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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Epic Meepo" data-source="post: 9406188" data-attributes="member: 57073">A Tale of Mild AnnoyanceAfter careful consideration, I decided I want to preorder all three revised D&D core rulebooks. Specifically, I want the store-exclusive, alt-cover versions. As it so happens, I moved to my current town just before the pandemic lockdown began, so I wasn't yet familiar with any local gaming stores. A quick internet search revealed two such establishments relatively close to my apartment. So far, so good.Neither store’s website mentioned anything about D&D rulebook preorders (although I could definitely preorder thousands of dollars worth of Magic cards, if I were so inclined). No worries. I enjoy an occasional drive across town—moreso than making phone calls—so I hopped in my car and drove to the closest store, a quick ten-minute drive from my apartment.After waiting in line behind half a dozen people making extremely convoluted trading-card-and-snack purchases and/or sales, I was able to inquire about preording the revised D&D core rulebooks. At which point I learn this store won’t be taking preorders until “the end of the month. Or maybe August? No, I think it's the end of the month.” Okay, thanks. I’ll check back in at the end of the month. Or maybe never? Yeah, probably never.Not a problem. I had a second store to visit. So I hopped in my car again and drove to the next closest store, an additional fifteen-minute drive from my apartment. I enter a cavernous, dimly-lit space and eventually locate a staff member willing to acknowledge me. I inquire about preordering the revised D&D core rulebooks, and I’m told I’m in luck! The store is just about to announce that preorders will soon be available! I can join their Discord server to get the announcement sometime soon!I grumble about this development on my twenty-five minute drive home and decide, sure. Why not? I’ll join the second store’s Discord server. Sure enough, a few days later, the store posts an announcement to Discord… and it’s just a link to their store website. Which I could have checked directly without doing anything on Discord. Also, their preorders are at full cover price. And I can only preorder the Player’s Handbook. And they reserve the right to give me the non-store-exclusive cover.So, just to recap. Store #1 isn’t taking preorders yet, and can’t tell me for sure when they’ll start taking preorders. Meanwhile, Store #2 is taking preorders, but only at full cover price, one book at a time, with no guarantee I’ll get the store-exclusive cover.I had thought walking into a gaming store and announcing, “Here, take my money!” would have been sufficient for one or the other of these establishments to accommodate my simple request. Apparently, I was mistaken.</blockquote>

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