Like I mentioned in the chat, if teaching ever doesn't work out, I could see you with your own hobby shop. I would definitely do business at a store like that.
Does anyone remember the old days when stores had buy 3 blisters or boxes and get the cheapest free days? I remember queueing at 8 in the morning at the Liverpool GW store (and there were a few people in front of me) and spending about £400 in one go to take advantage of that deal. I think I got an entire, large full metal high elf army and some goblin infantry. Those were the days…
Used to go around the country as 13-14 years old on the train on my own doing that. Milton keynes to Preston/kent/Bristol ....arh loved GW ....done forever now
Remember the army collecting cards? You got a stamp every time you made a purchase, then when you filled a section you got a free box. I got my first space ork army through this scheme.
It sounds like if Games Workshop took a leaf out of your book, they’d have a much better reputation worldwide. People would want to go to Games Workshops to hang out with the awesome staff and participate in these great events, rather than begrudgingly go because their alternative local hobby store has closed down.
One of my favorite Warhammer memories was just before Christmas of 2012. The store in Frisco TX was hosting an apocalypse game that anyone present could participate in, along with a secret Santa program (which is how I got my Hellions)! I threw together my Adepta Sororitas and Drukhari models, just whatever I could throw on the table. I don't remember the outcome of the game, but it was so epic playing with some many people at once.
As a FLGS manager, kudos to you Sir. You really were a workforce GW did not deserve. I love the hobby and always wanted to be a GW store manager, but after your stories I am really happy where I am. It is a wonderful job indeed. Thanks for your videos and keep them up. Cheers.
This is exactly what I look for in an area manager. Like the other guy said,if teaching doesn't work out for you then open your own branch. Run it like that and it will work.
This is going to be a positive one, I can feel it. I was asked by a GW store manager not to buy an item because next week it was the store anniversary and depending on what you bought you would get a different prize by popping a balloon (he was the sort of manager who greeted you like his long lost son). So I attended the shop the following week on the day of the stores' anniversary and I could not see the said item on the shelf (it was a Grey Knights land raider box), so I asked the manager if he had it in stock and he said "no" and he immediately proceeded to try to sell me stuff that I didn't want ... soon after I saw the Grey Knights Land Raider box just behind him, it had been moved on the shelf and I pointed it out to him and suddenly his character turned nasty saying "Well if that's how you're going to be then..." and he physically turned his back on me". .. I only pointed out the item being on the shelf, I was not being snarky or anything .. basically he didn't like being made to look like a knob in front of his clique of friends at the store because he didn't know what stock he did or didn't have on the shelves. So I went to the counter to buy the Grey Knights Land Raider box and to pop a balloon and there were no balloons to pop and no anniversary gifts because all his mates had taken them. I left that store and never came back. The store had a reputation for shifting little product and him just inviting a clique of friends that didn't buy much. A few months later the boss during Summer had left the shop, dunno if he jumped or was pushed but 9 months later he set up a 'shop and hobby club' with tables in a quiet part of the city; at first he charged ridiculous 'membership rates' for 'priority for tables' ... it just sounded like a scam, he lowered his prices and more came to the store but I would not trust that guy as far as I could throw him. Two faced, false and deceitful. He's been trying to organize ITC tournaments for WH40K in my local region, I hope he doesn't get too far in doing that.
That's pretty crap. But people always remember those kinds of people. In the Canterbury GW right now, one of the employees was known for getting super aggressive with trying to get people to play space marines. Even turned off my GF from the hobby after she just asked some questions about Sisters of Battle and he just said "This is a shop. you have to buy something." When oddly enough, she was actually going to buy something. Just not what that employee wanted. I never went there again. And after all the pandemic stuff I don't see a single person ever in the shop. And I've popped my head in regularly to check.
Well done dude, If there was more people like yourself running GW it would be a better place. Its always good to go on your own terms. I am glad you made an impact on your store community made an impact on the kid with his dad, Reminds me of when my MotherinLaw worked in resedential care and she had a young lad who collected orks, now in Residential care the kids get pocket money but its only pennys per week and it would taken him ages to get the most basic's of kit so since being in the hobby and part of a few groups so reached out and asked them if they had anything spare and we manage to get the lad nearly 2k of orks the best part was knowing he was over the moon. I was just glad he was happy and he could go to a club or to a store to play a game.
I know it's not the fault of the store employees of course, but I'm not going to lie i don't buy enough from the stores directly because of the lack of discounts. I'll buy small things but 15% off a $200 box quickly adds up over time
Same here. I occasionally buy a bunch of small things from the local store, because the guy running it is fairly sound, but there's no way I can afford to pay full whack for anything miniature wise. Plus, the website I use allows you to pay in instalments without added interest or a fee, which means I still get to partake even with the limited budget I have for the hobby. Suddenly a £68 combat patrol split over two months becomes affordable.
