I've given in.

I'm ordering 2 GUNBOATS but I don't know where to preorder them from. I've heard some reliability issues with MM, but I'm skeptical in FFG.

Which is better?

I’ve used MM and The Warstore on a couple occassions without issue.

I just picked up a bunch of stuff from MM. I've used them a few times without issue.

FLGS, if one's close by.

I always liked coolstuff more, and not just because there's a storefront locally for free pickup at the discounted price. I'm letting the Gun for Hire delay slide.

Never done preordering before, always just FLGS. Though for me, I suppose I could look and see if ffg website had a local pickup at the game center.

I've never had a problem with MM or CSI. Cheapest prices around too.

Estimated Release Date: November-December 2017.

From MM.

+1 for FLGS. Just call up your local and pre-order from them. Support your local store so it can support your gaming habit!

I don’t mind paying a couple extra bucks. Unless you’re ordering over $100 you’re paying shipping from MM so it’s probably closer to a wash anyhow.

I wouldn't ever shop from the FFG main store. They charge MSRP and have no free shipping option making it actually more expensive then just buying from your local store.

If you're looking for best price, CoolStuffInc or MiniatureMarket are both solid. CSI is a better long run deal as they give discounts based on how much you've shopped with them. If you're worried about getting your product exactly on release day, then these are not your best bet as FFG has put in place measures to slow them down to give local stores a fighting change.

Like others have said, if you have a local store where you frequently play, it's standard practice to pay where you play. If you're like me and most local game stores are missing the F in FLGS, then your local game area might just be your house with your good friends. If that's the case, feel free to look out for yourself and find the best deal out there.

I agree with @Stoneface , boy, I do that a lot on this forum haha. Now getting the cool new hotness from your LGS is the way to go regardless of how much you actually play there, I believe, to keep the entire organic gaming system alive and well, so we can all enjoy current and future fun-ness with friends. Now if you're wanting older releases that they just don't stock multiples copies of, sure Miniatures Market or Coolstuff works just fine for such desperate times, like when you just have to have three Royal Guard Red Interceptors for a squad.

+1 on the FLGS. Most times you can pick them up on the street date. MM wont ship until street date so you end up getting them like a week after everyone else.

While the internet is convenient, buying exclusively on line can kill local stores. Nowhere is it more apparent than the local hobby shops. I'm not talking Michael's or Pat Catans but actual hobby shops. Models, paint, balsa and with somebody behind the counter that knew their product line. There used to be five within 20 minutes or my house, now there's only one.

That might not be a big thing for model builders. It's a solitary hobby after all but gaming is a lot different. Support your FLGS.

20 minutes ago, Stoneface said:

While the internet is convenient, buying exclusively on line can kill local stores. Nowhere is it more apparent than the local hobby shops. I'm not talking Michael's or Pat Catans but actual hobby shops. Models, paint, balsa and with somebody behind the counter that knew their product line. There used to be five within 20 minutes or my house, now there's only one.

That might not be a big thing for model builders. It's a solitary hobby after all but gaming is a lot different. Support your FLGS.

Which is a problem with the model builder community because we need to get together more and support our FLGS.

the model/RC hobby shop in my local area is no more because of this. So I fear for my local game store.

I still need to call my FLGS and see if they do preorder. They might not, I don't know yet.

And I'm worried that GUNBOATs may go out of stock before I can grab 2, so I want to order them to make sure I get some.

The war Store! Always pleasant to deal with,6.95 shipping,whenever other stores run out of product,war store has it. Prices are a little lower than csi or mm.

I use MM quite a bit (the "FLGS" for our county is my basement... I have 5 40k tables that easily convert to 10 X-Wing tables), but I heartily agree... pay where you play.

FLGS > MM > FFG (who, by the way, actually encourages buyers to NOT purchase from them if there is an FLGS nearby). But I've never ever had a problem with MM and my club easily throws a couple grand at them in X-Wing, Armada, Dropfleet, Destiny, etc plus we often do go the county over and patronize their two FLGSs too.

The closest FLGS to me is an hour away - one way. I don't even play there. I feel no guilt buying from MM, CSI or Amazon. A two hour round-trip for X-wing Minis just isn't practical. I have bought ships there when I was in the area but I won't make a special trip.

MM has excellent customer service. Only issue I've ever had was I once ordered something and it was out of stock when the website mistakenly showed it as being in stock.

Preorders however always go smoothly. They get you your stuff very fast.

I honestly suspect the Gunboat craze will not be as over the top as the forums would suggest, and that there will be some available as normal. But I could be wrong.

1 hour ago, Celestial Lizards said:

And I'm worried that GUNBOATs may go out of stock before I can grab 2, so I want to order them to make sure I get some.

Yep. That’s why I preordered 4 at my FLGS!

12 minutes ago, weisguy119 said:

The closest FLGS to me is an hour away - one way. I don't even play there. I feel no guilt buying from MM, CSI or Amazon. A two hour round-trip for X-wing Minis just isn't practical. I have bought ships there when I was in the area but I won't make a special trip.

Yeah the “local” part is pretty essential.

I’m lucky to have a few choices within a 20 min drive.

If I'm buying just one or two small base ships I'll go to a FLGS. Anything else, usually MM.

I ran the numbers, if I buy one of everything in the new wave through MM it's about $103. FLGS it's $126.

If my FLGS (the one that's 5 minutes away) did X-Wing events I'd be FAR MORE likely to buy from them, but they don't. The closest X-Wing event store is 40 minutes away.

1 hour ago, ScummyRebel said:

I honestly suspect the Gunboat craze will not be as over the top as the forums would suggest, and that there will be some available as normal. But I could be wrong.

I hope so. For your sake.

And mine.