Quote from: Blue DevilI would imagine that also happened for the reason you mentioned and for the fact that many of them have probably never been that close to a women before.

I have to ask- Is that store still open?

Not to my knowledge, no. The Gameology store I mentioned upthread probably took it's place.

I've got a few game stores around me that are pretty good. A couple newer ones and a few that have been in business for decades. They were mostly clean and had courteous knowledgeable staff. Not to mention that many of them were busy most times I've visited. A couple of them are Comic/Game stores but most of them are Game stores first or primarily. My favorite doesn't even stock comics.

In no small part my kids are gamers due to the enthusiasm of the employees at a couple of my stores.

Quote from: WilNot to my knowledge, no. The Gameology store I mentioned upthread probably took it's place.

Well see that's good then. The bad game stores go out of business hopefully to be replaced with better ones.

Quote from: WilShe didn't want to go into any game store with me after that experience - I had to explain to her that wasn't a place I would normally have frequented.

My wife still won't go with me into a game store, after bad experiences nearly 15 years ago.  Another reason I buy 90% of my games online these days.

My local game store has always been good -- open gaming relatively visible, great staff, and great customers (generally).  They sell RPGs but hardly as a main line as the boardgames and collectibles have a much higher margin and are often more compelling to new customers when seen in play.  They do, however, stock and know RPGs and more than just d20 + White Wolf.

Recently they just got better.  I saw SotC on the shelves along with Fudge dice, Conspiracy X, Qin, and a host of other off-the-beaten-path games.  And cooler still they seem to be selling.

Drexoll is probably a rarity but it's a model for success.  They do enough business that a second store was recently opened and is also turning a nice profit.  I like it when crap game stores die because there's a chance that something like this will fill the vacuum.

Quote from: KoltarMy god this thread of full of cynics.

 How in the hell did I miss this on first go-round?

- Ed C.

 See my avatar ? those are the shelves of a thriving game store behind me.

You're kind of taking what I said out of context.  The text you quoted was in response to the claim that eventually all the bad shops will go out of business.

I was just saying that a lot of bad shops come from slackers with family money (and there's no shortage of those), so there will likely be new crappy stores popping up to replace the old ones that finally die off.

I'm not making any claims about the population of mediocre to good stores in the industry.  They are outside the boundries of my hypothesis on the reproduction cycle of crappy gaming stores  

Okay, silly smiling dogface guy ....that makes sense.

 Just what Do you call that avatar??

- Ed C.

Quote from: KoltarOkay, silly smiling dogface guy ....that makes sense.

 Just what Do you call that avatar??

- Ed C.

A smiling pug, of course.  

I personally don't like being given the option of only ordering stuff in a shop; i can do that online. Unfortunately the LGS doesnt' even want to set up a website that will allow me to compromise and order through them! Do they just not want my money?

Quote from: signoftheserpentI personally don't like being given the option of only ordering stuff in a shop; i can do that online. Unfortunately the LGS doesnt' even want to set up a website that will allow me to compromise and order through them! Do they just not want my money?

 You got two options, maybe three:

 1) Keep complaining about it online here. Not much will happen...but I guess it might make you feel better to vent a little.

2) Offer to help that game store to set up a website or work with them to make that game store better.

 - OR -

3) Have the chutzpah to take the gamble - and START YOUR OWN Game Store.

- Ed C.

What if i choose neither? Will something untoward happen?

Incidentally, I applied for the position of games specialist when the shop first opened. For once, and in all honesty, I was the best candidate (the person who got the job admitted to me, though he knew not who i was, that he was knew to games when he satarted after I asked him about some products I was interested in). Unfortunately they left my application (sent in an envelope they had adressed) in their office - an office they never checked for messages or to read their email (which i had sent for three weeks in lieu of a phone number) or indeed anything, all while setting the shop up. Talk about fucked up.

It's not sour grapes tho, the shop really is shit now. Early on they had much more stuff. Should have hired me though.

I have, like so many before me, thought of starting a games store. Unfortunately not only do I not know about running a shop, there is nowhere round here that could support such a place. Counting this place there are 3 shop selling rpgs locally (though it would be fair to call them comic shops); another would be suicide.

I have no desire or intention to help them at all. If they want to hire me that's fine, helping them is not practical and I'm not a web designer at all. Nor should it be up to me to solve their problems.

And I didn't start this thread believing it would change the world

Quote from: KoltarYou got two options, maybe three:

 1) Keep complaining about it online here. Not much will happen...but I guess it might make you feel better to vent a little.

2) Offer to help that game store to set up a website or work with them to make that game store better.

 - OR -

3) Have the chutzpah to take the gamble - and START YOUR OWN Game Store.

- Ed C.

You missed a couple other options:

4) Shop somewhere else and let them go out of business

5) Shop online- get the games you want, cheaper

And as for starting your own game store, It would be easier to take the money you were going to use to start a game store, put it in a pile and light it on fire.  Game stores these days rarely make it (I think I read that half the game stores out there closed down within the last year due to the downturn in the hobby).  If you want to live in poverty start a game store.  Otherwise he would be smarter to take that money and start a business that could actually turn a decent profit.

Here's another q: if stock rpg's then why aren't you stocking the new releases that are at least getting good press, good buzz, even good reviews (where possible). IU can't really understand shops who don't order such games in. They argue that its too risky claiming the usual arguments about industry dwcline, dwindling demand. Either sell the damn games or don't, but don't have an rpg shelf with stagnant stock (half of which won't sell because the corebook is out of stock - or its just the kind of crap i've already mentioned).

To quote the mighty Wham! 'if you're gonna do it, do it right...'

I just can't understand rpg retailers; either sell them or dont' waste my time. If selling a game like HEX is too risky (seems to be popular at least it's gotten good revews and looks fairly sharp), then surely you're in the wrong business.

Quote from: Koltar2) Offer to help that game store to set up a website or work with them to make that game store better.

This is taken from the Kevin Simbieda Book of Business Practices.

Seriously? Fuck that. They can hire their own web designer and retail consultant.

Quote3) Have the chutzpah to take the gamble - and START YOUR OWN Game Store.

I'm too busy burning my money to stay warm. How about this:

Order stuff online and let the craptacular brick and mortar stores die in peace?

Quote from: Blue DevilAnd as for starting your own game store, It would be easier to take the money you were going to use to start a game store, put it in a pile and light it on fire.

LOL@thinking alike.