There is no hard and fast rule or percentage to follow. But I try to buy all I can from the LGS (3 of them actually). The harder to find stuff I buy online. The online dealers do not provide you venue to play. Without your support your LGS will be out of business.

I think it does matter how much you make. If you're scraping by, it's okay to get a larger percentage of your stuff online.

I think I'm fairly comfortable, so I try to buy all of my stuff at the FLGS. I'll confess that once I bought second hand miniatures from a guy while AT the FLGS. That was a bit low, I suppose, but I don't feel too guilty about it.

I also frequent three FLGSs, and buy from all three of them on occasion. The one where I do the most gaming, which also has the best customer loyalty program, is also where I buy the majority of my stuff.

I do think that if you play at an FLGS frequently, it isn't a "mercy purchase", it's paying the rent. Calling it a "mercy purchase" is rude, as if their hospitality is the equivalent of them being on their knees begging you please. That just ain't right.

If you don't game at the FLGS, whatever floats your boat. I do think it's a good way to keep fellow gamers employed, but it's no longer an etiquette question.

here is what i do. I will buy the smaller ships because i generally only save $2-$3 bucks buying online unless there is a great deal. Bigger ships i will buy online. BUT i buy all my card sleeves, boxes, and other accessories at the store. i figure, this place is like my club house. why not spend the extra $2-$3 keeping my clubhouse going?

I love my local game store. The owners are friendly and I run an Edge of the Empire RPG session which they take part in every week. I play X-Wing there every week and our numbers are slowly growing.

Pretty much everyone buys from the FLGS. You're not really saving very much online so I just buy them at the store. Yes occasionally if I see a bargin I will buy online. However I always make a point to buy some drinks when I am in the store and 6 times out of 10 I will walk out with a new X-Wing product, infact it's become a sort of running joke that I have a problem.

Do what you think is best, but remember that your FLGS is the place you game...without it, no place to game.

Madquest8, Thats because you had already bought everything before you started playing there. Darksphere is a pretty decent FLGS, and thanks to my training you won the assault on Imdaar

I originally bought all my stuff online, through amazon, or ebay, before I stumbled upon a decent online shop which I used regularly.

Then They started having x wing nights at my FLGS (Darksphere, London), so I try and buy from them when I can, as its not that much more then buying online, once I factor in P&P.

Ultimately, as has been mentioned before, real shops cant compete with online stores, due to overheads. they can provide a place to meet people and play, which increases interest, and then their sales.

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.

If I ever caught someone doing that, I would openly rebuke them, and the intensity of my rant would likely be directly proportionate to the number of people present.

I bought 1 core set online, and the rest of my stuff from my local guy. He doesn't have room for a table, so there's no gaming there at all. I've done my best with the guys at the local club to steer them in his direction and most have dealt with him, so I think I'm doing my bit to support the local store. In return, he gives the club members a discount, so we're supporting each other. He's also donated a prize for our upcoming tournament.

Online prices can be cheaper, but after factoring in freight and potential delays, I'd rather deal my my local guy. Plus it keeps him in business too.

Madquest8, Thats because you had already bought everything before you started playing there. Darksphere is a pretty decent FLGS, and thanks to my training you won the assault on Imdaar

I originally bought all my stuff online, through amazon, or ebay, before I stumbled upon a decent online shop which I used regularly.

Then They started having x wing nights at my FLGS (Darksphere, London), so I try and buy from them when I can, as its not that much more then buying online, once I factor in P&P.

Ultimately, as has been mentioned before, real shops cant compete with online stores, due to overheads. they can provide a place to meet people and play, which increases interest, and then their sales.

I grab all my stuff from Orcs nest, they're pricier, but I'm into quite a few boardgames and some RPG stuff (as well as X-Wing) so I go there a lot! DS are mainly Warhammer and miniatures stuff.

I have bought more of my stuff from a couple of brick-and-mortars near my home than I have bought online. I like being able to walk into a game shop and get lost looking at stuff, or play in a pick-up game when possible. And it helps that the owners of the shops are both awesome.

I figure after the amount I've spent on 40K over the past dozen years, my FLGS should give me all my X-wing stuff pro-bono.

