This still only explains so much. Kings of War and Mantic will sell me a full army of 100+ models for 160 dollars. That's a 40k combat patrol of 15 models.
As far as i know both of them dont operate globaly with hundrets of their own shops. I am from germany and i learned about those companies only online while we have a gw store in town.
I don't think is this video ever claimed GW prices were fair or reasonable, only that there is a rational behind their pricing decisions. I agree with the video's explanation of the rational, but I agree that GW is overpriced.
@@uwesca6263 I don't see GW's retail chain as a viable justification for their high prices. I'm in the United States, and most people find GW from social media and buy from a friendly local non-GW game store.
Going to the store back in HS and watching the eldar dire avengers go from 10 figures, down to 5, for the same material and keep the exact same price, you will never get me to accept that their prices make sense and are fair.
Some kits get mispriced too low or high based on their model. You do see it happen both ways, for example when Dark Elf Witches came out they were 70 bones, which was very high at the time. Well over a decade later they are almost the same price as they skipped a bunch of price increases on the unit.
@@lordsofwargamesandhobbies3905 hundo p. Some people take it as a personal attack; but it's always way more complicated and everyone down the chain needs to make money or it's not sustainable.
100%. By the time I get my third game in, rules have changed or I have to buy another book. It's not like you can ignore them; you HAVE to stay current to play.
How GW determines pricing: "It costs X dollars to make these models, so we suggest Y price" GW Leadership: "FUCK THAT! How much can we charge before they won't sell?" "Um... well we can charge up to Z, but we'll start to see a lot more stories about people leaving the hobby due to pricing, a lot more public complaints, and possibly even some clones" GW Leadership: "Like we give a flying fuck! Will we make more money?" "Technically yes" GW Leadership: "Can we sue the clones?" "Yes, but they'll likely have solid legal defenses given that everything we do is dirivitive and you can't copyright a concept or genera" GW Leadership: "Yea, but we can use our wealth to shop for judges and venues that are likely to side with us and we can bully anyone else in court with endless money and lawyers right?" "Yea" GW Leadership: "THEN FUCK IT! 1% under that number you gave us! WE WANT NEW YACHTS!" Moral of this story: Play Grimdark Future. It. Is. Just. A. Better. Game.
One of their former executives claims he got their margins up to around %55. It's certainly large, but no where near as a large as I was expecting. Assuming he's was telling the truth.
GW realized that they could target the adult hobby seeker with their pricing and presentation. They used to be somewhat in the toy and games demographic, but now they're sitting comfortably up there with: knitting, archery, fly fishing, canvas painting, retro video game hunting, gardening, indoor plants, TCG playing, rock climbing, bicycling, fishkeeping, rusty car parts, etc. People kind of expect to drop a few hundred bucks when they're getting into a hobby nowadays, for better or for worse. The more tactile a hobby is, the more pricey it will be to get into in the world of digital plugged in everything.
There have always been cheaper alternatives in the wargaming industry. But for every person such as yourself that sees the 100 minis from Mantic as a deal, there are like 100x (or more) people that would rather have the 12 models, for a myriad of reasons. Thanks for the comment!
People cry a lot about prices 😅 I don't really get it. Those GW Minis hold value really well. I sold a lot of stuff I only build but never painted just a week ago. Made nearly all my money back.
What this means is that eventually this hobby will become inaccessible to new players and will eventually die. After 4 years hiatus I walked into my LGS and saw a primaris librarian for 40 dollars that’s insane.
I'm definately not defending GW here but there were metal blister characters in 1996 that cost 20-25 dollars. I used to have to save up for a month to get 3 metal Spearman in a blister pack for like 16 bucks lol. It's always been an expensive hobby for sure.
Brilliant video. I wish more people understood this so we could avoid an incorrect sentiment in the hobby, but at the same time you shouldn't have to understand the business of your hobby to enjoy it. I remember people complaining when blisters went up £1 in the 90s. People also love to say how cheap models used to be and while someone else will usually correct them on inflation, wages in many jobs hobbyists go into (tech) are way higher and most of us aren't buying models off pocket money and paper rounds anymore. We hear the audience is adults with disposable income and parents who buy for kids, it's a luxury hobby for people with disposable hobby income. While GW used to have vouchers for new store openings and 3 for 2 deals sometimes many people also have access to 15-20% off these days too. That was not the case for most of GW's existence.
This still only explains so much. Kings of War and Mantic will sell me a full army of 100+ models for 160 dollars. That's a 40k combat patrol of 15 models.
As far as i know both of them dont operate globaly with hundrets of their own shops. I am from germany and i learned about those companies only online while we have a gw store in town.
I don't think is this video ever claimed GW prices were fair or reasonable, only that there is a rational behind their pricing decisions. I agree with the video's explanation of the rational, but I agree that GW is overpriced.
@@uwesca6263 I don't see GW's retail chain as a viable justification for their high prices. I'm in the United States, and most people find GW from social media and buy from a friendly local non-GW game store.
Going to the store back in HS and watching the eldar dire avengers go from 10 figures, down to 5, for the same material and keep the exact same price, you will never get me to accept that their prices make sense and are fair.
