From customers to retailers, everyone is upset about the latest updates from Games Workshop when it comes to caps, stock, and actually getting the models they ordered!
For the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen allocations (or caps, as GW calls them) that are shackling game stores’ ability to provide for their customers and just survive a difficult economic period.
Everyone is Upset About the Latest Updates From Games Workshop
Let’s start with the recent caps, the Kasrkin (and all the Kill Team stuff) were limited to two per store, and before that, the boarding patrol and battleforces were also allocated.
As Games Workshop tells stores, this was supposed to be a way for all stores to be able to get new release products (instead of bigger stores just getting all the stock), but it hasn’t really turned out quite as anyone was hoping. This has led to serious shipping issues to stores, people not getting what they want, and with the pricing increases coming, it could get way worse, and quite soon.
Many think that this policy is not only making it harder for stores to make money, but customers are also getting hit with higher prices and once again have to scramble to get their models.
GW Warehouse is Even More Clogged As Skynet Takes Over
According to retailer we spoke with, GW said this was also supposed to be a way to help reduce the load on the fulfillment side of things for Games Workshop. So, in theory, this is a good idea. However, it hasn’t seemed to work out this way, and here’s why:
Stores are already not getting their orders when they are supposed to. According to reports, Games Workshop has broken the North American Warehouse up into two parts, with the first being for new releases (and where the machines work), and the other half of the warehouse is for restocks with actual people pulling and shipping stores their orders, which reportedly was behind by about 2-3 weeks.
According to some, this is going to get much worse very soon.
Why? Well, with things being about 2-3 weeks behind and the price increase coming very soon, there is a big chance these two issues will combine into one big problem.
A Perfect Games Workshop Storm
Every store we polled is ordering as much as possible right now to get restocks at the lowest price (or just provide for their customers in general). Then, GW just allowed stores to order more of the capped items for the Boarding Patrol and Balefleet Battleforce as “restocks” instead of “new releases.”
So with stores ordering about double their normal orders right now to get everything in before the price increases and now can order these bundles they were restricted on originally, this may create an even bigger backlog for the restocking side of the warehouse in Memphis, TN.
When you consider they are already so backed up, this could turn into a huge deal where stores are waiting more than a month actually to get their products, as the warehouse is going to be swamped. Oh, and not to mention the negative opportunity costs to stores as they have to float all that money to Games Workshop in advance, not even knowing if their whole orders will be filled.
We feel like this whole situation will have a huge impact on players as well because getting the products they want may become more difficult than before…
Sold Out Online…
It’s never a good look when the codex and most wanted items are sold out for a new release! Generally, when a new army comes out, an older unit that got a huge buff will be sold out for a while, but not very often do you see many new releases sold out too. This will compound with all the orders coming in before the price increase and the new restock policy offered by GW.
Now, the Kasrkin kits are going for 3x retail prices in some cases because they were capped AGAIN and in super short supply.
The new Kasrkin kits are already selling for an insane amount over on eBay, but if you’ve been waiting for the models for months now, this is the only way to get them.
Not Just a North American Problem
Alchemists Workshop is a store from the UK, and they are facing the same issues and let people know it with a lengthy public statement.
While we don’t know their caps, obviously, this is not just a problem in the USA. It seems like Games Workshop’s shipping and fulfillment issues are happening everywhere and are on the verge of compounding very quickly with everything going on.
Anyway, you look at it, though, it will cost everyone a significant amount more in time and money to participate in the Games Workshop hobby moving into the spring of 2023, and it does not paint a great picture for the smooth release of 10th edition Warhammer 40k this summer.
Does anyone remember the Indomitus debacle from 2020?
Have you noticed your store with way less Games Workshop stock? Did you miss out on the new releases?
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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.
