Games Workshop on a Budget
Some people might be too young to remember the days when a full starter game of Warhammer or Warhammer 40,000 was £30, or when regiment boxes first came out at £12 (and they had metal command bits!), or when armies books and codexs ran into the hundreds of pages. Those that do remember will always wish that prices were more like the old days, those that don't may still find things a little expensive.
For those who can't afford to spend a lot (students like me, the young, those with jobs and not much spare cash - most people really!) read on for Games Workshop on a budget - all the best tips for discount Games Workshop and cheaper alternatives.
This article is split into the following sections:
Models on the cheap
There are several ways to get models for cheaper prices than in Games Workshop stores, some more effective than others.
Model Shop Discounts
Ever notice how White Dwarf now states at the bottom of the news pages that independant stockists are responsible for their own prices? It's not to warn you if a shop charges more for Games Workshop models. It's actually because some independant model shops sell Games Workshop products at a discount.
There are two stores in Altrincham, near Manchester, UK, that sell Games Workshop models and both offer a 10% discount on everything. They won't be the only ones - check near you and find your closest discount store. Not only do you get your models slightly cheaper, but you get to help an independant with their cut of the profits.
Online Stores
Most of the online shops that I've seen offer discount Warhamer and Warhammer 40,000, some more than others. A lot of places offer a 5% discount or a 10% discount, but some offer up to a 25% discount on their products!
Some people run stores through eBay (although more on eBay later).
The following are the stores that I know of who offer a discount:
- Oracle Games - a Birmingham (UK) based company who ship to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland (Eire), Portugal and Spain, and offer up to 25% discount on Games Workshop products. Postage varies depending on the weight of the order, but still leaves a good discount.
- WarGamesStore.com - another British company, this time offering 10% discount on Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000, but charging a flat-rate of £3.50 for postage.
- NuGaming.com - a third British-based company that also offers a 10% discount on Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000. This time, though, postage is free.
- Maelstrom Games - another British-based company. Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 is at a 10% discount, while Lord of the Rings is at a 7.5% discount. Postage worldwide is free on most orders.
- WarhammerDirect.com - an American company that offers variable discounts. Some items are only discounted by 1%, but other items are discounted by up to 15%. Useful for those Americans who want to remove the additional cost incurred when the models are shipped across the Atlantic!
- The Dragons Tears - an online shop run by the Dragons Tears gaming group from Brighton, UK. They offer a 25% discount on most Games Workshop products, varying discounts on Lord of the Rings, and an increased 30% discount if you attend one of their events.
- Caliver Books - an Essex-based online shop run by an English Civil War recreationist. They offer up to 20% discount on most Games Workshop products, and free postage world-wide on all orders of models and paints over £16.50!
- GiftsForGeeks.org.uk - a Leicester, UK, based online store who offer delivery or collection from their warehouse. Discounts are generally in the region of 25-30% - the highest of most stores! Postage is based on weight, so remember to check your specific order against postage-free stores.
Please note: none of the above listed sites have been approved in any way. We are not responsible for any damages if you use one of these sites. They are listed purely on the basis that they offer cheaper or discount Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000 or other Games Workshop products.
Please feel free to email me with any other websites you know of. If store owners themselves would like to be listed in the side panel of all pages, please contact me for a discussion about button-sized advertising.
Second-hand models
They're not always the best option, but they're usually the cheapest!
I started Warhammer 40,000 when my Grandma picked up the Second Edition for a few pounds at a local auction. She has since found small collections of models (and some not so small collections!) in various charity shops, car boot sales and local auctions. Places like these definately get my recommendation, although it can be difficult to find things for sale.
The other alternative is the well know eBay.com (or local versions, such as eBay.co.uk). I've picked up a few of my recent purchases there, and it is used by TGSC for just about all of his purchases now.
Just make sure that you're getting what you expect before you bid, and don't forget to factor in postage.
Other Sources
The best source I've heard for discount Games Workshop models is Games Workshop itself - but only if you're a staff member!
One of the current staff told me that they can pay about 30p for a metal Sister of Battle from Mail Order, one former employee told me that metal Space Marine bodies used to be around 20p each from Mail Order and a friend who worked at Games Workshop bought a huge pack of Dire Wolves for very little money because he bought the heads cheap through Mail Order and got the plastic bodies free.
The moral of the story? Games Workshop staff might not be the best paid people, they may have to put up with all of little kids, and they're probably not allowed to buy for friends, but if you're really desparate for discount models, then get a job as one!
Games Workshop 'Store Opening Sales' used to be another good place to buy cheap (they gave away a few '10% off models' and '25% off boxed games' vouchers in White Dwarf the month before) but they've stopped doing that for several years now.
Paints
Since Games Workshop changed to the new paints, I've had nothing but problems, and so have other people. Paints dry up faster, the old screw tops get clogged up and very difficult to open, and the newer flip-tops collect a rim of paint. Apparently it's all to do with the paint mix that now covers better.
If you'd rather have a paint that lasts and takes two coats for the Sunburst Yellow to cover properly, instead of a paint that dries up before you've used half of it, try checking out some of the alternative suppliers.
Gladiator Games make a range of paints called Coat d'Arms paints, the Fantasy Range of which are the original Citadel Paints, but bottled and branded by their own maker.
The paints come in 18ml pots, instead of the 12ml pots that Games Workshop has now reduced its paints to, and they even have had a conversion chart to the old Games Workshop names (now available on Hive World Terra). Each paint now lists individually its original name under the Games Workshop colour naming. The paints normally retail at £1.40, although one store I recently went to was selling them at £1 each before he dropped them to a clearance price of 50p each and 12 for £5. That'll be 24 pots of old-style paint, thank you!
There are also lots of alternatives from other gaming systems, some of which people like Paul Sawyer of 'Fat Bloke' fame have been seen using other brands. I haven't tried any yet, but Tamiya, Vallejo, Mini Dervian and others, although I've had no experience with them.
Conclusions
Hopefully you've picked up some ideas on how to make the hobby a little more affordable. If you have any more ideas that you use, please contact me and share them with the community.
