EN World Game Store poll

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Frequenting a FLGS around here, here's something I've noticed.

CCGs and Collectable Minis sell alot more product. The only person I've SEEN buying RPG material in the LGS is, well, me. The owner has a shelf of OOP 2nd ed stuff, and the same for quite a few RPGs ... old editions sitting next to the new editions. They keep a nice selection, but I've got to ask him how his sales in that area is.

But every time I'm in there, I see people dropping 15-200 dollars on cards and minis. We show up on Fridays to play boardgames (the owner likes boardgames and hosts gaming nights), and there's usually a few pairs of people there buying and playing CCGs. When I'm there during normal hours, same thing, with even MORE ccg players in there.

I really haven't seen where anybody would FIND RPGs in that LGS. I started frequenting with the express purpose of finding a few players, and never did get anything more than a few: "Yea, I played RPGs back a long time ago." type responses.

--fje

 

[Alzrius]

You know, I've never really had the FLGS experience. All my life, RPG products have just been on shelves in the corner of a larger store. I feel like I've missed out.

Wow, that's kinda sad.

I've gotten all of my gaming products from two stores (just one more recently). They're the same place i get my comics, and I've been going to both for years and years. I know all the employees on a first name basis, and they recognize me on sight. They anticipate what I like, and put things aside for me, and aren't adverse to giving me a bit of an extra discount every now and then. A lot of the times I'll just hang out in the store for a while and chat about things with them (and other customers) before paying for my purchases and leaving.

In short, I really love not just my FLGS, but the entire experience. Everyone should get to have an FLGS like mine.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I think they have already lowered it to $5 according to this thread.

However they should have not had it there to begin with.

I saw the $20 minimum and put EN Gamestore at the bottom of my list - where it is going to stay. And I buy a fair number of PDFs.

The Auld Grump

 

[Nekode]

like a reason why prestige classes are listed under both Classes and Rules Supplements

YES! It might seem a bit extreme, but I'm not buying any of the Pick'n'Mix things until they move all of the Prestige Classes to 'Classes'

 

[Steverooo]

Well, I don't know who (if anyone) will care, but I'm opinionated, and willing to share, so... here are my thoughts on various things, .PDF!

.PDFs are a great thing,... for those who sell them! No mo' S&H, and delivery costs are no more than running the Web site, unless I miss my guess. No printing costs, no printing errors (typos can be easily corrected, and "New, Updated Versions" quickly released).

They are not so great for the buyer, though. They are not as easy to read as a book (scrolling side-to-side to go from one column to the other, then back, and down to the next page). They are not as portable, unless you ALREADY have invested in a laptop, or are willing to, and can afford one. Even if you have one, it must be transportable, capable of surviving the trip, and you need access to a plug-in (and permission to use it)! These are not always the "Duhs!" that they might appear to be!

I don't really use .PDFs. I have a few (freebies), but only use them on the home 'puter. I couldn't use them at a game if my life depended upon it! I don't see that changing any time in the near future, so .PDFs aren't too useful, to me.

As for the ENWorld Gaming Store, I wish them well, and I guess I have an account there, but I can't really see myself buying there... Do they accept checks? ARC? Not everyone uses credit (I don't!), and not everyone will use PayPal, either (I don't)! I buy most of my stuff from the same Online Game Store, have since before it existed (through the owner's older "Trading Alliance"), and have never had problems with either, until the latest "Software Update" (and that was a technical snafu). Good service still counts for something!

Things I would like to see the ENWGS offer, that would help get my business include:

1) Make it easy on me!

Sounds like the accounts are already set up, if you're a registered user... Now make it easy on me to buy. Accept checks (?), credit cards, PayPal, Money Orders (?), Traveller's Checks, and any other ways people need to pay you (and make it easy on Out-of-the-Country-Folks, too)!

The "Bookshelf" feature makes it easy on us, and that's cool! Kudos, on that!

2) CD sales!

(Do they do that?) You can get CD-makers that work without being hooked up to a 'puter, but probably one that works with it is good enough, unless you develop some "Collection" that FILLS a CD. I guess diskettes would work, too, but I like that idea less. Anyway, allowing folks to get their purchases in a "harder" electronic form would be good/

3) Print!

