Why I don't support my LGS

[Pyrex]

When I spent a lot of time hanging out at my FLGS playing MtG and D&D I happily supported them by buying all my gaming materials there.

Now that I no longer have the time to hang out there, they're just another store. I'll drop by from time to time to browse their selection and pick up a board game, but I order my books from Amazon.

 

[Desdichado]

I wouldn't give them a free pass. On the other hand, your complaints sound kinda whiny to me. So he wanted to close on time and go somehwere else. Hardly shocking. So he wasn't as diplomatic about it as he could have been. Yeah, well--I've seen it happen at a lot more places than simply gaming stores.

I think a lot of people get this kind of "entitlement" issue; I'm the customer so I want you to drop everything and bend over backwards if you want me to spend a few bucks on you. Not saying you are like that; I honestly don't know, but from your account, his behavior was neither particularly shocking or rude.

 

[TheYeti1775]

Very good point on Gaming Stores.

For me (in Northern Va), the The Compleat Strategist over in Falls Church is like that. I only go there when I know exactly what I want and call ahead of time and see if they have it. Very rarely do I just stop there. Though they do have someone different there during weekday lunches and she isn't as bad though I've only seen her there once a few months ago.
Game Parlor out in Chantilly is very good, though the shrink wrap is put off, but I'll live. Wife actually doesn't mind going with me there. Course she likes looking for the old comics that are clearance ones for our son.
The best actually for me is a Comic Shop across from George Mason University. Pheonix Comics & Toys, even with a 6yr old in tow buying his monthly Star Wars minis and taking 20 minutes to decide, I've never been rushed out of there near closing. Course when I do go there each month I usually am good for anywhere from $60-100 in sales that day(unless wife is with). I will buy a book from time to time there, and never have had any bad Customer Service in the almost 2yrs going there.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

There is one local chain of game stores that I am aware of, and I don't shop there for many reasons. But I think the idea that gamers need the LGS is wrong. Go where prices are best and buy there. As it is locally unless you play D&D 3.5, WOD, or a mini's game you are not going to have that great a selection, and if you want to order something its a crap shoot. Maybe it will show up, maybe it won't, just don't expect anyone to know when your order will arrive, have the slightest clue, or appear to care. If it doesn't show up in a few weeks the best they can do is order it again. There are some decent people workign there and the manager of the chain is a nice enthuasiastic guy, but they really offer me nothing I can't get cheaper and often faster from Amazon. I bought a 3.5 PH for my brother from the LGS but that was a last minute thing and I didn't have time to get it shipped from Amazon before his Bday. Last book I bought there and the only one in a year or so.

One big reason why you get the gamer fatbeards as you called them, instead of normal retail employees is that a lot of these stores don't pay much and you have to be a gamer looking for a discount or a nerd who wants to be around games to really want to work there.

The stores need to realize that they can't compete with online sellers for price or usually selection so they have to offer great serivce to get customers. If they don't they will join the throngs of stores that were put under by Amazon and the like, which isn't a bad thing IMO.

 

[jdrakeh]

Yes, yes, I get the "Me first!" thing -- like many consumers, you want your demands fulfilled and if they aren't met to the letter, you threaten to take your business elsewhere. Honestly, many retailers hope for that, as they prefer not to deal with customers who have crazy self-entitlement issues. I know that's blunt, but there you have it. Good customers don't attempt to take retailers hostage (i.e., they don't make demands and threaten to take their business elsewhere if those demands aren't met).

That said, yes, there are bad retailers -- I'm simply not sure that a failure to stay open past posted hours in order to assist newcomers is a qualifier for that. Again, posted hours are posted for a reason. The responsible consumer calls ahead to see when a store is open. They don't show up unannounced and then expect the establishment to extend their operating hours just for them, threatening to never again visit said establishment when they don't. That's bad consumerism.

Again, these are the customers that most retailers (not just your FLGS) would glady pay to get rid of.

 

[Kaladhan]

Would you really want gaming stores to hire people good at retail but doesn't know anything about gaming?

 

[jdrakeh]

Would you really want gaming stores to hire people good at retail but doesn't know anything about gaming?

Believe it or not, there are stores hiring people who are knowledgeable of both retail and gaming

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Yes, yes, I get the "Me first!" thing -- like many consumers, you want your demands fulfilled and if they aren't met to the letter, you threaten take your business elsewhere. Honestly, most retailers hope for that, as they prefer not to deal with customers who have crazy self-entitlement issues. I know that's blunt, but there you have it. Good customers don't attempt to take retailers hostage (i.e., they don't make demands and threaten to take their business elsewhere if those demands aren't met).

Seems to me from what I read and hear that many of these stores aren't exactly doing great in the current market and they would be better served putting customer service as the top priority. Why shouldn't someone go where they can get what they want and get it how they want it?

 

[takyris]

My LGS is very friendly, and I've had no problems in dealing with them. Honestly, my big problem is that they don't have what I want.

Slavelords of Cydonia? No. Ultimate Power? No. Masterminds Manual? No. Expanded Psionics Handbook? No.

I ended up getting most of what I needed from Amazon, and Ultimate Power from a comic shop that had an Amazon sub-store. Ultimate Power shipped quickly and arrived in excellent condition, and I gave them a high rating and a good review for the transaction. I wish I could do more.

 

[TheYeti1775]

Would you really want gaming stores to hire people good at retail but doesn't know anything about gaming?

Yes because people good at retail do learn the product they are selling. If only to give basic recommendations like: "I haven't played it personnally, but lots of our customers having been giving good reviews of ________ this past month and their new releases."