When the Armada core set was finally announced as for sale a month or so ago, I saw that Walmart online was offering it for around $60. Whether they ended up honoring those initial orders at that initial price I do not know. Here is what I do know.

That price took a dagger and stabbed it through the heart of every gaming store. For slightly more than the cost of one normally priced core set at the game store, you could have gotten two through Walmart. That is significant, and lasting. Everyone now has it in their mind that Walmart is a potential source of better- priced gaming materials. While they may not sell the latest Euro- games, for a big name like Star Wars or Magic, they can certainly take business away from local stores.

Fantasy Flight Games is not innocent in this, and let no one forget that. I find it beyond impossible that they would not know that one of their games was being sold through Walmart at nearly 40% off. And they allowed it, and quite probably pursued this sales channel. I can't say I blame them because this is just good business, but I am disappointed. In all this moral talk about supporting your local game store, don't forget that the game makers and distributors carry at least their fair share of responsibility. I want to support my local game stores, but I'm not made of money. If FFG will allow Walmart (or other large online retailers) to undercut prices that severely, they have the blood of tiny miniatures on their hands.

snip

Are you sure they "allowed" it, explicitly? With most things, the store buys the product from the distributor at wholesale, and then sells the product for the price it determines.

FFG may have had little, or nothing at all, to do with Walmart's pricing.

When the Armada core set was finally announced as for sale a month or so ago, I saw that Walmart online was offering it for around $60. Whether they ended up honoring those initial orders at that initial price I do not know. Here is what I do know.

That price took a dagger and stabbed it through the heart of every gaming store. For slightly more than the cost of one normally priced core set at the game store, you could have gotten two through Walmart. That is significant, and lasting. Everyone now has it in their mind that Walmart is a potential source of better- priced gaming materials. While they may not sell the latest Euro- games, for a big name like Star Wars or Magic, they can certainly take business away from local stores.

Fantasy Flight Games is not innocent in this, and let no one forget that. I find it beyond impossible that they would not know that one of their games was being sold through Walmart at nearly 40% off. And they allowed it, and quite probably pursued this sales channel. I can't say I blame them because this is just good business, but I am disappointed. In all this moral talk about supporting your local game store, don't forget that the game makers and distributors carry at least their fair share of responsibility. I want to support my local game stores, but I'm not made of money. If FFG will allow Walmart (or other large online retailers) to undercut prices that severely, they have the blood of tiny miniatures on their hands.

Oh, please.

First of all, remember that the 'S' in MSRP is 'Suggested'. Also remember that FFG is at least one step removed from retail sales, unless you buy from them directly. Finally, remember that the MSRP includes FFG's cut, the distributor's cut, and the retailer's cut. It's not FFG's responsibility to set the exact price that everyone sells their products at. Enough of this moral panic. Seriously.

When the Armada core set was finally announced as for sale a month or so ago, I saw that Walmart online was offering it for around $60. Whether they ended up honoring those initial orders at that initial price I do not know. Here is what I do know.

That price took a dagger and stabbed it through the heart of every gaming store. For slightly more than the cost of one normally priced core set at the game store, you could have gotten two through Walmart. That is significant, and lasting. Everyone now has it in their mind that Walmart is a potential source of better- priced gaming materials. While they may not sell the latest Euro- games, for a big name like Star Wars or Magic, they can certainly take business away from local stores.

Fantasy Flight Games is not innocent in this, and let no one forget that. I find it beyond impossible that they would not know that one of their games was being sold through Walmart at nearly 40% off. And they allowed it, and quite probably pursued this sales channel. I can't say I blame them because this is just good business, but I am disappointed. In all this moral talk about supporting your local game store, don't forget that the game makers and distributors carry at least their fair share of responsibility. I want to support my local game stores, but I'm not made of money. If FFG will allow Walmart (or other large online retailers) to undercut prices that severely, they have the blood of tiny miniatures on their hands.

Oh, please.

First of all, remember that the 'S' in MSRP is 'Suggested'. Also remember that FFG is at least one step removed from retail sales, unless you buy from them directly. Finally, remember that the MSRP includes FFG's cut, the distributor's cut, and the retailer's cut. It's not FFG's responsibility to set the exact price that everyone sells their products at. Enough of this moral panic. Seriously.

I live in a large town with a fair share of Gaming stores, bot I don't find any of them particularly friendly. One point of Interest though is that one of the major online retailers has a brick & morter here.

Up front I want to say I have never had a problem with this retailer, and they have bent over backwards to provide great customer service. I would never hesitate to use them.

Their local store on the otherhand is a complete joke. The employees are rude, lazy and incompetent. I would avoid the store all together, but none of the other stores in the area are much better, and I can get free shipping on all my orders if I get it delivered there instead of my house.

