Hello, I'm just creating this thread because I would like to hear your experiences with "ULGS" (unfriendly local gaming shops).

As for me, I've dealt with a few in my area (Central Florida) years ago. This back when I was really into trading card games and other miniature games such as Heroclix and Star Wars. To make a long story short the store in question, "Gathering Place Games", was run by a manager that knew what he was doing but hired a plethora of inexperienced employees. including one 8 yr old kid (I know, crazy right?). The majority of the employees were basically just there to give the customer a hard time, which included but wasn't limited to them offering ridiculously stupid amounts for trade-in items, prices that were 50% above retail for some reason, and overall unprofessional service. In the end they had to move out of their nice storefront and into a ratty building with no air conditioning, lol.

Let me know if you have ever encountered a "ULGS".

Most GW's I've been to have less than friendly people.

One such store featured a 40 year old bloke who had a (rather well painted) Ultramarine army. Upon entering the store, I was greeted by your average overly-pushy employee that asked me if I need any help every two seconds, but the store seemed okay. As I picked up a box of Berzerkers, the big Ultramarine oaf gives a scoff, looking over his shoulder before saying to the player across the table "Kids; think they're cool because they play the bad guys." I was shocked at how rude this guy was being to a complete stranger, so I went to the counter and payed for the Berzerker. I proceeded to walk over to the ignorant arsehole and said "Nerds; think they're cool because they have no lives." He looked at me, shocked. I gave him a satisfied smirk before turning my swag on and walking out the door. I haven't been back to that GW since.

Worst one was in Radford, VA. The owner was always playing everquest as though he were an addict and would argue with anyone about anything. You could walk in and make a statement about how the weather was cold and he might start bantering about how, no.... it's really not that cold. This way he could keep his air of superiority since in his mind he was always right.

Oh and don't even try and play a game with him. He would play a game and complain about every rule that put him at a disadvantage and how the game rules suck, etc.etc..

GG

No personal experiences, but I have read many stories of an unkind worker at a GW Store. The one I can remember best was a guy planning an Imperial Guard army, and said he would use Pig Iron heads for them. The redshirt heard this and proceeded to walk up to them and tell them that the army wouldn't be allowed in the store, because it wasn't supporting GW.
If the person who I read this story from wants it, just ask and I'll give it back.

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

Unfortunately for me, there is only one LGS in my area. The closest place for me to get wargaming stuff is an hour away and that's a Hobbytown USA. Otherwise, I have to travel almost two hours to get to the bigger cities where they actually have game shops.

So, you'd think in my little neck of the woods, our single game store would be great, right? Wrong! I started going to my LGS about 8 years ago when I was real big into MtG. The store owner would run the tourneys, which wasn't so bad, except he can be a colossal donkey cave sometime. I can remember him telling a group of MtG players to "get out of his fething shop" because he didn't like one of them personally. That's the thing with my LGS, if the owner doesn't like you (for whatever reason) he lets you know about it.

Then, he hired one of the players that he liked. This guy was a tool. He would spend all day at the LGS and trade with the little kids that came in. I once saw him trade a kid an unopened pack of cards (8th or 9th edition) for an Umezawa's Jitte (a $35 card at the time). The kid loved it, not knowing that he could have gotten 10 packs for the card. The guy didn't care though, he would scam whoever came in.

So, after a while, our player base started to dwindle away and a second store opened up. Long story short, they closed because the owner fooled around with a 15 year old high school girl and his wife took him for everything he had, including the shop. So, back to our only LGS to play MtG. The owner didn't want to be bothered with running the tourneys on Friday nights. One of the players, who the owner trusted, offered to run the tourneys. The LGS wasn't doing well, so the owner agreed. They agreed that the tourney fee would go straight to a prize pool and that would get divided amongst the Top 4 every night for store credit. Well, the owner wouldn't consistently order cards from WotC for us and he started demanding that we pay for the electricity and heat that we were using (we were there for 4 hours a night, 1 night a week, we only used one room that had 8 lights in it...I'll let you do the math...) by charging everyone 2 dollars extra every week.

I'm out of MtG now, I play 40k and D&D. We've tried playing 40k at the shop, but he won't let us anymore because it uses up his electricity and heat (even though we're only wanting to play while he's open) and he doesn't sell that "crap" (even though it brought people in to look at our models). So, yeah, I have encountered the ULGS a time or two.

This store where all the local TFGs nested because they were ostracized out of the other 4 stores in the area.

I have an independant retailer 30 minutes away, and a GW an hour in the other direction.

The guy who runs the indie is one of those confrontational nerds who has an opinion on everything thinks he knows every c"cause read it on da interweb," thinks that troglodytes are stupid and has the artistic sensibilities of a rat (I have been made fun of for liking David Bowie and Half-Life, and he once gave me a long speach about why games are too short these days, a sentiment which I directly disagree with). I don't go there anymore.

