Amazon Sale of DnD Products

[Chun-tzu]

PS: My local dirt game store is Cardhaus games. Sure, they do retail sales. But the majority of the store is devoted to tables for local gaming, RPGA gaming, tournaments, and other events. That's what dirt game stores need to morph into. They need to change from simple retailers to RPG community centers.

That is so freaking AWESOME. Seriously.

 

[Thorin Stoutfoot]

The typical LGS

The typical LGS is painful to visit. I would never bring my girlfriend there, no more than I would bring her to the local comic store. The store is usually small, drafty, badly swept. The displays are poorly organized, and it's hard to find what you want. The patrons... Well, let's not get into the typical game store patron. If I ever wondered why RPGs are such a niche hobby, all I have to do is to visit the local game store and it will remind me.

Hence for me, Amazon.com is the place to buy.

 

[Vocenoctum]

Re: The typical LGS

The typical LGS is painful to visit. I would never bring my girlfriend there, no more than I would bring her to the local comic store. The store is usually small, drafty, badly swept. The displays are poorly organized, and it's hard to find what you want. The patrons... Well, let's not get into the typical game store patron. If I ever wondered why RPGs are such a niche hobby, all I have to do is to visit the local game store and it will remind me.

Hence for me, Amazon.com is the place to buy.

the shop near me has bookshelves. The lowest shelf is about 1 inch off the ground. It's about 1 foot deep.
They have stuff sitting against the back of it. Basically you're practically lying on the floor to see what they have!

Just another part of trying to help the local merchant, while the local merchant seems intent on disregarding you.

 

[icebreaker]

For me its amazon all the way.. the local hobby shop has the price of DnD stuff marked up from its listed shipping(they put their own pricetag over the list price on back of books) and between that and the amazon shipping and discount..not even close.
Sorry but for me spending 102 dollors for 3 books vs paying 166 dollars is a no brainer...gotta be something special to warrent that much extra cash.(thats canadian btw)

 

[JohnNephew]

For me its amazon all the way.. the local hobby shop has the price of DnD stuff marked up from its listed shipping(they put their own pricetag over the list price on back of books) and between that and the amazon shipping and discount..not even close.
Sorry but for me spending 102 dollors for 3 books vs paying 166 dollars is a no brainer...gotta be something special to warrent that much extra cash.(thats canadian btw)

If you're in Canada, you've encountered something that Canadian retailers hate: US publishers who are using exchange rates based on a decade or more ago to preprint suggested prices on the books. It's a peeve of every Canadian game store I've met, I think. It wouldn't be a problem if the US publishers sold to Canadians at a discount off the Canadian retail price...but they base it off the US retail price. This can put the Canadian store in a position where they are discounting (maybe even losing money) if they sell at the preprinted price. Remember, it costs more for the Canadian store to get the goods, most of the time, because of higher costs for shipping across the border and clearing customs (UPS charges a minimum $50 customs brokerage charge on any shipment of more than $20 value, last I checked, for an example). NAFTA? Sure, but Canada has GST on everything, even if there are no "duties," so they still have the bureaucracy and fees involved in assessing and collecting it.

 

[Voneth]

PS: My local dirt game store is Cardhaus games. Sure, they do retail sales. But the majority of the store is devoted to tables for local gaming, RPGA gaming, tournaments, and other events. That's what dirt game stores need to morph into. They need to change from simple retailers to RPG community centers.

The only FLGSs I shop at are these type of stores, unfortunantly these establishement have to run a tighter ship since they are paying rent for more space that can go dead during the week.

From Glenn at Dragon's Lair, Hollywood Fla.:
"I don't need a store, I need a tardis. During the weekdays and some weeknights, I need only some shelf space. During the weekend I need about 4 times the room I have now."

On Saturdays, more than 40 people show up for Yi ge-u. Before that it was Pokemon, which is great -- it keeps the store alive. But sometimes these events means that Saturday days aren't suitable for rpgs or wargames, unless you want to rent the back room for a private session. I am not complaining, it is just that my schedule only allows me to game when my son is playing in Pokemon tournaments at the store.

 

[Zaruthustran]

The only FLGSs I shop at are these type of stores, unfortunantly these establishement have to run a tighter ship since they are paying rent for more space that can go dead during the week.

From Glenn at Dragon's Lair, Hollywood Fla.:
"I don't need a store, I need a tardis. During the weekdays and some weeknights, I need only some shelf space. During the weekend I need about 4 times the room I have now."

Well that's the real trick, isn't it? Dirt retailers live and die on the magic $ale$/square foot ratio. Every square foot of gaming space screws that ratio. What's a dirt retailer to do?

Well, a dirt retailer could:

1. Charge for using the game space. (yeah right)
2. Charge for tournaments, but make the prizes worthwhile and keep the gaming space well maintained and clean. (better)
3. Cover the majority of (unused) gaming space with product during the weekdays, and keep them clear for gaming on the busy weekends (hey!)
4. Use the same tricks that bars (a business that also faces the weekend rush/weekday slump problem) use: some kind of happy hour or weeknight gimmick. Host specific events to draw in customers on the weeknights: card game workshops, product demos, "free soda Tuesday", trivia contests, Magic Monday (all magic cards 25% off).

Gamers are smart, creative folks, and most game store owners are gamers. That's why I'm astonished that so many game stores are run so poorly, with so little imagination.

For an example of a good game store, check out Cardhaus. This guy (Dan, formerly of Magi-Nation and WotC Retail) really has it together. Check the "Tournament Center" link--there's an event every night.

http://www.cardhaus.com/

-z

 

[Dark Psion]

Amazon.com is Evil


Yes, they offer you free shipping, but then give you 30% off your book dropping the price UNDER the needed amount to get the free shipping thus forcing you to fail your next Will save and buy another book just to get the free shipping.


One word of warning, don't Pre-order with Amazon. I have canceled ever pre-order I have made with them because I got fed up with everyone on these boards having the book and Amazon still saying it hasn't shipped yet.

 

[Zaruthustran]

True, pre-orders are usually late. If you can't stand to wait 4-7 days, and absolutely must have the new book/game/whatever the very day it comes out, then you're better off getting it at a dirt store.

And on the way to the dirt store you might want to stop at the drug store and get some Ritalin.

-z

 

[Dark Psion]

Actually I think I'm suffering withdrawl symptoms from not being able to get on the WoC Psi- Boards

Well, that and the usual "Had to use my System Recovery Disc" side effects.