AngryAngel, he didn't threathened the store. He vented on a internet forum. That is quite different than the picture you are painting of a childish customer (specially when both already talked their way out). So, you have never returned a gift ? It is considered in poor taste overall, but i have had done in the past, and friends of me with my presents, and i don't feel aggravated by it, if anything i don't want to give you a present receive a smile and a thank you for something you didn't really wanted or needed. Since you don't really know the relationship between his friend and he, you shouldn't be passing judgements so lightly.

And second, you can't extrapolate your relationship with your store owner to his. If you came with a present that you didn't like (well, in the case that you actually decided to break the social conventions), do you think he wouldn't allow you to return and get something else ?

I would understand your point of view if the OP actually bought the knight himself and then changed his mind, but for a gift he didn't choose ? It is actually the oppossite.

I guess we have very different mindsets, probably because this in my country wouldn't even be a discussion to begin with. "Is it unopened ? Only 3 days ? Sure, you can give it back good sir, what do you want the money or to buy us something else?".

Just because he didn't say it straight to the store owner/managers face doesn't mean the threat wasn't there. So I don't think my painting was that far off. One miscue, and he said " I think I might be done with them " that isn't being a bit childish ? Especially without further clarifying the issue, just to then take the moment to do so, and find it was a none issue ? Come on now.

I have never returned a gift that was actually useable, no. I'm sorry if that seems such an odd concept. As far as judging him goes, when you put out your thoughts and a situation to a group of people, you open yourself up for that if its agreed with or not. I also point out, he asked for opinions on his actions, and such I gave.

Yes, I can voice my opinion of his actions based on my own experiences, and if such isn't wanted, I would say don't post it online in a forum. Honestly, I rarely get a gift I don't want or like, as if such is a risk the friend or family in question would ask on the sly ahead of time or get a gift card or the like.

I imagine some of it is different mindsets, and it isn't like the gift was unusable or wouldn't be used it was just not the ideal. I think on that its more personal codes of conduct conflicting.

So your opinion he's fine, mine he was being less then fine, that's ok, it happens with opinion based discussion.

I think the moral of this story is that Warhammer is dying ...

I know several (including myself) that have left because of GW's rediculousness. Plus X-Wing is soooo much better.

I left 40k for X-Wing and haven't looked back because of the constant price increases GW drops on their fan base. Now I just have to figure out how to sell a Necron army.....

While it's understandable to be upset, these small stores run on very small profit margin. For them to accept something like this back and to give you further stock would likely put them in a really poor position. I looked into running a store and it really has to be a labor of love for the owner.

Well... I understand they work on small margins and $140 isn't that much is the grand scheme of things. But for me the key is you spent $5k.

I purchase from a FLGS and they are fully aware that nearly ALL on-line markets are cheaper. With everything I've spent, and at a higher price at that, if he wouldn't take back a single return. That would be my last purchase. Even stuff I've purchased on Amazon from Cool Stuff offered a full return for the simple reason 'it isn't what I wanted'.

Give and take. I like to support FLGS, but they should also see both sides.

Here's the problem you have ran into my friend. Since 7ed hit 40K sales have been slipping at a staggering rate. Now that doesn't mean that veteran players aren't still pouring more money into it then a crack addict, but with the new rules less players are buying new armies and to a finer point less new players are getting into the game. So sadly the Imperial Knight (who when it came out was a one of a kind type of unit) isn't as in demand as it was a few months ago. I can see the store owners reserve about not wanting to do the exchange because of the lack of sales. I've been told dealing with GW is like dealing with the IRS they hound you if you don't order from them enough, and threaten to cut off your supply if you don't order enough of their product. That's what I've been told.

However at the same time you are a regular customer, and I assume that you have never complained or caused a fuss in the store. The owner should have been more then willing to do the exchange just as a thank you for your years of patronage. That's just good customer service, and is a small way he could pay you back for all the years of buying from him. However not all stores are required to have a return or exchange policy posted, and are not even required to have on to begin with in the USA at least.

I would say that your not overreacting however you can't be mad at him for wanting to run his business the way he wants to run it.

I think the moral of this story is that Warhammer is dying ...

I know several (including myself) that have left because of GW's rediculousness. Plus X-Wing is soooo much better.

I left 40k for X-Wing and haven't looked back because of the constant price increases GW drops on their fan base. Now I just have to figure out how to sell a Necron army.....

