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Does anyone play at a store where they charge you a table fee to play pick-up games (i.e. not a tourney)?

If so, where do you play, and how much scratch does it cost you to get a game in?

Never heard of anything like that.
Nice sig

Yeah, it apparently happens in some areas of the country, just wondering how widespread it is.

(And you've gotta love Kipling!)

I've never seen or heard of this before. I know most FLGS have entry fees into tournies, but I've never heard of a drop-in fee. I can understand if it's a really cramped store and they only have so much room to play on, but I don't think it's really all that fair outside of those circumstances. If you've got lots of space then I can't see a drop-in fee being justified. Most stores aren't -that- busy on a daily basis.

metallifan wrote:I've never seen or heard of this before. I know most FLGS have entry fees into tournies, but I've never heard of a drop-in fee. I can understand if it's a really cramped store and they only have so much room to play on, but I don't think it's really all that fair outside of those circumstances. If you've got lots of space then I can't see a drop-in fee being justified. Most stores aren't -that- busy on a daily basis.

It's not business; it's the cost to the store. Space ain't free, and neither is terrain purchasing/maintenance.

My FLGS doesn't charge for games, but does sell product at full price. I would cheerfully kick in a monthly club fee, if they wanted to go that route. Some stores I've heard of charge a fee, but give it back to you in store credit.

Striker_2_2 wrote:Yeah, it apparently happens in some areas of the country, just wondering how widespread it is.

(And you've gotta love Kipling!)

Never hear of a games store charging to play, but it doesn't sound unreasonable (so long as the price is low)

(Actually, I've never Kipled! )

I've never seen this. This is news to me. I usually see more encouragement to play than anything else. I mean you playing on the tables will probably generate more interest in the games for the window shoppers, which equates to more sales for the FLGS. Honestly reading about 40k...mildly interesting. Seeing 40k played on a table, with terrain, with painted armies can really get the enthusiasm going.

I wouldn't see it working here. Our FLGS is pretty large, and there's something to be said for being popular when it comes to attracting more customers.

Phillosmaster wrote:Honestly reading about 40k...mildly interesting. Seeing 40k played on a table, with terrain, with painted armies can really get the enthusiasm going.

This!

The few stores that do have space (hobby/comic stores tend to be corridor-like places here) don't charge anything, and I entered not because I got interested in the fluff or read anything, for I did knew WH's name, but I got in after watching people playing and thinking "Oh, this looks amazing!".

I am pretty sure the local shop here where I am living charges a monthly fee. We've had three shops go out of business b/c everyone would buy an army and then just hang around playing it, without spending anymore money.

Hmm... sounds to me you need to start making your own table. Dont get me wrong i am all for supporting your LGS but that sounds a little steep. On the other hand if it only costs like 5 bucks or less for unlimited time on the table that isnt too bad.

To OP, welcome to dakka, and no. That may be because my friend's dad owns the store though.... lol. It's understandable if they have a nice table that cost them some money (like a 25 cent per player charge) because these things do tend to break. In my FLGS they've started a table tax for card gamers because of breaking tables. It makes sense, just as long as it's not a wallet-breaker.

I know at the store that I work at we do not charge a table fee, but we do sell concessions at $1 for sodas and candy. I think that it isn't to unreasonable for a business to "rent" space. I have also noticed that many times people will not buy anything, and play for months free. If you want to prevent table fees, than I would recommend supporting your FLGS by purchasing product.

I don't charge for table space at my stores, and I've always highly recommended to other stores that they don't either. It really doesn't bring in enugh money to matter, puts you in an adversarial relationship as you run around trying to collect two bucks from someone for a game, and in the end just causes friction.

Very few gamers will come into a store repeatedly and play a game with out buying something. If you had someone obviously doing that, talking to them usually works.

Striker_2_2 wrote:(And you've gotta love Kipling!)

No better, less it's Shakespeare.

Once more unto the breach, et al.

One of the bigger stores around here charges a 'club fee'. I am pretty sure it entitles members to various perks outside of just using the tables... for example there are painting stations with vallejo paints available to club members, but I don't know what else the membership offers. I only shop there for their great selection of modeling supplies... though of course I play somewhere else.

My hobby store is very different. There are no club fees, and the regular members get 20% off on all products. Needless to say, most of us are very loyal to the store and wait to buy all of our stuff there. I know at least for myself - I tend to spend a lot more money now just because of the 'discount'.

If you go to a pool hall, you pay for the table even if you bring your own cue & chalk...

mikhaila wrote:I don't charge for table space at my stores, and I've always highly recommended to other stores that they don't either. It really doesn't bring in enugh money to matter, puts you in an adversarial relationship as you run around trying to collect two bucks from someone for a game, and in the end just causes friction.

Very few gamers will come into a store repeatedly and play a game with out buying something. If you had someone obviously doing that, talking to them usually works.

This is the proper solution IMO. Or maybe start a club with dues and certain "Club Only" tables reserved.

There was a LGS where I live where the guy started charging 5 bucks to play, and like mikhaila said he started to get naggy when people didn't pay, or didn't pay fast enough. It did create an adversarial atmosphere and people just stopped going to his store to play. I have been there once in 4 years.