The GW seems fine, but I only ever go to buy stuff, and whenever I go in I get this tremendous feeling that the people there expect me to do something....

The guy who manages it is nice though. I think I may have caught some of his employees on bad days.


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generalgrog wrote:Worst one was in Radford, VA. The owner was always playing everquest as though he were an addict and would argue with anyone about anything. You could walk in and make a statement about how the weather was cold and he might start bantering about how, no.... it's really not that cold. This way he could keep his air of superiority since in his mind he was always right.

Exactly, why do hobby store owners always seem to be socially slowed?

Actually, I guess I didn't really need to ask that.

hahahahaha, I'm having a great time reading all of your stories, especially yours zatchmo.

It may be just me but, I think I met some of the worst people in my life playing MtG and Yugioh. It seemed like little kids were always being taken advantage of. I remember when a little kid with two Exodia cards (worth about $60 for both at the time) was nearly dooped out of his cards once by an employee offering him a few cards packs. I actually jumped in and told the kid not to do it, warned him, and offered him a fair trade. The employee looked at me as if I was a ghost, muttered a selection of curse words under his breath (in front of the 10 yr old), and proceeded to rant at me for the remainder of my stay.

My only local stockist/gaming store I only go to due to it being the only place within 150 miles that carries GW stuff (I usually order from the net though)

The owner is a rather greasy man with waist-length black hair, usually in a ponytail, and a large black goatee (space wolf fan ironically). I personally don't have a problem with his hair, but with his attitude. During my 2 trips there, he consistently drank beer--in front of his 8-year-old son, 2 youngish (10-11) visitors and me, a teen. I still would have gone there, since he didn't actually get drunk, but he is an extremely pushy salesman.

First time I walked in he said hey and asked what I was looking for. I said 40k. He showed me to the 40k aisle and then said "We got some new Clix figs in, are ya interested?" I said, "Clix?" and he said "Heroclix dude! Don't you know what that is?" I said no, and he said, quote: "Sheesh, Jesus kid, who the hell doesn't like Clix? God, another 40k nerd!" and then laughed and walked off, forgetting about helping me find the specific 40k set I needed (I left without buying it for the record).

The cashier is just creepy. Short, with an extremely thin neck and overlarge eyes. He has a mowhawk, despite being in his 50s, and has arms covered in tattoos, including some of rather poorly dressed women. He has a very weird voice and seems to deliberately try and use words not commonly used. He also picks at his neck a lot and has very, very yellow teeth. He also has this habit of starting conversations with everyone, which normally I like but when you use "f***" every other word and have a creepy voice it's not the greatest thing.

Not a very pleasant shop overall. Only been there twice, and probably won't be going back.

I consider myself really lucky. Here in Atlanta there are quite a few LGS to choose from. I go to a place called Gigabites Cafe which is only a 20 minute drive down the highway and two right turns... really easy to get to. The owner is really nice and the players there guided me through a lot of games and fluff for 40k. The store is about 40% 40k, 40% fantasy, and 20% other games like Warmachine and what not. Lots of people play all these games so you see the same peeps there.

Setting up games is really easy there - the store has its own message board and people schedule games and in-house tournies all the time. We have a huge mixture of newbies like me and veterans who have been playings ince the 80s. Overall I'm really pleased with the store, but I do wish it was closer. Yeah, I did say 20 minutes, but sometimes traffic becomes a clusterfeth and it can stretch the journey there to a solid hour.

Also, sometimes kids plague the store as it also is an internet cafe, so during the day snot nosed punks will walk up and touch your models without asking. That's about the only real downside to the store, but I know those kids bring in nice revenue for the owner

Archon Sarubel wrote:

during the day snot nosed punks will walk up and touch your models without asking. That's about the only real downside to the store, but I know those kids bring in nice revenue for the owner

I don't see how wargamers stand up to that. I could never stand to have some 11-year-old grab my stuff without asking--especially since I still need to get ahold of a can of varnish!

When I was a young 'un going to my first LGS to play Pokemon tournaments the guy who ran the tourneys took bribes for set matchups (which was huge in Pokemon). He was later arrested for having/distributing child pornography. I swear someone lived in the back too as sometimes you could see dirty clothes by one of the back doors. They had boxes of old playboys on the floor marked "if you're under 18 do not look in here." My other story involves a friend who painted a store's AoBR set free of charge. He was afterward accused of stealing and banned from the store mid-Ard Boyz with no proof against him save that he had shown "unusual interest" in the missing item. Never buy from Lone Star Comics, I have more stories :p

I find that it usually is a case of unfriendly staffers instead of the entire store. The main offenders tend to come in a few varieties.