When the Armada core set was finally announced as for sale a month or so ago, I saw that Walmart online was offering it for around $60. Whether they ended up honoring those initial orders at that initial price I do not know. Here is what I do know.

That price took a dagger and stabbed it through the heart of every gaming store. For slightly more than the cost of one normally priced core set at the game store, you could have gotten two through Walmart. That is significant, and lasting. Everyone now has it in their mind that Walmart is a potential source of better- priced gaming materials. While they may not sell the latest Euro- games, for a big name like Star Wars or Magic, they can certainly take business away from local stores.

Fantasy Flight Games is not innocent in this, and let no one forget that. I find it beyond impossible that they would not know that one of their games was being sold through Walmart at nearly 40% off. And they allowed it, and quite probably pursued this sales channel. I can't say I blame them because this is just good business, but I am disappointed. In all this moral talk about supporting your local game store, don't forget that the game makers and distributors carry at least their fair share of responsibility. I want to support my local game stores, but I'm not made of money. If FFG will allow Walmart (or other large online retailers) to undercut prices that severely, they have the blood of tiny miniatures on their hands.

I think coolstuff had core on a 1 day sale for like $55...

If $60 was a dagger stabbed through the hearts of every game store, I'd hate to think what the hyperbole would be for $55!

I live in a large town with a fair share of Gaming stores, bot I don't find any of them particularly friendly. One point of Interest though is that one of the major online retailers has a brick & morter here.Up front I want to say I have never had a problem with this retailer, and they have bent over backwards to provide great customer service. I would never hesitate to use them.Their local store on the otherhand is a complete joke. The employees are rude, lazy and incompetent. I would avoid the store all together, but none of the other stores in the area are much better, and I can get free shipping on all my orders if I get it delivered there instead of my house.

You dont happen to live in Long Beach, CA do you? If so, I think I know exactly what store you are talking about, and I have to agree on the general statements.

I live in a large town with a fair share of Gaming stores, bot I don't find any of them particularly friendly. One point of Interest though is that one of the major online retailers has a brick & morter here.Up front I want to say I have never had a problem with this retailer, and they have bent over backwards to provide great customer service. I would never hesitate to use them.Their local store on the otherhand is a complete joke. The employees are rude, lazy and incompetent. I would avoid the store all together, but none of the other stores in the area are much better, and I can get free shipping on all my orders if I get it delivered there instead of my house.

You dont happen to live in Long Beach, CA do you? If so, I think I know exactly what store you are talking about, and I have to agree on the general statements.

Sorry, Wrong Coast.

lol Nevermind. Odd coincidence though.

The BS that people tell themselves and try and tell others to justify being selifish leaches is pretty remarkable...

At what point are the game stores the greedy scum, or are they the sacred cow?

Given that my FLGS is run by an old friend of mine whom I've known for most of my life, for me it's not even a question. When I can give him my business, I do. And I get regular perks and benefits from his store in doing so; he's just as loyal in return.

I like my local store, but my store needs to grow with the times. I can not justify 20-30 bucks of charity when I want something like armada.
For example I wanted Robotech Tactics. That is something like $99 bucks at my FLGS or $69 from amazon. I wan't to give them my money...but I can't justify that.

Local stores have a few things going for them that amazon can't do. foot traffic, community, the power to give it to me now.
That is pretty big but FLGS need to work it a bit.

To give another painful example
One player kinda exited about armada was debating getting it from the store but could not justify the price. Another guy at the store offered to let him use his amazon prime account in exchange for a few bucks...
The owner could have kicked them out but this really helps no one, The owner probably just got upset at those ungratful people not willing to pay big sums of money for the privlage of paying big sums of money.

I have to ask however... why did the owner not step in and take this customers money then and there? Did the owner not want that money? Did the owner forget what his job was? was the owner to dumbstruck at somerandom guy being a better FLGS right in front of him who's only resorse was amazon prime?

Lat example. Some kids playing magic and talking about buying a full box to split and draft. Store worker listening in waits tell they figure out the price, then walks over with the box of cards in hand, drops it on the table offering the box here and now for ten bucks more.

In essence, it might be entirely rational for a store to really specialize in MtG and mark up their prices on the other stuff...

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I don't agree.

If MtG is that popular, it shouldn't need other games to be marked up to subsidize it. I'd never pay over MSRP just because the store was offering me a place to play.

That said, I can understand that they'd give MtG priority for things like tournaments and table space. If I tried to set up a X-Wing night and they had a big release tournament I can understand that they may want to bump my night.

But if I'm a paying customer, they don't do themselves any favor by pushing me out either. If I'm not much of a customer, because they won't carry what I want to buy... Then they really only have themselves to blame for that. Clearly there's a market for it, one they refuse to tap into for some reason. It's not like they have to buy $5,000 worth of GW stuff as part of their initial order.

