Why I refuse to support my FLGS

[Kanegrundar]

Screw the local gaming store. I hope they all go under. The hobby will survive just fine without them.

That seems unneccesarilly cruel. Those that own the shops are, after all, just working stiffs like the rest of us. Shop there or not, but there's no reason to wish ill upon those that you don't shop from.

Kane

 

[the black knight]

Do you, personally, "own" a home? I'm guessing you don't.

Quasqueton

Yes, to the tune of 800k. Feel better now?

 

[the black knight]

That seems unneccesarilly cruel. Those that own the shops are, after all, just working stiffs like the rest of us. Shop there or not, but there's no reason to wish ill upon those that you don't shop from.

Kane

Businesses that offer nothing to a hobby other than the illusion of good-will should either get their acts together or be put out of business, and that's the last I will say on the matter.

 

[Quasqueton]

Yes, to the tune of 800k. Feel better now?

So you pay nothing each month for it? Because you *own* it.

Quasqueton

 

[TheYeti1775]

Correct and no to your questions. However my point is is that most online stores require you to have a credit/debit card on file. Failure to have one means failure to have commercial transactions on the buyers part.

Amazon lets you pay via Postal Money Order.

 

[billd91]

Now why don't you give ME a break. Not all gaming stores are to be found in strip malls. Sometimes people own what are called BUILDINGS, however small they may be, and they operate out of those BUILDINGS they OWN and DO NOT pay rent on them. I've seen it myself, and the results thereof.

Wake up and join the real world.

A good many of us do live in the real world and whether they are part of a strip mall or not, I can only think of one game store that I believe owned its own space (this is out of 6 that I have frequented). The other 5 I KNOW didn't own their own space and only 2 of them were in strip malls.
It's simply not that common for small businesses to own their own retail space, especially in larger cities. And if they did, their mortgage and maintenance would have been more than the rent.

 

[kigmatzomat]

It definitely varies from region to region. If you're the only LGS for 200 miles you can afford to be someone we couldn't talk about in front of Eric's mother. On the other hand, competition tends to force evolution.

Here in Louisville we have three LGS, two of which are regional chains. the Preston Book & Music Exchange is part of a used book/music/video game chain with a decent new game selection. The Great Escape is a used book/music/toy store with a good game selection and Comic Book World has a huge number of new and old comics and an extensive RPG selection.

All have plusss and minuses. BME has friendly gamer staff but they are a little more "relaxed" about things (read cluttered and semi-organized) and their gaming tables are often over-run by the underage CCG crowd. Escape's the smallest and doesn't really have many gamers on staff but someone there likes eclectic games so it's okay. CBW has a huge stock but they tend to shrink wrap, their staff are 90% comic book folk (explaining the shrinkwrap) and their gaming area is usually a wargame diorama.

I've been going to these shops for around 15 years and they pretty much hit the FLGS gamut. I'm partial to BME b/c I went to college with one of the managers and do most of my shopping there. Not all, sometimes the Escape has something unique or used and CBW's backstock is hard to beat during the holidays.

Perhaps as a side effect, all the local chains have a decent (if not awe inspiring) gaming collection. The ones farther away from the LGS tend to have a few more non-WotC books. It's still just one bookcase, though. So the only time I buy game books at non-LGS is when I get a gift card. But I could survive on the chains if I didn't have a car to get to the LGSs. I doubt it would be as easy if it wasn't for the LGSs.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Amazon lets you pay via Postal Money Order.

or with personal check.

 

[wingsandsword]

Now why don't you give ME a break. Not all gaming stores are to be found in strip malls. Sometimes people own what are called BUILDINGS, however small they may be, and they operate out of those BUILDINGS they OWN and DO NOT pay rent on them. I've seen it myself, and the results thereof.

Wake up and join the real world.

Every FLGS I've ever seen was in a strip mall, or a regular mall, or some rented retail space. There probably are some where the owner owns the whole thing, lock stock and barrel, but they are in the minority, just like the rest of small retail businesses.

I've had good experiences with FLGS, and I support them because I don't like to shop online, I don't like having my gaming materials delivered by the mail, I like to actually browse a physical store that is near me. I like having a place I can go in and meet new gamers, and has employees who actually know their wares. It may be a few dollars more expensive, but that's what happens when you shop in the real world.

Also, could you tone down the bile a few notches please? You don't need to come in here spewing fire, bragging about the price of your home and whatnot. ENWorld is usually a pretty nice place, and I think we'd all like to keep it that way.

 

[Quasqueton]

bragging about the price of your home and whatnot.

That was bragging?

Quasqueton