Why I don't support my LGS

[jdrakeh]

I have a good friend who is a retail store manager, and if someone comes in at one minute to close he'll take care of them, even if it takes them a half an hour.

Again, your friend is the exeption. Seriously.

A lot of it wasn't in what he was saying but how he said it - self-important and superior.

More correctly, the problem seems to be how you perceived it

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I was reminded of this the last time I bought a book at a gaming store. It was raining and the guy behind the counter only grudgingly gave me a bag after whining about it.

I cant find anything, no one knows where a propduct is, when its released, or when they are getting it, and the place smells of BO and smoke. Its a no brainer to save myself the 30-50% and buy online.

Anytime I read people wanting others to support their game stores, it reminds me of the sad mooks gaming there. If you dont have anywhere else to play, thats not my problem. I dont *want* to game there, or with random spazzes, so its a little silly to expect me to support your habit. Kind of like insisting that you dont drink in your home, but rather go to someone's favorite bar for every beer. Oh, you dont like smoke, or loud crowds? Too bad! I need a place to drink, and you're a selfish jerk if you dont subsidize my hangout! I wonder how many of them have Netflix accounts, or buy DVD's or music from Bestbuy or Amazon.

 

[jdrakeh]

Given that gaming stores are not exactly bringing in Best Buy style numbers, sucking it up and staying open 10 more minutes hardly seems like someone is asking to be spoiled.

Well, my point was that staying open past posted hours isn't standard retail operating procedure. Expecting that from every retailer just because one prefers it based on personal experience elsewhere isn't reasonable or realistic.

[Edit: I should note that my preferred FLGS both stays open past posted hours to assist customers and brings in Best Buy style numbers. That said, it's the first family-owned retail store that I've seen in more than a decade that does these things.]

 

[Umbran]

The LGS, I expect, typically makes the bulk of its money off a small, regular customer base. Knowing gamers, if those regulars get the idea that they can loiter after hours, they'll make a habit out of hanging out, making the employee wait around for an age and a half when they don't intend to buy anything.

Plus, while you posit that the employee had nothing important to do that evening, you don't know that. It isn't as if we all haven't had important stuff to get to after work, right?

In general - anyone can have a bad day. Whether the place is worth your custom should be based on more than a single sample.

 

[maddman75]

Again, your friend is the exeption. Seriously.

I guess my point is that I'm not going to give them a pass just because they're a game store. Any kind of store that was rushing me out the door like that would not be getting a return visit. I'll not be venturing down again I don't believe.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Well, my point was that staying open past posted hours isn't standard retail operating procedure. Expecting that from every retailer just because one prefers it based on personal experience elsewhere isn't reasonable or realistic.

I don't know where you shop, but it's not the exception in my experience at any sort of store.

 

[Moab2]

Wow, I have to say I'm surprised by the amount of people who think the original poster is wrong to be disappointed by the clerk's actions. He is certainly within his rights to push away the customers at closing time, but at a time when the internet is threatening a lot of small stores, the only weapon those stores has is customer loyalty. I don't go into many gaming stores, but if that's par for course, I am not surprised they are going out of business so frequently.

 

[WayneLigon]

Most game and comics stores are their own worst enemy. With Mr 'Get out of the store before you spend money here', I'd have a nice chat with his boss. The only time I've seen stores refuse to serve someone is if they have already closed the doors and started the cash register polling; it's pretty much impossible to serve someone once that process begins.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

I don't know where you shop, but it's not the exception in my experience at any sort of store.

Same here

 

[BryonD]

You know, honestly. . . adhering to posted store hours sounds neither rude nor crazy. That happens to be standard retail procedure. Sure, some stores stay open a bit later to accommodate customers but that is the exception. I think that you may have been spoiled a bit elsewhere.

Sounds like a good reason for shopping Amazon.

What are their hours again?