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Post by c0d3monk33 on Jul 11, 2005 20:16:50 GMT 12
Vagabonds in Auckland City and Takapuna have a FREE 'VIP' Card that gets you 10% of ALL FLAMES OF WAR BLISTERS (not boxed sets or army deals). It's free to sign up.
If you're a FoW player, or considering playing then I would definitely look Vagabonds up in the White pages if you live in Auckland!
10% off!
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Post by PitYak Studios on Jul 11, 2005 21:24:23 GMT 12
I was going to ask you FOWers - what does a pack of figures cost normally?
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Post by dustand on Jul 11, 2005 22:02:58 GMT 12
I have been shopping with Vagabond North Shore for ages now. cant remember the last time i steped inside GW, I went and looked at the models in the window once... Nice paint jobs but most of it looks to clinical.
Anyway, Vagabond have always been good to me. And they have lots of anual or semi regular specials. They had something like 20% off GW figures about 3 months ago.... thats nothing to be laughed at... I'm Not advertising, they are my local =]
Yay Vagabond! for not being GW and keeping the Wargamer/Roleplayer Store Alive.
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Post by PitYak Studios on Jul 12, 2005 8:05:29 GMT 12
Absolutely. Wellington has (to the best of my knowledge) 1 gw shop and a couple of model shops that sell a little gw and fow stuff but that's it. We need more indy shops! (and not just gaming - I think that's true of every branch of life)
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Post by Aaron on Jul 12, 2005 8:34:29 GMT 12
Yep will be going to vagabond next time! 10% has gotta be worth it!
FoW blisters cost $14 - $28 depending on whats in them.
Tanks, trucks etc $14
field guns 14-28 depending on what size they are & number of crew
infantry platoon $28
specialist troops (machine guns, light mortars) $21 - 28
The thing I find that makes fow expensive is that to field a platoon of 4 guns requires 4 guns 4 transports 1 hq & 1 ha transport. & for some bizare reason they dont sell them in handy boxes so you have to buy all the blisters seperately and you dont always get the number you need.
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Post by c0d3monk33 on Jul 12, 2005 8:47:08 GMT 12
Heh, selling blisters of odd numbers....ahhhh where have I seen that marketing strategy before  . Actually the FOW line went through a re-pack late last year and they're even better value than they used to be (for example 3 universal carriers per blister rather than 2 for the same $13.95, 2 x 25pdr guns for $25.95 rather than $13.95 each etc). I really don't know how Vagabonds can afford that 10% discount. They must get a hell of deal from FOW. Phil, if you're interested check out the Flames of War online store (at www.flamesofwar.com of course) because you can price your entire army in NZ$ there. Vagabonds actually have 5c off the web store price typically. I'll definitely be shopping at Vagabonds from now on. I have a friend that lives on the shore and raves about their Takapuna store...but err that's a bit of a hike for me! The Queen St store which opened earlier this year - just above the Foodcourt in the Village movie complex - is walking distance from my office and they close at 6pm every day! Very handy. They've got a great range of products. FOW, all the GW stuff plus various smaller metal figure ranges, great board games (Carcassone, Settlers of Catan etc.), manga, manga models... heck I even saw some 15mm scale resin terrain! They're definitely the most clued up hobbyist store I've found in Auckland. |
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Post by dustand on Jul 12, 2005 11:18:56 GMT 12
Well a long time ago when I used to hang out at GW, and that was my local. I found out and it still makes me sick, that GW staff get 50% staff discount... this was 6 years ago or so but i cant see it changing. Basically what that means is the retailers cost of the models is going to be less than 50% of the shelf price... I wouldnt be surprised if it was sub $20 for the retailer to buy a regiment set and then mark up to $55.
GW can claim ALL the material and quaility of workmanship they want they are still wallet humping but pirates...
Damn my seemingly endless adiction to their games... Atleast being a poor student makes it unthinkable to buy new models... Yay trademe, Yay people who have rich parents but give up and play magic TG instead...
Anyway, I dont know the base prices for the FOW stuff. or even have an idea where to start, but if you got models and they are selling you would be wise to model your margins on GW. You got to give them credit for being shrewd business men that care more about making a product that they can charge more for than making sure everyone in the world can afford to play.
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Post by c0d3monk33 on Jul 12, 2005 11:35:14 GMT 12
From what I've heard regarding the discount that GW staff get it would seem to have nothing to do with the 'real' cost of the GW figures but rather the fact that GW staff get paid rather poorly! So the discount is to attract and retain retail staff. I imagine it's probably capped as well.
I love gaming but can't think of anything more soul destroying than having to work in a GW retail store. Can you imagine how many snotty kids, surly shop lifting teenagers and confused parents you have to deal with on a daily basis? Couple of years of that and you'd be out of the hobby I reckon.
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Post by PitYak Studios on Jul 12, 2005 13:44:44 GMT 12
True. I love food too, but I could never work in a McDonalds.
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Post by Aaron on Jul 12, 2005 16:40:50 GMT 12
hmm, ok 50% discount on the money I spend on models... that would equate to a $1500pa pay increase... nope thats definately not worth. It irritates me if I accidentally visit GW during the school holidays & its full of kids...
I just realised why the GW staff are so helpfull when I visit. I thought it was their selling approach its really just that they see an adult who knows whats going on so rush over for some human contact! ;D
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Post by c0d3monk33 on Jul 12, 2005 16:48:11 GMT 12
FYI Vagabonds staff are a bit of a mixed bag. I've been there several times and it wasn't until I dealt with a different guy (skinny with glasses) that he offered me the VIP card. I've made several other purchases from a larger gentleman with short dark hair that certainly never mentioned a 10% on FOW blisters (despite the fact I've only ever purchased FOW blisters from them). Go figure eh? The skinny guy with glasses is a FOW player too (US paratroopers apparently Aaron) so maybe that was the difference. Yeah I've noticed that the older GW staff are quite happy to talk to you about random stuff if you're over 18 and seem reasonably sane. I used to chat to Chris (who used to be the 'area manager' for GW) in the Auckland store. Now he's moved on to Acorn Models for some reason? Maybe he got sick of GW retail . |
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Post by Aaron on Jul 12, 2005 17:00:22 GMT 12
Yeh Chris was cool (Im sure I heard on the radio that Acorn Models is having a closing down sale).
I always got on well with Mark who used to be at Queen St then St Lukes last time I saw him was the inside cover of the FoW Stars & stripes book so dunno what the heck he's upto now!
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Post by c0d3monk33 on Jul 12, 2005 17:06:01 GMT 12
Mark? Was he the tall guy with dark hair?
Acorn models closing down? Are you sure? Their web-site doesn't say anything about it? Damn...I'll definitely have to check that out. If they are closing down I hope it's just the brick and mortar stores and they're keeping their online site going. Acorn models supply me with lots of vital stuff!
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Post by Aaron on Jul 12, 2005 18:26:08 GMT 12
Nah medium height guy with blonde hair altho Im pretty sure that other guy (manager at St Lukes) moved from Queen St too.
Well Im pretty sure thats what I heard about Acorn models but I only started listening when I heard 30% off. I'll keep an ear out if I hear it again and let u know. (it was on ZM this arvo I heard it)
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Post by dustand on Jul 13, 2005 4:46:14 GMT 12
I used to Live with Mark =] if its the same mark, that worked there AGES ago....
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. Actually the FOW line went through a re-pack late last year and they're even better value than they used to be (for example 3 universal carriers per blister rather than 2 for the same $13.95, 2 x 25pdr guns for $25.95 rather than $13.95 each etc). I really don't know how Vagabonds can afford that 10% discount. They must get a hell of deal from FOW.