Borders Stopped Stocking D&D Minis

[JoeGKushner]

Theft is probably one issue.

Another issue is probably that there's no new set yet.

A few of the Borders I go to get in a few sets of each release but don't do a lot of restocks.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

Depends, the Borders in Altamonte Springs, Fl has a staff member that's into D&D and DDM. They are usually well stocked. The Borders in Oviedo, Fl...almost no new stock in months.

It depends on who is in charge of the area.

 

[talien]

You can always get them online and get them cheaper even with shipping, and get them delivered to your door a brick at a time, too.

Oh I know. But this is a little ritual I go through to reward myself when I have a free weekend. And Borders coupons at 30% off are hard to beat, when you take into account paying for shipping.

 

[talien]

Why not just ask them if they're still stocking them? The mere act of asking (especially if others do the same) could twig them to order more.

Sorry I didn't make this part clear: I did ask them. When I thought they were out, I explained why it's important they keep them in stock, since they're guaranteeing a sale. I'm sure that didn't qualify as making an order, which I don't plan to do -- if I have to order the bloody things, I'll just order them online. I want them to stock the minis, not order them as one-offs.

I will give them one last chance and specifically ask them to stock the minis. I don't have high hopes though.

It's funny. At the Waldenbooks in the mall, I spoke to the manager, and he very specifically stocked the miniatures FOR ME. We liked to call it "keeping society running smoothly." Waldenbooks stocked what I wanted, and I in turn gave them my money. And this was in a mall, where you might think theft was much more common. On the other hand, the miniatures were across from the register, in clear sight.

But alas, Waldenbooks is gone. Speaking of which, Barnes & Noble doesn't seem to stock D&D minis near me. What's up with that?

 

[talien]

No LGS around you? Where do you live?

Nope.

Stamford, CT.

 

[talien]

The same thing has happened all over here, and I'll tell you why it is. No store- not Borders, not Barnes & Noble, not Hobby Town, not LGS- can carry DDM packs where they're not under constant supervision. They're a great moneymaker, yes, but if you leave a box out it will be opened and after that you will be lucky to sell it to anyone. Thieves don't leave good figures.

It's depressing to think that so many gamers are scumbags, but it's common enough that book stores are responding on a national level.

I think you're absolutely right. This is what happened with the old Monstrous Compendium sheets. Kids would rip open boxes just to grab the sheets!

 

[SteveC]

If you think that's bad...the Borders where I live has started to stock only a handful of gaming books and keeps them all behind the counter. I asked about it, and was told that theft is the main reason. The person told me that Anime books and gaming supplies were their number one and two most commonly stolen products.

It's too bad, because they used to stock a fairly good selection of books, and I've picked up some older books that I hadn't seen in a FLGS for a long time.

--Steve

 

[Anti-Sean]

Nope.

Stamford, CT.

Is Flamingo Comics in Norwalk still around? That's where I first leafed through the 3E Core books and got hooked back into the hobby. Failing that, Newtown is about an hour's drive up Rt. 7, but Cave Comics is a great place.

 

[talien]

Alas, Flamingo is gone.

An hour drive is a little too much effort for something I could order online, for me.

 

[talien]

The same thing has happened all over here, and I'll tell you why it is. No store- not Borders, not Barnes & Noble, not Hobby Town, not LGS- can carry DDM packs where they're not under constant supervision. They're a great moneymaker, yes, but if you leave a box out it will be opened and after that you will be lucky to sell it to anyone. Thieves don't leave good figures.

It's depressing to think that so many gamers are scumbags, but it's common enough that book stores are responding on a national level.

So I went to a Toys R Us in Danbury. There were six packs of DDM. I was so excited!

They were all opened.

Every. One. Of. Them.

Sigh.