1. Guys on a power trip who want to feel like a big man since they are running the game store.
2. Disinterested staff who play WOW or some other game and treat customers like a nuisance.
3. Failing game store owners who enact draconian policies to try to turn the business around.

I'm sure that working at a game store can mean dealing with a lot of annoying people and surely is a labor of love, but sometimes a store devolves into a place where the customer really feels like they are not welcome or are only allowed to be there for someone's amusement.

Many game stores are quick to ban people. I for one think it is both unprofessional and immature. I never really understood the concept; I can understand if someone actually damaged the store in some way, but wouldn't it just be more appropriate to get the police involved? I guess it's no coincidence that ulgs are plagued with the "banning police".

devinb1690 wrote:Many game stores are quick to ban people. I for one think it is both unprofessional and immature. I never really understood the concept; I can understand if someone actually damaged the store in some way, but wouldn't it just be more appropriate to get the police involved? I guess it's no coincidence that ulgs are plagued with the "banning police".

Agree with you on this. I've banned about 4 people in 22 years, and really do it as a last resort.

One guy gamed here for 2 years, and spent 10.00 total in that time. He had only 350pts of 40k, and had to borrow stuff from other people each week. Never learned the rules. Liked to play with people 10 years younger since he could thow out whatever rule he wanted at the time. He then started trying to impress me by dealing with customers, as if he worked here. He was scaring people out of the store. After two warnings, I booted him.

Second person was caught stealing miniatures from other gamers in the store.

Third smelled so bad he made others ill.

Fourth was two nights ago. Strange guy has come in for a couple of years. Never plays. Always brags about his unbeatable (magic deck, 40k army, etc. Insert topic of conversation, he has the best.) When challenged, "Its in my storage shed", or other excuse. Hangs around for hours, talks, leaves. Doesn't game, doesn't buy. Just talks.
Came in the other night. Tells me how he just bought 100 packs of magic, current stuff, for 25.00, off of ebay. Made some insane, unbeatable decks. But...can't tell me what was in the decks, or even what sets the packs were from. I realized I had given this guy 10 minutes of my life, so he could lie, brag, and make crap up. I told him to take it elsewhere, quit coming in and wasting my time. Never come back.

In 22 years, those were the ones I couldn't work something with. Many others learned to not cheat at games, tone down their voices, take a shower, or reign in whatever the bad habit was. Or I learned to accept that it was my problem with them, not their problem with anyone else, and quit letting it bug me.

You shouldn't ban a customer unless there is absolutely no other choice. Customers are the support and lifeblood of the store. Only a bad businessman, or bad human being bans a lot of people for no reasons.

Samwise158 wrote:2. Disinterested staff who play WOW or some other game and treat customers like a nuisance.

Indeed. I gave up going to such a store, the staff were useless and would largely ignore customers coming in. They would nearly always be playing some game in the corner of the shop where the table and chairs were pushed up against the racks of miniatures. So you simply couldn't reach the stuff on the shelves. They wouldn't move as soon as seeing you making for the miniatures. And instea you'd be left in the position of asking them to move, at which point they would frown or grumble and budge about an inch leaving you still in the position of having to squeeze in behind them, which would elicit the occasional sigh or frown too. Then if you actually wanted to pay for something you'd have to wait for them to put down their game and serve you at the till. Common to some stores, gaming and comic, you find that the owner is playing a game, reading a comic or in a long conversation with another customer (ie. a mate) which they won't break off from to serve you, leaving you standing there holding your money feeling like you simply aren't wanted.

I stopped going to the game store because they treated customers like an inconvenience. You see a fair bit of this in game and comic stores, people open them, or employ people, who treat it firstly as an extension to their hobby instead of a business and a living. You're running a shop, customer care, politeness and good service should come before having a laugh with your mates and playing games.

There was one store back when I was hardcore into MTG and used to go to every friday night magic with my buds. Basically, long story short everytime I would be in a game, this so-called "elitist" group of asses would bum rush our table and ask to look at my tradebles. I would ask them to wait until after the game, considering I didnt trust them one bit(for good reason), and most simply wouldnt listen and would sneak looking at my booklet. Because of these occurences, seven cards were stolen from me, including 2 silklash spiders, and a blistering firecat, 3 cards at the time priced somewhere around 60 bucks total. That place went under, which sucks because the guys running it were cool, and there were some decent gamers, it was simply that one group, who were friends with the manager that pissed me off quite a bit. As well, they would be total (male genitalia) when you played against them...