Well, nobody said FAIR.
Some kits get mispriced too low or high based on their model. You do see it happen both ways, for example when Dark Elf Witches came out they were 70 bones, which was very high at the time. Well over a decade later they are almost the same price as they skipped a bunch of price increases on the unit.
@@rcdemoral1982 yeah they were priced TOO fairly for 10
@@mikeaustin6497 SO MUCH FAIRNESS!!! But yes I agree with you.
Flayed ones still feel marked way to high I wanted 20 but I don't want pay 200 for 20 lol.
Those are 400% more expensive than Necron Warriors on identical size sprues!
Interesting stuff! Makes total sense. Good to hear from people who actually KNOW instead of people clearly making it up.
It's easy to hate on something when you are in the dark and don't have all the information. I can totally understand.
@@lordsofwargamesandhobbies3905 hundo p. Some people take it as a personal attack; but it's always way more complicated and everyone down the chain needs to make money or it's not sustainable.
Its not the minis that concern me when it comes to price. Its the unending parade of new rulebooks at 60$+ each thats the biggest joke
100%. By the time I get my third game in, rules have changed or I have to buy another book. It's not like you can ignore them; you HAVE to stay current to play.
Thanks for the vid!!! Great content! I've been really enjoying this series!
Great observations. I've been very much enjoying these in depth discussions of all the economics behind the hobby. Glad to tune in for this one!
How GW determines pricing:
"It costs X dollars to make these models, so we suggest Y price"
GW Leadership: "FUCK THAT! How much can we charge before they won't sell?"
"Um... well we can charge up to Z, but we'll start to see a lot more stories about people leaving the hobby due to pricing, a lot more public complaints, and possibly even some clones"
GW Leadership: "Like we give a flying fuck! Will we make more money?"
"Technically yes"
GW Leadership: "Can we sue the clones?"
"Yes, but they'll likely have solid legal defenses given that everything we do is dirivitive and you can't copyright a concept or genera"
GW Leadership: "Yea, but we can use our wealth to shop for judges and venues that are likely to side with us and we can bully anyone else in court with endless money and lawyers right?"
"Yea"
GW Leadership: "THEN FUCK IT! 1% under that number you gave us! WE WANT NEW YACHTS!"
Moral of this story: Play Grimdark Future. It. Is. Just. A. Better. Game.
Disagree
Having worked for GW for over a decade i would say that the prices are mostly made up, sure - costs do play a factor but not a significant one.
Good video, gw margin must be pretty high. What do you guys think of playing with printed models in your store.
One of their former executives claims he got their margins up to around %55.
It's certainly large, but no where near as a large as I was expecting. Assuming he's was telling the truth.
The play space is for 'customers' is the best way we put it.
@@lordsofwargamesandhobbies3905 That's cool
GW realized that they could target the adult hobby seeker with their pricing and presentation. They used to be somewhat in the toy and games demographic, but now they're sitting comfortably up there with: knitting, archery, fly fishing, canvas painting, retro video game hunting, gardening, indoor plants, TCG playing, rock climbing, bicycling, fishkeeping, rusty car parts, etc. People kind of expect to drop a few hundred bucks when they're getting into a hobby nowadays, for better or for worse. The more tactile a hobby is, the more pricey it will be to get into in the world of digital plugged in everything.
ok, you got the hooks into me on this title...too spicy to wait and watch later
i can buy a 100+ model army from mantic for the price of a 12 model combat patrol in 40k. GW have priced themselves out of the market.
There have always been cheaper alternatives in the wargaming industry. But for every person such as yourself that sees the 100 minis from Mantic as a deal, there are like 100x (or more) people that would rather have the 12 models, for a myriad of reasons.
Thanks for the comment!
People cry a lot about prices 😅 I don't really get it. Those GW Minis hold value really well. I sold a lot of stuff I only build but never painted just a week ago. Made nearly all my money back.
What this means is that eventually this hobby will become inaccessible to new players and will eventually die. After 4 years hiatus I walked into my LGS and saw a primaris librarian for 40 dollars that’s insane.
I'm definately not defending GW here but there were metal blister characters in 1996 that cost 20-25 dollars. I used to have to save up for a month to get 3 metal Spearman in a blister pack for like 16 bucks lol.
It's always been an expensive hobby for sure.
Brilliant video. I wish more people understood this so we could avoid an incorrect sentiment in the hobby, but at the same time you shouldn't have to understand the business of your hobby to enjoy it. I remember people complaining when blisters went up £1 in the 90s.
People also love to say how cheap models used to be and while someone else will usually correct them on inflation, wages in many jobs hobbyists go into (tech) are way higher and most of us aren't buying models off pocket money and paper rounds anymore. We hear the audience is adults with disposable income and parents who buy for kids, it's a luxury hobby for people with disposable hobby income.
While GW used to have vouchers for new store openings and 3 for 2 deals sometimes many people also have access to 15-20% off these days too. That was not the case for most of GW's existence.
Wow eye opener, all these TH-cam channels with their made up theories about prices. Most you hear it is based on in game point cost
I didn’t see any citations… Just another “trust me, bro” source.
Perfection!