the new releases, with the potential to order more later in the week. Those same stores told us that they felt like after the Idomitus fiasco that this is just another form of Games Workshop playing a shell game with their stock for the week, that actually requires them to interact more with their sales reps and potentially stressing out an already overtaxed fulfillment system.
Final Thoughts
We really hoped the slowdown of releases would make life better for stores. Instead, it seems like GW is just changing how they word things and the distribution style instead of just allowing their partner stores to get more product.
Store owners were obviously upset about being shorted their allocated numbers. Maybe at least with the new style, it is more obvious that you won’t be getting the cap and can at least give store owners a bit of a buffer of expectations. Hopefully, once things open back up some, this won’t stick around as the status quo and stores start to actually get more product again.
How do you feel about the caps instead of allocations? did you manage to pick up a Lord of Virulence at a normal price?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
