(Just a hypothetical. Not based on real facts yet, but might come up in the future.)

Suppose there is local game shop where I play from time to time. There is no entry fee for showing up to play. There might or might not be prize support, and if there is, it is the usual Fantasy Flight prize support (and not e.g. free packs, etc.).

The shop's prices are MSRP. So, a single ship is usually $15 an expansion. Bigger ships like the Falcon are $30 or more.

Now, online prices for some ships are less expensive than the prices at the store, sometimes up to 50% off if I buy online. (Shipping is not an issue, as the online shop I know does not charge shipping for orders over $35.) I do understand that the game shop has overhead, and I do want to support my local game shop especially since the shop already does not charge an entry fee for playing games there. However, if a particular ship is significantly cheaper online, I might want to buy those ships online instead of at the shop.

So, my question is, would it be considered rude if I play at the shop and make some, but not all, of my purchases there? Is there a rule of thumb for what percentage of my units should be purchased at the store vs. from some other source (e.g. online, Craigslist, etc.)? Has a venue ever given you a hard time, etc. because you brought figures, which you did not buy there, to play?

Now a twist: Suppose I go to two game shops to play, both on an occasional basis (maybe 2-3 times a month). How should I divide my support between the shops? Is there an unspoken expectation that if I play at a shop, that I would necessarily make purchases there?

[Note: The sole purpose of this question is just to inquire into X-Wing commonly accepted etiquette as it pertains to dealings with game shops.]

I think if a shop owner hassles you for bringing ships in you didn't buy there you should find a new LGS to play at. That's just desperate.

I can't really imagine any of the FLGS owners I know ever doing that.

That being said. I try to at least go 50/50 with my purchases between FLGS and online. It helps that my FLGS has a rewards program for frequent customers. I don't think there are any real rules or etiquette around it though.

It's all up to you and no one has a right to judge you for your shopping decisions, but integrity is what you do when no one is looking.

Buy whst you can afford, when you play at an FLGS others see the cool toys and some of them buy them. Your play is the best possible advertising for their product.

Shop owners know that internet sales are much lower than what they can offer.

Those that don't, aren't going to stay in business that long.

On the flip side, how would you like it if I came to your house weekly and ate all of your potato chips,

And never offered to buy any my self ?

I would consider it somewhat rude, at least buy a ship or pack of cards or something to help out the store.

Do you have to do that every time ? NO !

but every once in a while helps.

The difference between brick and mortar stores, and places like mimiature market, are like night and day.

But one thing is for sure, if the guy who owns the LGS, doesnt bust his ass on a daily basis, he doesnt eat, nor do his kids.

Lights don't stay on, and suddenly..... You have no place to play.

I dont believe there is any certain set percentage of how much you should spend, hell most of theses store owners are doing

This for the love of gaming too, but they still have bills, and I don't think any of them would expect you to spend your last dime either.

Good luck striking a balance.

I think if a shop owner hassles you for bringing ships in you didn't buy there you should find a new LGS to play at. That's just desperate.

I can't really imagine any of the FLGS owners I know ever doing that.

That being said. I try to at least go 50/50 with my purchases between FLGS and online. It helps that my FLGS has a rewards program for frequent customers. I don't think there are any real rules or etiquette around it though.

It's all up to you and no one has a right to judge you for your shopping decisions, but integrity is what you do when no one is looking.

I agree with the 50/50 rule, but allocating your purchases is all up to you. I've bought maybe 6 expansions from my FLGS, but then again I've bought another $300+ worth of units online because it is usually 30-33% cheaper than MSRP and totally worth it. Coolstuff recently had Imperial Aces for $16, so I bought five of them from there rather than buy two or three of them at my LGS.

I play MtG as well and my playgroup creates fierce loyalties to stores who support and sponsor us for bigger events, and who are just extremely friendly to us in general. I do my best to support my FLGS through purchases of MtG, hobby supplies (paint, brushes, knives) snacks, entry fees, etc. but if I can get a ridiculous deal on X-Wing online, I'll definitely take that up before paying full price at my local store.

And my experiences with game stores have always had no problems bringing outside gaming products to play with. As the owner once told me people just seeing you play at their tables will motivate people to try and buy it at their store. So purchase wherever, but be kind to your LGS(es) since you are playing on their property with the community that they are bringing together for you to play with.

Glad to see I'm not the only one that thinks this way. I bought 3 Z95s and 3 E-Wings from my nearest game store at MSRP, then bought 3 Defenders and 3 Phantoms at my favorite store. I tend to buy most things from this store.

I bought most of my wave 1 and 2 ships online because I had never been to a game store before a friend introduced me to XWing. (Now looking at other miniatures games.)

