Love Your FLGS - It Loves You

Posts: 1276 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 2:34 pm

OK, maybe not. But, they do tend to need customers. Without us, they go away, and without them, we have fewer ways of getting good stuff. Like today.

I went into a game store, the only one I know of that's remotely "close" (not Crazy Egor's, by the way.) They were having a $5 RPG blowout special, to honor 4th edition. So, basically, everything previous to then was on awesome discount. Smile

I got:

A1-4: Scourge of the Slave Lords (has map book) [needed better copy]
CM3: Sabre River [needed one with the cover]
XL-1: Quest for the Heartstone [who doesn't want Warduke?]
WG6: Isle of the Ape [didn't have one]
PC3: The Sea People [had recently sold mine]
T1-4: The Temple of Elemental Evil (has map book) [figured I could resell /trade it]
OAD&D Monster Manual 2nd print [at that price it was a no-brainer]
Edge of the Sword Volume I: Compendium of Modern Firearms [research]
Codex of Erde in shrink-wrap [just wanted another one]
A Magical Society: Beast Builder [figured I'd see what was so awesome about it]

So, yes... love your FLGS. Love them well. Smile

Posts: 2631 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 2:44 pm

serleran wrote:

So, yes... love your FLGS. Love them well. Smile

If you have a good FLGS, I'd agree -- but only because they might have obscure stuff lying about. With most gaming companies selling directly to customers, the FLGS can't compete.

As they now pay the same price as any other customer, this model doesn't really work. The FLGS has to mark the price up to make money, but why would a customer buy from them when it's cheaper to go to the source themselves? Back when gaming companies didn't sell direct, the FLGS could pay much less than the customer, and mark it up for a profit.

Quote:

So, basically, everything previous to then was on awesome discount.

Lucky you, and that is a good/smart FLGS. The ones around here seem to think that 1E stuff is made out of gold, and have set unreasonably high prices on it. It's going to sit there forever.

Posts: 2611 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:25 pm

serleran wrote:

So, yes... love your FLGS. Love them well. Smile

I can only wish that I had one.

Posts: 695 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:49 pm

It makes me sad hearing intelligent people bashing stores and consider them just a source of out of print books at cheap prices. I'd like to point out that without retailers there would be no game industry (apart from the Indy scene, highly worthy of respect but not exactly pulling great numbers) and most important of all no fresh blodd and no space - however small and cramped - for new products and new companies. Support your game store not out of convenience but for the good of the industry. Of course, if the health of the game industry does not bother you at all, please disregard my opinions and keep bashing us Crying or Very sad

Posts: 2611 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:56 pm

Wait ... bashing? Maybe I'm misunderstanding.

When I say I wish I had one, I mean physically. There is no good gaming store here ... just like there's no top-level comics store ... no half-decent used book stores ... etc., etc.

There used to be all of these types of stores, but they've moved to greener pastures or just gone out of business.

So I mean: there is no FLGS here literally. One doesn't exist. I don't want to have to drive to Sacramento for my games.

Posts: 2631 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:10 pm

Nobody's bashing stores, Alexander.

If you are referring to what I said, it is pointless to purchase something for more than you could buy it for online, just to "support" your local FLGS! Gaming stores are a business, not a charity. If they can't develop a business model that works, it's not my job as a gamer to prop them up.

With regards to the comments regarding FLGSes being responsible for the existence of the industry, that's less and less true with every day that passes. The internet direct-sale business model is making the brick-and-mortar gaming store extinct. They simply can't compete. It's unfortunate, but that issue is one to take up with the gaming publishers/distributors, not the customer. Convince them to stop undercutting you by selling direct, if you can.

Posts: 7604 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:46 pm

i agree. i wish i had a good store or 2 to go along to, but i dont. they dont stock much good stuff and what they do, is soooo massively overpriced, its utterly pointless going.

shame really.

great deals there serl, nice one!

Posts: 2269 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:52 pm

deimos3428 wrote:

The ones around here seem to think that 1E stuff is made out of gold, and have set unreasonably high prices on it. It's going to sit there forever.

