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devinb1690 wrote:

generalgrog wrote:

Howlingmoon wrote:Independent Game Stores have a very limited shelf life.

Whats interesting is those ulgs's that seem to hang in there, lingering, for no apparant reason, even when the owner has chased away all the customers.

I still can't explain that.

GG

But in reality, I think some of those ulgs owners out there see their store as an extension of their hobby, and not much more.

I think you are on to something there. It's not looked at as a business per se, to them. So they don't really care about customers.

GG

ULGS syndrome IMO can easily be summed up by the following:

1. Poor communication with the customer base. Some take it a step further and attempt to force the customer base into aligning with the owner's expectations and world view. This includes (but is not limited to) arguing with customers regarding purchases, pushing unpopular product, overly stringent store rules, strange operating hours etc.
2. A lack of cleanliness and organization on the sales floor AND in the back office.
3. A lack of understanding (and unwillingness to learn about) the products they carry.
4. Substantial special order waits and long restock times (while this can be caused by minimum order requirements, IMHO, it is more often an indication of poor cash flow or poor organization/management).

nintendoeats wrote:

Bla_Ze wrote:

VermilionButterfly wrote:Well... I've been to a few, and they've had poor service.

But the only problems I encounter usually at these shops is that they either drool at my sight, or they serve me first because I'm a female!

It's not necessarily right, but hey, I can't complain.

I get that alot too, it's like i'm a piece of meat.

...your avatar is a naked alien woman...

Something is wrong here, but I can't put my finger on it...

The mystery deepens:

Bla_Ze wrote:Funny thread might as well post. Thats me on the right.

I used to play at Sci-Fi City in Orlando. Huge Store, biggest I've ever been in for gaming by a long shot. Lots of gaming area, very clean. Problem was TFG inhabited that store and reproduced like rabbits. The problem got so bad that I was not allowed in their tourneys after all the TFG's decided it was unfair that I always won.

The GW on Queen Street in Toronto circa 1991-93 was run by a total delusional megalomaniac with a viloent temper. He would frequently ban people for anything that upset him, including beating him in 40K or BB or knowing the rules better than him. He was a pretty good painter, but if he was doing Space Wolves, no one else was 'allowed' to do them because they were copying his "styles". He also claimed Logan Grimmnar was based on him after he met the GW design staff in Nottingham. Pathological liar is too generous of a term for this guy. At any rate, his antics finally got him canned and he opened his own ULGS across the street and whizzed away a lot of investors' money (as a note here; the GW weathered the storm and moved to the Eaton Centre a bit later) I heard he went on to toy design or drawing comics or writing action movies or something, but he also said he had been drafted as a pro football player, went to Top Gun flight school and was related to Hulk Hogan, so who knows.

Gwar! wrote:

Snikkyd wrote:A lot of the stories have little to do with the store, just some TFG.

Actually, most of TFG happen to be the store owner, and thus by extension, the store.

You know, it's amazing how many store owners are TFG. I had not really thought about it until you mentioned that. I can honestly think of exactly two LGS owners I have known in my 22 years of in-store gaming that weren't TFG.

i make sure i'm TFG

There's a few LGSs within an hour commute of where I live in NC.

One of them (Mind Games) is decidedly unfriendly. The owner requires that customers call her "Mrs. Reed" and her daughter (Rae) who handles miniature stuff in the store is rude. Their employees are nice enough, but trouble starts at the top. ><

I attended a few events at the store, and after being subjected to spot-rulings contrary to the 40k rulebook during tournaments, decided that it wasn't a very friendly store. My wife refused to come inside because of the treatment, but I'm willing to brush aside jerks in pursuit of games. The last tournament I went to boasted a NIB space hulk set as a prize; I got three massacres, and at the end Ms. Reed announced that my third round opponent was the winner. We all looked at each other puzzled and said that wasn't quite right, and I went over to Rae to offer scores and she told me to get lost. I did.

I e-mailed the owner afterwards expressing my disbelief at the treatment I'm getting in the store. I chose not to attend the next tournament (this past weekend) because I'm prepping for a GT this weekend, and after the tournament, the owner spoke to me on the phone and uninvited me from the store, telling me that she heard I'm spreading hate about her store, and that one of my friends didn't attend the tournament because he was uncomfortable around me. A subsequent conversation with the friend in question led to the answer that he has no idea what I'm talking about, and he didn't go to the tournament because of conflicting plans, and for the other...I've never said anything negative except in private to the store owner via e-mail.