GG

I know I'm probably on my own here, but I would prefer it if most venues charged for table space. I look at it very similarly to the way Pool Halls charge rental fees for tables. Now I don't advocate stores doing it maliciously and purely for profit. I expect the fees in part to go to table/playing area upkeep and terrain. I have had several bad experiences lately setting up games at a few venues that have not gone smoothly. I have to schedule my events about 2 months in advance due to player travel and time off from work. The venues have often forgotten the booking, double booked events, and failed to promote on various in store event schedules. Despite plenty of notice and advance agreements and preparation. This does not make for a good time and leaves a sour memory of the event. I would gladly pay a fee to ensure things like this do not happen.

My local store has been charging $2 per day table fees this year (waved on tournament days) which can be paid for at a discount in advance ($25 for 6 months), but in exchange the owner creates and repairs terrain as well as breaking out several of the new kits for communal use (4 bastions, 1 landing pad, 2 sets of aegis walls, temple of skulls, large manor, and a non GW set of walls and bunkers that can effectively cover a table new this year), and also gives a $5 per event discount on entry fees for those who have prepaid. Unfortunately, many don't see the value here, and as such the player base is shrinking.

Malecus wrote:My local store has been charging $2 per day table fees this year (waved on tournament days) which can be paid for at a discount in advance ($25 for 6 months), but in exchange the owner creates and repairs terrain as well as breaking out several of the new kits for communal use (4 bastions, 1 landing pad, 2 sets of aegis walls, temple of skulls, large manor, and a non GW set of walls and bunkers that can effectively cover a table new this year), and also gives a $5 per event discount on entry fees for those who have prepaid. Unfortunately, many don't see the value here, and as such the player base is shrinking.

As a devils advocate, I don't charge at all, and probably make 3 times the terrain your store does. I have 8 tables in the store, and enough scenery for 20 tables of fantasy and 30 of 40k. Having good scenery and tables brings in lots of players, lots of players in the store always has turned into more sales of GW products. Same formula works for Privateer and Flames of War.

Making scenery is a good thing, and pays off. Charging for tables doesn't, and drives people away.

Striker 2_2, have you noticed that as a trend for the FLGS' in your area? I'm a little further north in Florida and all of our shops offer free tables...

I wouldn't mind paying a nominal table fee - I do when I play a round of 9 ball, along with a pitcher of Amberbock or Sam Adams - and generally do buy *something* if I visit my shops for more than 30 minutes or so. A monthly "club membership" would be acceptable as well. One of our local shops used to offer a raffle for a battleforce/batallion once a month, the profits of which I assumed went towards table maintinence.

I'd gladly pay a fee to play on tables with nice scenery. Hell, at this point I'd gladly pay to play! We only have one FLGS (Sunday is GW gaming night) in our area and 40K/Warhammer is NOT on the agenda here.

Charging for table / providing table for free have lots of reasons.
For example , if the store doesnt really carry GW product , or the people that plays always purchase from else where , i feel its very fair to charge.
However, if providing a good playing environment can draw in / encourage purchases from the store , that works too.

I'm against charging for tables, unless there is an issue like stated above where players have broken things in the past...

Maybe its just because up in this state, there is only one or two stores within 2 hours, and they kind of hold a monopoly on where you play. If I'm going to pay 20 dollars to be in your once-every-other-month tournament, then don't charge me to play on your tables...

Of course, I just started playing with the gaming group from the next town over, and they are a lot more relaxed about it. A new shop is opening out there, and the proprietor has since run a few free/extremely low cost events that turned out to be very fun and even had decent prize support! I like the local game store owner who actually LIKES the hobby, and wants to help out fellow gamers and promote the hobby through positive means, rather than the guy who charges 20 bucks to enter his tournament and gives out a dice cube as the best prize. To me that is just telling me that that fellow is only out for your money, and doesn't really give a darn if you have fun at his event.

I agree you have to see a return on your investment. If you are paying $20 to play on crappy boards in cramped rooms with poor or no Terrain, don't pay and play elsewhere. But if you have a venue that has amazing space, superior tables and a wide array of terrain, then I thinks its totally worth an table fee.

Two of our local stores (Game Parlor Woodbridge and Game Parlor Chantilly) just started charging, $2 a day for gaming. Huge gaming space at both stores, enough for eight 4'x6' games (Two 5' x 24' tables) and a bunch of card table size (3'x 4'), as well as an enclosed room for the RPGers. You can get around the $2 fee by purchasing stuff, every $20 spent gets you one day 'free' gaming. Tourneys and such are exempt.

Our FLGS provides tables and terrain for free. They've also got four or five armies that they'll loan out for demo games or just to play with your peoples. They've even got furniture to chill out on and read books and a couch with a Tv and a bunch of video game systems.

The owner said the store design is like a mullet, "business in front, party in the back".

If I pay retail for minis, table time should be included - that's where the margin goes.

After reading this thread, I'm going to suggest we start a "donation jar" to play tonight at my FLGS. They do really good for us and I know the players in my area would jump on board.