Whenever possible I like to buy local just to help keep mom and pops going.

I wouldn't feel to bad playing at a store with ships you didn't purchase there though. As long as you are friendly to the people and make occasional purchase I don't think they mind.

If I go to a shop for a "open nite" or any free tournament I try to at least get a coulple of sodas. If its somewhere I plan on playing at regularly then I try to throw them whatever I can, maybe get my cheap online figs when they pop up, but that shiney new board game, then my FLGS it is.

I've never had a issue in over 20 years of gaming even from GW stores.

I just do what I can. I don't figure out percentages, have rules, or anything. I just buy whatever I'm comfortable buying.

The first time I went to this relatively new FLGS near my house, they were having some big state Magic tournament or something. The guy on duty took the time to fish out the X-Wing stuff they had moved to the back to make room for tables. He did this despite the fact that I said I was just looking. I ended up buying about $100 worth of ships for his effort.

When I go in, sometimes a buy a ship here or there, sometimes sleeves, and once I bought a mat. Recently I went in and cleaned them out of their Netrunner stock.

These cats are nice and they let me play X-Wing without so much as asking me to buy a soda so, I try to support them as much as I can.

I try to buy a single item each trip to the store. Even if it's just a single ship. If I'm going to play there... I buy.

$5 premium for a xwing mini locally vs online is no big deal. It's like a $5 entry fee.

Movie theater is $13+tax locally so... $5 is well worth it and it goes to a good store.

I was at my FLGS recently, and saw something that really annoyed me (and I have nothing to do with the store in terms of ownership).

It was tournament night, and the place was packed. I never play this game, but enjoy watching others play, learning strategies, etc. So, since I tend to hover in the background, I am usually not noticed, but I get to see and hear everything going on.

Anyway, the individual that owns this FLGS does a very good job in running his store, in putting on game nights, etc. He tends to make it fun for all, and often provides food, drink, etc. for free.

On this particular night, a player that comes there often was playing in a tournament and one of his miniatures broke. It was an accident - no big deal. Then, the following happens. He and the individual he was playing against debated how to deal with the issue (no one was proposing a loss because he didn't have a model). They were throwing around the idea of just lending the dude a miniature to use, when someone piped up and said "why don't you just buy a new one here?"

This guy goes on a 10 minutes rant, right in front of the TD and owner of the FLGS about how he would never buy anything here as it was way too expensive, and he can get it far cheaper on-line. Further, he stated that anyone who would buy anything at this FLGS was a moron.

Now, to say the least, this was extremely rude. Personally, given how incredibly nice the owner of this FLGS is, I wanted to put a beat down on the guy just for being such a big ******.

I understand we are all free to choose how and where we spend our money, but if you are going to take the approach of finding the cheapest place to purchase something, irrespective of what your support can mean to a FLGS, at least do everyone a favor and keep it to yourself.

My issue with my LGS isnt their prices or them really, it's their supplier (UK shop). Both with the comic pull list I have with them, and with x-wing orders, a lot of the time their supplier messes up their order or doesnt send them everything they asked for.

Meaning my 12-ship pre-order, which has now all arrived, may not of arrived yet or arrived in full if I ordered through my LGS.

I love the guys, and they are great to me so I try and buy what I can from them (as I said, I have a standing pull list for comics from them) but I just dotn trust their supplier enough to put in large or urgent orders.

Especially as, with wave 4, there is a tourney coming up in London in 2 weeks. I will probably end up using some wave 4 cards if not a ship or 2. It would of messed up my plans if my order through my LGS was messed up. So I went with online.

And then also the usual price vs price thing. I get mine for £10.95 (free delivery over £10) online. I only work 30 hours a week normally so I have to be picky.

my pet peeve with some game stores are the ones that have a low stock of EVERYTHING (except magic packs of course).. but always say they can order it for you!!! ok so you want me to order it from you pay more, then make ME drive in to pick it up? um why???? also i find some stores not very conducive to actually playing games in them... too noisy, too small, too dark. i know some places like local library's sometimes don't have problems with folks playing in unused rooms..For those of us that dont actually have a place of their own.. personally i would rather play at a friends house or my own house... better food and bathrooms..lol.

I used to go to my LGS every week to play X wing (I would still like to, but work's keeping me from doing that). And until W3 launched, I made it a habit to buy something every time I was there. This way, I slowly expanded my collection, and the extra few dollars that I spent buying it in the store I considered more than fair for putting an area up for me to play in. Note it wasn't always a ship - One week I'd get some sleeves, and then the next maybe a card box, then a ship or something.

