Did you write this Spev?

[ashmie]

Very odd and selfish behaviour indeed. What are they thinking really? I mean really.
They want to make it UK and Europe only.
Very odd indeed. Roooot and twig, very odd.

[Konrad]

How is it different than what they've been doing before?
GW has never made it a secret that they want to control all aspects of their product from the intial idea, "Hey let's make more Space Marines, but they'll have skulls AND robes!" to retail. I wonder what the sales percentages are for GW store/FLGS/GWDirect/other internet retailer.
I've never been able to figure out why the push thier brick and mortar stores so heavy. Seems like a lot of bother in this day and age. I guess they feel that if they control the brick and mortar venues where we smelly geeks gather to roll dice, they can snuff out the idea that there are other games and miniatures out there.

[kojibear]

It may be that the GW stores suffer from showrooming, i.e. just displaying the goods but not gaining any actual sales because customers go and then buy them from the internet for a cheaper price, and with miniatures (except maybe fine cast poo) you don't really need to see the item as you know that they are all the same. The benefits of a brick and mortar store are many: creating jobs, giving people a human contact experience and setting, displaying your goods beautifully, teaching new and potential customers about the product. But if the price you are charging does not meet with the needs and expectations of the customer, and they know where they can go to get their needs met, then the brick and mortar shop is out of luck. I wish I was more in the know with regards to business management, but as far as I can see, GW is aware that it has created a lot of antagonism towards itself and rather than trying to gain its reputation back is instead merely making sure that it is the only place and company where people can get miniatures, thus forcing loyalty with lawsuits and restrictions rather than earning it. Anyway, I am not very knowledgeable about business management styles and growth strategies, so it is quite possible that GW knows something I don't.

[Primarch]

Some info from a store owner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... nPpfs120DA

[me_in_japan]

That was an interesting video. Long, but very rational and sensible. I won't opine further, y'all already know what my opinion on the matter is, but still, that vid is worth watching.