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Hey folks! Have a question, would like your opinions.

I've moved to a new area, and am getting back into 40k after several years. I've visited a couple FLGS in my area, and it looks like everything is sold at MSRP. There's something I'd like to buy that costs $110. I thought the pricing was supposed to be such that if you bought it from GW + shipping, you'd end up paying the same or more as getting it from your FLGS.

I checked online, and see that Games Workshop sells/distributes through Amazon, and I'm an Amazon Prime member, which means free shipping. It's $80 on Amazon FROM GW. With Free shipping.

I would like to ask my FLGSs to price match - I would rather support a FLGS where I may end up playing/making friends over the next bunch of years...but I'm also wary of alienating a FLGS by asking if it's frowned upon. I suppose the flip side would be to just buy it online for less and avoid the social discomfort entirely, but I earnestly *would* like to support a FLGS. Unless GW has changed their pricing structure, they sell goods at 40% of MSRP, leaving a 60% markup to keep brick and mortar stores in business, so I don't feel bad about cutting into profits in such a high-margin business.

Anyway, I'm torn. Insights welcome. Please advise me.

I don't play at a FLGS, but I'm happy to "pay by the hour" or "rent a night a week for a month" for playing tables at clubs, shops, wherever if necessary. I don't think you should be expected to pay an extra 30% on each kit just because you might play some games there.

I'd definitely ask them to price match. If they give you a dirty look for doing that, tbh they're not a place I'd like to support but I don't know how easily you'll find games elsewhere. Here it's easy to get games at clubs and peoples houses so we're not "held to ransom" by shops. I'd say pick it up from Amazon and then start playing at the shop. If you decide they're a good bunch of chaps worth supporting you could look at doing so then, and they'd probably also be more inclined to give a potential "regular" a discount.

You could simply phrase it to your FLGS as 'I'd like to support you, but X is selling it cheaper. Can you do something about that?'

If nothing else it makes them aware of the problem and you're clearly telling them you do want to support them.

I normally am willing to pay a few dollars more at my FLGS (than I could find digging around online or by saving on shipping) because they let us use the space with minimal hassle. That said, I don't buy everything from my local store. But I do make an occasional purchase there - some paint pots, a Codex, a kit here or there. But if I can save some serious cash with some alternative, I normally go for the alternative.

Conversation at LGS years back.

Guy: I'm thinking of building a full Space Marine Company. What can you do for me.
Store Owner: Just write down what you want, and I can have it here in 2 weeks.
Guy: Any discount ?
Store Owner: No. We don't give discounts on Warhammer stuff
Guy: It's a pretty big order, and I can get it online for 20% off.
Store Owner: If I sold it at 20% off I would have to sell TWICE as much product.
Guy:
Store Owner: It's just not worth it
Guy: So you would rather make 0% than 20%
Store Owner: I would have to sell TWICE as much product, It's just not worth it

We still laugh about it to this day.

I would phrase it in a way that you make it clear that you want to support your FLGS, but you also don't want to screw them over and make it so they wouldn't be making any money on the deal. My FLGS, at one point, was going to order me two tactical squads, a scout squad, and a rhino for $110. I turned him down since I didn't have the money at the time, but later came to find out that they don't really make much of any money at the store, and use the proceeds from sales to pay for a place for people to paint and play. When I did end up getting the money, my brother found me one of the old boxed sets that came with a tactical squad, a combat squad, a scout squad, an assault squad, and a rhino for $125, so I ended up doing that instead rather than screw over the game store. I did get a Space Marine Commander and a Devastator Squad and like $50 worth of paint and brushes the next day though (though I did order the Command Squad sprues off eBay so I could convert the Combat Squad into a Command Squad). I don't order much anything from GW, since my FLGS is a dealer, and I would rather that any and all profits go to the store.

Bottom line, if you want to support your FLGS, support them. Asking for deep discounts is a jerk move, since chances are they aren't making much of anything anyway. However, it isn't out of line to see if they are willing to work with you a little on the price. A lot of the FLGSs are providing services can't be rendered at online gamestores, such as a place to build or play. The place to play is something that is indispensible.

Welcome back Dash, its good to see you posting here again.

As far as your question goes I would say maybe not on your first purchase, unless it is a big one, to as kfor a discount but if you are planning on playing there for awhile then make friends with the owner and a discount should just come naturally.

At least thats how it worked for me so YMMV.

As mentioned above, it's all in the way you phrase it. I wouldn't hesitate to ask for a price match, or even 15% off (you're paying a bit more but they're getting the sale), but then again, I'm not a person who is afraid to take no for an answer either. Better yet, buy a pot of paint or two and then show them the price on your phone at the same time. As long as you're not acting entitled, I really don't foresee this being a problem.

