Why I don't support my LGS

[w_earle_wheeler]

This I'm not so sure about. I just started wirking at my LGS, and internet sales aren't the biggest threat. You end up paying in shipping what you gained in the sale (or so the customers say). Our biggest concern is the big chains (Barnes and Nobles, etc) who can afford to under cut us.

I have never paid for shipping on an order from Amazon.com. If you order $25 or more, you get free shipping. Also, almost all of their new WotC RPG books are over 30% off the MSRP.

So I would assume that your local potential customers who buy from Amazon.com just don't come into your store at all, or, like most people I know, just don't mention it out of respect for the store you're working in.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Uhm, I have never, and I mean never, seen Waldens, Borders or Barnes sell a D&D book at less than retail. I walk in their store and if the books even have a sticker, the price is the same.

Loyalty cards.

I have one for Barnes & Noble (there's one about a block away from work, and four blocks away at home). Usually, it's 10% off. Recently, I've been getting 20% off on my D&D purchases at B&N as the clerk rings it up as an adult hardcover (they've changed things recently). Combine that with a 15% off coupon, and that's a $30 hardcover for $20ish.

I'm still hitting my usual FLGS, as B&N don't carry Shadowrun or Exalted regularly, but dang, that makes D&D stuff tempting.

Brad

 

[boredgremlin]

I have bought books at barnes and Nobles and occasionally seen them for under retail but not often. I am not a big fan of brick and mortar stores but neither will i buy a book just from the companies discription of it. WOTC burned me with way too many crappy books that sounded great for me to do that. So now i go to a real store so i can page through a book and see whats actually in it before i buy it.

On that note here in vegas there is a hobby town i have been going to for years. I am not sure if they are franchised and the guy running it is the owner or just a longtime manager but i have allways found the staff to be both freindly and helpful. Sure its a chain store so they sell lots of stuff besides gaming and not all the staff are gamers but there is allways at least someone who is, and who is willing to jump on the computer and tell you when something will be in if they dont know off the top of thier head. Its one of the only stores i would suggest to people in the valley for gaming supplies.

 

[Storyteller01]

I have never paid for shipping on an order from Amazon.com. If you order $25 or more, you get free shipping. Also, almost all of their new WotC RPG books are over 30% off the MSRP.

So I would assume that your local potential customers who buy from Amazon.com just don't come into your store at all, or, like most people I know, just don't mention it out of respect for the store you're working in.

Your books are 30% off, so we'll figure that it's 9 dollars off a PHB. You pay $21 dollars to get the book. They pay a processor, an order puller, and shipping to get the book to you. They've already lost the money made with the book.

PDF sales are a different matter.

We're selling at 10% off at this point. without the need to buy something else to avoid shipping. Throw in a free gaming room, a race track out back, and folks running the games deptartment and you get a good following. We can keep doing what we're doing with losing money.

Heck, GW store regulars come here to get their armies.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

Your books are 30% off, so we'll figure that it's 9 dollars off a PHB. You pay $21 dollars to get the book. They pay a processor, an order puller, and shipping to get the book to you. They've already lost the money made with the book.

I'm just curious as to why this part even matters. They know they are going to take the hit from the book and it doesnt matter to them because they've just ensured that people like me are going to frequent thier site to purchase all of my WOTC book needs as opposed to going to my LGS. While I'm there I'll pick up some other stuff on the cheap as well. Amazon probably also probably makes back thier money on the million other products they sell.

Amazon has been around for over 10 years now? I really dont see them going anywhere if that's what youre trying to imply.

I buy books from Amazon all the time and frankly the money that I save from one book makes it so that I'm more apt to buy a second book that I want in the same order. Anyway that you paint it that's free shipping, no tax and a 30% discount for two books.

You may have a great store that provides great support for your customers but I don't. In lieu of that I'll take the savings thank you very much.

 

[Jesus_marley]

My LGS is fantastic. They not only have books and minis but they also have a strong selection of board games. The guy who runs it goes out of his way to know as much as he can about all of the products he carries and will share all he knows. he even has a wall full of opened products that a person can sample in the store and even rent to try them out at home.

when I went in looking for a good two player game, he recommended Carcasonne and was so sure that I would enjoy it, he offered me a full money back guarantee on the opened product if I didn't like it.

I guess my point is that a game store is what the owner makes of it. whether it is an online store or a physical building it is the customer service that is provided that makes it a place worth shopping at.

 

[boerngrim]

Then that owner deserves/ed to go out of business - he proves the point the OP is making. He failed to sell the most crucial product -- customer service. And it IS a product. I'm going to give my money to the vendor that provides the best quality product. Also --you stress you were polite about it. The OP's point (despite the many attempts of others to bypass it) was that the clerk at his FLGS was NOT polite.

I agree with you. The owner I spoke of has a reputation for being antagonistic with his customers in person and in his policies. He seems to see the customers as an obstacle to overcome to get to their money. He doesn't see the customers as the life's blood of his business.
I know I judge any store by how I'm treated, not just by cost.

 

[Vanuslux]

Your books are 30% off, so we'll figure that it's 9 dollars off a PHB. You pay $21 dollars to get the book. They pay a processor, an order puller, and shipping to get the book to you. They've already lost the money made with the book.

PDF sales are a different matter.

We're selling at 10% off at this point. without the need to buy something else to avoid shipping. Throw in a free gaming room, a race track out back, and folks running the games deptartment and you get a good following. We can keep doing what we're doing with losing money.

Heck, GW store regulars come here to get their armies.

I think you're overestimating how much of a loss amazon is taking on a 30% discount...if FedEx gives m'lady 70% off shipping just for working for Kinkos, I'm sure Amazon has a pretty sweet shipping deal worked out with their shippers. As for order pullers and processors, for the number of books they pull and process in an hour I'm sure their pay only amounts to a handful of change per book.

That said, if my LGS even gave a 10% discount to regular customers...or would deeper discount their older stuff that's been collecting dust for 5 years...I'd be much more inclined to shop there. However, except for a few 10% discount sales per year, they pretty much charge full price for everything. Hence for the most part I just go to browse books I'm thinking about buying then buying them at Amazon. The only thing I buy regularly at the LGS is DDM boosters, though even that's slowed since the price increase.

 

[Vanuslux]

Loyalty cards.

I have one for Barnes & Noble (there's one about a block away from work, and four blocks away at home). Usually, it's 10% off. Recently, I've been getting 20% off on my D&D purchases at B&N as the clerk rings it up as an adult hardcover (they've changed things recently). Combine that with a 15% off coupon, and that's a $30 hardcover for $20ish.

I'm still hitting my usual FLGS, as B&N don't carry Shadowrun or Exalted regularly, but dang, that makes D&D stuff tempting.

Brad

I loved my Barnes & Noble loyalty card just for the pretty much monthly 25%-30% off coupons they'd send me, letting me buy books at Amazon-like prices without the wait.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I've mentioned this before, but I went to an LGS about 30 miles from where I live once for the express purpose of buying the Book of Vile Darkness (two copies, actually). When the owner refused to stop chatting online to ask if I needed anything and I had to actually open the boxes the books were delivered in, I waited five minutes at the counter to check out and he never turned around, but said, "You'll have to wait. I'm busy." I left the books there and ever since I've done all I can to slag the guy.