Once W3 dropped, I went in and bought pretty much everything that I wanted for W3 at one time (fearful it would sell out like W1 and W2 did). They were nice enough to hook me up with like a 15% discount, which means after tax and everything, they're like 13.50, which is still more than online, but much closer than the $16 (w/ tax) that they start at. But since I bought a huge lot then, I no longer feel obligated to buy something every time I stop in.

PS. A lot of the other local stores hold tourneys with either a $5 entry fee, or the purchase of a ship, which is a really nice way for both the player and the store to benefit.

P.P.S. I've never seen a larger selection of X Wing at any other store - they intentionally order from numerous suppliers so when every supplier caps their shipments, they still receive like 2-3x more than other stores. When the Tantive IV released, they had at least 2 dozen of them (they were putting them where ever there was shelf space, and then had more in the back room).

For me it is always quite simple with any game. If that FLGS support my hobby, for example, they organize events for the game i am currently playing, in this case, Xwing, i will support them by buying there. That way i scratch their backs, and they do the same to me.

If they don't, i will just order online. About showing up at the FLGS with stuff i bought online, i don't think any FLGs store owner should say you anything or look you with any eyes, but i think you are doing a disservice to yourself if there is not a very very healthy community behind to organize events/meetings.

Of course, some people don't really enjoy showing up at FLGS and they just play with their friends at their homes, and maybe show up once in a full moon at the FLGS, so i don't see why they should buy anything there except sympathy or being classic about buying stuff.

This may be cold, but I believe it's your hard earned money. You shouldn't feel guilty, be shamed by anyone, or be penalized for finding the best possible deal. The LGS (unless you work for them) didn't help you earn that money, so you shouldn't feel like you have to make what I call "mercy purchases" there. A wise and smart store manager will learn to adapt and offer alternative ways of earning money; as a company owner you can never sit idle on what you have...innovative ideas keep a store going.

For the record I buy most of my items online, but I do make some "mercy purchases" at my LGS. I also pay the league fee of 5 bucks.

If your conscience is bothering you, buy a ship -- or something -- from your FLGS once in a while. You can also support the shops you frequent by sharing their tournament announcements on social media, since that might bring in more customers for them.

If a game store hosting events really expects to make some profit from them, they can charge a door fee.

I really thought this was gonna be some topic about politeness between a player who is "overly serious" and a player who is "lazy." (Casual vs Competetive players)

I am happy that other players feel the same way about this.

I don't have tons of cash to spend on X-Wing. True, it may be cheaper to play than this-game-or-that-game, but for me personally, $15 is a lot to pay for a bunch of pieces in a game (which is why I don't have 20 of each ship).

$10, however, is a lot more doable. There is something about that extra $50 that makes it okay (in my mind) to spend $100 on a bunch of ships for this hobby, instead of $150.

That being said, having a LGS is priceless. Before I lived near one, I never understood/appreciated the magnitutude of awesomeness of a good shop. I always kinda thought, "It's good to support the little guy... but it's my money, and I don't have too much of it."

Then I moved 5 minutes away from one.

This place puts on "Board game night" on Wednesdays, and "X-Wing night" on Thursdays. (It does lots of MTG stuff and other games throughout the week, but these two are the only two that apply to me currently). Since I moved away from most of my friends, my wife is the only person I can play XWM (or any other boardgame) with, and she doesn't (nor do I) want to play it every night. But because of this shop, I have a pretty awesome group of people to play with now... and not just X-Wing! The board game night is great because it has shown us a few games that we would have never otherwise picked up, let alone wanted to buy. And since the place has a bunch of demos of games, the opportunity to try a game out before you buy it is pretty sick.

So! My final thoughts: (tl;dr)

Online Stores:

Pros- 30(ish)% off MSRP. Makes quite a difference when spending the $100 needed for free shipping. Large stock.

Cons- No community. Shipping saps away that "IGOTTAHAVEITRIGHTNOW" feeling of victory.

Local Gaming Shop:

Pros- You get to meet people to play the games you love. Most shops sponsor events. Try out new games. They treat you like a person instead of just-another-customer. Recommendations. You see, you want, you buy.

Cons- MSRP. Limited stock.

So, what's important to you? In different situations, the answer is gonna be different.

If I am buying 10 ships, I will probably go online, because (a) I can save a considerable amount of money, and (b) my store probably doesn't have ALL of the ships that I would be buying. On the other hand, if I am only getting a few ships I should buy them at my LGS, because the stuff they do is easily worth the extra $5-$20 that you spend instead of online.