So now, I'm sitting here contemplating what to do about it. I religiously gather e-mails and phone numbers for 40k gamers around me into an excel spreadsheet (and my phone) so that when tournaments or organized gaming opportunities arise, I can put the word out (since no stores in the area believe in forums). I've been labeled a troublemaker and banned from her store....I'm contemplating actually earning my title. There's a FLGS 10 minutes from that store, and when I commiserated with the owner there, he told me that he's got quite a few people who aren't allowed in her store anymore (even magic players who refuse to play there anymore) and that her own employees come to his store to make their purchases because he has a discount. *laughing*

My wife thinks I should take the high road and let the whole thing go....I'm pondering spreading my tale far and wide to anyone who games there to let them know what kind of treatment I got there. Maybe grab a bunch of other gamers who are banned there too and we all make signs and picket outside their store one Saturday with signs saying, "I don't play here" and "Verbal abuse awaits inside" and "Friendly store is only 10 minutes away" and stuff like that.

People will learn.

Brother SRM wrote:One store in Boston was kind of a drag for me. I'd travel the hour plus to get there, only to be ignored and not get a game in. It wasn't unfriendly so much as it was elitist, and since I wasn't drinking the Kool-Aid like everyone else I wasn't in on it.

So that's when I started my own gaming group at a different store

Ouch!

As a Massachusetts native, can I ask what store this was?

And what is your new 'good' store?

Always looking for a place to game!

Dashofpepper wrote:There's a few LGSs within an hour commute of where I live in NC.

One of them (Mind Games) is decidedly unfriendly. The owner requires that customers call her "Mrs. Reed" and her daughter (Rae) who handles miniature stuff in the store is rude. Their employees are nice enough, but trouble starts at the top. ><

One time my friends and I were in Greenville, NC and I found a LGS named Mind Games. I called the store to get a general attitude and there was a female voice on the other side that just seemed overall unpleasant so I avoided the store altogether and never thought about it since.

It's good to know it really is an unpleasant place after all. Spread the knowledge.

I say spread the info, man.

If you want to have a good place to game it's a good idea to support a store. Helping the "good guys" is always a fine choice.

mal wrote:

nintendoeats wrote:

Bla_Ze wrote:

VermilionButterfly wrote:Well... I've been to a few, and they've had poor service.

But the only problems I encounter usually at these shops is that they either drool at my sight, or they serve me first because I'm a female!

It's not necessarily right, but hey, I can't complain.

I get that alot too, it's like i'm a piece of meat.

...your avatar is a naked alien woman...

Something is wrong here, but I can't put my finger on it...

The mystery deepens:

Bla_Ze wrote:Funny thread might as well post. Thats me on the right.

I was confused by that as well.....

Ok ( )

Bla_Ze you may need to clear this one up for us.

Darkness wrote:I used to play at Sci-Fi City in Orlando. Huge Store, biggest I've ever been in for gaming by a long shot. Lots of gaming area, very clean. Problem was TFG inhabited that store and reproduced like rabbits. The problem got so bad that I was not allowed in their tourneys after all the TFG's decided it was unfair that I always won.

How long ago were you playing at SciFi. I know there were some serious TFG's that hung out there, but supposedly have cleaned up a bit in the last few years.


GG

Listen guy's...im hot, sex just isn't a factor in the equation.

And for all you naysayers. STOP hatin' start participating.

Absolutionis wrote:

Dashofpepper wrote:There's a few LGSs within an hour commute of where I live in NC.

One of them (Mind Games) is decidedly unfriendly. The owner requires that customers call her "Mrs. Reed" and her daughter (Rae) who handles miniature stuff in the store is rude. Their employees are nice enough, but trouble starts at the top. ><

One time my friends and I were in Greenville, NC and I found a LGS named Mind Games. I called the store to get a general attitude and there was a female voice on the other side that just seemed overall unpleasant so I avoided the store altogether and never thought about it since.

It's good to know it really is an unpleasant place after all. Spread the knowledge.

Well the store IS called "Mind Games"...lol

Bla_Ze wrote:Listen guy's...im hot, sex just isn't a factor in the equation.

And for all you naysayers. STOP hatin' start participating.

