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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 1628176" data-attributes="member: 18280">A store that has a physical storefront has cost requirements that someone's basement doesn't.  Simply put, there is extra rent, heat, etc., to pay.  Depending upon the volume of sales, some stores simply cannot afford to offer a discount.  I know what you'll reply:  offer the discount and you'll make it up on volume.  That is often not true.  Not every product has enough following in a given area to warrant volume sales, and it is the store which has to make the initial investment.  FLGSs are not sure things.  No personal business is.When we discuss putting money into the local economy, we often forget the most important reason for doing this:  it drives up quality of living.  When there is money in a neighborhood, crime rates go down and wages go up.  For fun, apply at one of those box stores and see what kind of wages and benefits people working there get.  If you think it doesn't matter to you, think again.  Those are a lot of people who would be happy to do your job for less than what you make.  Try to save a buck at the expense of other people and sooner or later you're being asked to make due with lowered expectations, too.  What goes around comes around.The easiest ways to compete with the likes of Amazon.com are to 1) lower wages, 2) fire people, 3) order up and make lots of returns, ripping off the publisher, or 4) severely limit the chances you take with new product.Having a hard time finding a good selection?  Your LGS probably went with #4.  Your LGS not so friendly any more?  #1 and #2 will do that to you.  Trying to avoid going broke while providing a FLGS atmosphere in the face of an apathetic gaming public can throw anyone off stride.#3 puts publishers out of business.  It also makes publishers leery about taking any kind of chance.  This is what is currently happening with book publishers (here in Canada, anyway) due to the practices of large chains.Finally, those great discounts you're getting?  Those exist because they don't want you to go to the alternative -- local booksellers, FLGS, etc.  If enough of the local trade disappears, see how long the discounts last.RC</blockquote>

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