Is the age of discounts over?

[GSHamster]

WotC will only impose price floors if they think that it will increase sales overall. Given that they have much better market research than I do, I will defer to their judgement.

For the record, I don't think they will do anything for RPGs. Local gaming stores aren't really necessary for gaming. I think most people are introduced via friends, and if WotC can establish a decent presence in regular book stores, that will be enough.

However, a much more interesting area is Magic: the Gathering. Local card stores are focal points for Magic, and a lot of the entry level tournaments (Friday Night Magic, etc.) are held at local stores. However, there is a large portion of players who will go to the stores and play in the tournaments, but go home and order their cards from internet retailers.

This is much closer to the classic "free-rider" problem which price floors are designed to combat. If local stores see that no one at tournaments actually buys cards from them, a lot of them are going to wonder if holding tournaments is actually a good idea.

 

[Vigilance]

When that view isn't explained and certainly not convincingly, I'm not inclined to believe in the papal infallibility of RPG professionals.

I guess, Ive seen several people give reasons multiple times in multiple locations. But since you seem to have missed all that, let me sum up the bullet points as I see them:

1. Introducing people to games they haven't heard of before. While a lot of folks interpret this as introducing people to GAMING, let me say this usually isn't the case, but it certainly does happen.

For example, I was introduced to gaming generally through the Red Box D&D in Waldenbooks.

However, I was introduced to Champions, Danger Int., Justice Inc., Marvel Superheroes, GURPs and Car Wars through the game/comic store near my home.

2. Providing a link in the social network. If you need four people to run a game, and one drops out/moves away, you need a way to recruit a new gamer.

While this can happen online, the best way in my experience has always been a flyer posted at the LGS. You're only going to get people local.

3. Providing table space. Many times in my life I would have stopped gaming because living in a studio apt is not really conducive to gaming (just not big enough for a big game).

At these times, game stores were a lifeline to me.

Also, and this ties into all three points above: when moving into a new town, as I have done, the LGS is THE FASTEST way to get into a local game and meet gamers.

Will the hobby instantly wither and die without these services? Are they absolutely essential to the hobby as we know it?

No. But they do help the hobby sustain itself and grow at a faster rate.

Edit:

And again, the issue isn't whether or not these choices are being made, because they already are, but by whom.

Do you think Wizards, West End Games, White Wolf etc know the industry better, or Amazon?

All this decision means is that Wizards can now have an influence on the retail price too, in a way that grows the hobby.

Gee, that certainly doesn't SOUND like the end of the world as I know it.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

If you go into an EB Gamestore and ask them what is their most consistent selling PC Games product over the last year, I 100% guarantee you that the answer is the World of Warcraft Time card.

The reason those stores stock that product and sell so many is because of players without credit cards. That matters to that target age group (and to others who are older and have bad credit - another 20% of your customer base).

You can't shut out that much of your target customer base and survive over the longterm. You just can't.

I really ahve to say this is true for me also. I have good credit, but my credit cards are American, and paying them off form Japan is a real pain, so I pay cash for most of my books. Even when I travel to the states.

So if I were in a situation where I were forced to sue a credit card, It would be a strike against me for that store.

 

[Alan Shutko]

I can't figure out not only the FLGS anti-love, but the complaints of a 20-30 minute drive to get to one. That's a problem? I grew up in a small town, where the nearest mall was an hour away, and the nearest good game store was 2 hours away, and we managed just fine.

Well, to put it in perspective, I live in St. Louis City. Everything in the universe is within a half hour drive. The most FLGS is at the outer edge of that. I think even Six Flags is closer to me than an FLGS. So, if I'm going to drive an hour round trip somewhere (and it's not even somewhere I normally do errands, since all of that is closer or in different directions), I want it to really justify the drive. A one-time visit there is ok... but ordering something is a royal pain, because it means I need to make a second trip there when Amazon will drop it off by my door.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

And kids that age don't have credit cards. They are shut out as customers from online sales unless they can persuade somebody else to buy it for them with a credit card.

According to some studies I saw earning my MBA (back in 2003-2005), Gen Y already has more spending power than Gen X, despite most of them still being under age 21.

While most of their personal income is in cash, they've proven to be quite adept at getting their parents to buy things online.

I can't figure out not only the FLGS anti-love, but the complaints of a 20-30 minute drive to get to one. That's a problem? I grew up in a small town, where the nearest mall was an hour away, and the nearest good game store was 2 hours away, and we managed just fine.

I've been on both sides of this. I picked up the hobby in 1977 in Aurora, CO (a suburb of Denver) and had no problem getting game supplies...though there wasn't much reason for me to at the time, since I only needed my PHB and 2 minis.

When I moved to Manhattan, KS, a few years later, I had to go to the bookstores catering to Kansas State students & Ft. Riley soldiers to get anything, and new inventory only showed up every couple of months. The nearest true game stores were in Topeka and Wichita (1 hour drives) or Kansas City (2 hours).

Now I live in a suburb of Dallas, and I routinely hit 3 different game stores within a 30 minute drive. I drive just as far to get quality Ethiopian cuisine or hit the Container Store.

 

[Steel_Wind]

While most of their personal income is in cash, they've proven to be quite adept at getting their parents to buy things online.

That's not a business plan - that's a hope.

 

[Twowolves]

You sound like me. It's an hour and 15 minutes in to work for me in the morning and about the same back. An extra subway stop adding 15 minutes to the way back home to hit a FLGS is no biggie.

But I have a lot of family in smaller cities in Canada, who go positively bug-eyed with the thought of an hour and 15 minute commute in to work. I spend more time commuting in a day than they do in a week (by far. Some more in a day than they do in a month).

It's what you are used to I think that impacts on the subjective reasonableness of any trip.

I know exactly what you mean. I can count on both hands the number of times my father has been outside the county in the past 20 years (well, before cancer made him leave for treatments!) It's 100 miles round trip for me each day. Going 20-30 minutes to a game shop would be fantastic!

It's a "factor".
I live say, 40 miles from my FLGS. I pay $30+6% tax there for a $30 book, so 31.80. Add in 4 gallons of gas at $2.50 each, and that book costs me $41.80. I browse the wares, but frankly the variety of selection lacks. Generally book is available day or release for WotC.

See, I live closer to a Borders than I do to my FLGS, but it's the selection that makes all the difference. The FLGS is the only place in town to get the independant/3rd party stuff, as well as the boardgames, figs, paints, etc etc. One of the two biggies in my area has a back room that hosts games all the time, and the selection is a major draw.

I can understand the draw of lower prices, but there is also the "instant gratification" factor, the "browse the releases I hadn't even heard of" factor, and the fact that every single time I order anything from Amazon, I have to wait 3 or more months for my stuff to arrive, and half the time the order is missing or incorrect.

Oh, and one of the game carriers in my area has a 25% off box, a 50% off box, and has 20% off sales quarterly, so I get the best of both worlds AND I get to support my local stores.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

You must have terrible luck with them, I've never had a problem with Amazon, they always ship a heck of lot faster than they promise with their free shipping as well. They are my FIGBMMS. Friendly Internet Game Book Movie Music store.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yeah, I normally get my shipments within days from Amazon, even with Super Saver (i.e. free) shipping.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

That's not a business plan - that's a hope.

I'm just stating facts- despite 75% of them not actually owning credit cards, Gen Y-oriented purchases equal Gen X purchases.