D&D and D20 at Walmart?!?

[AlphaOmega]

Does this mean we are going to start seeing this stuff in stores, or just online??

Hello all,

I work for the company who maintains Wal-Mart's video/music/book sections. I very much doubt that anyone will ever see d20 or WoTC products in a store for a number of reasons. Each store is different in the size and content of their book departments. So even if I'm proven wrong down the road (and for the record I'd be happy to see the marketplace expanded for RPGs) not all stores would be able to carry the books.

Each of the book sections has a plan-o-gram that is set months in advance. I just don't see Wal-Mart HQ replacing the Young Reader section, for example, with d20 books. Margin and sales per sq ft are SO IMPORTANT to them. RPG books, I'm afraid, would not meet their criteria.

 

[theoremtank]

The nice thing about buying from walmart online is that if you want to return the book, you don't have to wrap it up again and send it back in the mail. You can just return the book to a local walmart store.

 

[Wormwood]

For a number of reasons, the hobby shops in my area are what drove me to start ordering my game materials online. I haven't stepped foot in one for over three years.

If Wal-Mart can offer a decent RPG selection at low prices (like most everything else they sell), I would be happy to start shopping in person again.

 

[maddman75]

I'd love to see gaming books in Wal-mart. I don't have a FLGS. The closest here is a ULGS - Unfriendly local game shop. Its essentially a comic shop that has a D&D rack. No space to play games, of any kind. The owner hounds people so no one hangs out in there. And he has virtually no selection.

I buy my books at B Dalton, Sam Goode, or online. If there were a FLGS, I'd go to them.

 

[2WS-Steve]

If you have trouble finding a good local gaming store you might want to take a look at this thread from Monte's boards regarding great local gaming stores:

Great Games Stores thread at Malhavoc Message Boards

Sometimes they're hard to find but I've been lucky enough to have excellent stores within a 45 minute drive of me on both coasts.

That said, shop at the place that gives you what you want; being privately owned is worth some points in my book but doesn't override poor service and selection.

 

[EvilMountainDew]

That is hilarious!

I was playing a modern D20 game (not D20 modern) and my 'parents' ran a local store, so when a WalMart came in across the street the character would do horrible things to it (destroying it time after time) until they quit and moved away

Now i need some LARPers to carry the dream

 

[reiella]

Some Wal-Mart stores are carrying D&D products, although I can't say that I've seen 3rd party materials out yet.

I do know my local wal-mart has some in stock occasionally, only core books that I've seen however.

 

[Dragongirl]

Some Wal-Mart stores are carrying D&D products, although I can't say that I've seen 3rd party materials out yet.

I do know my local wal-mart has some in stock occasionally, only core books that I've seen however.

Do you recall the prices of the in house books?

 

[AlphaOmega]

Some Wal-Mart stores are carrying D&D products, although I can't say that I've seen 3rd party materials out yet.

I do know my local wal-mart has some in stock occasionally, only core books that I've seen however.

Ok I'll bite... What wal-mart exactly??? Cause I'm flipping thru my previous mentioned book plan-o-grams and I don't see DnD books mentioned/listed in any size/configuration. I'm also interested in the prices.

It's not that I don't believe just confused... I'm very curious as it relates to my job; and if I could ask two more questions -- how big is this wal-mart's book section. It could help me track down some other information. And did it have a price label like the other books (i.e. novels, bibles) do?

thanks in advance for any answers...

 

[Xarlen]

I wish they had fewer 2e books. And they are out of stock for Beyond the Walls? Dang them! Dang them!

And I wish they'd say which Van Ritchen's guides those are. They list two of them, so it can't be the same book.