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Post by archersix on Nov 23, 2014 13:51:50 GMT -6
So, with this being the age of the internet where everything from the newest releases to a woodgrain OD&D set being available at the press of a button, what do you guys think the outlook for the FLGS is in the future?
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Post by Merctime on Nov 23, 2014 13:56:29 GMT -6
I suppose I am skewed due to my location. The FLGS here really only sells 4E (which I have no personal interest in whatsoever) but that makes sense as that is what the kids buy. So, I do all of my current game purchases online. I sure would like to support local game-stores, though... I miss the feeling of going into them and getting into great discussions with the other customers who just happen to be in there! Hopefully that face-to-face aspect of FLGS doesn't get lost in the online sales. I don't think the guy at my local store is getting rich, but it's otherwise a cool place. A SMALL portion of D&D books, some random comics and card games, models and terrain stuff, and an upstairs area where they all play 4E sometimes. Even if it ain't my cup o' tea at all, it's sure neat for them! Which is good  |
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Post by archersix on Nov 23, 2014 14:52:42 GMT -6
Sounds like a smallish shop. You think they's do better with a better selection, or if they demo'd more games?
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Chainsaw
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 303
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Post by Chainsaw on Nov 23, 2014 14:58:21 GMT -6
Probably not too good unless they can offer superb customer service (friendly, knowledgeable, unbiased), good socializing and free space for gaming, all in a clean, safe setting - because odds are they can't compete with the internet on product variety or price. If I'm going to pay up for a book or module, I want to be compensated. Helping some socially awkward fatbeard live his dream as a game store owner is not quite enough incentive.
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Post by Merctime on Nov 23, 2014 15:05:03 GMT -6
Helping some socially awkward fatbeard live his dream as a game store owner is not quite enough incentive. Yeah, this basically. Hahahaha. Nice one, Chainsaw, and very true! To be fair, I think there are some different game stores nearby a few games over. They generally meet the requirements posited above; Although I seem to notice a strange local phenomenon wherein most of the gamestore owners aren't too friendly. They seem a bit gruff and non-talkative, which makes me scratch my head a bit. If you don't want to be around people, why have a retail store?  |
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Post by derv on Nov 23, 2014 15:28:28 GMT -6
Probably not too good unless they can offer superb customer service (friendly, knowledgeable, unbiased), good socializing and free space for gaming, all in a clean, safe setting - because odds are they can't compete with the internet on product variety or price. If I'm going to pay up for a book or module, I want to be compensated. Helping some socially awkward fatbeard live his dream as a game store owner is not quite enough incentive. I don't quite share Chainsaw's closing sentment, but I do agree the FLGS must excel at customer service in order to hold onto old and attract new customers. In my case, the closest FLGS is about 45 minute drive away. In the past I would make a point to go there periodically (besides Free RPG Day) and plunk down some cash. The store tended to be geared to 4e and Magic The Gathering. I play neither. But, they also had an extensive board gaming library and I could generally find something that would catch my eye. I could easily get the same items cheaper on Amazon though. The last time I was there I almost came up empty before leaving. But, at the counter they had a display of mini expansions for Carcassonne. I proceeded to buy them all, thankyou very much, have a great day. As me, my wife and kids are driving down the road we discover that one of the expansions has the wrong tokens within the box. I reasoned, it's a simple matter of turning around and exchanging it for one that does not contain the wrong wooden tokens because we are only a few minutes down the road. My wife went into the store while me and the kids waited, thinking this won't take but a moment. My wife came out of the store to retell what had transpired. It seems the store owner wanted us to contact Rio Grande Games in order to get the proper tokens. My wife asked if she couldn't simply exchange it for another that was still on the display. The store owner proceeded to grab the mini expansion and throw it across the room while ranting that it was worthless to her now. My wife, who does not like confrontations, took the replacement and left. Needless to say, I have not returned since and have no plans of returning in the future (even for Free RPG Day)  |
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Post by Merctime on Nov 23, 2014 15:38:16 GMT -6
That just baffles me. I'm very sorry your wife had to witness that sort of crap, to be honest. I'm sure there are still some great FLGS out there, though... I knew of one in Tacoma, Washington. Great place, forget the name; Comics, boardgames, warhammer 40k battles going on constantly, lots of RPGs of a variety of types. I guess it's all about where you can go?
