Core Rulebook Gift Set Discounted on Amazon!

[Remathilis]

Watching it drop from 104 to 66 was wonderful!

As to FLGS vs. Online, I tend to drop A LOT of money at my FLGS: dice, DDMs (packs and singles), DCCs, and most supplement books. However, If I know I'm going to buy a large quantity of books (like 3.5 or 4e core sets) I go with something cheaper; hence online.

I support both of mine enough, and my FLGS keeps itself WELL funded with Friday Magic Tournaments, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Warhammer anyway...

 

[Alnag]

Pre-ordered and looking forward to shipment.

 

[RigaMortus2]

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.

Most gaming stores will order stuff for you, no matter how obscure, if they don't carry it the moment you walk into the store.

Of course, the rebuttal is then "Why not just order it myself?"... To which I have nothing

 

[Darkwolf71]

Most gaming stores will order stuff for you, no matter how obscure, if they don't carry it the moment you walk into the store.

Of course, the rebuttal is then "Why not just order it myself?"... To which I have nothing

Well, you don't have to worry about something being left on the doorstep and stolen or soaked in the rain. (I've never had either happen. Just sayin.) Or have to make time in your schedule to go stand in line and sign for a package. (I've had this happen a number of times.)

I like to go to my FLGS, and I try to make it a point to buy something anytime I go in. The problem is it's 30 minutes away. On a Sunday afternoon with no traffic. Evenings during the week? 40 minutes to an hour. With gas prices where they are, that's expencive even on a motorcycle. So, I find myself buying more and more gaming stuff online.

 

[olshanski]

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.

My state government is doing vile things like repairing bridges, putting playground equipment in parks, paying teachers, buying library books and other asenine stuff like that.

 

[Nymrohd]

I'd love to support my FLGS and I like the manager. But I can get things from Amazon 2-3 days from release date, while my FLGS might take 3-4 weeks to bring them over (and that is with me asking for pre-orders ahead of time and making sure they reserve the copy).

 

[Reynard]

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

You really can't talk about economics without talking about politics, so it isn't an appropriate discussion here. Suffice it to say that there are costs for those dollars you save.

 

[Hella_Tellah]

You really can't talk about economics without talking about politics, so it isn't an appropriate discussion here. Suffice it to say that there are costs for those dollars you save.

Oh, I understand the arguments for buying locally for a lot of products--reduced shipping costs and reduced use of petroleum to ship things are big balancing factors for me. When it's a product produced across the state from me (I live in Washington), though, it's just as well for Amazon to do the shipping from their Washington State supply center. I just don't see "supporting the local economy" as a necessary good. If the local economy provides for my needs, it will have earned my business. If a larger economy of scale addresses my needs better, the larger economy enjoys my business. The existence or non-existence of a particular business in my community doesn't affect me if that business doesn't enhance my utility. If it does enhance my utility, I won't need to support it at all; I'll already be doing business with it.

I think the economics of gaming shops should be a completely legitimate topic of discussion, but I bow to the Voice of Mod if I've over-stepped.

 

[WyzardWhately]

I tend to think that a good gaming store does a lot to keep geek culture alive. It cross-pollinates the CCG people, the comics people, and the RPG people. Some of those Pokemon kids might grow up to play D&D if they're exposed to it. That's the problem with so many rpg sales being done over the internet - people tend to run into it because they're looking for it, or otherwise they stumble across an ad, but don't have someone on-hand to ask, "Hey, what's this D&D thing about?"

Also, my FLGS has game rooms I use, it's clean, well-lit, friendly, they special order dice for me and answer my questions about stuff. I buy a fair amount of game books from them for those reasons - because they *add value* to my gaming hobby in a lot of ways not directly represented by my purchases. If they started charging me, say, fifty cents every hour I was in the gaming room but selling gaming books at the same kind of discounts Amazon can? It might even out to the same price, but it'd still piss me off.

Now, if my LGS was *less* friendly, I'd have not a damn thing to do with them. The dank and hostile pits that some places devolve into, I wouldn't buy from even if I couldn't go online. Because I want them to die off and be replaced by something that could actually serve to invite some newcomers.

 

[JohnSnow]

I balance my purchases between Amazon and my FLGS. Sometimes, I just want to go to the FLGS to browse. And sometimes, I just want it to arrive at my house via UPS.

I bought Star Wars Saga Edition, Starships of the Galaxy, and both Wizards Presents books at said FLGS. I also spent a small fortune there yesterday on Order of the Stick collections.

However, after seeing this thread, I ordered the 4e gift set from Amazon. But I'll probably still buy Keep on the Shadowfell from the FLGS. And if I can actually get my fiancée (who'll be my wife before 4E releases) to game, I'll probably buy an extra PHB from the FLGS for her to use.

What can I say? I'm weird.