I think it's on you to make it worth their while to keep the bigger gaming tables, because those do take up a lot of floor space.

Not sure how it's done elsewhere, but at my LGS, they have table toppers so when we play games they put those out. Otherwise you have room for 2-3 MtG games per table.

It is the samething at our LGS, MTG has priority on everything. X-Wing is allowed on low attendance days and tournament are set on dead days.

My FLGS has a club program.... $25 a year gets you 25% off on any purchases any time. This has saved me a ton of cash over time and it's comparable to online discounts so I shop there.

On a different note I bought an FFG mat the other day, and it was bubbled up...their customer service replaced it instantly. Great job on their part!

My FLGS has a club program.... $25 a year gets you 25% off on any purchases any time. This has saved me a ton of cash over time and it's comparable to online discounts so I shop there.

On a different note I bought an FFG mat the other day, and it was bubbled up...their customer service replaced it instantly. Great job on their part!

I would pay 25$ a year to get a 25% discount.

My FLGS has a club program.... $25 a year gets you 25% off on any purchases any time. This has saved me a ton of cash over time and it's comparable to online discounts so I shop there.

On a different note I bought an FFG mat the other day, and it was bubbled up...their customer service replaced it instantly. Great job on their part!

I'm curious why so much for being part of the "club"...

I don't know if I'd pay that much just to receive a discount when I can get a bigger discount online for free.

If the argument is that pays for playing there, that would already be covered by buying there in the first place. It just feels like a bit too much for getting a discount that I think should be in the range of their normal pricing scheme in the first place. It's pretty uncommon that people pay msrp with other items, not sure why so many are ok with it when it comes to games. There isn't anything unique about board games that requires a business to sell them at msrp just to stay in business.

I don't know if I'd pay that much just to receive a discount when I can get a bigger discount online for free.

Well again, you have to factor in a couple things.

How much does shipping cost? How much is having it right now worth to you? What other services does that game store offer you?

It's not as simple as comparing prices directly, because there is added value offered at a good LGS. But everyone has to figure out how much that added value is worth, and then compare prices.

If you wouldn't pay 25 dollars a year to get a 25% discount on all your purchases at what I assume is a decently stocked store with tables for playing, I have to say you are a silly person. At least in that regard.

Or you just don't play many games.

If you have an LGS and play the game there, you should purchase there. Watching long term established stores fold due to internet sales (and other issues) is really say. Anyone up in Connecticut/Springfield Area of Mass. has great stories of a place called The Dragon's Lair. We all went there, a lot of the gaming friends I have now, I met there 15 years ago (I turn 29 this month, over half my life). It went under because new management was bad but also that's right when the online stores became the thing and everyone only cared about saving money.

My principal. If the difference between me buying a model is $4-8....I probably can not afford to buy the model in the first place.

I understand you can get a core online for $65 shipped and save $35. If you do, you are not allowed to get upset when that store doesn't support the game and the community dies off and you have no one to play with except for 1 or 2 people.

I understand that in some places, Europe it sounds like, LGS's do not really exist. If you are playing in a pub or someone's basement then by all means buy online. I visit 2-3 LGSs a month and I try to spread the love. They all understand that. Like Wave 1 I will get most of it at my main LGS, but then the 2nd copy of the Assault Frigate or Gladiator, I may go to another LGS where I have some store credit and also give them some money so they too will keep running events. They also realize I drive 45minutes to an hour to go our to there stores and are appreciative I am even there.

The only time I buy online is last second emergencys and the LGS's don't have it in stock. Its Tuesday, i need a model for a tournament Saturday, call around see if its instock, if not buy online so I have it in time.

This is my opinion and what I try to do. I am not trying to judge people or say I am a better human being than someone else. I totally get why buying online happens and I have contemplated it a lot on the super big purchases. I know on the internet its very easy for things to get misinterpreted.

To combat it, stores need to offer something. My main LGS will sometimes offer 20% on $200 purchase or more. Another LGS gives you a $10 gift card on your next purchase everytime you spend $100, so basically 10% off. This is usually enough to keep most people buying in store.

I like my local store, but my store needs to grow with the times. I can not justify 20-30 bucks of charity when I want something like armada.

For example I wanted Robotech Tactics. That is something like $99 bucks at my FLGS or $69 from amazon. I wan't to give them my money...but I can't justify that.

Local stores have a few things going for them that amazon can't do. foot traffic, community, the power to give it to me now.

That is pretty big but FLGS need to work it a bit.

To give another painful example

One player kinda exited about armada was debating getting it from the store but could not justify the price. Another guy at the store offered to let him use his amazon prime account in exchange for a few bucks...

The owner could have kicked them out but this really helps no one, The owner probably just got upset at those ungratful people not willing to pay big sums of money for the privlage of paying big sums of money.

