Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Hammarsjkold Jun 17, 2011 15:14:35	Conquest of Nerath is coming out, and I'm torn. I can get it at Thought Hammer (online) for $56, or I can get it at my FLGS for $80. That's a huge difference. It's a difference large enough to make a difference to me. I know many people think there is an imperative to support FLGS's even when they don't have the best prices. Can you guys talk about this a little, so I can get an idea of what the reasons pro and contra are? Thanks...     (Also, how does Thought Hammer get away with such low prices? They seem to charge substantially less even than Amazon for many products.)
#2 Cpt_Micha Jun 17, 2011 15:18:42	my FLGS is for Warhammer (which you -can't- get cheaper online unless you get lucky on Ebay), Magic the Gathering, Dice, and misc materials. Anytime I can save 30 percent on books, board games etc? I save the 30 percent.
#3 zombie_babies Jun 17, 2011 15:22:00	Supporting local business is a good thing.  Many people are also friendly with the owners of their local stores, too (I was when I had one) so there's a loyalty thing in some cases.  What it should always, though, boil down to is what's best for you.  If it's better to spend less money, that's what you should do.  If you can afford the extra cash and don't mind spending it to help a local business then by all means do that.  Whatever is best for you is really what you need to look at most.
#4 Escef Jun 17, 2011 15:23:03	My FLGS discounts stuff, so I prefer to give him my business. But even he wouldn't discount an $80 item down to $56. (Maybe down to $64.) I mean, if the difference after S&H is still significant, go for the internet shop.
#5 pluisjen Jun 18, 2011 5:51:25	If I go to my FLGS I can give the game a try, then if I don't like it try something else, ask for advice, browse a few books he has lying around, maybe talk to some like minded people, and when I have an idea of what I want I can have a view of how it's going to look and then take it home immediately. I can't do any of these things online... so if the FLGS has it, I'll get it there. If that means I occasionally pay a premium, that's ok. The alternative is occasionally paying for something that turns out to be crap. (Of course if you're an arse you could go to the FLGS to do all these things and then purchase it online... but I'm not that much of an arse)
#6 Hammarsjkold Jun 18, 2011 6:53:59	If I go to my FLGS I can give the game a try, then if I don't like it try something else, ask for advice, browse a few books he has lying around, maybe talk to some like minded people, and when I have an idea of what I want I can have a view of how it's going to look and then take it home immediately. I can't do any of these things online... so if the FLGS has it, I'll get it there. If that means I occasionally pay a premium, that's ok. The alternative is occasionally paying for something that turns out to be crap. (Of course if you're an arse you could go to the FLGS to do all these things and then purchase it online... but I'm not that much of an arse)  Your FLGS lets you open games without buying them? (?!)
#7 pluisjen Jun 18, 2011 8:11:12	They have a copy of most of the games they sell in an opened box for if you want to try them. There's a few exceptions (really expensive games that not a lot of people buy) but most of the small stuff is playable. And I think if you expressed serious interest in one of the big games they'd let you look as well. I have spent a few days just sitting in a FLGS and trying out a bunch of games with some friends, and then usually at the end of the day we'd just buy the one that we enjoyed the most. It's a good way to spend a day, you play like 4 or 5 games and then at the end you take something home that you know is a good game.
#8 Escef Jun 18, 2011 8:32:14	If I go to my FLGS I can give the game a try, then if I don't like it try something else, ask for advice, browse a few books he has lying around, maybe talk to some like minded people, and when I have an idea of what I want I can have a view of how it's going to look and then take it home immediately. I can't do any of these things online... so if the FLGS has it, I'll get it there. If that means I occasionally pay a premium, that's ok. The alternative is occasionally paying for something that turns out to be crap. (Of course if you're an arse you could go to the FLGS to do all these things and then purchase it online... but I'm not that much of an arse)  Your FLGS lets you open games without buying them? (?!) It's not uncommon for game companies to send out introductory rules and such to help promote their games. WotC has small, mono-colored sample decks to promote M:tG and anyone can download 4e D&D quickstart rules and an adventure. I'm sure plenty of other companies give away things at various promotions (hey, today also happens to be Free RPG day).
