D&D 5E Supporting your LGS! Yes, but...

[ccs]

Does your local shop have these books in-stock, right now?
If not, order them from Amazon.

Compromise? Buy the cheapest book from the shop, the other two from Amazon.

See if the shops willing to deal on the price?

 

[robus]

My principle is to always get the best deal possible. Sorry, local gaming shop. You smell kind of funny anyway.

They do seem to be stuck in a bit of a time warp! However if this store was local to me I'd be happy to shop there exclusively:
http://www.ggportland.com

If you ever get to Portland check it out!

 

[manduck]

I grapple with this kind of problem too. I want to support a local business but I also have to watch my budget. I set aside a certain amount for fun stuff like rpgs, comics or going out. So if going to amazon rather than my LGS gives me more for my money on big purchases, that's what I do. If my LGS has a sale, I'll go check it out and pick up some stuff. For things that there isn't much of a price difference on, like say dice, I'll go with my LGS. It doesn't impact my budget and I get something right away, even if it isn't a big ticket item. Ultimately, the budget rules all though. So if I want something quick and don't want to wait to see if it goes on sale at my LGS, then amazon it is.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Amazon wins by having razor thin margins and they cut their costs to the bone. They're slaughtering retail establishments left and right.

Is your game store providing more than just moving product? Do they host games, events etc etc? Are they actively supporting the gaming community?

If they're a pillar of the local gaming community then I would say yes you should support them - as you say, it's not like you're shopping there every week. If they're not providing much beyond higher prices however...

Amazon is within 10% of my LGS. So there is something funny about his local store if the difference in pricing is THAT drastic.

If you want to help then split the difference. Buy two from Amazon and the third locally if it makes you feel better. If it was me I wouldnt hesitate to order from Amazon. I am not a charity.

 

[schnee]

Hi everyone!

Your forum is active and seems great, so I'm happy to have joined! I have sort of a moral conundrum and I am looking for input.

I generally like the idea of "Support your local game store!", and I do it enthusiastically at my local running store when buying running gear. I don't really use my LGS that much, but I still like having one and therefore would like to support them beyond a few dice and such. However, I live in Denmark, and prices here are steep. I am looking to buy an adventure, like "Curse of Strahd", the PHB and potentially the Monster Manual.

If I buy those three books in my LGS it'd amount to around $238 (~1500 DKK), whereas if I use Amazon, it's only around $95 (732 DKK!). That's crazy. How do I even justify supporting my LGS when Amazon is so ridiculously cheap?

Taxes buy the wonderful socialist-tinged capitalism that makes Denmark one of the nicest places to live on the entire damn planet. You have employer protections the rest of the world would kill to have.

Pay your taxes. Support your local LBS. Don't support Amazon's horrifying labor practices.

Don't be 'a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing'.

 

[DRF]

You have employer protections the rest of the world would kill to have.

I used to work in Japan. I am happy to report that you are right, and it's something I appreciate every day.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[schnee]

I shoulda put a smiley. I live in Scandinavia too. It's nice here.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Taxes buy the wonderful socialist-tinged capitalism that makes Denmark one of the nicest places to live on the entire damn planet. You have employer protections the rest of the world would kill to have.

Pay your taxes. Support your local LBS. Don't support Amazon's horrifying labor practices.

Don't be 'a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing'.

I am pretty sure that no part of this post belongs on EN World.

 

[Mercule]

If I buy those three books in my LGS it'd amount to around $238 (~1500 DKK), whereas if I use Amazon, it's only around $95 (732 DKK!). That's crazy. How do I even justify supporting my LGS when Amazon is so ridiculously cheap?

Holy butt nuggets! That'd price me right out of the hobby.

I struggle over the $20 difference, here ($30 vs $50). If you can get DDB in Denmark (I have no idea what international servicing looks like), I'd go with that, exclusively. $25 per adventure.

 

[schnee]

I am pretty sure that no part of this post belongs on EN World.

I am pretty sure the question was asked about economics and answered in kind. If you have a problem with it, then report the question and answer to the mods.

Then go to the Young Republicans or /theDonald or whevever you want to complain about the fundamental unfairness of other countries having functional societies.