Why I refuse to support my FLGS

[Dristram]

Online store competition

I just had a thought about the online business and competition amongst themselves. It would seem that Amazon.com is to independent online stores, like Wal-Marts and B&Ns are to "brick & mortar" stores. I just compared the price of Weapons of Legacy on Amazon vs. the ENWorld shop. Amazon's price is $23.07 ($11.88 savings) and ENWorld's is $31.46 ($3.49 savings). Small online stores need to find ways to get customers to buy from them instead of Amazon.com. How do they do it? For ENWorld, it’s easy. It offers an online gaming community. But what about others that all they have to offer is an online store?

BTW, one thing I wish would happen are online purchases being subjected to sales tax. Even if online stores don't offer a discount, because they don't charge sales tax, customers are getting a discount. That inherently puts FLGSs at a disadvantage. Online stores offering a discount on top of that is like adding insult to injury.

(-Brad
Owner, Gamer's Keepe

 

[ShinHakkaider]

After reading all these posts, I think I've noticed something that is causing this rift between gamers.

Some gamers like, and prefer to shop for their gaming stuff at a store that specializes in their hobby. They don't want to see their game store(s) go away. And some want them so much that they'll even buy from less professional game stores. When they walk into a game store, it's like the preverbal "kid in a candy store" feeling to them. I’ll call these “game store fans”. I’m one of these types

Other gamers couldn't care less if they have a local game store because without one, they can still get their gaming stuff online or big book stores. They don't get any real thrill out of walking into a store where they are surrounded by the games they like. And they don’t have any real need for game space (because they play at home) or need to find gamers (because they have their longstanding gaming group already). Also, the online stores, with their discounts, have devalued RPGs (and other games), lessening the value-add of a local game store.

Most game store owners are “game store fans” that are trying to live their dream of running their own game store. Many assumed most gamers are like them and since the proliferation of on-line stores, are surprised at just how many aren’t, which worries them. Other “game store fans” see the struggle their beloved game stores face and wish more gamers would be like them and may get frustrated that they aren’t, because if all gamers would choose to patronize their local game shop, they’d flourish.

Thus, the conflict we see here.

I think I may be rambling now, so I think that’s it. How does it sound?

(-Brad
Owner, Gamer’s Keepe

I think that's pretty accurate, at least from where I'm standing. I used to be in that first group many years ago, now I'm in the second group. Also I live in NY and there are a LOT of other things to do than sit inside and game. That's not to say that I dont value gaming but I'm not a shut in, especially on a bright sunny day when I can be outside with my son. I also cant bring myself to be too excited to be around "my fellow gamers", often I've found alot (not all of them, but enough) of them to be judgemental, lacking in real social skills and sometimes just plain rude. So yeah, I'm the guy that will walk into a game store (when I used to partonize my regular place) get what I need, converse with the staff a little and get out.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I think that's pretty accurate, at least from where I'm standing. I used to be in that first group many years ago, now I'm in the second group. Also I live in NY and there are a LOT of other things to do than sit inside and game. That's not to say that I dont value gaming but I'm not a shut in, especially on a bright sunny day when I can be outside with my son. I also cant bring myself to be too excited to be around "my fellow gamers", often I've found alot (not all of them, but enough) of them to be judgemental, lacking in real social skills and sometimes just plain rude. So yeah, I'm the guy that will walk into a game store (when I used to partonize my regular place) get what I need, converse with the staff a little and get out.

Also, and this is going to sound a little messed up, but you can blame places like ENworld also . Because for the most part I find out about games and other materials from this place (the boards and review) so the things that sound interesting and good to me I just order, whether it be hardcopy or PDF. I dont really need to browse through it, if it's from one of my consistent and reliable commpanies (Malhavoc, Green Ronin, etc.) then 9 times out of 10 there's something that I can use from it. Also I'm not as hypercritical of gaming material as some of the people here are so if it gets a stamp of approval from this lot then it's bound to be at least useful. I've been burned a few times but not bad enough to make me not trust this place.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

This is, quite possibly, one of the most absurd things I've ever heard.

