I make a point of buying as much of my x-wing stuff from my LGS as possible.

I still occasionally buy online if they don't have stock, or if I spot a really good deal on something I want multiples of - but at the very least I'll buy 1 of everything from each new wave from there.

The owner is a great guy, works hard to create an active and diverse gaming community, organises events and competitive tournaments, and as well as having 2 official game nights a week, gives me a place to turn up and play pretty much whenever I want.

I "only" get 10% off retail but I consider it worth every penny

Prefer to pay where I play. Lucky to have a great local gaming store that hosts loads of tournaments and weekly X-Wing nights

I think it boils down to personal preference. Support your local LGS when it is reasonable to do so. However no one is under any obligation. Nevertheless if you play games at the LGS it is ethically a nice to purchase a fair amount, at least some, remembering they are running a business and people and bills to pay.

Always buy where where you play... so buy online if you like to play at home with friends, and buy at the LGS if you play over there. One store over here has jumped on the bandwagon and started selling stock riding on the coattails of our shop that runs events, demos, and provides space for the community grow... that shaddy shop doesn't even have a place to play.

So not all LGS are FLGS...

There's a lot to consider between buying on line or the lgs. Stores that markup beyond msrp I won't deal with. That's just plain B.S.

Brick and Mortar stores that don't discount are another thing. For every dollar of merchandise they sell more than 50% goes to pay for the product. Out of the remaining, say 40%, gas, electric, water and rent come out. Then the owner has to pay wages, ss tax, workers comp, federal, state and local taxes. If the owner works the shop and it's a Sole Proprietorship, he'll pay an additional 7% Self Employment Tax. When it's all over, a 4% profit is considered good. Real good. If you figure a $10.00/hr wage, if the store is open 40 hrs/week the owner makes $20,800 gross. Assuming a 4% profit margin that store's gross sales need to be $520,000.00!

There's not a hobby shop around that is only open 40 hrs/wk. The owner may still make $20,800.00/year but it's much less than $10.00/hr.

There's an old joke that asks,"How do you make a little money owning a hobby shop?" The answer is "Start with a lot".

Support your flgs before they all go the way of the DoDo and Passenger Pigeon.

No, I don't own a business but I did once many years ago. It kind of ticked me off when people would come in, pick your brain for advice, then buy the model from an online businesses.

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.

The short, and only correct, answer is that it is your money and only YOU should have any say in how it is spent. We live in a capitalistic society and you, the consumer, are in the driver seat deciding what business will succeed and which will fail. Supply and Demand are the gods of this world. Choose accordingly.

I buy all my yellow card sleeves at my FLGS and support all Xwing events...but my wallet and their in-stock items never agree. When I have cash- they are sold out. When I'm broke- they have plenty. My local store is very popular and it's hard for them to keep stocked up. It's been hit and miss again this week, so I just got all of Wave7 (1 of each) and the Raider plus a nice tube case for my mat and a big pack of upgrade-card pages for $174... on Amazon. I plan on buying one more Kihraxz at my LGS when they have it AND I have 16.50 in my pocket.

I feel a tremendous loyalty to my LGS, although I'm blessed with a good one that gives a 15% discount on list price.

They provide plenty of gaming space and they run events pretty much every week which are free to take part in. Although there isn't prize support for these, the owner does put a lot of effort in - we are currently in the middle of a story campaign and next month will kick off league play.

I do feel that it's incredibly rude to show up every week at a store to play when you've bought everything online.

I buy all my yellow card sleeves at my FLGS and support all Xwing events...but my wallet and their in-stock items never agree. When I have cash- they are sold out. When I'm broke- they have plenty. My local store is very popular and it's hard for them to keep stocked up. It's been hit and miss again this week, so I just got all of Wave7 (1 of each) and the Raider plus a nice tube case for my mat and a big pack of upgrade-card pages for $174... on Amazon. I plan on buying one more Kihraxz at my LGS when they have it AND I have 16.50 in my pocket.

It's simple. Ask the owner to set aside what you want when it comes in. And you need to set aside the money so you have it when the stuff you asked for comes in. You can buy cheap but you may not have a store to play at.

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.

The short, and only correct, answer is that it is your money and only YOU should have any say in how it is spent. We live in a capitalistic society and you, the consumer, are in the driver seat deciding what business will succeed and which will fail. Supply and Demand are the gods of this world. Choose accordingly.

You are correct. We can influence the survival of an lgs. Or we can buy cheap. I understand the attraction of buying cheap but I would rather postpone a purchase from an online seller, save up some extra cash and buy local. You can't put a price on what you get from a lgs that supports the hobby. I've seen too many hobby shops close over the years not to be concerned.

The Internet changed the way retail business operates. Location used to restrict or boost sales, and had value as a result.

Large businesses have always had better buying power and have always used that to push quantity at cheaper prices. But traditionally you had to go to the shop to get it.