I used to buy all my stuff second hand. But then I started 3D printing and I'm not going back. £1-£2 per 10 man squad of Marines that I can customise how I like whilst also not having to deal with snotty GW employees. Can't ever see myself going back to buying minis from GW after all the restrictions and miserly behaviour.
The only reason that sometime push me to buy at store is to get the coin of the month, and sadly the only one that I really wanted, the black templar one, was up a month before the actual black templar box, so I didn't even got that one.
Yeah, I wouldn't buy GW items from my LGS due to lack of discount...but whenever I go there I usually go home with some Vallejo paint, or some grass tufts, etc..
For the most part, people's only contact with flesh and blood employees are the people running the local GW store, so all that stored up facepalming comes flooding out all at once. Managers might even agree with what's being said, but they have to tow the corporate line or suffer an earbashing from above. Think of those poor sods as the ablative armour that protect GW from hearing the rheeing every time they do some stupid.
i love the no advertising. the local store in bath doesnt even say gw on the front anymore - its warhammer i think in grey on black on a street that has sod all footfall. only realised that there was still a store in the town after literally being stood outside for 5 mins paying for parking.
There's an excellent painter who pops into the Bath store called Andy…they sometimes have some of his work on display. It was my local store until I moved up North.
Thank you so much for sharing this positive story. By far my favorite video from your channel. I guiltily love to listen about the underbelly of GW But it's the positivity of the community the hobby and the actual human beings involved that keep me playing and listening. Thank you
The going the pub half dead was probably the most English thing you could have done. Didn't matter that you were dying on your feet, you just knew this needed to end in a drink.
Good on ya man. It’s fun to hear the bad and horrible things that you encountered, but listening to stuff like this just puts a smile on my face and gives me some hope in humanity. Keep up the stories, mate.
Hey man, I also have confidence issues, but you definitely are a great story teller on all these subjects. Even if you don't publish anything, just letting you know I think you are good at it.
The manager definitely makes ther shop. I'm here in Tucson, the manager for many years was Big John (dude is almost 7 feet tall lol) and he ewas the best, hands down. Very welcoming, very knowledgeable (hes been in the hobby since 1st edition), you could joke around and just hang out, didnt tolerate any hatred of any kind, knew every aspect of hobby like no one else... lol now there's a new manager. Nice enough guy but... doesn't know much about the game or painting... mixes up gaming systems. Miss the old days lol
I love shit like this. Glad I opted to give your vids a click in the usual YT BS algorithm. From the good, to the bad, it's all knowledge and treasured experiences one way or another. Always a pleasure to see real experiences rather than the feigned high energy view snaggers YT is now infamous for. Glad to have heard you moved on from GW though, as I had an itching suspicion in some of their practices, but holy fack... Just the single fact of "The box and manufacturing costs more than the plastic within"... major knowledge drop. Keep it up. Whether or not there are more stories untold, looking forward for more. Be safe, bell well, and best of luck with the lass.
You obviously loved the job but hated the company, IMO this is the most painful of relationships/ situations to be in , the contradiction can pull you apart , I think that's why when you decide to leave it's pure relief mixed with sorrow for what could of been.
Sums up every single job I ever had. Always enjoyed the people I work with and often the jobs too, but I have never once worked for a company or corporation I could stand behind.
I have been a loyal customer to GW since Rouge Trader back in the 80's but GW is not anymore what it was back then. It is just an awfull company to their customers and i do agree with every word you have said in all your GW videos. Like how open you are about this and how they are to their staff as well as customers. They do not care about the people, they just want the money.
Thats a good story. I'm glad you had the courage to do it your way. Is it investing how good things are balanced by the bad such as you getting sick. Sounds like you had pneumonia.
It mustve been so horrible working for GW. Can I advertise? No. Can I interact with fellow hobbyists? You mean customers - no. Can we have fun? No. I used to like going to my local GW. Thursday nights would be games nights and the two 4x4 tables would be pushed together and there'd be dozens of people playing and watching, heaps of people squished at the painting table having a good time. There was three blokes working there all great fellas. Then the one man store policy came in and the shop was open a lot less and eventually the last of the three original guys stopped working there and all the fun died from the place. I remember the first time I saw a job going at the shop and I thought how awesome it must be to work at GW doing my favourite hobby. Now I only go there when I want to purchase something that day and none of the other 4 LFGS/hobby shops within 45min drive have what I'm after. Never see anyone at the gaming or painting tables anymore. It seems closed a fair amount of the time (presumably because they've worked the one employee to the bone). Good to hear you got out before you came to hate the hobby.