For the most part all of the stores near me are actually not too bad...except on those days they have gaming. I tend to avoid going there on those days like the store smells bad (because they do). But other then that those days that are not dedicated gaming days I am more then happy to go there.

man this makes me grateful for my LGS. I haven't actually played there yet (weekends keep getting taken up by massive snowfall and/or TDY orders), but I've shopped there several times and its awesome. Friendly, helpful staff (who aren't uber-nerds), military discount (HELL YES), and from what I hear most of the other 40K players there are pretty cool.

So are these ULGS' a fairly common occurance?

Well, I've been to 4 hobby stores and 2 of them were unpleasent (though one was much worse than the other, and to be fair to the better on I was quite young while it was open).

But that is a pretty limited sample size, so I wouldn't draw any conclusions from it.

It's not so much that there's some sort of fundamental reason LGS tend to drive me away, but a lack of reason to go there. Then it's the little things that tip the balance.

Started testing the waters on one local place. Was interested in the 40k stuff, but they wanted retail for everything. Selection was somewhat anemic (said they had just had a big sale, but it was the the 2nd time I'd dropped in in 3 months and both times they were pretty blown out). Clerk was friendly enough chatting me up, but then he told me "I can order anything you want from the GW catalogue, and you won't have to worry about shipping!" Yeah, I can order anything I want out of the GW catalogue too, and shipping is free over $15

My Local store has a small club with 3 tables.
Being internet famous (ok I kid, this was before I became Internet famous), I was asked, because I had the most experience with 40k, to GM a 20k Apoc game, which I agreed to.

The Store owner was playing in the game, and constantly was whining about rules and playing the Apoc game in WAAC mode. Eventually, there came a time when I called him out on a rules conflict, and told him that he was incorrect and the rules said something else.

He then banned me from the store.

1-UP wrote: Was interested in the 40k stuff, but they wanted retail for everything.

Bastards. You would think they were running a business!

Yeah its realy annoying at my gws when these people just randomly coem in,pick up your models without asking. So yesterday, i had enough of it. These teenagers started to harrase me and my friend,(im 13,he was forteen.)Soz,i tell them to put down my carnifex,and he says ok,and throws it on the floor.Soz,i deck him,and then he and his stupid wangster friends leave.Teh ends!

Grambo wrote:Yeah its realy annoying at my gws when these people just randomly coem in,pick up your models without asking. So yesterday, i had enough of it. These teenagers started to harrase me and my friend,(im 13,he was forteen.)Soz,i tell them to put down my carnifex,and he says ok,and throws it on the floor.Soz,i deck him,and then he and his stupid wangster friends leave.Teh ends!

No offense, but you're either making that up, joking or stupid.

If you decked a kid in public for dropping your toy you'd have the cops on you before you know it. Or he and his "wangster" friends would be pissed off and start harassing you a hell of a lot more. Or they'd decide not to be scared of some 13-year-old and wreck first you and then ALL of your toys. Or all three. So please tell me you're joking, because quite frankly, I don't believe you.

You dont believe me?Id rather some poser kid not take my $50 miniature and throw it on the floor.

At the risk of de-railing this topic, no, I don't exactly believe you. It just seems a bit strange that a gang would run off because a 13-year-old hit one of them.


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Unless the store manager kicked them or threatened to call the police. On a side note, I don't think even a gang member would be stupid enough to deliberately cause a fight in public.

It's hard to imagine that anyone who punched another individual in the store wouldn't get kicked out themselves. Unless of course the store had inept employees, like 50% of the game stores these days typically have.

And by the way, I got to thinking. I realized of the 6 game stores in my area, 3 of them are ulgs, having either terrible customer service/support, have bad management, or just have an unorganized/unprofessional "business".

Lord of Kaith wrote:At the risk of de-railing this topic, no, I don't exactly believe you. It just seems a bit strange that a gang would run off because a 13-year-old hit one of them.


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Unless the store manager kicked them or threatened to call the police. On a side note, I don't think even a gang member would be stupid enough to deliberately cause a fight in public.

By calling him a "wangster" he was reffering to the him acting "gangsta" or being a white guy acting black (they block out w**ger for some reason), rather than the fact that he was actually in a gang. Wangster is a slang word...*facepalm*. You have no reason to be calling him out on a story that may or may not be true, because you don't know; you're not a psychic. No-one cares if you believe him, so stop acting like an immature ass, and refrain from trying to start a flame war in an otherwise mellow thread (especially when it's a thread that you made ).

Even if he is lieing, why do you care? It doen't affect you.

Darth Bob wrote:

Lord of Kaith wrote:At the risk of de-railing this topic, no, I don't exactly believe you. It just seems a bit strange that a gang would run off because a 13-year-old hit one of them.


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Unless the store manager kicked them or threatened to call the police. On a side note, I don't think even a gang member would be stupid enough to deliberately cause a fight in public.