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Post by cadriel on Nov 23, 2014 16:46:43 GMT -6
There are two gaming stores near me. One is five minutes from my house in the next town over, mostly makes it's living as a Magic the Gathering shop. I play 5e there and will be picking up my DMG there this coming Friday. They have a good board game stock and some interesting older RPG stuff, although a friend and I have largely cleaned out the good old D&D materials.
The other one, just over a half hour away, has a wider RPG selection, as well as comics, and my friend who once ran a game store says it's larger than their sales numbers recommend. They do Free RPG Day and some other good stuff so I support them when I can. A lot of the time I pick up something like a Knights of the Dinner Table collection.
Both of them are very much driven by card games, and have lots of gaming space. I've used a Meetup group to get players out, and stores are important for that. But it's not like these are huge RPG stores like the one my friend used to run.
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idrahil
Level 6 Magician
The Lighter The Rules, The Better The Game!
Posts: 398
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Post by idrahil on Nov 23, 2014 17:09:21 GMT -6
I was always baffled...living in Miami I would have thought there would be hobby stores all over. I remember in the mid 90s there was like 4 in my 15 mile radius. Now, there is only 1 RPG store and 1 game store.
Even a general hobby store, there is only one and it like only trains and RC stuff. It is very sad.
I walk into the store here sometimes and sure, they have D&D 5th but they also have soooo many other games I have never heard of. But sure enough, there is the socially awkward shop keep, cross-eyed and mumbling about Magic the gathering.
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Chainsaw
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 303
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Post by Chainsaw on Nov 23, 2014 17:53:20 GMT -6
Helping some socially awkward fatbeard live his dream as a game store owner is not quite enough incentive. Yeah, this basically. Hahahaha. Nice one, Chainsaw, and very true! Haha! Afterward I realized I should have included "or snotty young hipster," but the moment had passed.  |
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Post by Merctime on Nov 23, 2014 17:57:48 GMT -6
"or snotty young hipster,"  |
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Post by dizzysaxophone on Nov 23, 2014 20:34:43 GMT -6
Growing up in Northwest Houston, I used to have 4 FLGS within a 10 minute drive of my house. One of which I went to regularly, and they were very friendly and helped get me started. Sadly they were a military family, and the owner found out she had cancer so they moved. The store closed then, and within a year all of the others near my house also closed (none of which were quite as nice, which is why I assume they didn't benefit much from that one closing).
When I lived in Waco while attending Baylor, they had a very good game store. Friendly staff for the most part, and they always had some old school stuff for sale, and is how I was introduced to the OSR. The owner always talked down upon old school RPGs, which was annoying, but it meant that he sold everything for fairly cheap which was nice.
Back in Houston, a local comic book shop seems to do really good business for both gaming and comics. They have a box I look for old school stuff from, but they don't get a bunch in so I'm not really a regular. The staff is super helpful and friendly though, so occasionally if they don't have anything I'm looking for, I'll pick up a bunch of comics that they suggest for being so kind.
I think they'll slowly continue to die out, but stores like the last one listed above I'm sure will hold out due to their customer service.
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Post by scalydemon on Nov 24, 2014 9:34:59 GMT -6
That just baffles me. I'm very sorry your wife had to witness that sort of crap, to be honest. I'm sure there are still some great FLGS out there, though... I knew of one in Tacoma, Washington. Great place, forget the name; Comics, boardgames, warhammer 40k battles going on constantly, lots of RPGs of a variety of types. I guess it's all about where you can go? You are probably thinking of the Matrix. It is still in business The FLGSs in the greater Seattle area have mostly evolved to stay in business. Instead of just selling and hosting games and related, they also dual function as bars, coffee shops and/or ice cream parlours |
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Post by Merctime on Nov 24, 2014 10:36:52 GMT -6
Dude!!! A game/comic shop slash coffee shop?!?!?!  TAKE MY MONEY NOW. |
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Post by scalydemon on Nov 24, 2014 11:01:32 GMT -6
Robin Williams @ the FLGS!  |
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Koren n'Rhys
Level 6 Magician
Got your mirrorshades?
Posts: 355
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Post by Koren n'Rhys on Nov 24, 2014 11:43:14 GMT -6
Very cool, Scaly. Sad what happened to him. :-(
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idrahil
Level 6 Magician
The Lighter The Rules, The Better The Game!
Posts: 398
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Post by idrahil on Nov 24, 2014 11:47:17 GMT -6
Yeah, its getting more and more that actors and such from my childhood are dying.  I never knew he was into D&D! |
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