I second this notion. I left 40K a few months ago and found my self investing into several smaller scale games that can be played for about a quarter of the price. All the games I've picked up are well written, easy on the wallet, and have a great friendly player base. Everything that GW games don't have or do.

Personally, I started buying stuff online for slightly cheaper (even after shipping to Switzerland and taxes and all) around wave 2. My FLGS won me back with awesome service; I now buy through them almost exclusively again. It's really simple - brick-and-mortar stores can't compete with the price alone, so they have to compete with better service.

Glad to see that your FLGS owner sees this the same way, both for you and the store

I agree and I'm glad the store manager (temporary brain shut down aside) came through for me lol. I will be back; they did what I asked upon clarification and I will still shop there almost exclusively.

Until they do something else that ruffles your feathers...

Until they do something else that ruffles your feathers...

Which is completely reasonable in my book. The store manager's original decision was unreaonable in my opinion and seeing as its my cash, I have no problem going else ware had he not agreed to exchange the item. Someone earlier posted I was acting "childish" which I found amusing, and my point to them would be, drop $5k at a store and then have the store pull something like that... they wouldn't come back either, I guarantee it.

My feathers don't get ruffled easily, I know whats reasonable and whats not... Like those jacka$$es who think they should always get something free because they dropped a few hunsky, definitely not reasonable in my book. Exchange an item which was just purchased three days prior, completely reasonable request. Its all about common sense.

There's what have you done for me, and then there's what have you done for me lately. I think you pretty much just inferred that they've earned your loyalty back, but I'm not sure that means a whole lot when you're obviously so quick to assume the worst. They must have done something good to deserve your service in the first place, before this whole fiasco; perhaps you'll remember how well they handled this particular situation the next time you feel they're being "unreasonable."

There's what have you done for me, and then there's what have you done for me lately. I think you pretty much just inferred that they've earned your loyalty back, but I'm not sure that means much when you're obviously so quick to assume the worst. They must have done something good to deserve your service in the first place, before this whole fiasco; perhaps you'll remember how well they handled this particular situation the next time you feel they're being "unreasonable."

Absolutely, and that's one of the reasons I went back for clarification on my original question to the manager. His reaction at the time was unlike anything he has ever said, his demeanor was completely different from the "one of the guys" attitude he always displayed.

My thought was, I've never asked for anything extra, I dropped a grand on an Ork army with this store, not including the $1500 I had spent over the past couple of years on other stuff, so when I did inquire about it... my take was "now I'm just another complaining customer" which shocked me after the relationship we built customer/store wise.

Well, good on you both then for figuring it out.

There's what have you done for me, and then there's what have you done for me lately.

Absolutely, and that's one of the reasons I went back for clarification on my original question to the manager. His reaction at the time was unlike anything he has ever said, his demeanor was completely different from the "one of the guys" attitude he always displayed.

My thought was, I've never asked for anything extra, I dropped a grand on an Ork army with this store, not including the $1500 I had spent over the past couple of years on other stuff, so when I did inquire about it... my take was "now I'm just another complaining customer" which shocked me after the relationship we built customer/store wise.

Wonder,

It seems to me that you're underestimating the value of maintaining relationships in commerce. Did you take too much Microeconomics 101 in school?

There's what have you done for me, and then there's what have you done for me lately.

Absolutely, and that's one of the reasons I went back for clarification on my original question to the manager. His reaction at the time was unlike anything he has ever said, his demeanor was completely different from the "one of the guys" attitude he always displayed.

My thought was, I've never asked for anything extra, I dropped a grand on an Ork army with this store, not including the $1500 I had spent over the past couple of years on other stuff, so when I did inquire about it... my take was "now I'm just another complaining customer" which shocked me after the relationship we built customer/store wise.

Wonder,

It seems to me that you're underestimating the value of maintaining relationships in commerce. Did you take too much Microeconomics 101 in school?

I think Wonder enjoys the devils advocate side of things... One of my good buddies does the same thing, no matter your stance on an issue he will take the opposing stance just to debate lol.

Hmm, not usually, no. But I did feel that there was an entirely different way of looking at this, one that too many people were quick to dismiss. Two wrongs don't make a right and all that business. I think most of the time I feel that there's no point in throwing my two cents in on a topic in which everyone agrees, so it might seem like I'm just being contrary when I do decide to post.

Wonder,

It seems to me that you're underestimating the value of maintaining relationships in commerce. Did you take too much Microeconomics 101 in school?

I managed to complete my history degree without taking a single economics course, actually.