Basically GW stores celebrate their birthday every year, and what's supposed to happen is the store gives away a bunch of stuff, and it's meant to feel like a birthday, where everyone is a winner, but that's only if you get a good store manager.
thank you very much for the video you sound like an old school games workshop manager one that's like a if i've got people in the store that attract more people unlike the modern games workshop manager which is basically come in by stuff now get out you filthy hobbies people that one actually play 40k inside the store or paint stuff because that means more work for the manager
After your statement of "put a shirt on and do work for free" I hope you ain't ever in charge of another business and know one I would never patron. How many hours did you steal?
Like I mentioned in the chat, if teaching ever doesn't work out, I could see you with your own hobby shop. I would definitely do business at a store like that.
Does anyone remember the old days when stores had buy 3 blisters or boxes and get the cheapest free days? I remember queueing at 8 in the morning at the Liverpool GW store (and there were a few people in front of me) and spending about £400 in one go to take advantage of that deal. I think I got an entire, large full metal high elf army and some goblin infantry. Those were the days…
Used to go around the country as 13-14 years old on the train on my own doing that. Milton keynes to Preston/kent/Bristol ....arh loved GW ....done forever now
I almost can't imagine that happening
@@reallylionbastard Gw in a vote years ago went from a hobby company to a money making company.
Remember the bargain bins? Damaged blisters and old stock tossed in and sold at a discount.
Remember the army collecting cards? You got a stamp every time you made a purchase, then when you filled a section you got a free box. I got my first space ork army through this scheme.
It sounds like if Games Workshop took a leaf out of your book, they’d have a much better reputation worldwide. People would want to go to Games Workshops to hang out with the awesome staff and participate in these great events, rather than begrudgingly go because their alternative local hobby store has closed down.
Imagine that you create a company, that has its own workers as customers as well... Ingenious!
One of my favorite Warhammer memories was just before Christmas of 2012. The store in Frisco TX was hosting an apocalypse game that anyone present could participate in, along with a secret Santa program (which is how I got my Hellions)!
I threw together my Adepta Sororitas and Drukhari models, just whatever I could throw on the table. I don't remember the outcome of the game, but it was so epic playing with some many people at once.
As a FLGS manager, kudos to you Sir. You really were a workforce GW did not deserve. I love the hobby and always wanted to be a GW store manager, but after your stories I am really happy where I am. It is a wonderful job indeed. Thanks for your videos and keep them up. Cheers.
This is exactly what I look for in an area manager. Like the other guy said,if teaching doesn't work out for you then open your own branch. Run it like that and it will work.
That story did brighten up my day after a hard day of work. Thanks for sharing it, really, it made me smile for the first time all day.
These stories are so good. I’m binge watching/listening to them.
This is going to be a positive one, I can feel it.
I was asked by a GW store manager not to buy an item because next week it was the store anniversary and depending on what you bought you would get a different prize by popping a balloon (he was the sort of manager who greeted you like his long lost son).
So I attended the shop the following week on the day of the stores' anniversary and I could not see the said item on the shelf (it was a Grey Knights land raider box), so I asked the manager if he had it in stock and he said "no" and he immediately proceeded to try to sell me stuff that I didn't want ... soon after I saw the Grey Knights Land Raider box just behind him, it had been moved on the shelf and I pointed it out to him and suddenly his character turned nasty saying "Well if that's how you're going to be then..." and he physically turned his back on me". .. I only pointed out the item being on the shelf, I was not being snarky or anything .. basically he didn't like being made to look like a knob in front of his clique of friends at the store because he didn't know what stock he did or didn't have on the shelves. So I went to the counter to buy the Grey Knights Land Raider box and to pop a balloon and there were no balloons to pop and no anniversary gifts because all his mates had taken them.
I left that store and never came back. The store had a reputation for shifting little product and him just inviting a clique of friends that didn't buy much.
A few months later the boss during Summer had left the shop, dunno if he jumped or was pushed but 9 months later he set up a 'shop and hobby club' with tables in a quiet part of the city; at first he charged ridiculous 'membership rates' for 'priority for tables' ... it just sounded like a scam, he lowered his prices and more came to the store but I would not trust that guy as far as I could throw him. Two faced, false and deceitful. He's been trying to organize ITC tournaments for WH40K in my local region, I hope he doesn't get too far in doing that.
