New to the area: DC

[Psion]

not true, more Marylanders fought for the CSA.

You do realize that is a different statement than the one you are refuting, right?

 

[diaglo]

edit: removing politics.

 

[Tzarevitch]

Well, ever since it lost it's anti-D&D venom, it's not a bad list to be on.



I really have to ask: does shrinkwrapping really make that big a difference in the condition of a product? Does discouraging the thumb-through of a product really save that much wear and tear on it? I am having a hard time seeing it.

AFAIAC, the primary purpose of going to a game store instead of going online is the fact that you can thumb through it first. You discourage that, you are squandering the primary advantage that a brick-n-mortar store has over cheaper internet outlets.

I agree. The very reason I go to game stores instead of buying online is to browse and see if I really want something. Preventing browsing does not save much wear and tear but it DOES dampen impulse buying.

Game Parlor is a wonderful store (best store-hours of any game store I have ever been to and it is spacious and clean) but the shrinkwrap REALLY annoys me. It is onerous as hell to have to call a salesperson over every time you want to browse something.

Honestly, it almost offends me that they don't trust me to take a quick flip through a book without totally destroying it. Barnes and Noble gets buy by allowing people to browse what they might want to buy (without destroying it) why can't they?

Personally, I never buy an item from stores that insist on shrinkwrapping unless I am positive that I want it. I will NOT call someone over to unwrap it so I can see it because I don't feel I should have to. I simply take my business to Dream Wizards or the Compleat Strategist in Falls Church or Barnes and Noble where they WILL let me see it at my leisure not theirs.

I think a better solution would be to keep a special "sales copy" of some of the books on the shelves so that people can browse it and keep the rest of the stock stored away. The main Compleat Strategist in NYC (the best gaming store of all time IMHO) does this sometimes. It allows them to keep their stock pristine for those who demand such things while satisfying the demands of those of us who like to actually see what we are buying.




Tzarevitch

 

[MarauderX]

If you are new to the DC metro area do yourself a favor: avoid Northern Virginia. It is a congested mess. I personally prefer the congested mess of Maryland. Plus, Maryland fought against slavery in the Civil War.

Of greater importance to this discussion, Maryland has Dream Wizards, which has all of the hallmarks of a great gaming store:

1. It is located in a shabby, hard-to-find strip mall.
2. It is staffed by hostile, smelly geeks in Metallica T-shirts.
3. It is patronized by hostile, smelly geeks in Metallica T-shirts (i.e. me)
4. Armand's pizza is right next door.
5. Nobody will act uppity when you show up, game for 36 hours straight, eat nothing but oreos, cheetos and pepsi, and then go home to your "girlfriend".

So now we get personal...

1. All MD has is shabby, hard-to-find strip malls.
2. All of MD is populated by hostile, smelly citizens too arrogant to realize they are paying more in property taxes than anyone in VA.
3. All of MD has yet to learn how to drive properly on the DC Beltway - if you are going to go the speed limit, move to the slow lanes.
4. There are so many pizza places everywhere in MD you could mistake the state for a run-down NJ.
5. Hm... that last item is just one more reason you may want to move into the district or VA.

Anyway, I think most of the places I have been to around DC are pretty friendly to gamers, although some have asked if I know what I am looking at, as I don't look like your version of a typical gamer. I would say that most of the places are pretty cool when you get to take to the staff, and I have never had a problem with any of them yet. The compleat strategist staff is usually pretty quiet, WotC peeps cut right to the chase, and most of the others here have staffers that are 'specialized' by knowing certain RPGs through and through.

 

[diaglo]

MarauderX,

Go Terps

 

[MarauderX]

MarauderX,

Go Terps

Great. Actually, I'm a Penn Stater.

We are....

 

[Psion]

5. Hm... that last item is just one more reason you may want to move into the district or VA.

Now that's funny. I don't frequent beltway area stores enough to know the nature of the clientelle, but NOBODY wants to live in the district on purpose...

 

[MarauderX]

Now that's funny. I don't frequent beltway area stores enough to know the nature of the clientelle, but NOBODY wants to live in the district on purpose...

Unless they want the $5,000 tax credit the district gives out. Or to move out of Anacostia, MD. Or to get away from Baltimore.

Besides, Bethesda is by no means better than Dupont Circle, let alone Georgetown.

 

[kengar]

OK, people, let's not get too personal here.

I'm a Marylander ("The Thinking Man's Delaware") and you couldn't pay me to live in NoVA, but that's me. Plenty of people prefer VA to MD and that's fine.

The "which side of the Potomac is better" debate is one which cannot be won.

..but at least MD didn't welch on their land promise to DC (aka "Alexandria" & we own the Potomac.

(& Marauder, Bethesda is better than G'town b/c you can take the Metro to Bethesda )

 

[Psion]

Unless they want the $5,000 tax credit the district gives out.

See, they have to bribe people to live there. I rest my case.