Two parts, to this. Print-On-Demand (sounds like they're doing this), as well as .PDFs developed for B&W printing, as well as full color (to go easy on the ink cartridges). They're pro'ly already doing that, too, but if not...

So, make it as easy on me to shop with you, as you can. Onviously, I can't walk into your store, peruse your products, plop down cash, pick up my goodies, and walk out... but telling me that I have to set up a PayPal Account that I don't want, or apply for a Credit Card that I don't want, or else I CAN'T be your customer... Would you like to borrow my pocket-knife? It will make slicing your throat quicker, if not easier...

Also, you could offer the products in the form(s) that people want to buy. It can't add that much difficulty to offer to put the .PDFs on diskette(s), CD(s), download(s), or Print-On-Demand, can it? While I pro'ly won't get an account/card to buy a .PDF (never have), I will (and have!) send a check to get a book/a few books that I want.

So, in other words, doing those three things is LIKELY to turn a Non-Customer into a (potential) customer. Not doing them ensures he remains a "Non".

Your choice, I'm just an opinionated Non-Customer being free with my opinions. Do with that what you will...

 

[DonTadow]

Surprised to see this thread pop up. Enworld turned me on to the world of PDf's and I am a pretty loyal customer of RPGnow and drivethru.com pretty much has great sales on higher end models.

I'm a little concerned in this business venture. There are five rpg pdf vendors now and not a lot of rpgers to safely go around them all. Plus A great deal of the advetrisements I had seen on enworld where from other pdf vendors. Obviously they can't take ads from those sites anymore so that's deleted revenue on their part.
The one thing I can see enworld having an advantage in is that their is a publishing arm of the website that they can market.

Enworld should have better deals on the enworld publishing stuff and probably should think of selling them exclusively on here or sell them on the other sites at a low cost with pretty self promoting ads in the pdf directing them to enworld for their next enworld purchase. Or better yet include a coupon that only works at enworld.

 

[RangerWickett]

Your choice, I'm just an opinionated Non-Customer being free with my opinions. Do with that what you will...

Are there actually any major online vendors of any sort who accept cheques or money orders? I honestly thought anyone with any internet connection would also have a credit or debit card at least.

Seeing as the store is, I believe, officially owned by an Englishman, I don't know that international cheques would be an efficient way to purchase from the store. I'm fully in favor of PODs and disks of products, though.

Remember folks, this store is one year old. Most sci-fi TV shows suck for the first few episodes, until they get their feet. Please don't let early errors drive you away from future shopping.

 

[Jaws]

Remember folks, this store is one year old. Most sci-fi TV shows suck for the first few episodes, until they get their feet. Please don't let early errors drive you away from future shopping.

First impressions go a long way.

 

[RangerWickett]

Yes, and as logical, reasoning human beings who understand that preconceptions are often ill-formed and rather silly, we owe it to ourselves to occasionally re-evaluate TV shows, authors, and stores after they have enough time to be up to speed. Rome wasn't built in a day, y'know.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Since I voted No, I suppose I should explain (esp as my sitution might change by early next year).

I don not buy PDF's. I might download freebies now & then or Web Enhancements, but I do not buy PDF's. It's not that there is anything wrong with them, It's just that I can't use them like I would like to. I only game (DM) 1/week at my Local Gaming Store 30 miles away. I have no lap-top & hate trying keep reams of loose paper organized. I just have no interest in PDF at the moment.

Now, I hope to buy a Lap-top as a Christmas Present to myself. Then, I'll be able to take my Computer with me to my games. Then, I might consider buying PDF's, but not right now.

I also buy my stuff at the local gaming store, as that's the place that offers my a gaming spot that all my players can make it too. It's a little out of the way from where I live now, but as I make a weekly trip there anyway....

If I stopped running my game at the store, then I'd have to find a new place to get my RPG stuff. On-line is the most cost-effective option. I'd consider EN-world then.

But, for right now, I don't shop at ENWorld.