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Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KDLadage" data-source="post: 982395" data-attributes="member: 88">I have on many occations paid more -- sometimes a lot more -- to patronize an establishment that I feel adds to the experience, aids me in the long run or otherwise provides services above and beyond the cover price of the merchendise. This applies to my books (RPG or otherwise), music -- even my resteraunt choice.I can understand the reluctance to paying out of pocket, what you consider a 33% markup, for what you will undoubtedly convince yourself is the same product. It is my opinion, however, that you are not, in fact, getting the same product.Sure, the same book, same cover, same pages and same content on those pages. To all scientific examination, you have recieved the same exact book you would have gotten from the brick-and-mortar store you have just given your kudos to. But what are the intangible costs involved? What are the intangible benefits to patronizing the store itself?Consider this: back in 1984, Cedar Rapids had a great little game store over in the Indian Creek mall that I used to go to all the time for my RPG needs. His material was sold at the MSRP. People started going to book discounters to get their books. In those days, they justified this by the fact that if the discounters did not sell it, then they bought it from him... still, when he went out of business, not because of poor practices, or a lack of customer service -- but because of teh changing business climate, I lost more than a store to get my RPGs from. I lost a wonderful source of information and a man that told me of games from before my day. I lost the guy introduced me to Star Fleet Battles, Supremacy... hell, even Cosmic Encounter. So when his store went out of business, I lost a lot of games I might have gotten to know had he still been around to point me in the right direction.Now, I am fully aware of the fact that many, many FLGSs are not this good. Some are downright aweful -- treating you like they are doing you a favor by acknowledging your existance. These stores I could care less if Walmart, or Amazon or what-have-you drives them out of business. In fact, we have lost three of those around here in recent memory.But when a stor provides me with these intangibles... is it petty of me to feel that I should not have to pay the MSRP? Is it wrong to be angry with Amazon for discounting too low... then handing them my money? Yes. I do think this is the wrong way to look at this.Please understand I am not trying to make a judgement on your choice. Perhaps the store does not provide enough of an intangible benefit to you to pass up a deep-discount of 33%. Perhaps you will get a deal from the store and all will be good. But I am just trying to point out that when I purchase something from a local business establishment, I am putting money into my local economy; I am supporting the future and welfare of my home-town. And these thigns mean something to me. Enough to pay more if I have to.Since we have no FLGSs here these days... all having gone out of business. I waited a while and eventualy purchased from <a href="http://www.taloncomics.com" target="_blank">TALON</a> -- sure, he has an online presence, but he also has a brick-and-mortal establishment, is a small business (something that is always a plus in my mind) and is a hell of a nice guy,But in the end -- it is your money. My judgements not-withstanding, it is your choice to make. If the discount is aluring enough, buy without guilt. If the store provides you a benefit beyond the book, buy without looking back at what you might have saved -- for you also got other benefits. This is, after all, the whole of a capitalist economy. You vote with your dollars.</blockquote>

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