LOL

50-50 sounds good. Usually if I want to get something different to try out (some more Y-Wings for example) and the FLGS doesn't have any in stock, then that sale goes to the Net.

I buy some of my stuff through my local LFGS and some stuff at discount online. For me, I buy one ship a month locally or one of each of a new release, the rest I'm happy purchasing online. I still buy chocolate bars and drinks in the store and other stuff as well to support them.

As for stores that I visit infrequently, I'll buy something off them every 2-3 visits or something similar to support them if I'm playing there.

don't feel rude about it. By playing the game in their store, you are essentially offering free advertising for it. Mainly to those whom may have never seen it before, and spark interest in it. I know that mine allows me to pre-order at internet prices, but shelf product, the one or two ships they do have, is 12 something. I do my pre-ordering through them (pending how well they handle Rebel Aces, that may change back), so it's not like they lose out on product they probably would never stock.

well in the shop in my hometown that got the flag ship store title a few month ago ^^ he sells many games from different publishers from games workshop over to fantasy flight games and magic card game stuff and he even has from every game a ready demo pakage for testing out the games and then make up ure mind to buy or not to buy.

u can demo play as much as u want and the prizes for the ships are waaay cheaper as the ones on the net ive found 10 euro for little ships and 22 for big ones and u get a % discount if u buy 4 ships as a pack ^^.

that guy is just awesome and iam sooooo glad that he opened his shop here. he has a ton of costumers i mena i didnt know that my little hometown has so many fellow nerds that have the same interests i do ^^. me and my friends do our best to support him ^^. i mean i bought for 60 euro wave 4 and 2 ships a mate of me for 200 euro tons of wave 4 ships ;P and so on on the first day those ships arrived.

now back to u i think its kinda rude yes. i wouldnt feel comfortable with the idea of bringn stuff in the shop i do favor and not havin even bought from there ;P

I get all my small ships at my local store, but yeah... I was able to get both a Tantive and a Transport for what I would have paid at my local store for the Tantive alone. Hard to pass up something like that.

First off let me state that a FLGS is really starting to be a rare beast in the wilds.

The majority of the ones that can still be found have to cater to money making aspects of the community to keep the doors open. This may mean they HAVE TO run events on certain days and times just to keep the doors open. X-wing is a great game with a fairly low entry point, we get a "wave" of new product maybe 4 times a year, for any average buy in of 2-3 ships of each depending on the ship and card combos. For other said games like maybe a card game, they have a new set every quarter, blind packs, limited rares, special edition subsets, cards only good for a certain time limit and they are usually bought in a huge bulk. The average competitive x-wing player can now have a decent build at under a $125 by in compared to upwards of $300 or more. How often do we change or builds really other than a upgrade here or there. Card players change theirs to a very fluid meta.

These card players flock in droves to the stores to play, average attendance at our local is 25-30 for regular events, and 60+ for prerelease events. When is the last time you were at an event for X-wing that had those numbers on a regular occurrence? Regioanls and Imaidar don't count these happen once a year before we get all puffed up and use those as examples. The prize support and pre-release numbers are based off their numbers for the scheduled events.

Now let us consider that the FLGS has set a day/night up for people to play X-wing with a league of prize support and what it cost them to do this. X-wing is only a MAJOR CASH COW for FFG, not the store owner. Yes they may already have the tables available for other games and there is little to no change to them. They have to have the store open, lights on, heat/air running, staff to man the fort, and lastly a TO willing to run the show. We all seem to bear a cross towards "it is our hard earned moneys" but then vilify any shop owner who is trying to make ends meet or feed his family.

I make a very big deal about keeping money close to home whenever I can. Your local economy is only strong and health if you take the time to invest in it. Yes the world market also needs supported but without a local one you lose the options of individualism and we all become giant box store zombies.

To come into a shop and then rant over their prices and product availability then want your prize is a crap move. Do you bring food from another restaurant into McDonald's then piss a fit over them not wanting to give you a refill. We all carry on about what we are worth and forget about others. I am not saying go to LGC and get robbed blind but at least make it worth their time to keep the doors open be it making a purchase or just dropping a few coins on a snack.

Rant at an end, out of coffee and getting a nose bleed up on this box.