Thanks for the inputs.

I did buy a $50ish dollar Ork Codex, and wanted to go back for the trio of hardcover rulebooks. I'll see what I can do.

I believe retailers are charged 60% of MSRP. That puts the $110 item at $66 dollars for the retailer. Considering costs like rent/lease, utilities, labor, etc. they can't be making much more than a dollar or two at best.

I buy everything from my local GW because the manager is amazing. He provides 2 RoB tables to play on (even bought the new city board out of pocket for the store so we could have a new table to play on). Yes, I could get a 20% discount buying my stuff online. However, it's more important to me to support my local store so that it stays open. I even stop by the store to order the Web exclusive items in store and pay over the counter so the store gets credit for the sales. Just in the past 4 months I could've saved about $250 from buying online at a 20% discount. However, if we all do that, the local GW closes and all those nice tables and scenery are gone. Support your local store, pay where you play. IMO it's worth it in the long run.

You could always give em a ringaling and ask about it in private over the phone.

Just express that you would like to buy it there but the prices seems off.

Just out of curiosity? what item is it and is it a match to actual GW?

I say just get it from amazon. your FLGS doesnt make that much money from 40k but likely card games.
It isnt dis respectful, you are doing what is best for you?.

I really like the phone suggestion. Also, you could ask about discounts on special orders since most stores don't carry everything.

I personally mix what I buy, some stuff from the FLGS (there are four in the area, lucky me) and some online. I pretty much buy all my hobby stuff and codices at the store I play most at (which does not offer a discount), then models at the stores that do or online. This way I support and pay where I play, but, I also buy/sell a pretty high volume of 40k stuff so paying $10 more for a codex, or spending $20 on paints, primer and brushes locally does support the shop.

You might ask, just in case, as some FLGS offer a discount on prepaid orders or a loyalty incentive, but not a blanket discount.

Failing that, you can always be a regular 'small shopper'. Buy your big, expensive stuff at a discount, but pick up your paints, modeling supplies, etc. in the store. Even if you aren't buying your expensive stuff in the store, if you make a purchase every time you play, the operator will notice and appreciate it. When I gamed in stores more, I always bought something, even if it was just a candy bar or a pot of paint.

And if the owner does ask you about your models, you can be honest, without being confrontational. "I got these from Amazon, as I am already paying them for a Prime membership, and I want to make full use of those benefits."

Maybe it will give the owner the incentive to offer some sort of loyalty program or something, if he can't afford a discount directly.

Amazon is the devil. Support your local retailer, or whichever shop you play in, even if it costs you a few more dollars.
It may be fun to try to get the biggest discount possible, but some things are more important than that.

I almost always order online. Saving 20% or more is way too good to pass up versus paying full retail and sometimes having to wait for an order. I play Warmachine though so little things I might buy at the FLGS but for that some stores have issues with the supplier so it can take a few weeks sometimes for orders. So in that case given the choice between full retail and having to wait a few weeks for the item to actually come in, or 30% or more discount and guaranteed in a week it's no comparison.

With GW I would never ever pay full retail. I say go with Amazon. The money you save plus guaranteed 2-day shipping outweighs everything else unless it's like some major impulse buy.

Avoid Amazon if you can, as there are lots of wargame sites that offer the same discounts.
Plod through the ads section here on Dakka, and you're not only getting money off, but also keeping the site going

I play at a club, and pay a sub on every visit. So, the only reason I buy locally is to keep other players in tables-space. Some offer discount, or have a scheme, but most stuff is MSRP.
Also, if I just want a small item or 2, it's the convenience of having a shop I can just drop into.

You can always ask at your FLGS about discounts, and see what they can do. If they're having problems staying open, any sale will benefit them. As has been pointed out, even a minimal discount can be the difference between you getting it from them or going online. Price matching is nice, but I'd usually take anything the FLGS can offer.

Bricks and mortar shops cost more to run than giant warehouses in the middle of nowhere, so you can't hope for the shop to price match against Amazon. (Remember that your Prime membership costs you £79 a year, so Amazon shipping isn't actually totally free.)

The plus of a local shop is them having stuff to buy immediately and perhaps more importantly the community around it. If you want to support shop and the community, try and buy stuff at the shop.

That doesn't mean you can't ask for a discount, especially if you buy a lot of stuff. It probably is not something the owner wouldn't want being widely know.

Most shops see this and many will usually give a small discount to it's "regulers".
Now I will often make my impulse buys at the local shops or small things but if I'm going to buy something big, I will go to the shop that gives me the biggest discount or buy online and when asked where i got something, I'm honest about where and why. Trust me, the shop owner knows and it is up to them to decide.
Either way, its usually a good idea to introduce yourself to the shop owner you decide to go to as they can give you the lay of the land and start yourself off on the right foot.