I don't think that the FLGS is responsible for selling their old stuff off cheap but the stores in the Toronto area that deimos refers too charge $35-$40 for X1 and a minimum of $30 for a 1st edition hardcover. I have some bitterness for these particular stores as well. I talked with the person responsible for buying old rpg stuff and was told that they would buy my extra stuff for 50% of what they sell the books for. After lugging 4 boxes of stuff through the subway system to downtown Toronto they then decided to give me about $3 a book since I brought in so much stuff.

Posts: 4449 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:52 pm

I have one good game/comic store within driving distance. The local chain, with 7 area outlets, blows me hard and I try not to shop there at all, if I can get away from it. I even throw business my local store's way when I could get it cheaper online, sometimes. But I wouldn't support a bad game store even if it was the only local outlet, the same way I won't support a local restaurant that serves bad food, or a local gas station that hikes the price. The goodness in my heart only goes so far in these financially trying times....

Mike B.

Posts: 1276 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:55 pm

Well, for my part, I don't consider the FLGS to be a place to only get OoP material at good prices -- they make it that way. Every quarter, they put on a $1 (or 75% off sale) to clear out unneeded stock and get in new stuff. They make their money off Warhammer and Magic -- not RPGs. So, because they do this, routinely, I have adjusted to going in when I know there might be something I wanted, but not at the price it would be at "just released" because I have little, if any, interest in 95% of current releases. This was the 1st time they had a massive sale on their D&D stuff - it's usually marked up (can find some good deals, but usually not) so I found it sweet and, of course, advantageous - I'd be stupid to pass it up, especially when I needed most everything I bought.

Sorry if I somehow bashed the store. I was just pointing out that stores are there to go into - if you don't, you'll never know what you might find. I thought I was helping stores...

Posts: 2611 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:59 pm

OoP-wise, I'm even more shafted than I mentioned above.

The one half-decent store here is one of those shops that just constantly recycles new stuff. There is no section of the store with material more than two years old ... not even a box of magazines under the counter.

Posts: 144 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:29 pm

I for one am lucky enough to have two great gaming stores nearby. And I visit them both on a fairly regular basis.

Yes, the internet is usually a bit cheaper. And I do buy stuff online. But my wife and I just prefer going the ol' FLGS. Looking at stuff on the net just isn't the same as seeing all that cool stuff on the shelf right there where you can pick it up and peruse it. It's just a different experience. I can't explain it. It's just more fun. That's what keeps us going back. That and the folks who run the stores. They're really nice and helpful. You can tell they are gamers themselves who love this stuff as much as we do and really know about the stuff they are selling. Both stores seem to be doing okay, and I hope they are able to stay in business. They both deserve a plug:
If you are ever in the Albany NY area, stop by Flights of Fantasy or Zombie Planet. Very Happy

Posts: 161 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:07 am

The closest LGS to me sells everything at cover price no matter how much or how often you buy. If they can't bother to treat me as anything than another schmoe that wanders in off the street, then I see no reason to be loyal to them. There's a better store, but it is a 45 minute drive away, which I still do on occasion, but 90 mins round trip isn't something I'm going to do every week. It's depressing. As soon as I get an FLGS, I'll happily support it, but when stuff is up to 55% off online and I'm getting no love from my LGS, then I see no reason to be loyal, at all.

Posts: 144 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:46 am

The title of this thread should be changed to "Love your FLGS IF it loves you"

That seems to the moral of the story.

Posts: 2631 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:52 am

Badmike wrote:

I even throw business my local store's way when I could get it cheaper online, sometimes.

Actually I do this too, but only if it saves me money on shipping, or if I want to encourage them to continue stocking a particular company's material.

Posts: 695 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:37 am

deimos3428 wrote:

With regards to the comments regarding FLGSes being responsible for the existence of the industry, that's less and less true with every day that passes. The internet direct-sale business model is making the brick-and-mortar gaming store extinct. They simply can't compete. It's unfortunate, but that issue is one to take up with the gaming publishers/distributors, not the customer. Convince them to stop undercutting you by selling direct, if you can.

