Why is WotC trying to kill my FLGS?

[xechnao]

wotc, not that i think you were considering it, but please don't do what this guy is suggesting!

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[Cadfan]

WotC has no ability to set the price that Amazon sells their books for.

Arguably, they do. They could set a price floor. That used to be per se anti competitive behavior, and used to be illegal, but the Supreme Court is more business friendly these days and has ruled that price floors are only potentially anti competitive, and anyone who wants to complain about them has to meet some pretty high standards of proof not only of damage to their business, but also to the overall level of market competition.

They probably shouldn't set a price floor though. Mayfair Games did, and its been a minor public relations nightmare for them. Everyone who likes paying less for games has been raging about it for some time, and making all kinds of wild accusations. Mayfair seems to think the overall benefit of stopping online discounters from undercutting local stores is worth the cost, but I'm not so sure. Their games are more expensive now, so they probably sell less, and local gaming stores seem perfectly capable of going out of business on their own without any help from online discounters discounting Mayfair products.

 

[doctorhook]

...(mayfair games' products) are more expensive now, so they probably sell less, and local gaming stores seem perfectly capable of going out of business on their own without any help from online discounters discounting mayfair products.

qft.

 

[doctorhook]

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It's nothing personal, xechnao. I just feel you're advocating very short-sighted business practices.

 

[Evilhalfling]

My FLGS gets all by business, I have the cash and am willing to pay their prices to make sure they stay in business. I like browsing, and talking in person about gaming as well as on the internet. My group of the last six years started with messages on its bulletin board. Of course I consider the Draconmicon an optional purchase, and will add it to my amazon wish list.

I already have a copy of MP reserved locally, I DM an all martial party : ranger, rogue, warlord and an absent fighter. The other power books might be optional, this one is a required purchase.

 

[Asmor]

They probably shouldn't set a price floor though. Mayfair Games did, and its been a minor public relations nightmare for them. Everyone who likes paying less for games has been raging about it for some time, and making all kinds of wild accusations. Mayfair seems to think the overall benefit of stopping online discounters from undercutting local stores is worth the cost, but I'm not so sure. Their games are more expensive now, so they probably sell less, and local gaming stores seem perfectly capable of going out of business on their own without any help from online discounters discounting Mayfair products.

Man, that's stupid... IME, there are far fewer brick and mortar retailers for boardgames than there are for RPGs, and that's saying something. Those that do carry boardgames also can't carry as wide a stock, since by their nature they're large and take up a lot of room, so unless you're lucky or the game you're looking for is both recent and popular, you'll probably never find it on a store shelf without special ordering it...

 

[xechnao]

It's nothing personal, xechnao. I just feel you're advocating very short-sighted business practices.

I am not advocating anything really. You say I am advocating. I was just trying to say what different possibilities are out there and that everyone has its role. Perhaps for Wotc is working out now in a certain way. But there can be various strategic decisions/options. Sometimes you need to experiment too.
Remember though that Wotc as a capitalist entity thinks primarily about its profits and capital (short and long term), not about the hobby's long terms. It can very well take its capital and invest to a totally different thing.

 

[tenkar]

My FLGS gets all by business, I have the cash and am willing to pay their prices to make sure they stay in business. I like browsing, and talking in person about gaming as well as on the internet. My group of the last six years started with messages on its bulletin board. Of course I consider the Draconmicon an optional purchase, and will add it to my amazon wish list.

I already have a copy of MP reserved locally, I DM an all martial party : ranger, rogue, warlord and an absent fighter. The other power books might be optional, this one is a required purchase.

I would GLADLY do the same if my LGSs were actually FLGS... but they are not. I think many gamers would pay more for friendly service, but given a choice between saving money and spending more on my gaming to support a store only because it is local... my wallet will win out every time.

 

[tenkar]

Remember though that Wotc as a capitalist entity thinks primarily about its profits and capital (short and long term), not about the hobby's long terms. It can very well take its capital and invest to a totally different thing.

As is each and evey game store... as is Amazon... they are capitalist entities. They want and need to make a profit.

If the local game store can't compete with Amazon on price they better make up for it in service. Good, or even better, great service has a value to many consumers. Friendly personable service is one area where Amazon can't compete but where many LGSs fall flat. If they want my money they need to earn it or I will spend it where I get a better deal. They have no right to expect me to spend more without offering me something in return.

 

[malraux]

As near as I can tell, its both cheaper and faster for me to order from amazon than from my LGS. The LGS still hasn't cleared out what appears to be a ton of crap from the initial d20 glut, so doesn't stock any of the new stuff. If I have to order stuff either way, I'm gonna go with amazon everytime.