Yeah, don't order from the internet. Go support your local game store, right?
Wrong. Just because they're a game store doesn't mean that they get a pass on running a business.
I've recently moved and now have a game store within driving distance. Me and the SO head down there last Sunday just to see what was what, and get some minis. We get to the store and there's a fatbeard behind the counter. He looks at us and says "Just to let you know I'm closing in 20 minutes". Okay, that's fine.
We're going through the minis and checking out some of the more obscure gaming titles. Twice more he feels the need to remind us "We're closing in a few minutes." We hurriedly pick some minis and two starter packs of the D&D miniatures. As he's checking us out some kids come in and he says "You guys might as well turn around and go right back out, because we're closing!"
As we were leaving, she asked me why he was so rude. I explained it was because most game shops seemed to think they needed to hire gamers rather than people who are actually good at retail. This guy couldn't wait to hurry everyone out of his store, probably so he could rush home and level his night elf or whatever. Doesn't matter to me - we dropped like $60 in your store buddy, and I think next time I'll save myself the trouble and a few bucks and order online.
As if to highlight the problem, we went by the mall and she went into one of those girl-stores to see about some lotion. They were closing in about two minutes as well, but the clerk there didn't rush us out. She asked what my gf was looking for and showed her the selection of lotions. I remember thinking that this girl needed to be working at the gaming store, even though she probably didn't know the first thing about gaming.
Now the ideal would be a person who was good at retail and knew a lot about games. If I were ever to run a store though I'd consider it easier to teach someone about gaming than it would be to teach an antisocial gamer who considers working in a game store to be a 'dream job' about customer service.
I'm sure there are good stores out there, but every time I hear of LGSes closing up and everyone buying off the internet I can't help but think places like this are why. I also recognize the damage that it does to the gamer social network, as I'm unable to find a regular game in the area.
Wrong. Just because they're a game store doesn't mean that they get a pass on running a business.
I've recently moved and now have a game store within driving distance. Me and the SO head down there last Sunday just to see what was what, and get some minis. We get to the store and there's a fatbeard behind the counter. He looks at us and says "Just to let you know I'm closing in 20 minutes". Okay, that's fine.
We're going through the minis and checking out some of the more obscure gaming titles. Twice more he feels the need to remind us "We're closing in a few minutes." We hurriedly pick some minis and two starter packs of the D&D miniatures. As he's checking us out some kids come in and he says "You guys might as well turn around and go right back out, because we're closing!"
As we were leaving, she asked me why he was so rude. I explained it was because most game shops seemed to think they needed to hire gamers rather than people who are actually good at retail. This guy couldn't wait to hurry everyone out of his store, probably so he could rush home and level his night elf or whatever. Doesn't matter to me - we dropped like $60 in your store buddy, and I think next time I'll save myself the trouble and a few bucks and order online.
As if to highlight the problem, we went by the mall and she went into one of those girl-stores to see about some lotion. They were closing in about two minutes as well, but the clerk there didn't rush us out. She asked what my gf was looking for and showed her the selection of lotions. I remember thinking that this girl needed to be working at the gaming store, even though she probably didn't know the first thing about gaming.
Now the ideal would be a person who was good at retail and knew a lot about games. If I were ever to run a store though I'd consider it easier to teach someone about gaming than it would be to teach an antisocial gamer who considers working in a game store to be a 'dream job' about customer service.
I'm sure there are good stores out there, but every time I hear of LGSes closing up and everyone buying off the internet I can't help but think places like this are why. I also recognize the damage that it does to the gamer social network, as I'm unable to find a regular game in the area.