Now location is no longer the hurdle it used to be. Larger companies still do what larger companies do but with greater reach.

The business model of the FLGS needs to change. They can't compete in price, and in some cases can't compete in service. What they need to provide is something that the larger companies can't. Which they can do if they operate as a club.

We have sports clubs, with equipment and paid membership, food and drink, areas to engage, fund raisers, the whole thing.

We already have gaming clubs that work the same way. I believe that FLGS will take on more attributes of the sports/gaming club model so they can offer services that online shopping can't.

The issue is that hosting events is not lucrative. They need to move merchandise to make any meaningful revenue.

True, but one of the best ways to move merchandise is to improve customer loyalty and satisfaction, which you can do through a healthy club scene.

Which is what the LGS model tries to already do.

And the existence of threads like these is very telling that it currently doesn't work.

FLGS need to be able to monetize the thing they have that Internet shopping can't. A place to play with your toys and meet new people. They can not rely on sales alone to pay for the space.

Pretty much every LGS I go to already does charge for space as is.

And the existence of threads like these is very telling that it currently doesn't work.

FLGS need to be able to monetize the thing they have that Internet shopping can't. A place to play with your toys and meet new people. They can not rely on sales alone to pay for the space.

Yes, but if you monetize the playing space, then people just play at home.

What they need to do is build customer loyalty and satisfaction, which is practically the opposite of charging people to play, IMO. Well, charging more than a token amount anyway.

And the existence of threads like these is very telling that it currently doesn't work.FLGS need to be able to monetize the thing they have that Internet shopping can't. A place to play with your toys and meet new people. They can not rely on sales alone to pay for the space.

Yes, but if you monetize the playing space, then people just play at home.What they need to do is build customer loyalty and satisfaction, which is practically the opposite of charging people to play, IMO. Well, charging more than a token amount anyway.

I don't think I agree with that. People will pay to play if they feel the facilities offered are better than they have themselves, and the asking price isn't too steep.

People will pay to engage with other people they might otherwise be unable to play with in a safe place.

The problem with building customer loyalty and satisfaction is that it had a monetary value as well, and the reason the FLGS are struggling is that the people buying the products feel the loyalty and satisfaction provided are too highly costed.

I don't think I agree with that. People will pay to play if they feel the facilities offered are better than they have themselves, and the asking price isn't too steep.

People will pay to engage with other people they might otherwise be unable to play with in a safe place.

The problem with building customer loyalty and satisfaction is that it had a monetary value as well, and the reason the FLGS are struggling is that the people buying the products feel the loyalty and satisfaction provided are too highly costed.

This is true, but it's worth mentioning that the asking price I feel appropriate is about $2 per game, or $5 for an all day session. Peanuts, basically. If a store were to try and turn a profit by charging people to use their tables, then I think they'd quickly lose the good will of the local gaming community.

I think a lot of FLGS had a captive market even just a few years ago, when online selling wasn't as easy and safe. And I think a lot of them still have the mindset that local gamers HAVE to buy from them, so there's no need to work on customer loyalty or satisfaction.

And the existence of threads like these is very telling that it currently doesn't work.FLGS need to be able to monetize the thing they have that Internet shopping can't. A place to play with your toys and meet new people. They can not rely on sales alone to pay for the space.

Yes, but if you monetize the playing space, then people just play at home.What they need to do is build customer loyalty and satisfaction, which is practically the opposite of charging people to play, IMO. Well, charging more than a token amount anyway.

I don't think I agree with that. People will pay to play if they feel the facilities offered are better than they have themselves, and the asking price isn't too steep.

People will pay to engage with other people they might otherwise be unable to play with in a safe place.

The problem with building customer loyalty and satisfaction is that it had a monetary value as well, and the reason the FLGS are struggling is that the people buying the products feel the loyalty and satisfaction provided are too highly costed.

I'm not sure, i'd always rather play in the comfort of my own home or a friends. First of all, I can't curse or crack open a beer in an LGS. Plus, if I have to pay for the space that is yet another downside. All you really need to play x wing is a black piece of felt and a dining table. Maybe i'm an antisocial misanthrope, totally guilty of that I will admit...but I have never went to an LGS to do anything but make a purchase and bail in quick order.

While I love supporting my FLGS, sometimes they can't provide everything.(At least in my area) They don't expect that they will be able to get Everything, but they can get 99% of the product they are selling so they do try hard to meet customer's needs.

When I first got into X-wing, all they had were 2 core sets and a couple TIE fighter's sitting on the "Leftover's waiting to be bought" shelf. 2 week's went by I came in with a TIE interceptor/ A-wing I got off amazon. By that time the other core's and blister's had all sold, and the game store had changed distributor's, and was slated to get more ships in about a weeks time. Needless to say I have bought every ship (except my Starviper) from them since.

