Why I refuse to support my FLGS

[Jarrod]

It is all about the money, and we can't pretend it's anything other than that.

The local store charges $10 more for a book that I could mailorder. To me, $10 is worth the ability to drop in and purchase a single die, the ability to flip through the racks of miniatures, and the ability to leaf through a book and see if it's worth buying. To other people, it isn't -- and they'll mailorder.

Not to be overly confrontational and aggravating, but saying "I'd love to shop there but I could spend that money somewhere else" is ducking the question. Of _course_ you can spend it somewhere else; money doesn't just disappear (except from my wallet...). You need to decide how much the FLGS is worth to you, and nobody else should do that for you. If they're not friendly, they're not worth it. If $10 is the difference between you eating this week and not, they're not worth it.

FLGS are not a charity. On the other hand, pricing an intangible is very difficult.

Just don't go into the store, look through a book, decide to buy it based on looking at it, then order it off Amazon.

 

[mcrow]

His attitude of disbelief left me less than impressed. But I don't want to turn a portion of this thread into debating the benefits of the store. I won't go there, but I don't slight others who do.

That's cool the Source is not the only good (IMO) store around the Minneapolis area. I think we are lucky that way ,in our area we have 3-4 good gaming stores around.

 

[reveal]

I don't care for NSFLGS. I used my debit card for a large purchase and all I got was an earful complaint about how they have to pay a percentage to the insurance company. Now I know this but he didn't have to complain about it to ME, the customer who is spending money at his store. I also bought some Stargate stuff there which wasn't cheap, now I only use a credit card in his store.

There are other reasons but lets just say it always feels like we are interuppting him when we go in there.

A few months ago I was in my FLGS and my son pointed at a statue of the Black Cat and said "Black Cat." He's only 3 and the store owner was impressed. He gave my son a Teen Titans comic book. True, it was one of the "Free Comic Day" issues, but it's little things like that that keep me going back.

 

[bolen]

You know Memphis had a game store and they closed. A second one opened and closed.

Now we dont have any game shop. I would hope that people would support game shops. At the same time I think too many game shop owners are not business people. You need to be friendly to everyone not only the people who come and hang out every day.

On the other hand, I would bet that knowing some of the types who "hang out" at the gamestore and did not buy anything cost the owners alot of money as some of these people were rather strange folk to say the least. (I think they scare off alot of newbe and casual gamers)

So I would encourage you if you hang out at a store for over an hour and never buy anything, to reconcider your habits or you will not have a store to "hang out in".

 

[amazingshafeman]

No... it's not.

It's hard to support a FLGS if you think all you're getting is product.

We're talking enlightened self-interest, here.

It may actually not BE in your best interest to support your local store - for instance, if all you get is product, no services, and you don't care about the midsection of the gaming industry.

If, however, you claim the FLGS is too expensive based on UNenlightened self-interest - for instance, if all you consider is the per-purchase price of product - then you're probably losing dollars/euros/energy credits/whatever on the deal by not understanding your actual economic relationship with the store.

I think that accusing anyone of not caring about the midsection of the gaming industry is a bit elitist, especially in the context of enlightenment. It breaks down into two types of gamers, those that play at home and those that play in store. If I play in store, I buy in store. If not, it's all about price and selection, OR other benefits offered. Whether those benefits are worth any extra cost is definitely a personal decision, much like enlightened SELF-interest.

 

[kanithardm]

whats an FLGS if LGS is local gaming store.

 

[reveal]

whats an FLGS if LGS is local gaming store.

[cue spokesmodel voice]
The "F" stands for "Friendly!"

 

[amazingshafeman]

That's cool the Source is not the only good (IMO) store around the Minneapolis area. I think we are lucky that way ,in our area we have 3-4 good gaming stores around.

I hear ya. When I played Mechwarrior (Wizkids version), it was great to be able to hit a tournament any day of the week except Friday.

 

[Venport]

For the same reason Shell and BP Amoco don't pool their resources to buy more oil, thereby lowering gas prices in

America: They're competitors. Screw the other guy!

I can't believe that you would Help kill FLGS over $6... not to mention my issues with Wal-Mart in general... But you mentioned Borders... how much of a discount dose that store give you? I have never seen a RPG book at borders priced lower than FLGS, and i do go to borders and read RPG material (it;s closer to my place than the nearest FLGS and i can sit in a big chair to read it) however i still dirve to go buy my books at my FLGS, in fact i can find the cheeper most of the time.



Have you seen lower prices at borders? (I’m not talking about that Sh** den called Wal-Mart)



I do understand if the guys at you FLGS are jerks or if ther is not one around I understand going online and looking for deals but to me $6 is not worth loosing the RPG industry witch i think will happen if it goes to a majority web based industry




I just hope that your FLG is crappy because if it was 1\2 way decent you should be getting out of your computer chair and buying them from a human

 

[reveal]

I can't believe that you would Help kill FLGS over $6... not to mention my issues with Wal-Mart in general... But you mentioned Borders... how much of a discount dose that store give you? I have never seen a RPG book at borders priced lower than FLGS, and i do go to borders and read RPG material (it;s closer to my place than the nearest FLGS and i can sit in a big chair to read it) however i still dirve to go buy my books at my FLGS, in fact i can find the cheeper most of the time.



Have you seen lower prices at borders? (I’m not talking about that Sh** den called Wal-Mart)



I do understand if the guys at you FLGS are jerks or if ther is not one around I understand going online and looking for deals but to me $6 is not worth loosing the RPG industry witch i think will happen if it goes to a majority web based industry




I just hope that your FLG is crappy because if it was 1\2 way decent you should be getting out of your computer chair and buying them from a human

Ummm... Was this supposed to be directed at me? I've been nothing but kind in my posts about my FLGS.