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He sounds like a real chithead. It also sounds like you are going to have to deal with him if you want to play.

Paying $10 is no big deal for an evening of gaming once a week. I would pay it despite him. However, I wouldn't spend another wooden nickel in the store outside the fee. Also, I would return any unopened product for a refund and order it online.

Also, you may end up not having to pay it everytime. I would just find a game and unpack, and only pay it if he asks.

I've had something similar to this happen to me. My not-so-friendly-but-local game store is owned by a guy who thinks that Warhammer is the only game that exists. Nearly everyone in the store plays other stuff too, but they never play anything but 40k at the store. I found out it's because he makes everyone feel very unwelcome when they bring in something else.

Coming from a background of playing in punk rock garage bands, there is a very time honored rule: NEVER PAY TO PLAY. This comes from scumbag promoters who would charge unknown bands to get on a bill at their club in order to guarantee that they would bring a crowd. It can also apply to gaming stores or just about anything else. When people feel welcome, they are more likely to support the store, either by spending money or by bringing in new people who will also spend money, etc.

The closest store to me in 40 minutes away, and I drive there for games because they encourage anyone to play and never charge unless it's a tournament. Last weekend it was Mordheim, WMH, MTG and people just hanging around painting. The place was packed on a crappy rainy Sunday afternoon and I bet everyone there made at least one purchase.


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Also, sure, their goal is to make money. I get it. That's the point. My goal is to have fun, and the more I have, the more likely I am to pay full retail at a store instead of saving money using amazon. Community is worth way more than a discount.

 SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
Either way, let's remember why any game store exists: money. All that stock on the shelves, the electricity, and the shelves themselves cost money. While many of us have large collections and want to visit other stores, slipping the store owner some scratch is not an unreasonable concept. They're not running a charity, at the endnof the day, they'd like to show a profit. And I'm sure that the OP's perspective on the encounter is a bit skewed in his favor, as most of these threads end up being.

I don't begrudge the guy wanting to make money, but this is just a toxic business idea. Especially since the person in question was a customer who had bought stuff in the past. It wasn't like he had never ever bought anything from him.

You provide a free thing(gaming space) in the hopes that people will eventually buy from you. And they will buy from you eventually because you have stuff right there. Sure, they can save money by getting stuff online. but then they have to wait for it to arrive. So you can still compete with it by having convenience(you get the new shiny NOW!) vs cheaper cost.

If he wants to make money off the space he provides he should have regular tournaments where he charges for entry and offers prize support. Have snacks for sale as well.

The store I'm at has 2 vending machines in the gaming area. Not only does he sell snacks and drinks, but there are MTG booster packs as well

I'd rather pay $10/day for the venue than full retail on my 'sepnsive toy soldiers.

 Grey Templar wrote:
You provide a free thing(gaming space) in the hopes that people will eventually buy from you.

It's also worth noting that free space to play, if handled right (with the store supplying good terrain and encouraging good sportsmanship) can be excellent advertisement to other customers. Just seeing that a game gets regularly played at a store is enough to get some people into that game.

strange in all the stores here you have to pay for using tables , unless it is a tournament and then you have to pay entry fee . Maybe it is because you guys have different house then us , most people here can play only at shops or at events , so it is only natural that the shop owners make people pay .

The only shop I know that doesn't ask for table fee is the only GW shop we have , but at the same time the only armies you can play there are the starter sets one . You can't use your armies , sometimes they make events like buy an sm HQ and bring it painted next week to play in a strange apocalyps+combat squad game .

I don't know, nobody around where I live does it. I don't think it's such a big deal if they decide to though. It's their space after all. What with how many game stores are closing down these days I'd rather pay some cash to play so I can actually have a place to play. That said I usually play with a group of friends in one of our houses so it doesn't apply to me that often.

Although deliberately asking for cash when you bring in another army, when you didn't know t was a policy before, is kind of not so nice. He did offer to let OP play for free that time since he didn't know though.

I'm ok with places asking for a small fee to help pay to cover the extra staff needed to monitor the tables or whatever. But you cant start singling out players for not having their armies bought in the store thats ridiculous and prevents any new customers shopping in your store who already have armies.

If someone always plays and is always turning up with new models they never buy in store I can understand the frustration but charging people extra because they haven't bought all their models from your is poor business practice. I wouldnt want to play there after that.

 carlos13th wrote:
I'm ok with places asking for a small fee to help pay to cover the extra staff needed to monitor the tables or whatever. But you cant start singling out players for not having their armies bought in the store thats ridiculous and prevents any new customers shopping in your store who already have armies.

If someone always plays and is always turning up with new models they never buy in store I can understand the frustration but charging people extra because they haven't bought all their models from your is poor business practice. I wouldnt want to play there after that.

Okay, I definitely agree with this. I thought about it a bit, and I think it's good for people chip in a little every week to help keep the lights on, etc. Customers do this by dropping full retail at the store instead of saving money online. It feels good to support the LGS. I also think people give more freely when there is a "suggested donation" vs "pay up noob, you didn't buy those Bane Thralls here" mentality.