So Apparently GW Just banned Selling Bitz Now

[Pat.H]

I saw this on MWG. Apperently Games Workshop has now banned retailers from selling individual bitz from kits now.

http://www.miniwargaming.com/content/games-workshop-prohibits-online-sales-sales-bitz-and-more

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wn5gq2srlbvxs6l/ZThiP0KMRn/Games%20Workshop%202013%20RETAILER%20POLICY.pdf

For the reasons set forth below, Retailers are not permitted to remove GAMES WORKSHOP product from its original packaging or otherwise break such products into components prior to resale. In recent years, GAMES WORKSHOP has observed a practice among some Retailers in which GAMES WORKSHOP products are removed from their original packaging for the purpose of reselling separately individual, unmarked components. This practice is now prohibited for the following business reasons:
1. We suck
2. We suck
3. We suck

Ok I might have added in the last parts but yeah this is getting really stupid now.

[Chase]

I'm supposed to receive the document later today.

[Ian Mulligan]

Holy shit. This is going to make a very, very large amount of people upset.

[Chase]

Holy shit. This is going to make a very, very large amount of people upset.

In the now, I wont be one of them.

[wheelchairman]

this will be a boon to Local shops.

[Chase]

Here's a link to all the relevant info.

[Ian Mulligan]

Losing the ability to buy bits will stop me from doing a number of projects like make new units or start a new army. That's a lot of sales they just killed for local guys.

[Imp]

i know ebay is a grey area in the retail world of crack down, but i wonder if it will even effect the ebay bitz markets

[Chase]

Losing the ability to buy bits will stop me from doing a number of projects like make new units or start a new army. That's a lot of sales they just killed for local guys.

This may light a fire under certain asses, which is good.  There's been something on the back burner for a while. 

i know ebay is a grey area in the retail world of crack down, but i wonder if it will even effect the ebay bitz markets

I'm not sure how it can stop Joe Blow.  I don't really know how they might stop BobsBitz from selling on eBay.

[Loranus]

All they are stopping is stores like Spikey Bitz and the Warstore from getting a bigger profit margin by cracking open boxes and selling the pieces individually. If say Ben goes and Buys a Tactical Marine box and sells each piece in it seperately games workshop can't stop him. They can stop Chase from doing it though by stopping shipment of inventory to him. If they don't sell bitz individually though it is going to hurt the hobbyist more than anyone since you can't do cool double Powerfist Thunderhammer Marines on Motorcycles with Dragon wings.

[Benjamin]

It is HIGHLY unlikely someone can turn any sort of profit selling bits by buying boxes at retail price.

What's more likely to occur is the rise of 3D printing to fill in the impending void of bits retailers.

[Grand Master Steve]

this really pisses me off. I want to make a conversion and i gotta move fast to procure the bits to do it. GW needs to 1. Put their tampon back in their purse and suck it up or 2. sell bits individually them selves which i dont for see them doing.

[Chase]

Or Battleground buys bits from the community and resells them.

This probably breaks the rules, but I'm not sure I care.

[Benjamin]

Or Battleground buys bits from the community and resells them.

This probably breaks the rules, but I'm not sure I care.

For what it's worth.

All GAMES WORKSHOP products (including all game kits, sprues, rulebooks, components
and accessories) are only to be resold in their original packaging.

[Mad Dok Rob]

Or Battleground buys bits from the community and resells them.

This probably breaks the rules, but I'm not sure I care.

I like this idea.  If I could buy the bitz locally from y'all, I would be doing more conversions and stuff.  Especially since alot of what I do is spur of the moment.

All GAMES WORKSHOP products (including all game kits, sprues, rulebooks, components
and accessories) are only to be resold in their original packaging.

I can just see it now, Chase standing outside the store in a black trenchcoat...

Opens trenchcoat "Psst, hey kid, you wanna buy some Space Marine Missile Launchers...Ork Power Klaws....Dreadnaught Multi-meltas...)