Well, it looks like DiceBucket FINALLY got shut down by Games Workshop. They have violated GW rules by having an online shopping cart for years now.
Frankly, it's about time. Games Workshop has had a rule that doesn't allow online retailers to have shopping carts or lists of product online. But several have done it anyway, Dicebucket being one of the biggest. And as many of you know, I personally think, if Games Workshop really wants to help FLGS's, they should ban discounting all together. Yes, it helps us all buy our product cheaper, which is great if you don't have a store near you. But it takes away from the FLGS trying to support the hobby and trying to keep their doors open.
Another reason to hate Games Workshop corporate is that they threaten Mom & Pop retailers with this and that, but refuse to enforce their rules against big online retailers. I first posted about DiceBucket in JANUARY 2012. So it took GW 20 months to do something? And during that time GW, these discounters were breaking GW rules and hurting every FLGS in the country. The very same stores GW talks a lot about helping but rarely do anything to really support.
I asked GW about this many times, and always got a BS answer. "Oh we are working on it". Finally they come out with NEW rules, and I guess they finally decided to enforce them. And don't get me started on their "no bits" policy, which is utter horsecrap.
Anyway, there you have it. DiceBucket is no more. And good riddance!
Loken
I don't have the money to buy GW products even at a discount anymore, so whatever happens to these stores really doesn't affect me so much. At this point my goal is to make my own models, so I guess the real winner here is Alumilite.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to be able to play games with miniatures, you need a community of other people and places to play, FLGSs are the backbone of that community and anything that helps them is good for everyone in the hobby
ReplyDeleteI had bought from Dicebucket twice. Both times they were slow and I had a few parts that were messed up because of their shipping method. No loss to the community.
ReplyDeleteI generally ordered my more expensive bulk purchases at Dice Bucket. Always got my stuff safe and soon.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to knock on online retailers for taking advantage of a lack of overhead and GW's heavy discounting policies, but keep in mind that this is a small business that has failed. One of many. Miniwargaming being another.
Complain all you want about the loss of business for LGS, but it's irresponsible to immediately dismiss the players out there that have no LGS. Not to mention the value that discount online retailers have to consumers in a hobby that is pricing itself into oblivion.
In the end, fewer people might be playing this game. That is not a win for the community despite your personal bias.
There are still ways for them to purchase product. Just not at a deep discount. GW allows for a 20% discount, which is reasonable considering that independent retailers are essentially competition for their own stores which sell at full retail. It's great to talk about "good for the hobby" when you have no skin in the game, but deep discounters have been driving brick and mortar stores or of businesses for years. I'm not sad to see one of them shut down for not playing by the rules.
DeleteDont blame the store for providing a service. It's the gamers that choose not to support their stores. The people who play in their basements because there isn't a store around for miles or kids who can't drive out to a place really enjoyed these services. I don't support my local GW because the company is scum. I do get a discount from a local store because I buy so much. To say that having a shopping cart is a punishable offense is B.S. since GW has its own shopping cart on their website. It's hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteAnd if your FLGS also has an online presence, should they not be allowed to have a shopping cart?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I live in the UK where they don't seem to be able to enforce this rule.
ReplyDeleteI would stop buying immediately if it was at full price because it is getting prohibitively expensive to buy new miniatures and with little direct competition to GW and no FLGS within 60 miles of me online is my only other choice.
Even at a 20% discount I buy significantly less than in the past and what I do buy is much more considered.
Wow, a few people just got airlocked for being jerks and not being able to have an adult conversation.
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely two sides to the discounting story. But sadly, the online players like Dicebucket and Miniature Market don't help grow the hobby at all.
Now, if you live far away from a FLGS, then yes, it is good to have an online store selling. But if you have a FLGS and you buy online, you are doing a disservice to that store. I can tell you, that most game stores will tell you not to bother coming in if that is the case.
And why not? Why should a store pay all that money to have gaming space so you can play if you aren't going to support them? And let's face it, that is just what some people do.
The hobby is not cheap. And the prices GW charges are not supportable other than GW trying to squeeze every last $ from their shrinking customer base. But that doesn't make it any less damaging to have discounters.
Loken
To those whining about the loss of "jobs" Dicebucket was probably a couple buddies who invested nothing in growing the hobby, who broke the rules to make a quick buck and are now paying the price.
ReplyDeleteNo, we shouldn't be sad at all.
It's a simple concept.
ReplyDelete"Shop where You Play, Play where You shop"
Obviously there's a reason why you keep going back to that one place you love to play, so why the hell aren't you spending there?
Buying crap ass models on ebay or online Discount sellers, does not help your FLGS.
And Loken...
"But it takes away from the FLGS trying to support the hobby and trying to keep their doors open."
Thank You.
Look, I won't begrudge those who dont have a FLGS buying online. That is the good part of the online sellers. But the problem is all the people who WOULD buy at a FLGS who buy online instead.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course GW's insane prices don't help. Many people HAVE to buy online in order to be able to afford it!
This is capitalism for you. Why should I pay full retail for these things when I have a budget and a family to provide for? Sorry but the LGS need to offer some incentive besides me coming and having a place to play. I love my LGS s. But I live about 35 miles from the closest one. So my games are garage based. They have to be cause it costs me about $10 in gas just to get to one. The few times I've been to an LGS this year I've always found things to buy from them. Books being the main one because I like to see them before I buy. Your post comes off as supportive of gw price hikes. I think if LGS want to survive there are plenty of other great games to support.
DeleteYou cant shut Down all blackmarkets or secondhand Marktes. And you cant force people to buy.
ReplyDeleteBut you will shut down the Hobby.
If you have Problems with players you think dont Support flgs, go Talk to them and settle it. Maybe they order GWdirekt.
If flgs have a Problem its certainly not people playing. Buying has nothing to do with the abilty to play.
I buy were i want to not were i play!
And i dont play were i am talked up to buy stuff i dont want.
I think anytime someone sells GW figures for cheaper than GW does helps out the hobby. Not everyone can afford GW over prices. The new SM leaders are a prime example, $30 for 1 figure. OMG!!! And it's made out of plastic. I will never buy one.
ReplyDeleteSeb12
ReplyDelete"I buy were i want to not were i play! "
And you are the problem. You use their facilities and don't support them. How are they supposed to stay in business?
You obviously don't care. You only want your stuff cheap. Supporting a business is of no concern for you.
My FLGS has a policy, "You play here you buy here". And they offer 10% off. If you don't like it you don't go there. Because if was the manager, anyone with your attitude would be asked not to come back.
What I'd like to know is what's stopping you (anyone in general who does this) from buying at the location you play.
ReplyDelete