So have you been "Spied" on? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

So have you been "Spied" on?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
akodoreign
Apr 29, 2009 8:21:02 Ok, so here is the story.

So I get a email about my game day I am running at the collinsville public library on the 23rd from a supposed player. (It was originally scheduled at The university there, SIUE, but due to the building manager change over they were no longer scheduling non-student organization events.)

Saying hey I am a new player and was inquiring about your game day.

I tell him that its held at the library and he didn't need to bring anything but a set of dice would be nice.

And if he wanted to only he could use the free character generator and bring a level 5 character he created with 1 level 7 1 level 6 and 1 level 5 item.

(I always want players to have options)

But again that was optional as always I provide everything needed to play for these events.

So then he asks if I didn't own a shop why I was running this.

I replied, I just enjoy GM'ing and want to bring people into the game (Btw name is James Oberg and I volunteer at Diecon and Archon all the time to run games so this isn't a new thing for me).

I don't usually even keep much of the swag, Just whatever is left over after everyone else takes what they want.

So he checks out my story and apologizes, but then suggests I hold the event in combination with him at his store next time.

I am ever polite and say we will see, but it sounded ok. Then out of curiosity I email a store that is even closer to the event. Dizzy dugout less than a mile away from it.

The guy there I grew up with and went to school with.

Not only did he understand that I was after a different audience than him, but he offered to give prize support.

Btw: shameless plug
D&D game day
408 West Main Street
Collinsville, IL 62234

Phone: 618-344 -1112
FAX: 618-345-6401

May 23rd - 12pm - 5pm.
#2
KarmaInferno
Apr 29, 2009 8:52:34 Hm.

I can understand him trying to drum up business, but assuming you understood his intentions right, this isn't the way to do it.

He might OFFER space to run events, but as described, that's a kinda skeevy way to do it. Especially if he wasn't up front about who he was and why he was calling.

-karma
#3
akodoreign
Apr 29, 2009 8:57:45
Hm.

I can understand trying to drum up business, but assuming you understood his intentions right, this isn't the way to do it.

You might OFFER space to run events, but as described that's a kinda skeevy way to do it. Especially if he wasn't up front about who he was and why he was calling.

-karma

No he spied on me, I don't have the business he does. LOL

I even offered to take some of his business cards with me.

All I wanted to do is go up and run the game for people at the library. He was the one who had a problem with it. :D

The gaming store that was even closer to the event offered me prize support and thought it was a good idea to run it at the library as people who normally wouldn't go to a gaming store may come and play.

Sorry if my first message was confusing.

Oh here is a quote from the email he sent me after the initial spy message.
" A lot of retailers are putting pressure on WOTC to restrict the events so they can not be held within a 5-10 mile radius of a Premier Retail Store if that store is also holding the event. When I checked the surrounding events in my area and saw yours I immediately thought something like this was going on which is why I send the spy email."
#4
KarmaInferno
Apr 29, 2009 9:06:31 Sorry, I may have not been clear, edited my message to fix it. Was referring to HIS actions, not yours.

Him offering space would be cool, but demanding or suggesting that you SHOULD move to his store is just Not Cool.

-karma
#5
akodoreign
Apr 29, 2009 9:09:13
Sorry, I may have not been clear, edited my message to fix it. Was referring to HIS actions, not yours.

Him offering space would be cool, but demanding or suggesting that you SHOULD move to his store is just Not Cool.

-karma

Gotcha
#6
KarmaInferno
Apr 29, 2009 9:15:19 I don't get him being offended at your offer to distribute his store's business card either.

If anything, if it were me, I'd make up coupons for store discounts or similar and distribute them to ALL gamedays and conventions in a decent radius of my store. Anything that draws customers is a good thing.

Sounds vaguely like he might have ego issues.

-karma
#7
gamersgambit
Apr 29, 2009 9:41:33 Speaking as a retailer...

I don't really have the *time* to spy. I think he could've handled it differently, too. But...

Wizards has made us many promises regarding who gets access to run these events. It is (given the large volume of sales that go to Amazon, online, etc.) a Big Deal that we get to run these events. Organizers are supposed to have retail locations that they run these events at. When competing events are being run in our "areas" it is perceived that it hurts our business.

While you, personally, weren't doing anything too bad, there are others who do do things like that for personal gain. Checking you out surreptitiously is a good idea for him and for the health of the program.

Me, well, I wander around to local chain bookstores and slide my business card inside their D&D books for people who buy there to discover...
#8
pedr
Apr 29, 2009 10:19:36 Given that there are repeated complaints that some UK stores contact Esdevium, the WotC distributer here, get on the list of WWDDGD venues, get sent the kits, and then don't run the event (either in their store or by finding a venue/local group to support in running it) I can understand that some store owners might want to verify that people who say they are running the event actually are running it.

