A pretty significant number of the game and/or comic stores (in the U.S., at least) make most of their money off sales of CCGs (Magic, Pokemon, etc.), both in the store and online. I have heard a number of owners say that card sales account for up to 80% of their total income each month, even when their stores dedicate most of the shelf space to other things.
Store owner complains about Kickstarter and Twitter and D&D
A pretty significant number of the game and/or comic stores (in the U.S., at least) make most of their money off sales of CCGs (Magic, Pokemon, etc.), both in the store and online. I have heard a number of owners say that card sales account for up to 80% of their total income each month, even when their stores dedicate most of the shelf space to other things.
The stores make most of their money from CCGs; the stores need to find ways to make money from the space they have. I see no reason these cannot both be true.
MichaelSomething
Legend
They would if he was a whale. All you have to do is spend a grand a month at a store and I bet they're cater to your desires!
Yep. A lot of game/comic stores out there have been wrestling with that problem for many years, long before the additional complications of Covid came along. Unfortunately, the boom and bust of the collector bubbles in the 90s, combined with the rise in online sales, really changed the market in ways that a lot of store owners still seem to have trouble accepting. As has always been the case, hobby stores are often opened by people who just love the idea of being immersed in their hobbies each day, rather than hobbyists with business acumen who have a really well researched, viable business plan and a good location. The reality is that many places just can't support a dedicated game / comic / collectibles store, or more than a certain number of them. A lot of store owners don't seem to want to move to more expansive business models that include hobby items, but have other things that can attract a larger customer base, because being a business owner wasn't as big of a motivation for them as the idea of being around games, comics, etc. all day and making a living off it.
Parmandur
Book-Friend
I don't spend nearly that much, but my wife was enquiring after a book thst wasn't in stock at lir FLGS/comics shop, and the clerk said we would have to pay in advance. My wife give her name, and when the clerk said our surname out loud (which is quite rare) the owner apparently said "oh, them? They donned to prepay, just order it and they can pay when they pick it up." A food store will get stuff and accommodate regulars, for sure.
FitzTheRuke
Legend
Hey! I resemble that part! (I just turned out to be pretty good at ordering things that people want to buy).
HippyCraig
Explorer
I have seen Kickstarter with retailer backer tiers. They offer a discount to them and you have to prove your a retailer according to there campaigns
FitzTheRuke
Legend
We've backed a few. (Including A5e Level Up - shameless plug for Morrus!)
I was surprised to see that my FLGS had copies of the Level Up boxed sets on the shelves, when I made a rare trip there there this weekend. I didn't even know retailer copies were a thing for your game! (I bought one, of course; was going to be a PDF buy until then.)
EDIT: Sorry, meant the shrinkwrapped bundle of all three books.
Last edited:
One of my local game stores was not only bad with special orders, but one time I tried, the clerk tried to sell me on a completely different (and supposedly better) game instead. Unsurprisingly, that store no longer exists...
Similar Threads
