The word must be spread

It's a lot of personal opinions, although some of them value they should be backed up by facts/numbers. Until then they are only opinions.

For those that won't watch the 20+ minutes video:

1st opinion: Online stores are brick and mortar stores and no-cost basement stores can't compete online anymore. Brick and mortar stores that sell online at discount have expenses and can't discount that much anymore. 

Demand 1: Allow more online retailers in the US since it won't hurt the market

Demand 2: Allow usage of Games Workshop pictures by online retailers

2nd opinion: most consumers are online and price differences between each area (US/UK/Canada/etc) hurt some online merchants

Demand 3: sell to retailers in the currency they favour instead of local currencies. Abolish "areas" world-wide and have a unified price system

3rd opinion: GW is loosing shares on the miniatures market to companies like Privateer Press

Demand 4: improve PR

4th opinion: GW might loose their monopoly on wargaming in the long-term if they don't change certain things

5th opinion: the starter sets are badly positioned, as in too expensive and puts people off starting the hobby

I would have to disagree with your presentation of the second 'opinion'. I think, that he was saying that it is not the online merchants that are hurt, but the 'brick and mortar' shops in for example Australia, where a starter set is $70 (US) more than in the USA, by the area pricing, as though the internet people are aware of the different prices, and so a re more likely to buy off online merchants, and so GW stores themselves are hurt.

Also. 'opinions' 3 and 4 are more like facts-

All entities will lose power over time, whether they be empires, philosiphies or countries, and so it is indisbutable that GW will eventually lose its (arguable) monoply eventually- rather, his point was that it will soon/ is already losing its monopoly, mainly due to its bad PR. 

Also, on losing ground to other companies, although obviously certain statistics are impossible to aquire, as just because other companies are gaining support doesn't mean GW is losing potential buisness, a quick scan aroung even our (PnS) club will show are rise in interest in other sytems e.g. Warmachine/Hordes or Flames of War, and this is at least partly catalysed by GW policiy.

Also, it might just be me but your language in your post, particuarly calling his suggestions 'demands' and observations 'opinions', made you come across as a GW mouthpeice.

I have a few issues with the video as well, mainly in the portrayal of GW price policies as 'fair', and the myth that GW mcreaterd the wargaming scene. Although the issue of price may have been avoided to compromise with GW, I found the idea of June being 'the time for GW to raise its prices' most disheartening- I cannot think of one other company in any field that annualy raises prices, for the sake of rasing prices. On the other point, wargaming has been around for over 100 years, predictably stemming from 'war games' carried out in the armed services, and GW, rather than creating the scene, drove out of buisness many of the smaller systems (citation needed, and will be found when I have time to google for it).

However, I agree witht he overall message of the video, but realsie this is unlikely to change any of GW's buisness praticeces, and the only way to do this would be a large scale exodus or boycott.

I watch it and at some point I agree on most parts... but hey~ as a fan why bother complaining? If you're that passionate at something worth collecting then go for it! X3

The Desert Fox wrote:

Also, it might just be me but your language in your post, particuarly calling his suggestions 'demands' and observations 'opinions', made you come across as a GW mouthpeice.

I am simply formulating the various relevant points that the guy made in a 20-minutes video.
Interpreting my language for me being a "GW mouthpiece" is at bit... much...

Now I can also voice my "GW mouthpiece" opinion:

-GW brought wargaming to the masses
-GW produce and support two amazing games with rules/products that make it both accessible for noobs and interesting for vets. A lot of people criticize GW, but quite rarely their product and with reason - IMO they're great (not perfect of course).
-GW need to reinvent the way they conduct their business as their structure is poorly adapted to the internet/geographic barriers being brought down. This is valid for both brick&mortar retailers who find it more and more difficult to keep up and online stores being shot for being... online.
-systematic price rise = fail (yeah, even moreso as a retailer)
-They definitely need better PR
-The community needs to "grow up" and get out of that childish mindset that if you cry hard enough you'll get what you want. Explore your options... the world is vast.

Now as the dude said in his video competition is more than welcome and can only mean one thing: the hobby is getting stronger. Competition is a factor that simply did not exist before for GW. And it's a good change for sure - will it bring GW down or make it stronger? Time will tell... In the meantime I'll keep playing games I like :)

PS: played a couple games of Mordheim recently, what utter garbage! Unsupported armies/warbands, balance issues, clunky rules... it made me quit quickly. Is it because the game itself is bad? I don't think so, but WE as gamers have evolved our expectations (more dynamism? well-rounded rules?) have changed.

PSS: Hmmm, all of the above kinda reminds me of a couple other "mamoths" companies with monopoles (IBM? Microsoft? HP?). Will the mamoth dance or fall?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDzyPFueGuQ

Part 2 of the Open letter.

AMEN!!! ..... on the Triple Whammy! wahahaha

Yeah, personally I love 40k: it's a great hobby, great game... however, the stuff is priced quite high (not high enough to make me stop playing ofc :P). As Warmachine has come along with its much more "stable" prices, I must admit that it is a very good competitor, although my heart still lies with GW. Cheers for the post, dude.

-Josh