I understand your dilemma. In my area I have seen gaming stores come and go over the last 15+ years. This includes a GM retail store opening and closing.

If you enjoy gaming at your local store and the amenities they provide, by all means feel free to support it accordingly. So some of us who play majority of our games at other players houses, we look for the best deal available. Do what feels right for you.

Buy smaller stuff from the store, go online for those big purchases. That's how I have been doing it. Buy all my books from FLGS because Amazon doesn't offer the steep discount on new codexes.

I like to support local business in general, however when playing 40k you need some sort of discount unless you are loaded, it is just far too expensive otherwise. I asked nicely and discreetly after buying some paints, supplies etc and after I had been somewhat familiar with the owner, and he shut me down quick! I was honestly pretty shocked, especially after I told him it would be a large $300 + order and I would wait for it all to come in at once. I know they would need to sell twice the product, but this place ain't selling anything! A lot of his stock is still metal, and he has kits that are so old I don't even recognize them...you would think He would want to move something at the very least...

Tough call.

I have this dilemma and I am sure so do others.

I have 2 flgs. One sales everything at MSRP, no discounts, ever. The other sales everything 10% off, has a used mini area, accepts trades, has literally 40 gaming tables, and carries a lot of direct only items and bits from kromlech, chapter house, max mini, etc.

The one that has a smaller selection and never has sales is closer (5min from my home, 2 blocks from work), and I love the store owner. The other is a 20min drive.

I will buy small things under $40 total from the closer one, and the other one I will buy pretty much anything else from sadly.

I would much prefer to give money to the closer one, as I like the people there more and it's closer. But when it comes down to my ability to shell out extra cash, I would rather wait for when I go to the further one and get more for less.

10% is obviously less than 20-30% you can get online, but its enough to make a difference.

I think its a difficult thing to discuss with shop owners.

The only way I have ever broached the conversation was regarding discussing if they shop owner ever had sales on GW product, because I knew that online retailers would often sell items at 20% to 30% off, and if the store had an upcoming sale I would rather give it to the store.

The owner gave me a 15% discount.

Put your money where your mouth is. If you truly believe in supporting a local business, then a discount from someone else shouldn't matter. No matter how well I knew the owner, I'd never approach him for a discount on GW product. The profit margin is too thin, and you're taking money out of his pocket.

 the_Armyman wrote:
Put your money where your mouth is. If you truly believe in supporting a local business, then a discount from someone else shouldn't matter. No matter how well I knew the owner, I'd never approach him for a discount on GW product. The profit margin is too thin, and you're taking money out of his pocket.

You're trying to put money into his pocket when you ask for a discount - the alternative is to buy it where you do get the discount. Some money is better than none. Price matching is a very common practice because people realise getting a small sale is preferable to getting no sale.

As a rule of thumb if you want say 100-200 worth of product it really is nothing "large". is the FLGS gave a discount then nearly everyone would try to get it.

However if you are trying to bulk purchase 1k+ then the owner might well match it and if they don't walk away. Having been part of the business, and dealt with store owners this is a good rule of thumb.

Never hurts to ask but I hear people asking for 20% off one codex because its so expensive and the owners hear this all day so become numb to the question.

Other than FW, which is direct-only, I have bought all of my gaming stuff from one of my 2 FLGSs, whether it was full retail or 10% off. At GenCon, i picked up some event-only stuff, or ou-of-print stuff. Anything new (with one exception. Little lady wanted the LotR card game NOW! Kronk isn't stupid!), I just made a list and will buy from my FLGSs when it comes out. I play there, I met new gamers there, so I buy there.

As to asking for a discount, sure. Ask away. If they say no, do what you feel is right.

 Yonan wrote:

 the_Armyman wrote:
Put your money where your mouth is. If you truly believe in supporting a local business, then a discount from someone else shouldn't matter. No matter how well I knew the owner, I'd never approach him for a discount on GW product. The profit margin is too thin, and you're taking money out of his pocket.

You're trying to put money into his pocket when you ask for a discount - the alternative is to buy it where you do get the discount. Some money is better than none. Price matching is a very common practice because people realise getting a small sale is preferable to getting no sale.

No, you're not. You've already decided to purchase whatever it is you're going to puchase with the discount figured in. If as the OP says, he wants to support his FLGS, then he pays full retail.

"Some money is better than none" is an extremely arrogant way of looking at how someone puts food on his family's table. Don't be disingenous about your intentions. If you want discounts, then buy from an online retailer, but don't ask the guy who has gaming tables and pays rent and utility bills to knock some of his profit off the top of your man-dollies order.