Why I refuse to support my FLGS

[reveal]

You can still be involved in Co-Op's yet be competitors. Forming even small co-ops help to reduce the prices (for increased volume) and those small stores could/should use every weapon possible to try to level the playing field against the big corps.

and the big oil companies do a multitude of things to control prices and ensure profitability.

I know you can. My point was the "screw the other guy" mentality is used.

 

[GlassJaw]

If it's cheaper, that's where I'm going. I'll save a noble attitude for noble causes.

I certainly don't think this is childish. A little harsh perhaps but I pretty much agree. I don't care what the product or service is, money is money. I find it extremely difficult to shell out an extra $10-12 on average for the same book I can get on Amazon or ebay.

I have to agree with the sentiment that if they can't survive or come up with clever ways to attract customers, it's not my moral responsbility to keep them in business.

I see them as the cornerstone of the industry and without them we will have no more Support for your favorite hobby

I definitely don't agree with this. As Erik said, the hobby will take a significant blow but it will not go away. Again, what other market relies on the sympathy of customers to keep them in business? Business is cold and only the strong survive.

Now, that all said, I think the FLGS's are CRUCIAL to the survival of collectable miniature gaming. The difference is that the players rely on the store itself to play the game. It's not so easy to run mini battles in your apartment or your house. You need large areas and terrain tables, etc.

However, I've been getting into Warmachine lately and I still find it extremely difficult to pay for something at my FLGS when I could go on ebay or other online vendors and pay a lot less AND get free shipping. The only thing stopping me from buying everything online and walking into the store to play with my new army is my guilt/moral code. When I game at the store, I'm not paying for table, the terrain, the lighting, or the lease that the store owner is. Knowing that doesn't make the higher prices any easier to take though but then again, I'm a very frugal shopper.

It's definitely a tough issue. In general, I've never relied nor have I had very positiver experiences at gaming stores and I tend to avoid them if possible. By getting into miniature gaming, I am reliant on the store itself. I would almost rather pay a monthly fee to use the space to play and buy my minis elsewhere. Or if I paid a monthly fee to play, I would get a discount on everything I buy or something. Most game stores I've gone to in the past are extremely short-sighted and uncreative when it comes to their trade.

 

[kenobi65]

You can still be involved in Co-Op's yet be competitors. Forming even small co-ops help to reduce the prices (for increased volume) and those small stores could/should use every weapon possible to try to level the playing field against the big corps.

Just a guess, but I suspect the reasons that this hasn't happened are (a) many FLGS owners probably don't look beyond their own walls for ideas, and (b) while some FLGS owners / managers are surely savvy businesspeople (hi, Thalmin!), I think a lot of them are gamers first, businessmen second -- and thus, might not even think of something like this.

 

[DMH]

Until about 2 years ago, I would visit the LGS about 3-4 times a year. The people there were generally unpleasant and didn't know much about the smaller companies. Then a store opened within walking distance of my house and I spend about $50-80 a month there. Why? Because I want to support them and can, I don't want them to move to a place with worse parking and, last and least, they give me a 10% discount on all gaming books. It hurts a bit to see so much stuff on their shelves- I wish there was a larger gaming community around here.

 

[smootrk]

I know you can. My point was the "screw the other guy" mentality is used.

If only a few stores got together to address the problem, leaving their competitive issues behind for little while, they could make some progress, and I think over time more and more stores would join such a Co-Op to get at those better prices.

But I do agree with you. Most have a screw you attitude, and those will be the stores that close faster.

 

[Oryan77]

It's easy for people with money to blow on gaming books/cards/minis to critisize others for buying at Toys-R-Us or Amazon instead of a FLGS. It's hard to support a FLGS when you don't even make enough money to buy your own house and you still have to pay rent and live with roommates.

I don't kid myself...a FLGS owner doesn't care about our financial situation so why should I care about theirs; he's looking out for him & his store. I don't blame him, but it's not cool for people to critisize others for looking out for themselves too. I can't make an effort to support a guy who will give a child $3 for his collectible and then resell it in his shop for $15-$20.

If I was well off and living in my own home, sure I'd give the FLGS my business if the owner was a decent guy...but until then, I have to support myself first.

It reminds me of the time I bought my new car at the dealers and while haggling over the price the salesman said, "Come on man, I need to make some money off this car, I have a family to feed". I have a family to feed also and to top that off I had to buy a new car cause the old one died on me. I think my family would care more about me saving some of the money we weren't expecting to spend on a car & get a good deal rather than supporting this salesman who's trying to rip people off anyway.

 

[mcrow]

Amasingshaf:


If you are talking about The Source I they had both of those mags in stock last time I was there.


I won't dispute that Fantasy Flight & Atlas stuff tend to get the best shelf space and maybe are favored a bit by the store. I don't blame them though, I'd be proud of the "companies products" and want have good sales numbers foer them. OTOH they sponser many demo events for games that other companies make such as the big Mutants and Masterminds event that started up a couple weeks ago. I have had no problem with their service . I guess with amount of customers that come through there you would likely have an unhappy customer on once in a while. If you have any problems with the service you should let Berl (sp?) know he's the manager I think.

 

[Dagger75]

I don't care for my 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 credit card 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 and he was to busy unpacking boxes to help me check. Waited 10 minutes for him to finish plus 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.



*Edit* Hit submit to soon, stupid work interupting me

 

[amazingshafeman]

If you are talking about The Source I they had both of those mags in stock last time I was there.

I guess with amount of customers that come through there you would likely have an unhappy customer on once in a while. If you have any problems with the service you should let Berl (sp?) know he's the manager I think.

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.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

It's easy for people with money to blow on gaming books/cards/minis to critisize others for buying at Toys-R-Us or Amazon instead of a FLGS. It's hard to support a FLGS when you don't even make enough money to buy your own house and you still have to pay rent and live with roommates.

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.