Is Games Workshop basically changing MTO now by putting a new release 40k set, that sold out in minutes, back out for pre-orders?
There have been a ton of readers messaging us with horror stories about things being “out of stock” and “no longer available to order” just to see them go back up for order weeks or months later- after those hobbyists had to pay a premium to get them on the secondary market.
This seems to be happening on both the Games Workshop and Forge World web stores with seemingly no pattern to them.
Now it looks like Games Workshop may be doing a “stealth” Made To Order fulfillment test with a popular 40k box set that sold out in minutes recently even with the implementation of the new Queueing system on their webstore.
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Games Workshop Changing How MTO & Pre-Orders Work
When you look on GW’s site, the Gaunt’s Ghosts box has re-appeared on pre-order, after it sold out on release weekend- (similar to all the new Sisters minis, etc), but you won’t be getting it until October 23rd if you were to order it now.
Pre-order product that will be delivered from 10/23/2021
This is not quite a Made to Order (MTO), but the time frame (4-6 months) is oddly similar to when they do actually run MTO sales. So that makes you wonder about a few things:
- First, why can’t they do this with all pre-orders to help protect hobbyists from scalpers etc?
- How long does it actually take to restock any item in their webstore? Apparently 4ish months?
- Why did they choose to do this on this box set first, and not others?
It’s just interesting to see this because they usually just cap the number of orders (even for nonexclusive items) on release. Now this “Second Chance to Buy” could be a new way to keep people buying from their webstore even after sell-outs?
We’ve said for a long time they should just MTO everything that sells out, so this could bode well for the future overall when it comes to availability- even if it is still though GW, and not your local game store.
Restocking Sold Out Items
Seeing how it looks to take about 4 months to get back in stock in the best of times. This is bad news if you just saw something you want go out of stock in general on their webstore.
That could be because it could easily be 4 months before you might see it again. Still, there are always other options like your local store, eBay, Amazon, etc…
All that being said with all the new releases going to the secondary market (sometimes at a premium), even with the Queue in place on GW’s website, you might still have to just hold out for 4 months for any hot item, regardless.
But at least you will know you have it coming!
Do you think Games Workshop should make this change with all pre-orders when they run out?
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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!