I think if you have a dedicated FLGS, you should try to support it as much as possible. Whether that support is new ships, paying for play space, or simply buying a drink, is up to you. I think everyone's LGS is unique, so how much they support them should be decided among those players individually. And I think people should try to save money when they want to. I recently bought some single upgrade cards ebay, which mean's now I don't have to get the Raider/CR-90/most wanted. The plus (for my FLGS, and me lol) Is that I need another X/Y wing now(And a decimator), and I am going to purchase those locally.

So yes, support the FLGS as much as possible, but it is your money, so if you see a ship you want for $8.00, go for it.

I choose to try and buy everything I can in-store, as opposed to online. Plus, I try to always go with whatever stores treat their employees fairest. Of course these practices are within reason. I wouldn't drive 100 miles to buy a loaf of bread from a store in the next town just because that store pays their employees $1 more an hour than the store a block away. But when I can, I stick to stores, and preferably the mom and pop shops. I avoid big business places like Wal-Mart and Target, as I truly despise them.

I see how big business and online shopping are helping destroy our economies, and I choose to avoid being a party to it as best I can. Sticking to my personal morals, and setting examples for my children of what I believe is decent, is more important to me than money, or possessions. Some view my opinions as being self righteous, or that I'm being all "nazi-in-other-peoples-face about it" when I express my views. And some believe that I think they are immoral if they don't share my point of view. I don't make those kind of judgment calls, because I don't assume to know everything, and I'm aware that my views could be wrong, or perhaps extreme. However, I was raised to believe that if you are aware of a problem, you can choose to be a part of it, or, you can choose to be a part of the solution, and that anything else is just an excuse so to not have to bear the burdens of being part of the latter. That's just me, and unfortunately it makes some people uncomfortable, or just plain despise me. But I can live with that because the truth is, I'm just trying to do good based on what my opinion of good is. If sharing my opinion can encourage just one person to make just one purchase differently, than any negativity I receive was worth it.

My answer to the question?

Only when you can't get what you want at a fair market value to you and the retailer, or, when what you want isn't available through a store that's within a reasonable distance.

Sorry if expressing my expectations of myself, or my hopes to encourage others to feel the same, upsets anyone.

As the wise Orlando Bloom once said;

"What man is a man who does not make the world better?"

I've never bought online... Not because of any money issues or lack of availability. I live in a census metropolitan area of over 5.5 million people so I can find what I need on the ground within reason. Personally I prefer to get things sharpish. If I want a ship, I go get it. Simple. No waiting for orders, no shipping, no muss no fuss. I don't worry about pre-ordering things because I know I can get them when I need to get them. I don't get things until I feel the time is right but when I feel that time has come I'll hop on the subway after work and take a 20 minute round trip downtown and get what I need. The K-wing and company have been kicking about for a few days now, I haven't gotten them yet but I know they will be there when I want to go get them.

But this is just me, I echo many of the previous posts. You needn't justify these things. This is all personal preference and situational availability.

When people are groaning about $100+ Raiders, are we talking in USD?

I've never bought online... Not because of any money issues or lack of availability. I live in a census metropolitan area of over 5.5 million people so I can find what I need on the ground within reason. Personally I prefer to get things sharpish. If I want a ship, I go get it. Simple. No waiting for orders, no shipping, no muss no fuss. I don't worry about pre-ordering things because I know I can get them when I need to get them. I don't get things until I feel the time is right but when I feel that time has come I'll hop on the subway after work and take a 20 minute round trip downtown and get what I need. The K-wing and company have been kicking about for a few days now, I haven't gotten them yet but I know they will be there when I want to go get them.

But this is just me, I echo many of the previous posts. You needn't justify these things. This is all personal preference and situational availability.

When people are groaning about $100+ Raiders, are we talking in USD?

You can get 'em for ~90CAD if you look hard enough, even cheaper USD.

Well the LGS in my town closed some years ago, but besides a few games and some sleeves I never bought stuff there and did not play there. In the town where i work there is also a LGS. But as it is terrible to reach by car and difficult to park there (and very high parking costs) I do not go there very often. Besides some small stuff like sleeves for my LGC's and getting my Netrunner data packs on release every now and then I do not buy much there. Besides parking and getting there the prices are way higher than online (and free shipping costs). Also usually I don't really like most of the personnel working at the LGS or most player with some hygiëne issues (sorry but it smells like sweat way to much most times), so besides an occasional x-wing tournament (where I pay fee to play there) I rather play at my own or a friends place.

The LGS did help me get into contact with a X-wing player to arrange my first game to find out if I am getting the game or not. So I am thankfull they did that and I bought a starter and the Falcon and Slave and some small fighter expansions at the LGS, but after that not much, the price difference was too big (both in money and in %) so I buy it online. Some time ago the FFG prices for games here in the Netherlands/Europe went way up, at the LGS like 30 - 40%! and online like 10%. And it allready was really expensive so now it is all online shopping now.

Example: I can online get a Raider with an Decimator (and free shipping) cheaper than just a Raider at the LGS. Easy choice there...