#9 oxybe Jun 18, 2011 9:03:50	i would like to say i'm at the very least a casual acquaintance of the owner, having been playing D&D & M:tG with him for a while now. they're good people, fun to be with and i just like having that venue to play at and meet people. i don't feel it's like buying books at a premium, more like assuring i continue having a place to meet other gamers and socialize when i feel like it.
#10 LMTRK Jun 19, 2011 8:38:07	I had this conversation with someone yesterday after playing Magic at the FLGS... I buy my Magic booster boxes (4 a year) from my FLGS. He gives a discount, and I get the Buy-a-Box promo, but a box still costs me £105. I could get them from UK websites for about £85 inc P&P (so I am paying about 25% more than I need to). The person I was speaking to was telling me about boxes he had seen from the US at £68. I told him that I would rather pay £105 and get my box from the FLGS, and here are my reasons: - I play every weekend at the FLGS, for free (barring tournament entry, which all goes into the prize pool - drafting is actually cheaper than buying 3 packs and there are still prizes). I dont pay to rent a hall, I dont pay to use a table, I dont pay any sort of fee for the privilege. Sometimes I play all weekend without spending any money on Magic at all. - the store doesnt price-gouge. Even when other places are putting price up, he charges RRP (for example, I got the Event Deck with 2 Stoneforge Mystics for £19.99, while the websites that sell boxes for £85 are charging £30 for the same deck, because it has chase rares in it). - there is nowhere else my area to play. My FLGS is a hub of gaming activity. We have a GW store in the same city, but they only allow their own games (so no Magic). The store is accessible to new players, its a meeting place, its a tournament centre, its a trading venue, it promotes the games I play and maintains the health of the gaming community in my area. If it was to close down, I would have no-where to play, and we would get far fewer new players starting in the area as well. - plus there are all the usual reasons to support small local businesses. So when I pay an extra £20 for my booster box, I am not just paying for the promo card that comes with it, the convenience of being able to pick it up straight away, for not having to worry about it being lost or damaged in the post - I am paying to play every weekend in a clean store with comfy chairs, I am paying to keep open a place that brings more players into the local community - I am paying for all the friends I have made and all the friends I am yet to make, that I wouldnt know if it wasnt for the shop. And I am even paying for the nice warm glow I get when I support a local business, and help out a friend. Hope that helps you make up your own mind - mine is already made up. ~ Tim
#11 Jharii Jun 19, 2011 8:41:15	my FLGS is for Warhammer (which you -can't- get cheaper online unless you get lucky on Ebay), Magic the Gathering, Dice, and misc materials. Anytime I can save 30 percent on books, board games etc? I save the 30 percent. Check Coolstuffinc.  Core set of WH is $70.  Don't know what your FLGS charges, but retail is $100 I believe.  Coolstuffinc has great prices and free shipping on board game/rpg orders over $100. That being said, I will be supporting my FLGS when I purchase Nerath.  I Coolstuff has it for $55.  The extra $25 going to my local game store is well worth it.  I buy just about everything from my FLGS, as long as they have it in stock. To put in perspective, that extra $25 does not even pay for 3 hours of the minimum wage of one of that store's employees, if they even have employees.
#12 Cpt_Micha Jun 19, 2011 9:56:59	Alot of flgs make their money on individual cards and comic sales for things like Magic, and comic books.
#13 bone_naga Jun 19, 2011 14:14:49	I support businesses that I feel are worth supporting. Places that have great customer service and offer things besides just selling gaming materials (knowing the material so they can make informed recommendations, helping people find gaming groups, hosting games,e tc) are more likely to get my business. Being a small business does not, by itself, endear yourself to me. So sometimes I will go out of my way to support a local store. Other places I've been I could care less what happened to them and I'd much rather save the extra money.
#14 Escef Jun 19, 2011 14:27:02	This past Friday I picked up all 5 of the Commander precon decks for Magic: the Gathering. The FLGS gave me a 20% discount on them.