Quote Originally Posted by RealGenius View Post
Yeah, but now GW is making Alliance (or trying to make them) enforce the no bits/no sprues policy. I wonder if the GW Distributors have the direct limit of $500 as well?

I don't think it will put the bits places out of business, but it puts more pressure on them. At the very least they are still allowed to buy the bits at retail and part them out. And like others have mentioned, eBay. Try as they might, GW can't prevent you from reselling things you bought at retail.
I think the intent of GW here is to attack the bitz stores indirectly by going after their Brick and Mortar fronts. If GW can prove/link/or otherwise 'feels' like a brick and mortar store is supplying a discounted rate to a bitz store, they will simply choose to stop doing business with that brick and mortar store -- which they can technically do.

They aren't going after Alliance and I don't think they are expecting Alliance to enforce that policy. They are going after independent retailer fronts with the Trade Agreement/Contracts they have in order to attack the online backend.

The margins for ordering as a direct distributor from GW are generally better for the retailers than ordering from another 3rd party distributor like Alliance. So much so, that it's almost not profitable to order from Alliance if you're already working with GW.


But this is all conjecture and hearsay. I mean, I've only worked in the retail side with GW, met the miniwargaming guys in person, understand how Bitz stores operate, have seen the actual numbers/margins on all of theses things, worked directly with Alliance and have a business degree.... What do I know?!