By calling him a "wangster" he was reffering to the him acting "gangsta" or being a white guy acting black (they block out w**ger for some reason), rather than the fact that he was actually in a gang. Wangster is a slang word...*facepalm*. You have no reason to be calling him out on a story that may or may not be true, because you don't know; you're not a psychic. No-one cares if you believe him, so stop acting like an immature ass, and refrain from trying to start a flame war in an otherwise mellow thread (especially when it's a thread that you made ).

Even if he is lieing, why do you care? It doen't affect you.

We might need to take it to PM after this if it's important enough to continue, since this is sorta off-topic.

Firstly, never heard of "wangster". Assumed it was a typo.

I have seen many inflammatory and uncalled-for remarks made on this site--on a site this big, of course things like this happen. Sorta surpised my post was reacted to this strongly.

I cannot fathom why you would call me an immature ass if you're attempting to stop a "flame war". And btw, what do you mean "a thread I made?". I'm not the author.

I will apologize to Grambo. I realize this is no excuse, but I have been and probably will be in an extremely foul mood for the next while. The family dog was killed yesterday.

So Grambo, I apologize for calling you a liar. If anyone else feels it's necessary to continue this, please PM me, as this is getting very off topic.

Lord of Kaith wrote:

Darth Bob wrote:

Lord of Kaith wrote:At the risk of de-railing this topic, no, I don't exactly believe you. It just seems a bit strange that a gang would run off because a 13-year-old hit one of them.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Unless the store manager kicked them or threatened to call the police. On a side note, I don't think even a gang member would be stupid enough to deliberately cause a fight in public.

By calling him a "wangster" he was reffering to the him acting "gangsta" or being a white guy acting black (they block out w**ger for some reason), rather than the fact that he was actually in a gang. Wangster is a slang word...*facepalm*. You have no reason to be calling him out on a story that may or may not be true, because you don't know; you're not a psychic. No-one cares if you believe him, so stop acting like an immature ass, and refrain from trying to start a flame war in an otherwise mellow thread (especially when it's a thread that you made ).

Even if he is lieing, why do you care? It doen't affect you.

We might need to take it to PM after this if it's important enough to continue, since this is sorta off-topic.

Firstly, never heard of "wangster". Assumed it was a typo.

I have seen many inflammatory and uncalled-for remarks made on this site--on a site this big, of course things like this happen. Sorta surpised my post was reacted to this strongly.

I cannot fathom why you would call me an immature ass if you're attempting to stop a "flame war". And btw, what do you mean "a thread I made?". I'm not the author.

I will apologize to Grambo. I realize this is no excuse, but I have been and probably will be in an extremely foul mood for the next while. The family dog was killed yesterday.

So Grambo, I apologize for calling you a liar. If anyone else feels it's necessary to continue this, please PM me, as this is getting very off topic.

Urban Dictionary is your friend.

Just because other people post inflammatory remarks, doesn't make it okay for you to post one.

I called you an immature ass because that's how you were acting. Sometimes, subtlety doesn't get through to people and you have to be a bit blunt to get your point across, if it seemed inflammatory, I apologize as it was not meant to.

I misread the person quoted as the OP also made a post right after yours.

I am sorry for your loss, but honestly, taking your anger and foul mood out on forum-goers is not the best course of action.


Now back on topic .

I LOLed this thred.

I've not had as rough of experiences as any of you have.

And to the last couple of posts, LMAO!!!

Thanks for making me blow my drink all over the computer.

Lord of Kaith wrote:The family dog was killed yesterday.

Professional hit or drive by?

Ok seriously guys, can we just keep this thread on track?

I'll admit that Lord of Kaith's comment was a little rash, but it is not your responsibility nor your place to be correcting him Darth Bob. Just swooping in and offering moral and grammatical corrects without offering anything on topic to this thread is just not necessary.

There were a couple of stores that fit that criteria around here, and closed up shop. Yet our other stores, that have decent and personable staff, are thriving....

devinb1690 wrote:Ok seriously guys, can we just keep this thread on track?

I'll admit that Lord of Kaith's comment was a little rash, but it is not your responsibility nor your place to be correcting him Darth Bob. Just swooping in and offering moral and grammatical corrects without offering anything on topic to this thread is just not necessary.

You made a comment that you found his story "hard to believe" and therefore joined Lord of Kaith in the OT conversation. It may not be my responsibility, but did I not stop an inevitable flame war between the two posters? It is not your job to reprimand me for an OT comment, especially when you had a hand in the fueling and/or adding to the OT conversation.

Also, for the record, I was the first one to post a story about a ULGS in this thread, with the exception of the OP, so saying I didn't offer something on topic to this thread is bs.