However "organisers are supposed to have retail locations that they run these events at" is no longer true. I think it was, for early WWDDGD events, but it's clearly not the rule now.
#9
festivus
Apr 29, 2009 10:34:05 Is it odd that the first thing I picked up in your conversation was that using the free character builder to generate a 5th level character was impossible? :D

I have noticed that I can now have stuff that used to only go to retail sent to my house (at least for delves), but I have a good relationship with my FLGS and continue to have events there. There isn't another FLGS for 25 miles around.
#10
akodoreign
Apr 29, 2009 11:28:24
Is it odd that the first thing I picked up in your conversation was that using the free character builder to generate a 5th level character was impossible? :D

I have noticed that I can now have stuff that used to only go to retail sent to my house (at least for delves), but I have a good relationship with my FLGS and continue to have events there. There isn't another FLGS for 25 miles around.

Lol good point on the character builder (now I feel a little dumb, LOL) . Wasn't to thought full on that one. LOL maybe would have downloaded and said, I cant do this to 5 and purchased a one month account. :P

Ah well would have had him bring his text file for it and updated and printed for him.

(I bring it anymore to any event. I bought a cheap $30 HP and ink refills are 10 at office max) Fast draft and BW doesn't cost anything really

Laptops and printers are wonderful things.

Nice catch :D
#11
orionpax9
Apr 29, 2009 14:09:34 I am also running the Game Day event at my local library. I live in a medium sized city that only has one game store that has D&D products. The store runs D&D events like Game Day and Delve Nights but it is a smaller store and cant handle more than 3 sessions at one time and the people who own/run the store work normal day jobs so they wont be able to be open all day to run games for people. Knowing this I set my game time to start when the store would be closed in hopes of getting more players.

I don't understand how a person running an event like this could hurt a stores business. Most gamers know of local shops and try to support them as much as possible. I don't think people are going to run the event in an attempt to sell books or anything to the people there, it just wouldn't make sense.
#12
gc1ceo
Apr 30, 2009 7:06:18 Personally we're pretty well spaced out in my area, I simply run things on campus because they are often after the hours of our local comic shop (which closes at 8) and its directly on a bus route and such so its very easy to get to campus for anybody who wants to attend our events (speaking as a member of our campus gaming club). This summer I am going to be trying to run the first D&D events at our local store (we tried once before but nobody seemed interested sadly enough). Aside from that the nearest store is 40 miles to the south, there is a big black hole for about two counties where our local comic shop is the only gaming store (aside from what Walmart or some book stores might sell).

Our local shop also has no problem advertising for our events, although I think it'd be a point of etiquette to avoid running an event they are running on the same weekend but thats yet to come up. I have heard stories about larger stores refusing to advertise for our events for a variety of reasons but we're generally more concerned with local advertising for students and people in this area (except for our convention when we're happy to get advertising anywhere between here and either pole).

