Anyone that collects Warhammer knows that it can be one expensive hobby. From the high cost of the models themselves to all the supplies you need as well like paints, brushes and inks. So it ranges an important question on just where are the best places to buy cheap warhammer models?
Discount Sites
There are a host of different companies that sell a vast range of miniatures, from Warhammer to other wargames, cards, boardgames and other supplies at discounted rates. Ultimately each company has their own different advantages and you should consider on which will be best for yourself to use.
Here are a few of my favourite ones:
Elementalgames
I think that Elemental Games is one of my favourite companies to use.
The company offers 15-25% off on the items they sell on their site and Free shipping on any order worth over £80.
They have a reward system using Element Crystals. Everytime you make an order you will be given an element crystal for every £10 you have spent on the order. These crystals are worth 10p each, so are around 1% of what you have spent. You can then use these element crystals on any future order to reduce the cost of those orders. Hopefully it will fool the wife that you haven’t spent too much on the latest releases of your favourite factions. As a bonus these crystals have no expiry date so you actually can save them up for a big order!
Want to double the amount of Element Crystals then use the code TON081. I will earn some crystals when you place an order and you will earn double the crystals you would have earned normally!
Whats more for anyone that is sociable and lives close enough, they are an actual physical store as well. Not sure which came first online or the store though. They hold regular events, are able to hold enough gaming tables (with terrain they add!) for 200 gamers with free on-site parking and a licenced bar! Come on how many stores can you think of that can boast that!
For those interested they are in Stockport near Manchester if you want to pop in.
Goblin Gaming
Goblin Gaming is another great company to use.
The company offers 10-20% off on their items and offer Free shipping on any order worth over £75.
They also have a reward system with loyalty points. There are several different ways to earn the loyalty points. For every purchase you gain 1 point per £1 spent, signing up to their news letter and following them in different ways. Though the best one is to refer a friend to Goblin Gaming which is worth 500 points if they spend over £50! Your friend will also be given £5 off their first purchase. So if anyone would like £5 off then consider joining Goblin Gaming using the link.
You will then use these points to get a reward voucher ranging from £1 to £20 to knock off money from your orders.
Wayland Games
I can remember Wayland Games from all the way back from when I was at university.
The company offers 10-20% off their items and Free shipping on any order worth over £20. Which is a bonus if you only want a small order.
Like the others mentioned above they have a reward system using loyalty points. You earn 1 point per £1 spent. You can also sponsor a friend and gain 1% of their order value from anything they order for the next 500 days! If you add the code 3021110201 as you register then you will gain a £1 gift voucher for your first order. Isn’t much but it’s something.
eBay
Good old eBay, I think it is the main place that many of us turn to when looking for models or to sell them!
You can get yourself a great deal on eBay on Warhammer models. Other collectors will have to part with their models and will either list them low or at a good price. There are also companies that resell new and used models. They use eBay as an extra way or even only way to sell their models. One of my most used companies for myself has to be thetrolltrader, I have used them multiple times for years. They have even bought multiple models from me when I have been selling them on eBay!
You can find a wide range of warhammer models you might need or might not have known you needed! Such as the many out of production (OOP) lines reaching as far back as the 1980s! All the way up to resent ending of productions like the High Elf Lord/Mage on Dragon, a model I have seen sell for £100 since it ended!
There are a few things to be careful of however.
Some of the selling companies are the same discount companies you can get great deals from! You can often get the models for the same prices but you don’t get the bonuses going direct to their sites give. However they will often have clear out sales to shift items not selling or for new stock meaning you can grab yourself a better bargain.
Some sellers and sometimes companies will be wanting RRP and then postage on top for some of the models they are selling. And sometimes the price will be even higher than Games-Workshop sell it for. A great example of this is Valkia the Bloody who is £15 from Games-Workshop and £29.99 on eBay!
Recast models are also a thing. Unfortunately many people do not know what to look for or it is a company that doesn’t have time to properly check all the models before listing. These models are usually of much poorer quality than original models but you could be paying same prices or even more if the model is OOP. Most people are aware of this and will happily accept a return/refund if this does happy to you. Sometimes it is seen and recast will be added to the title so you know that it isn’t an original Games-Workshop product.
For a quick guide of how to spot a recast warhammer miniature then check out Limited Edition Warhammer. Some recasts have gotten a lot better since this was written though! So you might not mind as much a recast for your collection now.
Another great thing about using eBay however is that you can earn Nectar Points when you link your Nectar Reward Card up to your eBay account. Which can be a great boost to your Nectar points for shopping, fuel or a new computer game. For more information please check out either my post Best loyalty card for gamers to use or Mrs Pinch’s post Sainsbury’s Nectar Card What you need to know.
Be careful not to get into any bidding wars out there!
Facebook wants to be a bit of everything nowadays but is worth a look. The only issue is that these will all be people that know the value of the miniatures and will often be asking for a high price for them.
Groups
There are several groups on Facebook dedicated to the buying, selling or swapping of warhammer models or left over bits.
I have only recently discovered these groups and haven’t bought anything as yet but you will often see some reasonable prices then have a heart attack over others. You will then see how many things can be there and see why.
Some of these groups are open to the world, others will state that they are for areas like the US/Canada or the UK.
Marketplace
I haven’t had much luck with finding cheap warhammer models nearby on Facebook Marketplace.
Whenever I have had a look then it has never been close enough to me to warrant it being worthwhile for myself. However it is always worth checking out as you never know what is going to be there. You will also have the ability to haggle directly with the seller on a more personal level than what you can on eBay.
Is there anything, ANYTHING that happens on the internet that Reddit is not a part of or writing about?
Alongside a large group of warhammer fans on Reddit there is also the Miniswap. A place for traded and selling miniatures, bits and accessories for any miniature wargaming It’s just that Warhammer is just the most common of those collected so more likely to be seen.
Independent
There are plenty of stores that will sell Warhammer models.
These range from big stores, specialist stores to even toy stores! The majority of these stores will sell them at recommended prices, some will not though. Several of the stores will be selling at discounted prices or will do reductions if the packaging is damaged or no longer in production.
It was from a local toy store that I found a box of High Elf White Lions of Chrace box for £20 after they went out of production. That same box is currently selling for around £40 to £50 on eBay! They also was selling lately Skaven Verminus Spiteclaw’s Swarm for £10 as the box got damaged.
Warhammer is a great distraction. If it helps you during these uncertain times, then I hope this article has shown you that you can enjoy your hobby for less.