If you are not conviced of game stores' importance for the game industry, just ask to publishers. Ask WotC. Ask FFG. Ask (gasp!) Games Workshop. Ask Wizkids. Ask Upper Deck. And check the reasons why they consider brick and mortar game retailers the main avenue for selling games and pulling in new gamers.

Posts: 2631 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:29 am

Alexander1968 wrote:

If you are not conviced of game stores' importance for the game industry, just ask to publishers. Ask WotC. Ask FFG. Ask (gasp!) Games Workshop. Ask Wizkids. Ask Upper Deck. And check the reasons why they consider brick and mortar game retailers the main avenue for selling games and pulling in new gamers.

Sorry, I'm just not taking the bait on that one. Wink

Posts: 216 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:25 pm

My FLGS became an LGS, and now it's an LCS - Local Comic Store - again. Games don't bring in any money, and they're losing shelf space back to sci-fi toys, comics, movie memorabilia and so forth. Of course it doesn't help that they fired the guy who knew games, promoted them, and got people excited about buying and playing.

Posts: 4449 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:10 pm

DungeonDelver wrote:

My FLGS became an LGS, and now it's an LCS - Local Comic Store - again. Games don't bring in any money, and they're losing shelf space back to sci-fi toys, comics, movie memorabilia and so forth. Of course it doesn't help that they fired the guy who knew games, promoted them, and got people excited about buying and playing.

One of the problems with a lot of game stores, they sort of approach their business willy nilly. In a lot of cases, the owner/manager is just someone who loves playing games, or reading comics, and doesn't have a game plan beyond that. For example a lot of strategy in comics (and games) is to get kids hooked young, so they will grow up with good thoughts about games. This means interesting them when they are tykes; unfortunately, many game stores are forboding places to kids, and are very "kid unfriendly". These are the guys who wonder why they aren't making their rent every month.

Instead good stores interest kids in "gateway" games and comics, so they are basically working on a kid that will hopefully be a customer in 5+ years or so. So many stores don't do this. Heck, I remember beging basically kicked out of game/comic stores when I was a kid "Hey, kid, you gonna read that or buy it? If you aren't buying something, get out!" that type of stuff. You think I didn't remember that? Those places got NONE of my business when I became old enough to spend my
own money.

If the brick and mortars want to stay in business, they are going to have to start providing some of the only things you can't get online (where they can't compete with the price, since they can never undercut the online dealers/sellers): customer service. This is both in attitude and in presentation. That includes having gaming areas, putting on special events, or sponsoring gaming in their store. The idea you can just throw out a shingle with your store's name on it, fill it with comics and games, and make lots of money isn't viable anymore.

Mike B.

Posts: 1431 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:39 pm

Badmike wrote:

One of the problems with a lot of game stores, they sort of approach their business willy nilly. In a lot of cases, the owner/manager is just someone who loves playing games, or reading comics, and doesn't have a game plan beyond that. For example a lot of strategy in comics (and games) is to get kids hooked young, so they will grow up with good thoughts about games. This means interesting them when they are tykes; unfortunately, many game stores are forboding places to kids, and are very "kid unfriendly". These are the guys who wonder why they aren't making their rent every month.

Instead good stores interest kids in "gateway" games and comics, so they are basically working on a kid that will hopefully be a customer in 5+ years or so. So many stores don't do this. Heck, I remember beging basically kicked out of game/comic stores when I was a kid "Hey, kid, you gonna read that or buy it? If you aren't buying something, get out!" that type of stuff. You think I didn't remember that? Those places got NONE of my business when I became old enough to spend my
own money.

If the brick and mortars want to stay in business, they are going to have to start providing some of the only things you can't get online (where they can't compete with the price, since they can never undercut the online dealers/sellers): customer service. This is both in attitude and in presentation. That includes having gaming areas, putting on special events, or sponsoring gaming in their store. The idea you can just throw out a shingle with your store's name on it, fill it with comics and games, and make lots of money isn't viable anymore.

Mike B.

well said. Cool