I think directly monetizing the use of the tables is only going to put people off, and have the net effect of discouraging people to buy and play at the local store.

I agree I' don't know what the long term answer is

You say that as if gaming stores are a dying breed. Are they?

I think that people' gaming community spirit, and the norm of encouraging people to buy where they play tends to work.

It doesn't capture everybody, but it seems to capture enough people. I also know people who play, but buy online, but still contribute by buying drinks and snacks at the store where they play. Myself, I buy product from the outlier store that's closest to me, and who has the loyalty program. I play there, but I also play at another place that sells drinks and snacks. I buy mostly the former. Also, because they do card sales only, and no card sales at <$5, so that means that I pick up card sleeves, or paintbrushes there as well.

I think that the success of your gaming stores will depend on your local culture. I realize that I live in a Mecca for gaming. We just had another store open a month or two ago, and they're going gangbusters. (Lyraeus and I were even there tonight.) They're also one of our five stores running a Sullust tournament. Not much before then, there was a different gaming den (most revenue comes from food and drink, and a smaller selection of games sold) that opened up, and their event organizer was pimping his place pretty hard in the community. Now they have a light rail line that will make it easier for the carless to get down there.

The point being is that my community's culture has norms that help gaming stores survive. A community spirit helps that work. But if your broader community has social norms of buy-it-cheap or don't-play-with-people-you-don't-know, then FLGSs are just not going to thrive in your environs.

I also run the Armada league that is being set up there and we have a growing community (i may have bought a core set, gsd, imp squad pack and dice for the guy. . .but hey he now loves it!)

Portland is spoiled for choice. . . the FLGS that Mikael and I went to last night is fast becoming my favorite. Simply because they are friendly and interactive which to me, is VERY important.

I firmly believe you should be willing to pay a table tax or fee. If they have tables there that you can and do play on, then you owe that store a fair price for that space.

One way for retail to figure out how much they need to sell is $/square foot. They need to sell $X worth of stuff per square foot of space to break even. Tables take up space that could otherwise be used for shelves to hold product.

How much that table may cost will vary from place to place, but it is not free. It may attract people to the store, but that only helps if they actually buy things.

IMO anyone who plays at a store and doesn't buy at the same store is a freeloader at best.

That, or keep track of buyers and make it "buyers only" - the owners of the FLGS the bulk of us play at know us pretty well, ive dropped things that could be anyones and theyve easily picked out it was mine and gave it back next time i showed up.

There were a couple kids complaining about the prices and saying you can get it cheaper on ebay and Hobie, the actual store owner, asked where they'd play. Course they said here, and he responds "And you dont think these tables might go away if everyone did that?" no response, they just glanced at each other in defeat and bought the models here lol. Thing i find funny is this is the only gaming store ive come across that doesnt mark up prices for convenience purposes, which is probably why theyre so well known around here.

I've probably spent somewhere around 700USD at that place since i moved here 2 years ago lol.

If i ever owned a game store, which i'll be honest i kinda want to im that big into this hobby, my gaming tables wouldnt be open to everybody. I disagree with most game stores jacking up the sell prices but im not opposed to restricting the tables.

While i was stationed in South Korea the only gaming stores i could find were a complete ripoff. It was actually cheaper to order direct from Gamesworkshop website than buy anything from those **** stores. Even using Wons instead of Dollars, their shelf price was insane. A battlewagon, which is normally $66USD was ~$90 when you did the Wons to Dollars math. Their excuse? "You get it now instead of in a couple weeks when you order it" - not joking that was their excuse for the hyke. Jerks.

Even if i get a place with enough space to have my own table set up, i'd still play there more. Both because its more accessible to everybody than my house would be and also because you dont meet new guys in your basement...well...i hope you dont lol

As a community, haven't we had this discussion already?

Anyway, I play in my home so I buy online. I will be attending a Sullust event, and depending on the cover charge of the event I imagine I'll pick something up from the store as a kind of thank you for hosting. Too bad there's no wave 2 out yet for purchase, but I've been looking to pick up an expansion for smash up anyway.