That's pretty crap. But people always remember those kinds of people. In the Canterbury GW right now, one of the employees was known for getting super aggressive with trying to get people to play space marines. Even turned off my GF from the hobby after she just asked some questions about Sisters of Battle and he just said "This is a shop. you have to buy something." When oddly enough, she was actually going to buy something. Just not what that employee wanted. I never went there again. And after all the pandemic stuff I don't see a single person ever in the shop. And I've popped my head in regularly to check.
@@DoctorEviloply you're right there are 3 GW shops in my city back almost a year ago there was only one where the manager guy was ok.
Well done dude, If there was more people like yourself running GW it would be a better place. Its always good to go on your own terms. I am glad you made an impact on your store community made an impact on the kid with his dad, Reminds me of when my MotherinLaw worked in resedential care and she had a young lad who collected orks, now in Residential care the kids get pocket money but its only pennys per week and it would taken him ages to get the most basic's of kit so since being in the hobby and part of a few groups so reached out and asked them if they had anything spare and we manage to get the lad nearly 2k of orks the best part was knowing he was over the moon. I was just glad he was happy and he could go to a club or to a store to play a game.
I know it's not the fault of the store employees of course, but I'm not going to lie i don't buy enough from the stores directly because of the lack of discounts. I'll buy small things but 15% off a $200 box quickly adds up over time
Same here. I occasionally buy a bunch of small things from the local store, because the guy running it is fairly sound, but there's no way I can afford to pay full whack for anything miniature wise. Plus, the website I use allows you to pay in instalments without added interest or a fee, which means I still get to partake even with the limited budget I have for the hobby. Suddenly a £68 combat patrol split over two months becomes affordable.
I used to buy all my stuff second hand. But then I started 3D printing and I'm not going back. £1-£2 per 10 man squad of Marines that I can customise how I like whilst also not having to deal with snotty GW employees. Can't ever see myself going back to buying minis from GW after all the restrictions and miserly behaviour.
The only reason that sometime push me to buy at store is to get the coin of the month, and sadly the only one that I really wanted, the black templar one, was up a month before the actual black templar box, so I didn't even got that one.
Yeah, I wouldn't buy GW items from my LGS due to lack of discount...but whenever I go there I usually go home with some Vallejo paint, or some grass tufts, etc..
For the most part, people's only contact with flesh and blood employees are the people running the local GW store, so all that stored up facepalming comes flooding out all at once. Managers might even agree with what's being said, but they have to tow the corporate line or suffer an earbashing from above. Think of those poor sods as the ablative armour that protect GW from hearing the rheeing every time they do some stupid.
If managers were able to tow the corporate line, things might be better.
i love the no advertising. the local store in bath doesnt even say gw on the front anymore - its warhammer i think in grey on black on a street that has sod all footfall. only realised that there was still a store in the town after literally being stood outside for 5 mins paying for parking.
There's an excellent painter who pops into the Bath store called Andy…they sometimes have some of his work on display. It was my local store until I moved up North.
What a beautiful couple of stories, I really appreciate you sharing them.
I may have said this before but you need to the the next GW CEO. No joke.
Thank you so much for sharing this positive story. By far my favorite video from your channel. I guiltily love to listen about the underbelly of GW But it's the positivity of the community the hobby and the actual human beings involved that keep me playing and listening. Thank you
The going the pub half dead was probably the most English thing you could have done. Didn't matter that you were dying on your feet, you just knew this needed to end in a drink.
this is what i had in my mind of what a games workshop store is suppose to be
17:23 Yeah I remember that scrubs episode. Scrubs is that kind of show which is supposed to be funny, but it can hit right in the feels
Good on ya man. It’s fun to hear the bad and horrible things that you encountered, but listening to stuff like this just puts a smile on my face and gives me some hope in humanity. Keep up the stories, mate.
Maybe the true grimm darkness of the 41st millenium, where there is only war, was the friends we made along the way
Hey man, I also have confidence issues, but you definitely are a great story teller on all these subjects. Even if you don't publish anything, just letting you know I think you are good at it.
The manager definitely makes ther shop. I'm here in Tucson, the manager for many years was Big John (dude is almost 7 feet tall lol) and he ewas the best, hands down. Very welcoming, very knowledgeable (hes been in the hobby since 1st edition), you could joke around and just hang out, didnt tolerate any hatred of any kind, knew every aspect of hobby like no one else... lol now there's a new manager. Nice enough guy but... doesn't know much about the game or painting... mixes up gaming systems. Miss the old days lol
Thank you for this! It great to hear good people are out there.
Please keep these going. It's great to listen to whilst I'm drawing!
What’re you drawing?
thanks alot for sharing this very positive vid! i felt the energy and the warmth of the memory!have a great time!
This was legitimately wholesome thanks for sharing.You should open ur own hobby store , the community events would be amazing.