I had dropped the conversation and yet you and others continue it still. It's not my fault Lord of Kaith derailed the thread, after all, I tried to ring it back in. Don't blame me for the things other people are posting.

AGAIN...dropping this conversation in favor of not further derailing it. If you have any more problems, devinb1690, please PM me.

Darth Bob wrote:It may not be my responsibility, but did I not stop an inevitable flame war between the two posters?

Whether you did or not, you have continued the derailment of the thread.

It is not your job to reprimand me for an OT comment,

Nor is it your job to reprimand others. Please leave the moderation to the moderators.


Note to all: Please get it back on track. Continuing an OT discussion just to try to get in the last word and then declare the conversation done is no less off-topic than the OT posts to which you are responding. Further OT posts will be dealt with... and any further personal attacks will result in a holiday for the poster.

What Makes a good shop go down the dark road of UFGS? How do you keep it from happening where you are?

wow. all these stories. im glad my store is not bad at all. the worst thing they did is not allow open gaming during weekday to not interfer with the weekly events.
but i never had a problem with harassing redshirts the only time i went to a gw. thay just asked if i needed something. i just said i was browsing and he left me alone till i was actually looking for something.

Lets see where to even remotely start. There's the place realtively close by that pretty much ping pong wargaming- they'd invited the locals in, start up leagues and playing and then months later turned around and turfed everyone as they didnt want gaming anymore. That happened twice over the period of a couple years. Then years later decided open gaming night for minis was wensday frm 6-9pm only and of course, let the shelves dwindled to nothing. It was especially bad when it changed owners, the old man would have and didnt treat his customers that way.

Then there was the not so close place, who also pretty much wanted wargaming, but eventually decided they didnt want us anymore. It shucked for us short term, but long term we just rent our own space now. They lost a decent percent of their business. Funny thing is they now started up again with wargaming again, leagues torunments. But I'll never attend or buy a damn thing there ever again.

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

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.

I think one of the main problems some stores have is that they become more of a club than a store. It seems some managers are inexperienced with running a business, and the focus becomes more gaming oriented than anything else. I don't think this is normally a problem but the situation becomes that a lot of these "stores" don't have efficient space for gaming. The result becomes a store that is easily over-crowded and thus smells, when this happens, costumer service goes out the window.

I've become quite interested in this topic, and which stores become more productive than others based on their structure, location, and staff. All in all, I find the best stores are ones with playing/gaming areas that are separate from the storefront.

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.

One store I used to go to regularly was overly pushy.

I understand good customer service when the owner asks if he can help you out, and I very politely state I'm just browsing today, and they make an offer for a new game. I appreciate the offer, say "thank you, I'm not interested at this time but maybe next time", and keep browsing. This store owner kept on the "well if you like 40k, you'll love Fantasy and the starter box is only ....." A second "thank you but I'm not interested at this time" followed by 3rd and 4th pushy attempt has now ruined my browsing.

I used to be a salesperson for a large corporation pushing approximately $50k to $70k in product per month. I know when I want help and when I don't. When I say no I really do mean no, in the politest way possible. I know there's no need to be TFG or rude about it. But when the seller then becomes overly aggressive to the point of rudeness or harassment (let me browse your product because I really do want to buy!) it's not fun anymore. Didn't we all get into minis and gaming because it's fun?

Anyway, I used to go to that store. Now I live more than 60 miles away from any LGS, even the GW, and I tend to buy more online. Get me a Friendly LGS and I'm there!

I wish there were a store like Mikhaila's locally. I would love that kind of service.

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.

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...

This makes me really glad for my flgs

mikhaila wrote:
Fourth was two nights ago. Strange guy has come in for a couple of years. Never plays. Always brags about his unbeatable (magic deck, 40k army, etc. Insert topic of conversation, he has the best.) When challenged, "Its in my storage shed", or other excuse. Hangs around for hours, talks, leaves. Doesn't game, doesn't buy. Just talks.
Came in the other night. Tells me how he just bought 100 packs of magic, current stuff, for 25.00, off of ebay. Made some insane, unbeatable decks. But...can't tell me what was in the decks, or even what sets the packs were from. I realized I had given this guy 10 minutes of my life, so he could lie, brag, and make crap up. I told him to take it elsewhere, quit coming in and wasting my time. Never come back.

That's too bad.

ABSOLUTELY NO CRITICISM AT YOU, Mik. Just a comment in general about the guy.
Those couple years, coming in and bragging to the guy probably just "made his week" every time. Some people NEED to feel important. Doubly so if they have ... mental issues (which it almost sounds like he might).

Not to say I blame you, of course. Just to say it's too bad (for him) that it had to get to that point.

Eric

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

Mind if I ask which one?

I went into my local GW years and years ago when I was quite new to the game. It was when they were first releasing lizardmen and Bretonians so there was obviously a big publicity drive on the new stuff.