I have to ask however... why did the owner not step in and take this customers money then and there? Did the owner not want that money? Did the owner forget what his job was? was the owner to dumbstruck at somerandom guy being a better FLGS right in front of him who's only resorse was amazon prime?

Lat example. Some kids playing magic and talking about buying a full box to split and draft. Store worker listening in waits tell they figure out the price, then walks over with the box of cards in hand, drops it on the table offering the box here and now for ten bucks more.

Yeah never mind that the owner provides them a place to play... Is amazon going to let you come play on their tables? The ignorance and selfishness of people never ceases to amaze...

It went under because new management was bad but also that's right when the online stores became the thing and everyone only cared about saving money.

I wonder how many LGS have gone out of business due solely to online sales. We hear stories of it, but most times there's more than just online sales involved. So while I don't doubt for a moment it has a factor, I question if it's ever the sole or even main reason.

If the difference between me buying a model is $4-8....I probably can not afford to buy the model in the first place.

Again I'm speaking as someone who believes you should support your FLGS. But the issue isn't $4-8 on a model, it's $50-75 on a whole order.

It went under because new management was bad but also that's right when the online stores became the thing and everyone only cared about saving money.

I wonder how many LGS have gone out of business due solely to online sales. We hear stories of it, but most times there's more than just online sales involved. So while I don't doubt for a moment it has a factor, I question if it's ever the sole or even main reason.

If the difference between me buying a model is $4-8....I probably can not afford to buy the model in the first place.

Again I'm speaking as someone who believes you should support your FLGS. But the issue isn't $4-8 on a model, it's $50-75 on a whole order.

Can you prove it's not the main reason?

Just as a note to the topic I do belong to a Gaming Club, Ordo Fanaticus, which also has a club house with terrain and tables. It's nothing fancy but is a nice place to go for my other game of choice. But there is a $5 fee to play which is to cover rent and electricity.

$5 is not unreasonable, just ask the Brits that have the Game Clubs that have been around for awhile.

The club I game at charges £1 a night (3hrs or so of gaming). I mostly buy on-line but do pick up odds and sods from my LGS. I never play there though as I object to spending that much time in the presence of people who consider personal hygiene optional at best.

It went under because new management was bad but also that's right when the online stores became the thing and everyone only cared about saving money.

I wonder how many LGS have gone out of business due solely to online sales. We hear stories of it, but most times there's more than just online sales involved. So while I don't doubt for a moment it has a factor, I question if it's ever the sole or even main reason.

If the difference between me buying a model is $4-8....I probably can not afford to buy the model in the first place.

Again I'm speaking as someone who believes you should support your FLGS. But the issue isn't $4-8 on a model, it's $50-75 on a whole order.

Can you prove it's not the main reason?

In the instance of the Dragons Lair it was right when the Warstore started and the Warstore is out of Long Island, right next to CT. so it was 2 day shipping and steep savings, I know almost all of the miniatures guys bought straight from them, which lead to the store not restocking product, which lead to the gamers going, you dont stock anything so we buy online, which lead to no store.

Game sales alone won't sustain a store, you need card games to really help and also things like soda + candy which has way better mark ups

It went under because new management was bad but also that's right when the online stores became the thing and everyone only cared about saving money.

I wonder how many LGS have gone out of business due solely to online sales. We hear stories of it, but most times there's more than just online sales involved. So while I don't doubt for a moment it has a factor, I question if it's ever the sole or even main reason.

If the difference between me buying a model is $4-8....I probably can not afford to buy the model in the first place.

Again I'm speaking as someone who believes you should support your FLGS. But the issue isn't $4-8 on a model, it's $50-75 on a whole order.

Now, he didn't lack for special orders. We had a game group there that poured hundreds of dollars every month into special orders. We included a retired navy officer with more money than common sense who, at times, droped $500 a month alone in that shop. And there were at least two other regular groups that met there. However, the manager often got the orders wrong or never got in portions of it. Whe asked about this, the standard reply was "oh, it will be here in a week, week and a hlf." But the merchandise would never come in. Frequently, he ordered things that were not asked for and tried to get us to buy them because he thought "you would like to have it." I once waited 6 months for something I saw at other gaming shops in town! We really felt like we were customers in spite of the manager's best efforts.

He wouldn't even try to carry things like the card games regularly even though kids and parents came in all the time asking for them. He made one order one time, sold out in a couple days, and never got them again. On top of this, they had tons of 10 to 15 to 20 year old RPG books they refused to put on discount or on sale. Yet thy took up tremendous amounts of display space. They would do nothing to move old, stale stock. In five years, there was never a sale or a discount table once. Not even at Christmas. Except at the Going Out of Business Sale. Even when customers (who wanted to place to stay open) volunteered to put things on eBay for them, they refused.

Eventually thier reputation spread. While internet sales provided an alternative to this store, I really think it was merchant suicide in this case.