Help me save gaming at my FLGS - difficult situation

[Dannyalcatraz]

"Early adopters" can be the difference between success and failure in any commercial enterprise. They tend to buy early & often- usually when most products are at their most expensive- and spread word of mouth about product strengths and weaknesses very well.

If the "cool" ones in this scenario are generally of that type, they may be as powerful as the store's advertising budget.

 

[Retreater]

The "cool" players don't sound very cool to me. Is there something other than being "middle aged" that these people are doing wrong? I mean, I'm nearly 40 - does that mean I would be unwelcome at their game, too, and that they'd boycott any store which allowed me to play?

The middle age has nothing to do with it. All of the "cool" players (and me too) are around 40 as well. I included the age to describe that they are middle aged, have no jobs, have little to no personal skills, and haven't purchased a thing from the store in the 2 years they have been coming to play Encounters.

If the "cool" ones in this scenario are generally of that type, they may be as powerful as the store's advertising budget.

The "cool" players are the ones who have dropped hundreds of dollars in the store on Magic, a variety of boardgames, and tabletop RPGs as well. They have also run events for the store, teaching new players how to play games and help promote product for the FLGS.

I can vouch for them. They have run games for players of all ages - children and older adults. They have been patient with players with obvious learning disabilities and accomodated gamers with physical handicaps, poor social skills, and bad hygiene.

 

[scourger]

I think the real issue is that the play has to drive revenue. A store that provides playing area has to derive some sales or other income from providing that space. It could be anything from a table fee to a soda or snack to cards or other game components. When I have considered running games in a store, I figured that I would require the players to buy something for the game from that store as a sort of admission price. It's a business. A game store has to make money to stay open.

A table fee could be the solution to the problem without making it personal or whatever. I think $1 an hour (or session or day or whatever) per player is perfectly acceptable. Buying something in the store could get free play for the day. But, there has to be some respect for the store owner.

One of my former FLGSs closed a few years ago. An incident I remember is that some of the players were mad that a certain board game cost $5 more in the FLGS than in the big box store down the road. So, these fools went down the street, bought the game for $5 less; and then brought it back to the FLGS to play it. And they mistakenly thought the FLGS owner was trying to take advantage of them. One of the players worked at the FLGS. If I had been that owner, I would have fired him and banned the others; or at least banned them from playing that game in that space. As it was, the FLGS closed shortly afterward. I think people in general - and gamers in particular - do not think big or long-term.

You gotta pay to play. If you don't buy from that FLGS today, it might not be there tomorrow.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The general term is "enlightened self-interest."

 

[Lwaxy]

Those "cool" players really just outgrew the store setup and need a group of their own. That's cool. You will need to find new players. Which might be a bit of a challenge but if you advertise for new games in your store, it might work out well. You really need to do something about those people stalking the customers, though. The sooner the better.

As for a table fee, what a store in my former place of residence does is charging a small fee and you get a visitor's card. Whenever you buy something the amount you have already spent as entry fee is deducted from your purchase. Players buy a lot more often, even if it is small stuff, and some even are able to buy more expensive things over time because of the down payment option. The owner is quite happy with the set up.

 

[Nytmare]

As for a table fee, what a store in my former place of residence does is charging a small fee and you get a visitor's card. Whenever you buy something the amount you have already spent as entry fee is deducted from your purchase.

That's a really elegant way to handle no-buyers cluttering up a store. I kinda wish that some of the failed game stores of my past had had a system like that in place.

 

[TreChriron]

You know, there is a great scene in the movie "The Caine Mutiny" when the defense attorney that has successfully defended the crew gets drunk and tells them what he really thinks. He reminds them that their duty as naval officers was to help the Captain overcome his issues and problems. They were supposed to work together and succeed as a team, rather than step back and watch the Captain fail.

Is there any way to convince the "cool" group to attempt to help the "uncool" older gamers to improve and join the team?

Great advice. Kudos. You need to develop the players!! The owner should approach the non-buying players and have a conversation. Get to know them. He should then say something like "I noticed you two don't buy much. What is discouraging you from getting involved more in D&D encounters (or magic, or warhammer, or...)?" He should roll out some demos and see if there's something more to their liking. Interview them! Maybe they would like some Old School (order WOTC reprints, or OSR stuff), maybe board games are more their angle (Ravenloft or other D&D games), or maybe the need an intro product like Pathfinder boxed set or Dragon Age. Keep talking and working with them. As they get to know you (the owner) they will feel loyal and want to shop there. Don't PUSH them or come out and say something socially-inept like "you need to pay to play" or "this is for paying customers only". The point of having a playing space is to attract POTENTIAL customers. Businesses give an arm and leg to be in the right place to attract people to stop in. Having interesting gamers rolling into your shop to play games is a perfect situation! You just need to work with them. GET INVOLVED. You're a game store owner for crying out loud, SELL GAMES!!

I... really?

Wouldn't "banning" the two people open the owner of the shop up to a very blatantly obvious lawsuit?

No. Starting a business did that.

Seriously though, I wouldn't outright ban anyone. Set rules and expectations like person hygiene, behavior, language, etc. Only ask people to leave temporarily when they break the rules. Inform them why, and invite them back with open arms when they're ready to comply. It's how you build a community and set a standard around how that community operates.

Good Luck! Happy Gaming!

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

He needs to approach the behavior of the couple and not the people. If they are harrassing other customers, ask them not to do that. If they are loitering, tell them to move along. If they continue to exhibit poor bahavior, then any business owner is in his right to politely ask them not to return to his store.

TreChriron's points about demoing and turning the sales pressure up is another valid approach that I would use simultaneously. Even if a regular buyer was exhibiting poor behavior after extended warnings I would ask them not to retrun. You see that quite often in drinking establishments.