How's your FLGS doing after the Diamond Comic Distributors crash?

[Jahydin]

I went into my small town's only Friendly Local Gaming Store (FLGS) and was surprised to see how empty it was, especially during the holidays. Employee said it was due to two factors: No longer being able to order from Diamond and needing to buy a massive amount of MtG product thanks to WotC's aggressive release schedule.

Grateful Magic is keeping the lights on at the moment, but fearful it might not last before they find another distributor.

I'm curious of other's experiences. How's your FLGS doing?

 

[jdrakeh]

My friend's FLGS (The Yellow King Games & Hobbies in Colorado Springs) is doing well, but that's mostly down to the fact that he diversified his supply line before Diamond/Alliance imploded and owns most of his stock outright (it's not financed).

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Mine (I'm the owner) is doing fine - everything is a lot more work, needlessly - but we're trucking along as we have done for 32 years. I've got six employees, and I'm not struggling to pay them.

I tend to say this, when asked how things are: "My relationship with my customers is good - they're buying stuff; they come in; we're getting along. However, my relationship with my suppliers is terrible. Everyone from Shipping Companies to Distributors to Publishers* are utterly, completely, terrible at often the barest minimum of their jobs. Their websites barely work, their invoicing, order tracking, customer service, packing, inventory, institutional industry knowledge, and basic common sense are all at an all-time low."

* In case someone at a smaller publisher, like say, ENPublishing, objects to being included in this, I will say: You are not remotely the problem. None of you are. The problem publishers are all the ones owned by massive US-based corporations. Publishers like Marvel, DC, and WotC. They are all very out-of-touch from the top down. It's almost like there's an explanation for it...

So, yeah - to the OP: Diamond going under wasn't a big deal, really, but their replacements have yet to learn how to do the job. I wish I had more confidence that they would improve, but it doesn't seem ATM like they care to get any better. Time will tell.