I go in and ask a red shirt

'So there are really two new armies coming out?'

He replies by shouting to the store in general, 'Hey everybody! This kid wants to know if there are new armies coming out!'

Everyone, 'Dohohohohoho!'

So I sthu, pretended to browse for a bit then left. They'd obviously got enough customers already and didn't need any new ones.

Hmm, where to begin? The LGS is the only gaming store within an hour in any direction. I started going there in highschool and as a young and unknowing lad I didn't see alot of what was really happening there. I first came there for DnD but got pulled into 40k by a friend. As the first years tolled by I began to notice more and more that the people that wound usually come to play apart from my friends were TFG's they would pull the most bs rule out of their hat so they could win. They would also only play people they knew didn't have a firm grasp on the rules. Sadly, as time went on the good and friendly players started to move off or simply stop playing. But sadly if it had only been the complete tools for remaining players it would have been tolerable.


The store owner after seeing you would come in and buy stuff stopped caring about your existance until you bought something again. Also as I started to become more world wise I saw very clearly that if you were not part of his personal 'crew' you were second class citizens in his store. He increasingly would place orders for things that his crew would be interested in instead of stocking things that would actually sell or ordering things for his own personal collection. Often letttng the 40k and other stocks dwindle for months on end. Instead of strengthing his most profitable client base of 40k players he continued to let them dwindle by lack of support, and hostile attitude. He developed an strategy for stocking the latest trend of mageknight, heroclicks, mech warrior. However as soon as they started waning in popularity for even a moment he would drop all support of them and let the player base for them wither away until the next trend. It was about at this point he started becoming a glorified child day care as the store became flooded with preteen children that more or less ran amuck as he stayed in his 'office' area. Our complaints about model molesters fell on deaf ears. However in the last two years he has decided to stand his ground with Warmachine, while being one of the first to play warmachine there, he started making it into Warmachine vs 40k. Where all people that played warmachine were not some backward simpleton where 40k players were. However this division between began to get really heated as he started verbally attacking the 40k players that still played, albiet not at his store. He would blame them for the loss of 40k in the area and not the fact that he never restocked. He even went so far as to threaten one of the older 40k players by saying he would tell others that he was a pedofile, even though that was a absurd lie. If it had just been the remaining players, and the attitude of the store owner, then it might still be visitable from time to time.



However... The final pieace of this most wonderful cake is the store itself. Now before it got seized by the state for lack of paying of taxes. It was a good place, many tables, good terrian. It had great potential. However apart from that, the hygiene of the place deteriorated rapidly. It first started with the lack of trash removal letting the garbage cans overflow onto the floor and spill out into a whole corner. There were times that the trash heap would linger for a whole week leaving a nice aroma to the place. Stains in the carpet would never be cleaned so it became a miasma of colours and smells. At one point one entire gaming table was annexed by the store owner to become his own personal work station. That would have been fine if it had not become a shrine to his ever increasing list of failed projects and aspirations. He was a true virtuoso of failure. As that table began to fill he annexed yet another. Also his two air conditioning systems were veterans of the korean conflict that suffered mortal wounds there, in the summer they did little better than spitting out moist hot air. Combine that with the garbage and you get an even better olfactory experience. As his trend became to stock the newest trends he still would have smattering of old and even out of print things, like a collection of BSG 5 ships and warzone that were in a "discount" bin that you payed retail for. Things that continued to gather dust and sit on shelves for years upon years. Also it was store policy if you did any kind of trade of a large scale, i.e. selling your 40k army the store owner was entitled to 30-50% of what you made. If you did not pay this toll, you were thrown out of the store. After being shut down and then reopened he was evicted do to unsanitary conditions, what a shocker, and is now crammed is entire old store into a new one, one fourth the size. All these things added up together to form a most unpleasureable and untolerable experience.

I must saying writing this has stirred up alot of burried venom for the place and the owner and memories of most horrible smells. I can't convey this enough, it smelled ungodly.

Thats BAD. It got closed by the state? I think you win.

Years ago when hero clix was first coming out, there was a store opened in my small town. It was a real rat hole. The owner was an older guy on a power trip. On the first trip into the store, his stock was single box of magic card boosters, half case of hero clix and two different half cases of Mage Knight . Being the only game store for hundred miles, I deiced to give the guy a break in hopes that he would make a little money and get a better stock. I bought a few boosters for clix then saw a few guys playing the game at a table in the back. I did not know the players and one of them asked if I would open my boosters to see if I had anything he could trade for.

