Almost every gaming purchase I have made has been at one or another of a handful of excellent Local Gaming Stores. Like most of you I've spent many hundreds of dollars over the years thus, and have been happy to support the local community - since they do so much for the local gaming scene.

But I am not a purist.

The local prices for the epic scale ships have been cost prohibitive for me. In particular the Corvette locally runs about $110-$120 bucks, and Raider more than that. I picked up the GR-75 locally for something like $65 (all CDN funds, as I am in Canada), but I just could see myself dropping over an hundred dollars for any one ship.

So when I came across a Canadian online store selling the Corvette for $85, and the Raider for $95 - I didn't hesitate to make my order - given that I could get free shipping on orders over $200, and it wouldn't take much to push that order over the top (I picked up a board game along with these two).

I say I didn't hesitate, but really I did hesitate, in that I gave one LGS the opportunity to come down a little in price to get my business. I wasn't trying to be a jerk either - I have a report with several stores, and I can discuss matters like this candidly, and without giving the impression that I'll take my business elsewhere unless they bend over backwards to please me. I showed the owner the price I could get online for the Corvette ($85), and reasoned that without free shipping, that would run me altogether about $97 before taxes - so I offered to buy the Corvette locally for $100 - which I think is fairly reasonable, I am still taking a loss - and that Corvette had been sitting gathering dust for several weeks. The owner wasn't willing, and I was okay with that.

I just mention that so that no one imagines I didn't give the local guys an opportunity to take my money.

When I did make my order I ended up saving about $70, so I don't feel bad at all. Yet there may be some primadonnas out there that feel if you ever buy anything online for any reason, you're necessarily damning your local gaming community because you didn't pour every last penny into the local economy.

I like to think that if you're spending better than 90% locally, but occasionally take advantage of some offer that no on locally can match - you're doing no disservice to the community.

I am curious to hear what others think - not necessarily about my situation or decisions - but about the online shopping in general. I like to support my local community - but don't get all nazi-in-other-peoples-face about it.

I'd say that as long as the LGS is getting some money from you, you're ok. I figure you should be willing to pay for table space. So if you've spent 90% of your money there you've done good by them.

Especially when it comes to a question of if you'll even get the item in the first place. If you wouldn't buy something at MSRP, it's not like the store is going to really be missing out.

This for me has always been a dilemma.

A while ago I was very loyal to a FLGS but it was one of two locally and in the end business suffered and the owner retired. Since then I have tried to support the other store but the prices are usually really high prepared to online. Add to that the fact they do not stock another mini game I play heavily, I do tend to buy things online.

My rule of thumb these days is if it is avalible locally and is not like 20% more expensive then I buy locally. If it is not in stock then it is easier to order online. Basically I use them for my shiny itch as much as possible but if it is a planned purchase (which is rare tbh) then I order online usually from the FLGS near my brother as they have a good Web presence.

I'm in a similar boat - I buy everything from my FLGS normally, but I pre-ordered the Raider online because it's such a huge difference in price.

In truth- it's entirely your choice.

If you're on a tighter budget but that one that allows for some fun purchases, it's not unreasonable to buy online in anyway.

However, if you've got a local store you like- especially if you play it the store -and you've got the cash, I say support them.

There's always a middle ground as well. Support them when you can (or when you really want THAT THING RIGHT NOW). Go for more expensive items online since the discounts tend to be deeper on the bigger items like epic ships.

Also, if you mainly buy online and your store sells snacks or whatever, then buy snacks every-time you're there. It's not going to be much but it's something.

I take the view I owe the local store no more than they owe me. They aren't giving a venue out of the goodness of their heart.

That said I also know they won't support the game if it doesn't sell so I do all my general purchases from there and when I get around to the new wave they will get my business. Every penny counts though so if s big saving is available online I do it. A pound or two doesn't matter but if I can save a third or more i will. Especially on the bigger ships.

At the LGS I buy from where I buy the prices are definitely higher than on-line but still less than MSRP. I have been 'mostly' okay with that but it is still a little bit of a pinch and I get the feeling that he doesn't like giving me the discount anyway. Another issue is regarding the last two waves he either couldn't get enough for everyone or it was late coming in compared to others. Since he said others customers don't receive a discount and he only had a limited quantity I said 'no problem' let the other guys have it. I bought Wave 6 and several ships I needed to finish my squads from CSI. A week later he said everything had came in oh well. I think he was disappointed.

Not sure what to do. I've only played a few games there and I'd like to play more but mostly when I play it is at home. I buy multiples of most things except large and huge but I still get, at least, 1 each of those. 30% is a lot of money so if I can get a genuine discount I prefer that over MSRP.

So for now I try to buy locally but as big a pinch as he says it is on him I still feel the pinch of paying more that I could just a few blocks down the road. We have a local CSI plus there's always MM.

I`d buy from the local store if they weren`t so incredibly tardy in getting the items I want.

Also the price difference is insane.

Not so much on the small ships, but packages, large ships and huge ships have a massive price difference.

I ordered additional dice from the local store 2 weeks ago. I still haven`t received them. I ordered dice from via amazon on thursday and i`m getting them tomorrow.

I ordered a raider via amazon on thursday and i got it yesterday. Price difference was 30%.

I make good money, but if you`re going to that expensive, you need to be pretty efficient with your logistical operation. I`m not going to pay 30% more and wait 10 additional days, just to support some local store.

I only play at LGS for tournaments where there's a fee attached to compensate them for table space. I'll spend store credit plus cash while I'm there, occasionally make an impulse buy (for something other than X-Wing, usually), and consider it good. The vast majority of my play time is at mine or friends' homes, so the vast majority of my purchases go to online vendors for the savings. Were I to patronize LGS more, I would probably shift more purchasing to them.