This may be cold, but I believe it's your hard earned money. You shouldn't feel guilty, be shamed by anyone, or be penalized for finding the best possible deal. The LGS (unless you work for them) didn't help you earn that money, so you shouldn't feel like you have to make what I call "mercy purchases" there. A wise and smart store manager will learn to adapt and offer alternative ways of earning money; as a company owner you can never sit idle on what you have...innovative ideas keep a store going.

For the record I buy most of my items online, but I do make some "mercy purchases" at my LGS. I also pay the league fee of 5 bucks.

I never look at it as a mercy purchase.

I look at it as helping to pay for space for people of like mind to congregate in and have fun playing their favorite games. If I don't help, I may loose a good spot to play games and find people willing to play them with me.

People that want to play in events or do play at a LGS, but don't buy at least some product at the LGS are stupid.

It isn't pity, it isn't guilt, it is motivated self interest. If players don't buy product at a store, the store is unlikely to support that certain game. Thus they will have no events to play at in the end.

I see it all the time, players want a store to buy game night kits but balk at doing regular events because of a $5 entry fee that gets awarded back in store credit. Stores won't spend money on a game night kit if they think it won't be supported.

I've bought none of my ships from the shop where I play. They charge for playing there, though, so I guess they don't really care about where I got my ships.

Personally it depends how things are going, usually if I have the time to wait I get it online especially for larger orders (the discount adds up fairly fast) but if I need something really quick and the store has it in stock ill get it from them,, or if I only want 1 ship or something. Most stores in my area charge entry fee's for tourneys so of course I feel less guilty about doing that. After all if I have to choose between buying 1 ship online and playing in a tournament or buying one ship in store, I'll buy the ship online and play.

A quick P.S. most stores make some money on tournaments, take Imdaar Alpha, in my area the stores charged a 5$ entry and the kit cost them $30 so every person past 6 is profit for them, (my area had 8, 10, 12 show up at the individual stores) not to mention any additional purchases people make while at the tournament

This may be cold, but I believe it's your hard earned money. You shouldn't feel guilty, be shamed by anyone, or be penalized for finding the best possible deal. The LGS (unless you work for them) didn't help you earn that money, so you shouldn't feel like you have to make what I call "mercy purchases" there. A wise and smart store manager will learn to adapt and offer alternative ways of earning money; as a company owner you can never sit idle on what you have...innovative ideas keep a store going.

For the record I buy most of my items online, but I do make some "mercy purchases" at my LGS. I also pay the league fee of 5 bucks.

Eh...that's often self destructive, though. It's kinda like those people who view renting a home as wasting money compared to owning a home while ignoring the cost of maintenance, HOAs, taxes, lost opportunities by not being able to move, etc.

If you're just looking after your bottom line then you're neglecting the benefits you're receiving with having a stable base of players to play with, a location for tournaments (which can earn you ships and cards), and new friendships. All of these things can translate in to not just more fun for you (which is your ultimate goal with this game) but monetary savings. You can trade with other players. You can carpool to Gencon with your newfound friends. The store owner can give you personal discounts for being a good customer. You can try out other new games without first gambling on the cost of a purchase.

I play at the same store as Hoosteen, and I agree with his comments 100%. I have bought most of my X-Wing stuff through that store, although I will confess to having gotten a few ships here and there when MM or CSI had them as the deal of the day. It is definitely tempting to buy online, 35% off is tough to resist, but 50% is darn near impossible. I also admit to beelining straight to Barnes & Noble when the word of the clearance sale came out, but they had almost nothing left.

But the store is great. We have done two X-Wing tournaments, both comped by the store (one was Imdaar Alpha!). The owners are great, and they just moved to a location three times bigger than their old store. Now we can even play X-Wing during Friday Night Magic because they have plenty of tables. They don't charge for playing, and my son and daughter often just drop by for a game. I can't imagine a better place to spend my money, even if it is MSRP. They make it worthwhile, in my opinion.

It's really nice to be able to get that third ship you need for a new squad buildout or grab a few more card protectors right when you need them. I always buy one of each ship from my FLGS, which helps drive up sales of X-Wing there, which in turn drives up the selection they keep on hand. Plus, it was really cool to be able to look at mats before buying them.

If online stores offering X-wing also had to find you new players to play with and organize events and pay rent for space in a part of town everyone could reasonably get to, they wouldn't be 35% off.

If you value that, buy things and a be a customer of a store, otherwise it will disappear. Its weird to go to bars and not drink their beer, go to restaurants and bring takeout in with you, and go to a dealership and test drive a car to run your errands then drop it off 2-3 times a week.

Also I hate when people actively recommend while in an LGS to not buy things there to other customers, IDK why that ever seems ok.