Core Rulebook Gift Set Discounted on Amazon!

[Mercule]

One sure fire way to make sure the only RPGs we get are D&D or semi-pro PDFs is to buy everything online at a discount.

My LGS pretty much carries only D&D. To expand my selection I need to go to Barnes and Noble, which carries nWoD, Scion, GURPS, Warhammer, Etherscope, Exalted, a handful of games based on movies/TV (BSG, Star Wars, etc.), and a few others -- including some third-party d20 books. Plus, B&N is much more conveniently located, has better prices and comfy browsing chairs, plus a kids' section for my daughter to look in while I get my geek on. They also host a variety of community events, like anime night, comic night, board game night, etc. If they were asked, I'd bet good money that an RPG night would be just fine, too. And it'd smell better.

My LGS makes me feel out of place if I swing by in my business casual work clothes. I also always get the impression that I'm interrupting their game time with their buddies. And they don't know any more about D&D or other games (besides DDM or CCGs) than the B&N employees do.

I occasionally feel bad if I buy a book from Amazon instead of B&N, but I can't say that I can remember ever feeling bad for my LGS.

 

[Irda Ranger]

One sure fire way to make sure the only RPGs we get are D&D or semi-pro PDFs is to buy everything online at a discount.

Not that I want to really get into this here, but I just don't buy this argument. I have access to a far greater selection of obscure books, songs, computer games and p&p RPGs online than I ever have at a local store (whether Mom & Pop, Corporate or otherwise). I don't think I've bought an RPG offline since the '90s and I own indy stuff that is simply never carried at my FLGS (I have stopped by to check out the selection). The only thing the FLGS carries are WotC, White Wolf, a few of the bigger third-party imprints (like Mongoose) and trading cards / comic books - and even then it's a limited selection. I actually decided to "do my part" and buy Bo9S there, but they didn't have it, so back to Amazon I went. They simply don't have the shelf space or cash flow to stock the long tail. Amazon does.

 

[frankthedm]

I wish more people thought that way.

My local place lost my loyalty by lying to me about items not being out yet. Last book I bought from them at full price was the D20 Call of Cthulhu hardcover.

To get to Games Plus , what I now consider my FLGS, it costs me $10 in gas and tolls and unquantifiable wear and tear on my vehicle. Then to buy from them, I have to pay a 7.5% upcharge, in the form of sales tax, that goes to fund many things I am vehemently opposed to.

$63 at my door
$113 at the store

The choice seems clear enough to me.

Gamers DO NOT owe a store business because they live near it. Gamers do not owe a store business because of service one should normally expect, nay, DEMAND of ANY retail establishment. The only time gamers owe a store is when that store goes above and beyond in service, atmosphere and selection. Which as it happens Games Plus http://www.games-plus.com DOES do.

Maybe I’ll spend that $50 over there this Friday…

 

[Enforcer]

One sure fire way to make sure the only RPGs we get are D&D or semi-pro PDFs is to buy everything online at a discount.

So I should pay another $30 just so you can play Random Obscure Game X-312? Sorry, but I'd rather have the $30, even if X-312 is all that and a bag of chips.

And that's only if I accept your premise, which I don't. I'm talking about buying the core rulebooks for D&D 4e. That is to say: buying the most popular RPG there is, published by the biggest dog in the yard, from Amazon. Small publishers that don't want their stuff deep discounted can choose not to sell their stuff to Amazon. Hell, they can choose not to print their stuff at all (hence the relatively sizable PDF market).

And yet, most of the smaller yet well-known labels are still on Amazon. Green Ronin, Mongoose, White Wolf (and Sword & Sorcery) are all there. There's even some Malhavoc stuff on there. Who's being hurt? The LGS that doesn't carry any stuff that isn't published by one of the above companies anyways?

My local game stores don't carry many publishers. My favorite game store, Games Plus (the same that frankthedm mentioned) isn't really all that local for me (though if I wanted an out-of-print whatever, they'd be the first to get a call). Who am I hurting?

 

[frankthedm]

Enforcer;

Whats the name of your LGS? I like hitting up every game store at least once and I don't think I have hit many near the loop.

 

[Enforcer]

Gamers Paradise. They're a chain. They have a few shelves of RPGs, a ton of board games, poker, darts, pool, lots of stuff. Nothing to write home about.

 

[Hella_Tellah]

I've never seen the utility in "supporting" a business. I support charities. I do business with businesses. If a business does not maximize my utility per dollar, their competitor gets the dollar.

But then, I think capitalism is a legitimately good thing for society.

 

[heirodule]

in the form of sales tax, that goes to fund many things I am vehemently opposed to.

I was going to ask what on earth your state government was possibly doing that you were vehement about then I realized that was a political question about your political statement.

 

[Fifth Element]

I'm always torn. I play D&D with the manager of my FLGS. So he generally knows if I bought my books at his store. What's a boy to do?

 

[Nikosandros]

As I posted in the precious threads about the gift set, I was certain that Amazon would discount it... preorder placed.