Ok,

A)what did that mean and
B)picture...EXPLAIN!!!

nintendoeats wrote:

Bla_Ze wrote:Listen guy's...im hot, sex just isn't a factor in the equation.

And for all you naysayers. STOP hatin' start participating.

Ok,

A)what did that mean and
B)picture...EXPLAIN!!!

if Bla_ze will let me respond for them

a) despite any assumptions you may make about LGS crowds; Bla_ze often finds themself objectified by the clientele, leading to them feeling 'like a piece of meat'

b) apparently in Stockholm the latest 'look' involves facial hair, fatigues, military paraphernalia, and a hint of metal fan. Hence, as the picture illustrates, Bla_Ze is a veritable bombshell.

Yeah....I'm having a hard time letting this one go. ><

I've never been able to let "wrongs" pass by unnoticed. This one time I was in an Outback Steakhouse in New York - this big dude wearing a cowboy hat was smoking in the next booth (I was sitting at the bar). There's no smoking indoors in New York. A bunch of people were muttering under their breath about it but were afraid to say anything and the staff wasn't doing anything (big dude).

I turned around and said very politely, "Excuse me sir? I'm not sure if you're from around here, but there's no smoking indoors. Would you mind putting it out?" The guy says, "Mind your own business." I turned around and sat there for a couple seconds. Then I turned back around and took his cigarette out of his mouth and put it out on my hand (without flinching of course) and said, "Sir, please refrain from smoking." He sat there staring at me and everyone in the booths around me started clapping - I felt like a hero. *laughing* Except for the scar that I have on my hand now.

Ah...the days of my youth when I felt like I could take on the world.

Dashofpepper wrote:
I turned around and said very politely, "Excuse me sir? I'm not sure if you're from around here, but there's no smoking indoors. Would you mind putting it out?" The guy says, "Mind your own business." I turned around and sat there for a couple seconds. Then I turned back around and took his cigarette out of his mouth and put it out on my hand (without flinching of course) and said, "Sir, please refrain from smoking." He sat there staring at me and everyone in the booths around me started clapping - I felt like a hero. *laughing* Except for the scar that I have on my hand now.

Ah...the days of my youth when I felt like I could take on the world.

And they say we geeks can't be badasses .

Bla_Ze wrote:Listen guy's...im hot, sex just isn't a factor in the equation.

And for all you naysayers. STOP hatin' start participating.

What?

Ah, I think I get it. Its might not be that Bla_Ze is a woman, it is just that the regular clientelle of gaming stores may be interested anyway.

I could be wrong.

EDIT: Never mind...

Bla_Ze wrote:

VermilionButterfly wrote:Well... I've been to a few, and they've had poor service.

But the only problems I encounter usually at these shops is that they either drool at my sight, or they serve me first because I'm a female!

It's not necessarily right, but hey, I can't complain.

I get that alot too, it's like i'm a piece of meat.

I would love to be a piece of meat

excellent customer service and members of the opposite gender drool over you.
SIGN ME UP

generalgrog wrote:

Darkness wrote:I used to play at Sci-Fi City in Orlando. Huge Store, biggest I've ever been in for gaming by a long shot. Lots of gaming area, very clean. Problem was TFG inhabited that store and reproduced like rabbits. The problem got so bad that I was not allowed in their tourneys after all the TFG's decided it was unfair that I always won.

How long ago were you playing at SciFi. I know there were some serious TFG's that hung out there, but supposedly have cleaned up a bit in the last few years.


GG

Probably over 5 years now. I have sinced moved out of state.

True Story.

So we HAD a LGS until the owner decided he didn't want to be married to a nasty fat chick, that instead he wanted to be a nasty fat chick. So he closed shop, moved to Georgia, and changed his name. Last I heard he was shaving his foot hair and growing boobies.

So my friends and aquaintances are without a gaming store. There isn't a GW in any direction for over 500 miles. I know they just got electricity here in Mississippi last year, and shoes are still a new fangled idea, but come on......

Who knew a hobbit from Mississippi would be a closet transexual?

nerds are not always the well-adjusted, rational people that you meet on Dakka.

Sometimes they are downright weird!!!

nintendoeats wrote:Nerds are never the well-adjusted, rational people that you meet on Dakka.

They are always downright weird!!!

Fix'd

*This message brought to you by the "normal" people*

I think sarcasm is a tad difficult to convey over the interweb.

nintendoeats wrote:I think sarcasm is a tad difficult to convey over the interweb.