Understanding Allocation Challenges for Popular Games Workshop ReleasesUpdated 10 days ago
Why Even Major Retailers Can Come Up Short—and How We Keep You Informed
When Games Workshop releases highly anticipated products, demand often exceeds available supply. Even as one of the largest Warhammer retailers in the United States—regularly requesting quantities far above the average store—we are still subject to the same allocation system as everyone else. That means we do not always receive enough to meet the needs of our community, despite planning and ordering well in advance.
Why Allocations Fall Short
Games Workshop determines a global production quantity for each major release. Once that quantity is set, it is divided among retailers across many different sectors. In recent years, Games Workshop has expanded distribution into non-traditional outlets: car dealerships, pharmacies, and other venues that do not primarily serve tabletop hobbyists.
While we understand the goal of broadening visibility for the brand, this wider distribution does impact the allocation available to dedicated game stores in an attempt to give all retailers a "fair shake." When a fixed amount of product is spread across more outlets—especially those without an active Warhammer community—the result is that specialty retailers often receive fewer units than requested.
Our Commitment to Transparency
Whenever we receive allocation numbers that fall significantly short of what we requested, we communicate that information immediately. We always post allocation updates on our Facebook page, ensuring our community receives the most accurate and timely information available.
If staying informed on product availability—especially for high-demand releases—is important to you, we strongly encourage you to follow us there.
Second-Wave Preorders
When initial allocations are insufficient, we make every effort to secure additional stock. This may include:
Working with alternate suppliers
Requesting additional units through secondary availability
Opening second-wave preorders later the same day if more inventory becomes available
While additional quantities are never guaranteed, we pursue every avenue to help as many customers as possible obtain the items they want.
In Closing
We share the same frustrations many of you feel regarding allocation limitations. While we cannot control production decisions or distribution strategies, we can ensure that our communication remains clear, timely, and transparent. Our goal is always to serve our community to the best of our ability, even when allocations fall short.
For the most up-to-date allocation announcements, please follow us on Facebook.