D&D Encounters: Admission charge or free?

[Primitive Screwhead]

Just a counter observation:

Sure the material are free and the store wants to bring players in.. so why pay for this?

Let me ask... who is running the game?

Is it paid employee brought on for the game, as they can't very well leave the register empty?
Is it some bloke who really doesn't want to deal with the issues of running some random people through a game he/she didn't make... but will do it for some recompense?
Or is the store lucky enough to have a GM willing to volunteer thier time?

I can see a store putting a cost on this.. but IMHO $5 is a bit steep for a weekly game.

 

[Shazman]

I hope any stores that engage in this sort of shady behavior are suitably punished for it. They should lose their WPN membership and hopefully lose a good deal of business from customers disgusted with such unsavory practices. I know I would not patronize a store that did this and would encourage fellow gamers to avoid the place as well.

 

[Shadowslayer]

One other point might be an up front fee to reserve a spot.

In my mind, 5 bucks isn't so bad (a little cheesy, but not a deal breaker) I could see how a game store that tries to run games like this with an advance sign up sheet might charge money for a spot just to separate the guys that are serious from the guys that may or may not show up. Maybe they've had bad experiences with no-shows. (Of course, if they did it my way you'd get your 5 bucks back when you showed up to play.)

As far as paying to play on a promo night like that, then no, I think that's bad form.

 

[Windjammer]

This has always been an issue for WotC "retail store only" events, like the D&D Gamedays.

WotC' response is always the same: Please report these stores to WotC.

In Europe the person to contact is Charles Ryan, who's even here on Enworld.

In the US I don't know who to contact - and would ask other Enworld'ers to provide a name.

PS. Similar discussion going on here.

 

[bagger245]

The one I am going to charges a quid, but they have always done so for their "game nights". Just so happens that they included D&D Encounters in it.

 

[kaomera]

Charging is ultimately counterproductive, less likely to draw in the crowds, and less likely to garner store loyalty and more purchases.

Just to play Devil's Advocate here: It's been rather disheartening to me that, over the last few years, I'm seeing more and more people who don't pay for any of the gaming products they own, and think that's fine (or worse, actually feel that they hold the moral high-ground above those of us who pay "WotCs unconsciousable pricing" (sic).)

Now, I really do feel that you've hit the nail on the head here - charging above and beyond the cost of product is bad business. In fact, I've seen a lot of MtG events, especially ones that where attempting to draw new / returning players, where the cost of admission was actually slightly less than what you'd normally pay for the product received as part of the event. Maybe that's what WotC should be aiming at. I have less than no problem paying $5 or even more if I feel like I'm getting more than my money's worth - be it in the form of a discount on the newly-released product, useful stuff I can take home, or even pizza or other munchies...

And ideally the idea would offend at least some of the people who just aren't going to ever be actual customers enough that they wouldn't bother to show up...

 

[N0Man]

Well, I was tempted to go, but in the end I was put off by the $5 price to play. There weren't actually sign ups in advance, only 1 table playing, and it is a 20 or 30 minute drive to get there.

All in all, driving about a half hour, not knowing for sure if I'd get to play, for a small session, paying $5 to play, paying for gas and probably a meal while out there, in an environment I'm not familiar with... well, even though $5 isn't a lot, it was enough in principal that I was turned off from going.

What's funny was that I had been planning on picking up the Harrowing Halls tileset, and was considering picking up Spirit of the Century next time I visited a gaming store.

I'm willing to pay a higher price for games and books at a FLGS than what I can get at Amazon, but I'm not willing to be double-taxed (have to pay more for goods, and more for a seat).

I'm considering writing the store a letter or e-mail to let them know that they've turned off at least one potential customer.

 

[SteveC]

So I spoke with my FLGS guys about how things went (we play a 4E game there on Sundays). He told me that they sold a ton of PHB3s, and had one guy who had never played before pick up a complete set of the hardbacks.

I wonder how many people would have been deterred by an entry fee, and what a difference keeping things free to play makes. I am the luckiest guy in the world to have a _F_LGS...

--Steve

 

[Glyfair]

I wonder how many people would have been deterred by an entry fee, and what a difference keeping things free to play makes. I am the luckiest guy in the world to have a _F_LGS...

The main game store in my area has been in business since 1981. They have run the gamut of options for the playing area.

Initially the gaming area was in the store (in the back of a indoor mini-mall at the time). Gaming was free, was there was a very limited area and it was limited in time (typically after store hours, or when an employee was staying late for the game). As the store got larger and moved around the mall, the kept the old space and used it as a "game club." Sometimes they charged entrance fees, sometimes they had monthly memberships. The store never really lacked for players.

Today they are in a different location down the street. The "game club" is still separate, although attached to the store. The gaming is free (except for some events with some associated charges such as booster events).

I think the owner would agree that the ideal method is to have a no charge club. However, he would also agree that different areas have different challenges and there is no one right way to do this.

 

[Shazman]

Well, I was tempted to go, but in the end I was put off by the $5 price to play. There weren't actually sign ups in advance, only 1 table playing, and it is a 20 or 30 minute drive to get there.

All in all, driving about a half hour, not knowing for sure if I'd get to play, for a small session, paying $5 to play, paying for gas and probably a meal while out there, in an environment I'm not familiar with... well, even though $5 isn't a lot, it was enough in principal that I was turned off from going.

What's funny was that I had been planning on picking up the Harrowing Halls tileset, and was considering picking up Spirit of the Century next time I visited a gaming store.

I'm willing to pay a higher price for games and books at a FLGS than what I can get at Amazon, but I'm not willing to be double-taxed (have to pay more for goods, and more for a seat).

I'm considering writing the store a letter or e-mail to let them know that they've turned off at least one potential customer.

As was said earlier in the thread, if a store is charging for a game day or encounters, you should report them to WotC. They definitely are not supposed to be charging for these free events. I would report the store to WotC and let the store know that they have been reported. Maybe they will get their act together next time if they are even allowed to participate again.