Why I don't support my LGS

[Arashi Ravenblade]

eh, I find most LGS to be rather unreliable. Even non gaming hobby stores like a comic shop tends to be very annoying.
I get all of my gaming stuff online at Amazon. I havent had a problem with them yet and when I got Dragon of Faerun last year new for 14 bucks, it made me wonder what I would do if ever I couldnt order online anymore. Right now I get my comics in store, just cause I havent found a place cheaper (I get 10% off for having a comic pool set up, so I save something) and I want them the day their out.

But yeah store hours are store hours. My grandma and I where once asked very politely by a young lady at a subway if we would take it to go cause they where closing in 5 minutes and she had to get home caue she had school the next day. My grandma threw a fit, while I understood. I woundnt stay any longer than I had to, though if it was my buisiness I would make an exception, not if I was working for someone else mind you.

 

[Contrarian]

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

I want them to hire somebody's who good at one and can learn the other. You know, like every other successful small retailer in the country does.

Evil Big Boxes like Wal-Mart and Best Buy succeed through volume and marketing. Small businesses like the corner drug store or the local appliance store suceed through good service, or being the only place in town. Far too many game stores are depending on the latter when customers want the former.

(By the way, have I mentioned that my LGS posts its hours as "11ish to 7ish"? That's kind of annoying.)

 

[jdrakeh]

Wish granted. (Where do I send the bill?)

I'd swear the problem was that we were being bad by NOT shopping at the LGS. It seems I had it backward. I'm glad to know we are being helpful. Next time someone says I should pay more to support the rude guy I'll point them to you for clairification.

Here's the deal. You aren't that important. For every hostage-taking consumer out there, at least one hundred well-adjusted human beings exist who are ready to step up and buy things from retailers simply because they want or need them, not because they need the retailer to grant their every wish like some kind of fairy godmother. For normal people, consumerism is about. . . ah. . . consuming, not acting out bizarro control fantasies with the cash register clerks at the local brick and mortar store.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

My grandma and I where once asked very politely by a young lady at a subway if we would take it to go cause they where closing in 5 minutes and she had to get home caue she had school the next day. My grandma threw a fit, while I understood. I woundnt stay any longer than I had to, though if it was my buisiness I would make an exception, not if I was working for someone else mind you.

It all depends on how you say it.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

Here's the deal. You aren't that important. For every hostage-taking consumer out there, at least one hundred well-adjusted human beings exist who are ready to step up and buy things from retailers simply because they want or need them, not because they need the retailer to grant their every wish like some kind of fairy godmother. For normal people, consumerism is about. . . ah. . . consuming, not acting out bizarro control fantasies with the cash register clerks at the local brick and mortar store.

You'd have a FIT out here...

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I don't know what retail stores you've been in, but in all my experience, both as a reg'lar peon and as a managerial type, the rule is "If you're buying stuff, take your time, and I'll be here to help you with whatever you need. I'm gonna lock the door, though, because we are closed, you folks will be the last ones."

90% of closing duties can be accomplished while people are still in the store. You can work a few extra minutes if someone's going to be making a purchase. They're *paying* for you to stay open.

I agree. I worked retail for years and we never rushed the customers out. If you are closing lock the door and let the last few customers finish up, they usually know you want to go home too and don't linger.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

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

IME, they tend to hire people who are good at neither. My local comic shop is killing itself with bad customer service. At this point, it only seems to have customers wandering in when they're waiting on the nearby movies. Most of them leave without buying anything, which is a good trick when they're going to see, say, Spider-Man 2.

 

[jdrakeh]

You'd have a FIT out here...

I think that the Germans must be making up for some past misdeed (the two German-owned eateries that I frequent locally border on masochistic where taking crap from customers is concerned).

 

[Waldorf]

Never bought books or minis from my LGS, mainly due to the fact that it never discounted one red cent from retail, but I did buy Dragon and Dungeon there.

Looks like I have little reason to go back.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

You aren't that important. For every hostage-taking consumer out there, at least one hundred well-adjusted human beings exist

No personal shots, please.