I was thinking the same thing but you put it alot nicer than I would have.

...but yeah, what he said...

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

BTW, one thing I wish would happen are online purchases being subjected to sales tax. Even if online stores don't offer a discount, because they don't charge sales tax, customers are getting a discount. That inherently puts FLGSs at a disadvantage. Online stores offering a discount on top of that is like adding insult to injury.

Sales Tax based upon what? Where the buyer lives? Talk about your logistical nightmare. In New York state, the sales tax has a state, county and possibly even a town component. You would need to have a complete breakdown of sales taxes, and the reporting to each state would suck. I know, that isn't your problem, why should you care since they already have the advantage on your LGS.

I guess it doesn't matter too much to me since my FLGS is located in sales tax-free New Hampshire.

 

[Diremede]

My local gaming store rocks, if you guys have a lame one, well I feel sorry for you. Where I used to live they had two really crappy LGS's, simply because they were more comic book and figurine stores than RPG stores, though they did carry RPG books. Where I live now the store is definitely RPG oriented, and has a ton of great books and mini's, they have a large gaming room in the back, and the owners are some great people. If its out there and I want it, I check the gaming shop first, if they don't carry it, then I will go to the internet to buy the books, but only as a last resort.

I say support your local gaming store if its a good one, with good people.

 

[Dristram]

Sales Tax based upon what? Where the buyer lives? Talk about your logistical nightmare.

I was thinking a generic internet sales tax based on some fair average.

I guess it doesn't matter too much to me since my FLGS is located in sales tax-free New Hampshire.

And that's where my idea would problably flop. Not all states have sales tax, so taxing all internet sales would be unfair. It would be best to be based upon where the customer lives, but you're correct when you say that would be a logistical nightmare. Ah well :\

(-Brad Daeda
Owner, Gamer's Keepe
Vacaville, CA

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

There are already multiple committees out there contemplating how to tax internet sales- and I mean that its occurred to more than one country that online sales are costing them revenue.

2 most likely online taxation schemes, IMHO:

1) Tax everything a certain %. Tax goes to single international fund. Annual disbursements to countries based on proportion of internet sales in fiscal year.

2) Tax everything based on tax rate of address to which something is shipped. Yes, there are ways around this- mainly mass orders- but generally speaking, they cost more than the tax.

 

[ssampier]

Interesting discussion.

I think a good comparison is other industries. In my small, rural towns, I can name three computer stores. All these stores do computer repair. I repair my own PC, so that service is moot to me. They have a very limited software and hardware selection with very high markups. I buy my hardware and software online because of this. I may be a capitalistic pig, but I see no reason to support a company that won't provide the products I desire. If they would stock more products I may be inclined to shop there.

As for the FLGS, I have one FLGS in my area. It's a model/hobby shop crammed with annoying pre-teens that play Magic loudly and snicker at anyone "uncool" who comes in; I'm a young man, but still twice their age. Everytime I tried to examine a product, the owner hovers over me like I'm wasting his time (so he can go back to selling overpriced cards). Needless to say I see no reason to buy cover on books I can buy more comfortably online. If the shop gave me a 10% discount and provided better service I may be inclined to shop there.

 

[was]

BTW, one thing I wish would happen are online purchases being subjected to sales tax. Even if online stores don't offer a discount, because they don't charge sales tax, customers are getting a discount. That inherently puts FLGSs at a disadvantage. Online stores offering a discount on top of that is like adding insult to injury.

I am uncertain as to whether or not the lack of a sales tax online really ends up providing a discount. In my experience the S/H payed for buying online far exceeds what the average consumer would have payed in sales taxes. Especially when you consider the number of on-line vendors who overreport the weight of the purchase in order to make up some of that 'discounted' price in shipping and handling charges. I buy most of my on-line stuff from eBay and have fell prey to that scam more times than I care to admit.