I generally buy my initial wave ships in bulk online, but when I need addons I do it in store. Grabbed my second Starviper at the local place, will likely grab something else next time.

I think it's okay to buy more expensive items like epic ships online they arn't the cheapest items and the online discount goes along way to making them affordable.

But if your just buying fighters pay a little more to keep them in business.

If it were a chain store it'd be different i'd never tell someone to pay full retail at a GW store for example but if you don't want that FLGS to close you have to help him keep the light's on.

But you shouldn't feel you have to buy something every visit, just as long as you're not buying everything online and using their tables for free you don't have to feel bad.

When is it okay? Whenever you feel like it.

It's a store, a for-profit business. It is up to you to decide who gets your dollars, who has the 'gunfactor', which is a Dutch word that has no translation in English.

My FLGS gets a portion of my gaming budget, but the Raider I bought online because it'd easily be 20 euro's cheaper online. That's half a new boardgame right there.

It's okay to buy online when you live in Alaska (not Anchorage) and your local LGS (it's not that friendly) jacks up the Tantive and TIE Phantom expansion another $5 because people need them for tournaments.

Most of gaming store income comes from MTG or Yugioh anyway, right?

Most of gaming store income comes from MTG or Yugioh anyway, right?

Not at my LGS. There's very little card games being played there.

Most of gaming store income comes from MTG or Yugioh anyway, right?

Probably but that's not the point, unless you're paying for the tables and buying snacks there then your free loading by not buying anything in store.

It's a store, a for-profit business. It is up to you to decide who gets your dollars, who has the 'gunfactor', which is a Dutch word that has no translation in English.

Could you maybe give it a try in English? I'm very interested! The Dutch words in the Ender's Game trilogy, used for classifying foreigners/aliens into how possible/likely it is to peacefully coexist were actually very important for my world view. I think they were something like 'raman' or 'ramen' and 'varelse' as well as another that I don't remember at all, need to reread those...

I own my own store and have busted my butt to try and get a steady x wing community going. I have succeeded in that we grew from 2-3 players 6 months ago to now 9-10 regulars! (thanks to all those who gave my helpful advice in earlier threads!)

That being said I can't hold it against them for buying online. My X wing sales are good and I am not complaining that a few buy online. I bought half of my collection online mainly because there was no store locally that sold x wing and if Barnes and noble is my best bet, I'd rather give my money to coolstuff.

What is the silver lining in all of this is that when new people come to my store and see the whole room playing x wing, it's like free advertising. I sell a new core set or two every Sunday. I don't even need to get out of the seat because X wing players are like sharks! Best salesmen ever.

It is the best seeing a group of grown men debating over what is the most efficient way to spend $100 on an initial x wing purchase. It's awesome. Especially seeing the different factions try to win over the new guy

I've started throwing the idea around with my partners to try and hold a $25 tournament once a month with an epic ship as the prize! Whoever wins can't win the same Epic ship again. In my mind getting a chance to win an Epic for $25 is pretty sweet, plus it makes the store the same amount, maybe even a little more!

Local gaming stores need to be creative in getting people in their door and spending money. Even if they buy some of their ships online, when they come to play I get them for a couple pops or waters and a candy bar or chips. I'm still making money and they are still enjoying the store.

This got a little long, but i guess the gist of my story is don't beat yourself up too bad for buying online, we've all done it. As long as you remember that it does require a little love towards your FLGS, then everyone wins.

It's hard for me to find an 'excellent' LGS the closest one is a LGS not a FLGS and it is filthy. I did but my raider from a store a little farther away and it is an excellent FLGS they offer 20% off on all preorders and on x-wing night. I would say give the local store business if they are providing you a place to play or hosting tournaments, but don't feel obligated to buy everything at full retail.

I had a game store I loved. There wasn't really any game space, but it was just a fun place to go. I only bought about half my stuff from there. The thing was, they had this comic in the front right up by the cash register.

The comic went something like this, "I can't believe this game store is closing! I used to come here all the time ... to look at all the cool new things ... which I'd then go online to buy for cheaper."

I thought that was a cute comic ... until the store actually went under.

Since then, I've found a new place much closer to my home and there's a good group of guys there. I don't want to see the same thing happen again, so I've only been buying X-Wing from them since I started playing at their store and don't plan to buy X-Wing anywhere else now.

Never.

The only store that sells X-wing in my city doesn't have gaming tables. The only store that has tables is a GW. I buy online. Mostly from Chaos Cards, because they are cheap, generally deliver within a day or two of the wave hitting stores, and give you rewards in the form of cashback credit when you spend. I've had a couple of free expansions out of their scheme.

If there was a proper local FLGS, I'd maybe consider picking up some stuff from them to support their business, but sadly, I don't have the option!

I do not have a local store that sells X-wing, but when I go to a tournament, will try to buy at least a small ship that I want to fill in my collection.

Personally, I have no problems with buying online if it's saving me a decent chunk of money, but at the same time I do want to support my FLGS (because they really are friendly), so my own personal rule is that I then spend the money I saved in the store.

As I say, the above is my own personal rule though. What works for you will depend on several factors, including how friendly your local is, and how much money you have to spend.

I make most of my major purchases online at a discount. I always make sure I spend MINIMUM of $10 (not including food/drink) if I'm playing at the FLGS. I'm on a budget but I figure FLGS purchases into it to make sure I keep the good karma spinning, at least within my means.

-Cal