I think that sounds like the jealous "other store" syndrome, he's probably losing business to the other business you mentioned and is on his way out and is looking to make trouble for anybody he sees as a competitor.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 akodoreign Apr 29, 2009 8:21:02	Ok, so here is the story. So I get a email about my game day I am running at the collinsville public library on the 23rd from a supposed player. (It was originally scheduled at The university there, SIUE, but due to the building manager change over they were no longer scheduling non-student organization events.) Saying hey I am a new player and was inquiring about your game day. I tell him that its held at the library and he didn't need to bring anything but a set of dice would be nice. And if he wanted to only he could use the free character generator and bring a level 5 character he created with 1 level 7 1 level 6 and 1 level 5 item. (I always want players to have options) But again that was optional as always I provide everything needed to play for these events. So then he asks if I didn't own a shop why I was running this. I replied, I just enjoy GM'ing and want to bring people into the game (Btw name is James Oberg and I volunteer at Diecon and Archon all the time to run games so this isn't a new thing for me). I don't usually even keep much of the swag, Just whatever is left over after everyone else takes what they want. So he checks out my story and apologizes, but then suggests I hold the event in combination with him at his store next time. I am ever polite and say we will see, but it sounded ok. Then out of curiosity I email a store that is even closer to the event. Dizzy dugout less than a mile away from it. The guy there I grew up with and went to school with. Not only did he understand that I was after a different audience than him, but he offered to give prize support. Btw: shameless plug D&D game day 408 West Main Street Collinsville, IL 62234 Phone: 618-344 -1112 FAX: 618-345-6401 May 23rd - 12pm - 5pm.
#2 KarmaInferno Apr 29, 2009 8:52:34	Hm. I can understand him trying to drum up business, but assuming you understood his intentions right, this isn't the way to do it. He might OFFER space to run events, but as described, that's a kinda skeevy way to do it. Especially if he wasn't up front about who he was and why he was calling. -karma
#3 akodoreign Apr 29, 2009 8:57:45	Hm. I can understand trying to drum up business, but assuming you understood his intentions right, this isn't the way to do it. You might OFFER space to run events, but as described that's a kinda skeevy way to do it. Especially if he wasn't up front about who he was and why he was calling. -karma No he spied on me, I don't have the business he does. LOL I even offered to take some of his business cards with me. All I wanted to do is go up and run the game for people at the library. He was the one who had a problem with it. :D The gaming store that was even closer to the event offered me prize support and thought it was a good idea to run it at the library as people who normally wouldn't go to a gaming store may come and play. Sorry if my first message was confusing. Oh here is a quote from the email he sent me after the initial spy message. " A lot of retailers are putting pressure on WOTC to restrict the events so they can not be held within a 5-10 mile radius of a Premier Retail Store if that store is also holding the event. When I checked the surrounding events in my area and saw yours I immediately thought something like this was going on which is why I send the spy email."
#4 KarmaInferno Apr 29, 2009 9:06:31	Sorry, I may have not been clear, edited my message to fix it. Was referring to HIS actions, not yours. Him offering space would be cool, but demanding or suggesting that you SHOULD move to his store is just Not Cool. -karma
#5 akodoreign Apr 29, 2009 9:09:13	Sorry, I may have not been clear, edited my message to fix it. Was referring to HIS actions, not yours. Him offering space would be cool, but demanding or suggesting that you SHOULD move to his store is just Not Cool. -karma Gotcha
#6 KarmaInferno Apr 29, 2009 9:15:19	I don't get him being offended at your offer to distribute his store's business card either. If anything, if it were me, I'd make up coupons for store discounts or similar and distribute them to ALL gamedays and conventions in a decent radius of my store. Anything that draws customers is a good thing. Sounds vaguely like he might have ego issues. -karma
#7 gamersgambit Apr 29, 2009 9:41:33	Speaking as a retailer... I don't really have the time to spy. I think he could've handled it differently, too. But... Wizards has made us many promises regarding who gets access to run these events. It is (given the large volume of sales that go to Amazon, online, etc.) a Big Deal that we get to run these events. Organizers are supposed to have retail locations that they run these events at. When competing events are being run in our "areas" it is perceived that it hurts our business. While you, personally, weren't doing anything too bad, there are others who do do things like that for personal gain. Checking you out surreptitiously is a good idea for him and for the health of the program. Me, well, I wander around to local chain bookstores and slide my business card inside their D&D books for people who buy there to discover...
#8 pedr Apr 29, 2009 10:19:36	Given that there are repeated complaints that some UK stores contact Esdevium, the WotC distributer here, get on the list of WWDDGD venues, get sent the kits, and then don't run the event (either in their store or by finding a venue/local group to support in running it) I can understand that some store owners might want to verify that people who say they are running the event actually are running it. However "organisers are supposed to have retail locations that they run these events at" is no longer true. I think it was, for early WWDDGD events, but it's clearly not the rule now.
#9 festivus Apr 29, 2009 10:34:05	Is it odd that the first thing I picked up in your conversation was that using the free character builder to generate a 5th level character was impossible? :D I have noticed that I can now have stuff that used to only go to retail sent to my house (at least for delves), but I have a good relationship with my FLGS and continue to have events there. There isn't another FLGS for 25 miles around.
#10 akodoreign Apr 29, 2009 11:28:24	Is it odd that the first thing I picked up in your conversation was that using the free character builder to generate a 5th level character was impossible? :D I have noticed that I can now have stuff that used to only go to retail sent to my house (at least for delves), but I have a good relationship with my FLGS and continue to have events there. There isn't another FLGS for 25 miles around. Lol good point on the character builder (now I feel a little dumb, LOL) . Wasn't to thought full on that one. LOL maybe would have downloaded and said, I cant do this to 5 and purchased a one month account. :P Ah well would have had him bring his text file for it and updated and printed for him. (I bring it anymore to any event. I bought a cheap $30 HP and ink refills are 10 at office max) Fast draft and BW doesn't cost anything really Laptops and printers are wonderful things. Nice catch :D
#11 orionpax9 Apr 29, 2009 14:09:34	I am also running the Game Day event at my local library. I live in a medium sized city that only has one game store that has D&D products. The store runs D&D events like Game Day and Delve Nights but it is a smaller store and cant handle more than 3 sessions at one time and the people who own/run the store work normal day jobs so they wont be able to be open all day to run games for people. Knowing this I set my game time to start when the store would be closed in hopes of getting more players. I don't understand how a person running an event like this could hurt a stores business. Most gamers know of local shops and try to support them as much as possible. I don't think people are going to run the event in an attempt to sell books or anything to the people there, it just wouldn't make sense.
#12 gc1ceo Apr 30, 2009 7:06:18	Personally we're pretty well spaced out in my area, I simply run things on campus because they are often after the hours of our local comic shop (which closes at 8) and its directly on a bus route and such so its very easy to get to campus for anybody who wants to attend our events (speaking as a member of our campus gaming club). This summer I am going to be trying to run the first D&D events at our local store (we tried once before but nobody seemed interested sadly enough). Aside from that the nearest store is 40 miles to the south, there is a big black hole for about two counties where our local comic shop is the only gaming store (aside from what Walmart or some book stores might sell). Our local shop also has no problem advertising for our events, although I think it'd be a point of etiquette to avoid running an event they are running on the same weekend but thats yet to come up. I have heard stories about larger stores refusing to advertise for our events for a variety of reasons but we're generally more concerned with local advertising for students and people in this area (except for our convention when we're happy to get advertising anywhere between here and either pole). I think that sounds like the jealous "other store" syndrome, he's probably losing business to the other business you mentioned and is on his way out and is looking to make trouble for anybody he sees as a competitor.