I have yet to play Xwing in a store but I still buy local from time to time. Mostly I was buying ships from Amazon to get an order up to $35 for free shipping.

There are guys who show up at my local GW to play and openly brag about buying a armies off eBay and try to sell armies out of their trunk in the parking lot. It's too bad he can't throw them out for good.

There are guys who show up at my local GW to play and openly brag about buying armies off eBay and try to sell armies out of their trunk in the parking lot. It's too bad he can't throw them out for good.

And they tell people where to get PDF codexes and rulebooks.

I make a very big deal about keeping money close to home whenever I can. Your local economy is only strong and health if you take the time to invest in it. Yes the world market also needs supported but without a local one you lose the options of individualism and we all become giant box store zombies.

I've been of this mindset for a while, now. I enjoy saving money by shopping online, but seeing what the family who runs my FLGS goes through to make their store as awesome and accommodating as it is, along with the fact that they go out of their way to make it family friendly, I am more comfortable giving them my money. I don't buy enough from MM to get free shipping and make it worth my while.

So far, I've only bought one expansion from the local FLGS. Everything else, I've bought either online or at B&N, because I'm usually saving $5-10 per pack that way. That money adds up.

However, I still make it a point to buy something at the store every week. They sell snacks and beverages, and I will usually spend between $10-$20 a week on those. The money I'm saving from buying my minis online helps pay for that.

I only play at my FLGS. I've bought a lot of stuff from other places, but lately I've started buying MOST of my X-Wing items from the store.

For instance: I bought the transport at Barnes & Noble, because I saw it there and I had to have it. I appologized when I came in to my FLGS the next week with my new toy. They said "Don't worry about it." When it came time to buy the Tantive IV, I figured I'd buy it there as a show of loyalty. It turned out I had racked up $35 in store credit, from tourneys, etc., without knowing it. So, I wound up getting a better deal than I could have gotten anywhere else.

And, like PhantomFO, I too buy a lot of water and soda there. So, I do support my FLGS, but it's nice to know I won't get dirty looks if I buy from someplace else to save a few bucks.

I usually browse for something I've been looking for that they sell. Last time I went with a friend to open play I was buying snacks and drinks from them. I also bought some FFG yellow sleeves for my epic damage decks, which conveniently I could not find online. Additionally, I was interested in buying a dice tray, but they were sold out.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I try to give them business in other ways, including buying additional loose ships may decide to add to my collection. I will probably buy both Rebel Aces brick and mortar.

I have played one event at my flgs and have so far bought everything from there.

As a rule with all my gaming I am both a loyal and terrible customer in that I get everything I can from there but I don't really buy much.

I will say though that their range isn't amazing. Not a problem so far as I just want 1 of everything.

Honestly, and people can take what annoyance they want from my statements. If your going to go to the store, take up space, and benefit from the scene there, you should purchase primarily from there. As without consumer support, the store dies, it is just that simple. Yes, sometimes online deals are too intense to pass up, or even deals from old players. ( I do understand this. ) However, you should support where you play, period for me at least.

You get a bit less, but honestly, I think many of us have more then we ever really use anyways. ( I know I do ) and I buy mostly all from store. The store holds like 3-4 annual sales and a discount for pre ordering, so all that takes some of the sting out. I could get more online, but you know, I can't take my minis and play online, so I keep my primary focus on my FLGS.

For me personally...

I would NOT consider it rude to show up at your local store using models that you did not purchase from them. What would be rude, in my eyes, is if you went there every week to play, and NEVER bought any of your models from them. Just don't go to your local shop saying': "Hey guys! I just got a killer deal on this expensive model at (fill in the blank) online! You should go there to get your models too!" That's just adding lemon juice to the cut. Don't be " that guy".

I'm generally 50/50 LGS to Online

For example, I just got into X-wing and Attack Wing a couple of days ago and here's what I picked up:

LGS

Star Trek Attack Wing starter box

X-wing starter box

X-wing

B-wing

TIE

TIE Bomber

Online

X-wing starter box x2

Rebel Aces

Phantom

Defender

Battle Mat

Anyway thats my 2 cents. I wouldn't worry about it too much.