This is when the game a just came out and was only looking for a few figures, was not trying to collect a set or anything. The guy only saw one figure that he wanted but had nothing I needed. I said, I would try to catch him some other time and keep a look out for the figures I wanted. Then he said " I will give you a buck for it" I said sure..since i did not want the fig in the first place and thought about going to buy more and try a game with them. Mind you there was the counter at the front door and four folding tables in the back of the store and the conversation happened 20 feet away, in a crowed game store. The owner yells at the top of his lungs "NO SELLING THINGS IN MY STORE!" He barged threw a bunch of gamers and kept repeating it. Making it back to our table, He said you guys need to leave..still yelling and kicked us out. I understand the guy is just trying to make a few dollars and wanted all sales go to him. But he did not have singles and if we knew it was an issue or rules posted, it would never happen.

But yelling and kicking us out of the store over a dollar is extreme. Just say hey...don't do that...and most people will
Never returned and allot of people that saw this happened never did ether...

He then moved the store to a local mall, expanding the stock and hired a guy to run the store for him. Ended up he never paid the guy much and kept saying that he would catch him up later. The clerk after threaten to quit and being owed thousands of dollars, the guy offered to turn the store over to the clerk, stock and everything.
After signing everything over to him, the new owner found out that the original owner owed the mall, distributors and many other people a ton of money. Being smarter than the first guy, he clearance out the store, cut a deal with the mall to get out of the lease and told the distributers to go after the original owner for their money. Closed the store and walked away.

Grot 6 wrote:What Makes a good shop go down the dark road of UFGS? How do you keep it from happening where you are?

Independent Game Stores have a very limited shelf life.

Patronize them while they're good, run (don't walk) for the exit once they turn the corner, because they just sounded their death knell.

Just keep an eye on them for the Going out of Business sale.

Howlingmoon wrote:

Grot 6 wrote:What Makes a good shop go down the dark road of UFGS? How do you keep it from happening where you are?

Independent Game Stores have a very limited shelf life.

Patronize them while they're good, run (don't walk) for the exit once they turn the corner, because they just sounded their death knell.

Just keep an eye on them for the Going out of Business sale.

as sound as it sounds, i think I agree with this. the only caveat is if the owner is a very good business man and keeps a tight reign on everything.

jesus, some of these guys sound scary. I can understand how owners can get annoyed by people selling stuff in their store or promoting discount stuff. But some of the stuff here scares me a bit. I have only ever thrown one person out of my store, and thats because he started screaming at me for some reason, and once he apologised, he was welcomed back

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

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

That is a very good point. Every time I drive down a particular street in my city, I always look to see if this one particular game store is still hanging around. Indeed it still is, which baffles me considering the smell of the place, and the lack of ac. Strange how these places usually suffer from the same 2 flaws. 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.

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.

@Dashofpepper - let it go, dude. It's not worth your time. The word is out on the forum(s) - the butterfly flapping its wings creating the hurricane.

The owner apparently sucks. Take your business elsewhere and be happy.

Darth Bob wrote:

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

We had an LGS in my college town which wasnt really unfriendly, just extremely incompetent.

The store was a complete wreck. trash, boxes and old junk computer parts everywhere.

The owner would spend all his money ordering really obscure games no one wanted and would try to push them even after he himself admitted they weren't really fun. (Some sort of stupid old west pog game.)

We'd implore him to just buy clix, warhammer and magic, the things that people actually wanted to buy. He would receive his order of magic cards and be sold out the same afternoon.

The biggest issue I had with him was trying to actually give him money. Id special ordered about 250$ worth of space marines (He didnt stock any GW because it was 'too expensive for my customers') and after about three weeks of him failing completely to actually place the order I left for the last time, loudly telling everyone in the shop that I was driving the hour to a real game store. I then asked if anyone would like a ride.


My new home town has a small LGS but the moment I walked in for the first time, the incredibly overpowering stench of cat urine drove me out before the owner could even finish asking me what game I played.

I still drive an hour to get to a decent game store. :(

Cat pee for the win!

Wow...I'm fortunate to live in Nashville, TN where I can get to 2 quality game stores in 40 minutes or less...

These stories make me wary of relocating after I graduate college in May...

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.

I go to that store often, and agree with you 100%. It's so sad, considering I've never played there, just browsed, and even I noticed the TFG. It's even sadder considering how well the store is kept and what they sell/have in stock. It just goes to show you, unfriendly costumers can be as bad as unfriendly owners.

devinb1690 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.

I go to that store often, and agree with you 100%. It's so sad, considering I've never played there, just browsed, and even I noticed the TFG. It's even sadder considering how well the store is kept and what they sell/have in stock. It just goes to show you, unfriendly costumers can be as bad as unfriendly owners.

I went to that store as a trat when on holiday there mid last year, as you said it is huge and Very well stocked, but i did overhear some TFG remarks from some of the people playing. pity as it is the best store i've seen