Why should I care about the FLGS?

[MightIsRight]

Yeah, so my FLGS doesn't know off hand the rules for the D&D 3.0/.5. I do know if I ever need to know an obscure rule/combo for ANY CCG known to man, they're there to help. I appreciate that my FLGS has tons of rpg books and supplements and that's one reason I shop there. To me it's basically the same reason that I still buy CDs instead of burning/mp3s: I like to support things I like. I like bands and I want them to keep putting out music, I buy their CDs. I like and want more d20 books, I'll keep buying them. I want my FLGS to stay open so I can fulfill my immediate desires (well, rpg-wise), I buy from them. I'll spend a couple of extra bucks to show that I support something.

 

[lior_shapira]

I live in Israel and I moved two years ago really close to the only serious LGS in Tel-Aviv. I really appreciate what they're doing and the fact that they have quite a diverse array of d20 (and other RPG) books. However I never buy there for several reasons:
1. The clerks know nothing about rpg and can offer no real help
2. They dont really think about the stock they keep, they have all the WOTC books but from other companies it's just what they happened to get.
3. Their prices are fair I guess if you take into consideration that they hape to ship the books from the US and pay horrendous taxes here in Israel, but when I order online I can still get it 20%-30% cheaper and thats a big difference to me

Actually I did buy there gaming magazines once but they dont bring them regularly (see point 2 )

Still, ironically, I hope their other business (mostly computer games) keeps them going for a long long time

 

[Turanil]

I buy almost 80% of my rpg stuff on Amazon for two reasons:
1) I live in Europe, and thus there is a delay to get books, especially from third party publishers who may even not be imported at all.
2) There is a discount price and currently the euro-dollar rate of exchange is in favor of the euro, so I pay less (despite shipping costs) when buying on Amazon.

I know there's a need and desire for local hobby shops, it's just not my need or desire, and it is the responsibility of the stores themselves to adjust to a market space shared with online competitors.

I think it's ludicrous to try to fight against online shops. In the future, it will become more and more prevalent, just as supermarkets (or malls) have become prevalent against small "street shops". To survive, local stores will have to adapt and propose new services they didn't propose before. I hear that in the US it's possible to play at FLGS? This kind of thing should be implemented in France!

 

[Snoweel]

Why should I care about the FLGS?

Because the FLGS IS YOUR FATHER Arcady!!!!

We've been meaning to tell you...

 

[Kaleon Moonshae]

Man. The day I pay $50 for a haircut, shoot me

Personally, with my $50, I'd get the $8 haircut and buy two RPG books online

(not to mention, service != expensive. My local $8 hair guy remembers me, and how I like my hair ... and does the same for anyone who goes there with any semblance of regularity)

As for gaming material, I do all my shopping at one of three venues:
- frpgames.com
- milsims.com.au
- gaming conventions

I agree that expense != quality which goes to further my point. If I am going to pay so much more at a flgs then they better make it worth my while. I pay more for a cut and they make sure I am happy, I pay more for a book and I don't even get my name remembered and I had *6* subscriptions, dragon, dungeon and 4 comics.

 

[Tolen Mar]

I beleive the FLGS should be supported, and for pretty much all the above reasons.

Its a great place to browse before you buy, saving you money on things you won't actually use.

Its a great place to recruit new players, both for your campaign and gaming in general.

But here's my problem: My FLGS sucks. The owner is a jerk. They never carry anything I'm interested in. When they do, they mark up the price so that you can get a club members discount that's suspiciously close to the list price anyway.

I mean sure, they have a few gimmicks, like come in costume on halloween and get a discount, or come in on your birthday for a discount, but more and more lately I find less and less reason to travel the 40 minutes to get to my FLGS. (And that makes it suck even worse!)

I wanna open my own shop. Anybody wanna give me enough money to do so?

 

[undeaddan]

Why indeed

There are three basic reasons I buy from my FLGS(s)

1. In apparent opposition to my conservative/libertarian ideas about business, I feel an inherent need to shop in non-chain stores or eat in non-chain restautants whenever possible. I unlike most right-winger-types hate Walmart and everything it really stands for. I am a big fan of main street type stores. If there were an independant store that sold DVDs or CDs, I would shop there. So shopping at my FLGS is merely an expression of this attitude.

2. I've been going to the same shop for about 12 years. They know me and I know them. I don't see any reason to change now.

3. As goes the local shop, so goes the RPG industry. While D&D (and possibly White Wolf) will survive until the end of time local stores or no, the vast majority of the industry as we know it relies on the continued existance of FLGSes. The brick and mortar stores still comprise a significant and neccessary proportion of their sales. Without FLGSes the small companies would start folding, one after another. Small RPG companies are like immigrants to the US. They serve two basic and important functions. They publish product that no big company would even consider and they inject new life and fresh ideas into the industry as a whole. If I don't buy from the FLGS I feel as if I am not doing my part to ensure the continued welfare of the industry that supports the hobby I love.

Summary Translation: "I do it because it feels good"

Dan

 

[Morte]

The world does not owe booksellers a living.

If they provide something online stores don't -- a gaming venue, browsing that's better than sample PDFs, helpful advice, rapid availability, other gamers to play with, or any other added value then they're worth extra money and you would do well to consider patronising them.

If they shrinkwrap the books, or advise you to buy whatever's overstocked or high-margin rather than what you need, or have no clue when books will be in and just lie about it, then screw 'em.

 

[sword-dancer]

Because I could order over them books, Amazon or Dragonworld don`t have.
Also it is easier to reclaim Mistakes.

 

[Prothall]

Without reading replies to the first post, Reason #1 that internet isn't better:

Shipping.

On EBay, for example, people frequently overcharge on shipping - and even if they don't, a few bucks saved could turn into a few extra spent due to the shipping. Between that and the lack of immediacy (it costs at least about $15 for one-day shipiing for one item), a FLGS beats out the internet shops rather nicely.