That was wholesome!
When you are so good at your job you don't listen to your superiors.
I really like these but I'm wondering if you could increase the output volume.
Its up as high as it will go with different software...hmmm. I'll look into it.
This comment speaks volumes
Beautiful
Wholesome story.
I love shit like this. Glad I opted to give your vids a click in the usual YT BS algorithm. From the good, to the bad, it's all knowledge and treasured experiences one way or another. Always a pleasure to see real experiences rather than the feigned high energy view snaggers YT is now infamous for. Glad to have heard you moved on from GW though, as I had an itching suspicion in some of their practices, but holy fack... Just the single fact of "The box and manufacturing costs more than the plastic within"... major knowledge drop. Keep it up. Whether or not there are more stories untold, looking forward for more. Be safe, bell well, and best of luck with the lass.
Wholesome
Beautiful story, sorry for how bad you felt. I have to say that crawling to the pub is a common thing to do.
sounds like nothing has changed since my days working there.
Hi Man new to your channel but keep posting this content is great
You obviously loved the job but hated the company, IMO this is the most painful of relationships/ situations to be in , the contradiction can pull you apart , I think that's why when you decide to leave it's pure relief mixed with sorrow for what could of been.
Sums up every single job I ever had. Always enjoyed the people I work with and often the jobs too, but I have never once worked for a company or corporation I could stand behind.
Beautiful story bro 😄
I have been a loyal customer to GW since Rouge Trader back in the 80's but GW is not anymore what it was back then. It is just an awfull company to their customers and i do agree with every word you have said in all your GW videos. Like how open you are about this and how they are to their staff as well as customers. They do not care about the people, they just want the money.
Thats a good story. I'm glad you had the courage to do it your way. Is it investing how good things are balanced by the bad such as you getting sick. Sounds like you had pneumonia.
Turn up your audio levels when editing please :)
Put them on one playlist.
Does he say why he quit in any of his videos?
I think the shit thing with GW is that if they weren’t corporate fucks and actually listened to the community then they’d definitely make more money
The good lod days good video
It mustve been so horrible working for GW. Can I advertise? No. Can I interact with fellow hobbyists? You mean customers - no. Can we have fun? No.
I used to like going to my local GW. Thursday nights would be games nights and the two 4x4 tables would be pushed together and there'd be dozens of people playing and watching, heaps of people squished at the painting table having a good time. There was three blokes working there all great fellas. Then the one man store policy came in and the shop was open a lot less and eventually the last of the three original guys stopped working there and all the fun died from the place.
I remember the first time I saw a job going at the shop and I thought how awesome it must be to work at GW doing my favourite hobby.
Now I only go there when I want to purchase something that day and none of the other 4 LFGS/hobby shops within 45min drive have what I'm after. Never see anyone at the gaming or painting tables anymore. It seems closed a fair amount of the time (presumably because they've worked the one employee to the bone).
Good to hear you got out before you came to hate the hobby.
Honestly, you were too good for them. Much too good.
Thanks for a positive story today.
Cheers 🍻🍻
How long did you work for GW?
3 years and a bit :) If we are not counting store support
@@northernexile wow, done your time in the salt mines eh!
What do you mean store support? Is that like phone customer services?
What is a store anniversary?
Basically GW stores celebrate their birthday every year, and what's supposed to happen is the store gives away a bunch of stuff, and it's meant to feel like a birthday, where everyone is a winner, but that's only if you get a good store manager.
@@edwardwilliams3216 Interesting. Thanks.
God bless you. You sound like one of those great chaps that gets f^@&ed by the typical dehumanizing corporate goals. Hope you are doing well now.
Had it of been nurgles rot you wouldn't have felt it
Have you got a contact email? You asked for me to shoot you a line in the last video, I don't have a discord
northernexile88@gmail.com :)
thank you very much for the video you sound like an old school games workshop manager one that's like a if i've got people in the store that attract more people unlike the modern games workshop manager which is basically come in by stuff now get out you filthy hobbies people that one actually play 40k inside the store or paint stuff because that means more work for the manager
I don't believe you worked at GW.
You are sound like a positive person. Positive thoughts are banned at GW.
like a fucking comedown HAHAHAHAHA its been a long time since i've had one of those pmsl! great comparison ;)
Sooo without proof you are stating that Matt Ward was not a fault of you, in that store.
love your stories, but I'm having a hard hearing you, even on my pc.
GW must hate you...
After your statement of "put a shirt on and do work for free" I hope you ain't ever in charge of another business and know one I would never patron. How many hours did you steal?
Wow. It’s called friendship and loyalty. Guess you’ve not experienced that in your life yet, sorry about that.