A new GW Embargo dawns on the USA.

 

Hello there Reader.

 

Back in 2011 we published an article sharing with our readers our info about the imminent enforcement back then of new trade policies concerning independent retailers. In what was to be known as the “GW Embargo” Games Workshop prohibited trade account holders based in the European Community of reselling their products to consumers outside the EU.

 

It should come as no surprise that the hobby community down here in Brazil was severely affected by those new policies given that most of us here purchased from the two giant retailing stores in the UK back them.

 

One of the ways people found of circumventing the embargo was purchasing from US based stores. Their shipping charges were not as reasonable as the ones from European stores but we could still purchase our models at discounted prices.

 

It seems that window has now been closed by yet another of GW’s trade policies. In a document dated March 15^th 2013 addressing North American Trade Account holders GW’s disclosed its new blow against consumer base and independent retailers alike.

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“Games Workshop’s Embargo – Part 6” or “A light at the end of the tunnel!”

Hello there.

It’s finally refreshing to have good news to share with you people. Wayland Games has finally issued a comment about the whole Games Workshop embargo situation thing.

Here it is:

Hi Everyone,

 

Before we start, if you’d allow me to present a little background about Wayland before we get into the meat of the issue I’d be grateful.

 

We laid out our little web store back in August 2008, our beginnings were humble, with my brother and I packing orders in a spare room. It wasn’t ideal but it was what we had to start with and we grew and grew through the continued business of our loyal customers through four warehouses to our current location. In thirty three months we have gone from a spare room in Essex, UK with my brother and I packing boxes to a global operation with fourteen full time staff which is now positioned as one of the largest if not the largest independent hobby retailer in the world. We run our business today as we always have done, in a professional and ethical manner both within the letter and the spirit of the law. Almost all suppliers like us, customers enjoy our openness and service-oriented outlook and whilst we’re realistic enough to know we’re not by any means perfect we will always strive to improve to ensure our central tenet of great prices and better service.

 

Managing such growth has been far from simple; we have experienced growing pains like any business in any sector that has exploded in market share terms. Our growing pains have also been more painful as we continually seek to adjust to a shifting commercial landscape from our dominant supplier, Games Workshop. Like many of you, I believe that Games Workshop produce a fantastic product which gives endless joy to countless people. I am proud to be associated with them.  Unsurprisingly, therefore, I read with real concern the statement by the CEO Mark Wells over the new trade terms which effectively prevents us selling Games Workshop supplied products outside Europe. Mark’s statement can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/notes/games-workshop/our-changes-to-european-trading-terms/227996923881812

Mark seems to be clearly of the view that on-line retailers (and we are not purely that, of course given our bricks and mortar presence) “free ride” on the back of Games Workshop’s bricks and mortar outlets. We have sought over the years, and I thought with some success and recognition, to demonstrate to Games Workshop the value that we provide not just in terms of sales but also in terms of pre and after sales service (not to mention our activities at trade fairs), which is clearly equivalent to the service that is provided on the “ground” by bricks and mortar outlets. Quite aside from the legality of Games Workshop’s actions, we are confused by the commercial attitude of Games Workshop which hampers our ability to sell to hobbyists to the clear disadvantage of both Games Workshop (albeit maybe not their retail arm) and the hobbyists themselves.

I will not air anyone’s dirty laundry in public. Therefore, I am writing to Games Workshop separately (its board, lawyers and their principal shareholders) to share my concerns in greater depth. I hope that commercial common sense will prevail and that we can continue to work with Games Workshop to expand their market and bring a great product to as many people as possible at the best price possible. After all, Games Workshop not only has a clear responsibility to the market but also a clear responsibility to its shareholders (which, after all, could be you and me!).

In the meantime, we believe after the announced terms are implemented we shall be able to continue to offer all of our loyal customers the same product range that we offer today. There may be a small lead time to implement but we’ve been given a rather short period to react. We will comply fully and completely with the new terms and conditions of sale imposed upon us and will not contravene them in any capacity whatsoever (albeit we would not wish that to be seen as acceptance of their legality), all we seek to achieve is that customers both old and new are able to benefit from our view of the market wherever they are located. We all love our hobby.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be providing updates as to how the process of implementing these changes is coming along, the chances are we’ll use Facebook to disseminate this information as it is a great platform for customers to interact with us and each other.

 

We look forward to continue to serve you and we always will.

 

Keep on Wargaming.

 

Richard.

Wayland Games

Like I said on previous posts it is really reassuring to hear that a company such as Wayland is willing to fight for it’s costumers. They are indeed a business and are getting paid in the end of the day but Rich and everyone else there have not opted for the easy way out and stood up for us.

The underlined part of their public statement show that, thanks to their efforts, those hobbyists outside the E.U. might still have a hobby after all.

Way to go Rich and thanks for stepping down into the trenches with the affected community, the respect you’re garnering through your actions will surely strengthen your company’s position not only in the market but also in your consumer’s trust.

Over and out!

+++++

Salve pessoal.

A Wayland games soltou hoje sua posição oficial acerca da proibição da GW no que diz respeito às vendas para fora da União Européia.

Vou replicar aqui a parte mais importante do comunicado que diz:

“In the meantime, we believe after the announced terms are implemented we shall be able to continue to offer all of our loyal customers the same product range that we offer today”.

 

Traduzindo:

“Enquanto isso, acreditamos que após os termos anunciados serem colocados em prática seremos capazes de continuar oferecendo a todos nossos clientes leais a mesma gama de produtos que oferecemos hoje”.

 

Aparentemente a Wayland encontrou uma forma de continuar nos vendendo, possivelmente como já especulávamos na forma de “Direct Only”, ou seja, por encomenda pagando o preço cheio GW (sem os costumeiros descontos). Ainda assim a Wayland continuará sendo uma opção viável e acessivel através da internet para que toda a comunidade brasileira continue efetuando suas compras e não seja excluída unilateralmente do hobby cada vez mais popular por aqui.

Prestigiemos a Wayland Games então em nossas compras pessoal. Eles estão fazendo por merecer.

Até a próxima!