Free RPG Day

[grodog]

Well crud, I just checked and only one store in my entire state is participating in Free RPG Day, and it's several hours away.

Crunk.

Ditto for Kansas. Again....

 

[fireinthedust]

Zero for Toronto! which is ridiculous, as various stores will likely run something eventually.

I'm sure that, if someone wanted to commit to running it, stores would bring stuff in.

If you're really desperate, you could pay a store to order for you; but that's not reeeally the spirit of the game, of course, if you just want your own kit. However, if you're the only one in state...


@Jdvn1: keep in mind, cards are ongoing revenue. The store needs some way to make money. That and the owner/manager may just like cards. But yeah, if you want a roof over your head, you're selling cards.

 

[Jdvn1]

@Jdvn1: keep in mind, cards are ongoing revenue. The store needs some way to make money. That and the owner/manager may just like cards. But yeah, if you want a roof over your head, you're selling cards.

I know, but it sucks for me. I used to have a good FLGS that would consider stuff like Free RPG Day and now I don't. And it seems like this sort of store is becoming a trend.

 

[Stormonu]

My closest (nowhere near)FLGS is an hour away. Unfortunately, because of the jerk who runs the store, it's isn't a "Free" RPG day anyway.

<Edit>
Finally able to check the map at home and ... nothing within 200 miles?!? Really?

 

[MortalPlague]

I'm fortunate... many stores in Vancouver embrace Free RPG Day. I wound up in Connection Games downtown last year, where they were also selling D&D mini packs at 2 for the price of 1! Jackpot!

 

[Erik Mona]

It's really surprising to me (and, I must admit, fairly disappointing) to hear so many gamers complain that none of their stores are taking part in this event.

I mean, seriously? It's not even that expensive to put together, and it's virtually guaranteed to bring people in with a little (and I mean _little_) bit of marketing.

It's too bad. It's a great promotion, and I always leave with some unexpected gem. I make a point to buy something at the store, too.

Hmmm.

--Erik

 

[JediSoth]

It makes it really difficult for me to want to spend the extra money on book at my FLGS rather than just saving 15%+ by buying them off Amazon.

I mean, the ones around here usually aren't even current on RPG industry news. The first time I took an ENnies poster in, they looked at me with blank stares, never having heard of it. I preordered the new OotS book; they weren't aware it was being released. I even recall one instance where I was told a product wasn't in print yet, though I *knew* it was because the publisher said it was AND I'd seen it at Gen Con (I now forget which product it was). You'd think they'd take some of the time they use to web surf on that store computer and check a few RPG news pages so they're at least up on the current news.

 

[TroyXavier]

yeah, I went to my local gaming store a couple times, and they just never got their act together on it. I gave up. I think I've bought two things from them in the last year...Start of Darkness and one other book.

 

[carmachu]

It's really surprising to me (and, I must admit, fairly disappointing) to hear so many gamers complain that none of their stores are taking part in this event.

I mean, seriously? It's not even that expensive to put together, and it's virtually guaranteed to bring people in with a little (and I mean _little_) bit of marketing.

It's too bad. It's a great promotion, and I always leave with some unexpected gem. I make a point to buy something at the store, too.

Hmmm.

--Erik

Hate to tell you, but many of us have really really sucky FLGS.

 

[CleverNickName]

Yeah, last year, the employees of one participating store here in the Springs raided the box for all of the really neat stuff (e.g., Q-Workshop dice, Chessex dice, etc). Seemed that they misunderstood the whole point of the promotion.

Not to name names, but this wouldn't have been the store on Tejon, would it? I hope not, anyway. That store was one of my favorites.

Anyhoo. The same thing happened here in Portland. On Free RPG Day last year, I was the second person in the store. When I asked about the dice sets, the clerks all snickered and said "they must have fallen out of the box or something." Sheesh.

It's really surprising to me (and, I must admit, fairly disappointing) to hear so many gamers complain that none of their stores are taking part in this event.

It's too bad. It's a great promotion, and I always leave with some unexpected gem. I make a point to buy something at the store, too.

Yep. The year before last, I was so stoked that I ended up spending close to $50 on minis and used 3.5E books.

Hate to tell you, but many of us have really really sucky FLGS.

The worst part is, there just isn't much that we can do about it. If you have a sucky FLGS that isn't planning on participating in Free RPG Day...or only plans to buy one or two boxes, cherry-pick the goods, and throw the leftovers to the customers...well, you are pretty much hosed.

About the only thing that might work would be to start calling/visiting your FLGS today, and keep calling them every couple of days, asking them about their participation in this event. Get your friends to do likewise. Maybe if you generate enough buzz, they will get with the program.