Finding A Compromise Between Online Shopping And Local Game Stores

[Xeriar]

I only buy online as a last resort.

Seriously, after college, $40 is pretty damn cheap for a book. I had to pay $90 for a 4"x6" 80 page book once. I don't consider a pittance of savings worth it.

I've only purchased a couple of things online... Simply because my local retailers could not find them. Then, and only then do I purchase 'elsewhere'.

 

[madriel]

I'm lucky to have an FLGS that's friendly, helpful and will order anything you want. Their frequent buyer cards are nice.

It's tempting to order online, but we've already had one LGS go under and two others are now comic/tabletop gaming stores now. If I don't support our last quality store, I'd have to buy everything online.

 

[madriel]

Everything else (adventures, softcover books, dice, miniatures, etc) I buy from my FLGS.

That's why I make an effort to buy local. If LA Mood went under, I'd have to buy dice, minis etc online too. I can get it all in one place. It saves me from ordering D&D stuff at one website, boardgames at another, KODT at yet another and so on.

 

[Kershek]

What does FLGS stand for?

 

[Maerdwyn]

Friendly(Favorite?) Local Gaming Store

 

[jgbrowning]

question for celt

not to be too nosy.. but im gonna be anyway

what would you guys make more money off of?

1 buying 1 big book, say 40$
or
2 buying 3 books that total roughly 40$?


im interested, because as of yet, i havn't bought anything on-line (i spreed my purchases between my 2 FLGS) but i'm intregued by the idea of buying stuff that i dont really use over the net.

(i do look out for stuff at the local used bookstore though, so far i've gotten relics and rituals, to stand on hallowed ground, into the dragons lair, the ravenloft monster book and a few other things at 1/2 price.)

well back to the original question. if you had to chose between my doing either 1 or 2... what would you prefer that i do?

thanks

joe b.

 

[John Crichton]

I support the local store buy purchasing dice, minis and some RPG books there. It's about a 15-20 drive so I don't make it all the time. The owner there has a great policy. If you keep a comic book "folder" with at least 5 titles in it going and buy them he gives 20% off all purchases.

So I have him special order all Spycraft books that come out (so I don't have to search for them or pay shipping) the first day and have a few comics in there that come out only every few months since I don't really read them anymore (oh well). I'll buy HC WoTC books off the net because they are typically MUCH cheaper. However, I impulse buy ALOT and I hate waiting for things so if on a certain day I stop in and he has an RPG book that I've been thinking about getting I'll buy it there. Happened today with the MM2.

Plus, I bring friends who buy stuff as well. I would hate to see another local store go out of business in my area!

 

[Fenes 2]

My FLGS closed. Until then I had purchased everything through it. Since then I use online shops.

 

[brak1]

I'm lucky enough to have a couple of FLGS within a half hour's drive of me. (One within a 5 minute walk.) I buy almost everything gaming related from these folks, mostly because of loyalty. They've been there since before online ordering. They give me an opportunity to play with other folks (via tournaments, game-nights and bulletin board solicitations for gamers). The staff has often read or played the product and will do demos if you ask (and sometimes if you don't).

In a sense I feel it's worth it to pay a little extra for the sense of community.

That being said, I HAVE ordered stuff online for two reasons: 1) It'll take too long to order through my FLGS (some CCG stuff) or 2) it's out of print (TORG stuff).

I can't say that I will always do so. My budget is now much tighter than it has been, and those low online-prices are a siren-song. I guess I'm going to try and keep buying as much stuff as I can from the local folks and hope they understand when it's just not possible. They're good people, they probably will. Which is what makes it so tough....

 

[Buttercup]

Well, y'see, the compromise between shopping online and shopping at you local gaming store is to shop at your Local Online Gaming Store!.

That's pretty much my conclusion. There are two game stores in my town. One I refuse to shop at because the owner always makes women feel unwelcome, and the one I do shop at in spite of the fact that there are things they don't and won't carry, even as special orders. Also, they charged me $45 for E-Tools! I felt obligated to take it, since I had pre-ordered from them, but that price gouging put me off a great deal, I can tell you.

So now, for every dollar I spend locally, I spend $5 here. At some point I'll probably give up on the FLGS altogether.