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Hi everyone,

I've seen alot of threads with "worst thing about the hobby, etc" so thought i'd see what people enjoy about their LGS or reasons why they choose to shop at a different one (or online even).

For mine first - i tend to go to my local GW, as there is no real other options around, and its not that easy finding players near here without going there. If only we had an independant......

1. A reasonable stock of stuff for impulse buys
2. Some paints and glue for when I run out and am in the middle of something
3. Strippers.

Beer...and games of Beerhammer

1. Less than MSRP. (10% off for EVERYTHING)
2. Clean and well lit.
3. If gaming late etc... Vending Machines.

1: Clean and generally odor free (if its been a long tournament during the summer understandable to smell some sweat, I just shouldnt be able to smell a GUO 6 hours after he left)
2: Food/vending machines, that way I dont have to waste my gas to go get something to eat (hell my flgs has a grill)
3: Decent Hours, I dont expect you to be open til midnight, but I would rather like to game after 5pm on saturdays(my biggest gripe with my flgs)
4: Good sales reps, I wont buy from your store if you or your employees act like a bunch of donkey caves

Friendly is also a key.

"Get yer gak and get out" is not a good sales pitch.

Oh something silly to add, but somewhere where you can smoke outside without having to just throw the butts on the ground. (obviously for areas where public smoking is illegal I understand not having this)

And the discount calls have reared theit ugly heads again...

 kronk wrote:

3. Strippers.

If only.....

Could do paint strippers?

I can see the point of some discounts, for example, if i was to run a LGS, purely to stock GW's range is about £10,000. And its alot of money to just have certain items sat on the shelf, but at least if there was a 10% discount if you had to have the item ordered in (to make up for the delay) then it balances it abit.

My FLGS is farily ideal. There are three within 15 minutes of my house, and the one I choose to go to 95% of the time is:

Fairly clean.
Has a HUGE play area with 3 large racks of terrain
Very well stocked. Has a wall o' Reaper, infinity, GW and vallejo paints, tools, dice, the full GW line, some Forgeworld, board games...DnD....
Vending machines with cheap snacks (all are a dollar or less, pop/gatorade is 1.25)
open 12-12 7 days a week.
Friendly staff (one guy is standoffish, but not "get your gak and go")
And I pay 50 bucks once a year to have 20% off GW stuff.
They also buy and sell used miniatures.
There is also a seperate room for league/tournament play. So if the Magic tourney is going on, you still can go in the backroom and get a game of 40k in.

Really, it's a gaming store run by nerds for nerds.

For me, before discovering Game Kastle, I just needed a store to play with friends.

As of this month, I wanted to meet people and started to have a change in standards.

A FLGS is one thing, A FLAGS (Friendly Local Awesome Game Store) needs to be more than a place with friendly people.

I like mine to be at least decently stocked in more than one wargaming system, close to me and great Staff. Sure their purchase program isn't as great (still decent), I liked it for the fact it offered more than what my previous one ever had.

The AC, being able to get reception for my phone, space and nearby restroom along with shorter distance really made it a FLAGS.

Myrrodin wrote:


The AC, being able to get reception for my phone, space and nearby restroom along with shorter distance really made it a FLAGS.

You raise a good point, it would suck being in an FLGS without AC or a convenient restroom. Saddly I am starting to feel lucky about my no GW product carried FLGS.

I'd love a local FLGS around here but the concept is foreign to many Brits!

I'd want:
1) Semi-regular sales if discounts aren't possible. I love a sale! Perhaps things like "build your own battleforce" deals, or "pre price-rise stock price freeze" until they need to resupply.
2) Comfortable gaming space. I don't want to be knocking elbows with people.
3) Not so much food, but drink. I can't wham without something to drink. (Water, Pepsi, Tea)
4) Knowledgeable and reasonable manager.
5) Relaxed atmosphere. The 'ten commandments' keep me out of Games Workshop stores for the most part.
6) Active banning of jerk customers.
7) Good-humoured tournaments and campaigns

Dream list:
1) 18+ only. I hate kids.
2) Licensed to sell alcohol.
3) Lock-in gaming nights.

Basically I'd like Cheers but for wargaming.

 kronk wrote:
1. A reasonable stock of stuff for impulse buys
2. Some paints and glue for when I run out and am in the middle of something
3. Strippers.

What brand of paint stripper do you prefer?

I started the thread about lack of merchandise, so I'll play.

1.) Proprietorship that understands and appreciates the hobby, and those who play it.
2.) Reasonable mount of stock for impulse buys to allow me browse through, and enough space to display said "reasonable amount."
3.) If you don't have it, then tell me you can order it for a DISCOUNT. Just offering to order at full MSRP it is such a joke to be nearly insulting. It also means you don't pass the first rule.
4.) Gaming tables with decent terrain selection. Also enough space to accommodate said gaming tables.
5.) No gamer stank. If someone comes in without proper hygiene, get them out of there, for the love of God...
6.) Be a reliable rules lawyer, and almost everyone accepts you as such.
7.) Gamer friendly hours of operation, no banker hours on weekends, let us finish our game.
8.) Dont' be scared to tell some folks to not bother coming back if they deserve it.
9.) Well organized tournaments, contests, and lock-in type events.
10.) Occasional sales and discounts.

On a personal note...
Tournaments where the only thing allowed on the table are Fully Painted armies, and terrain. Dice and templates only when they are used. And nothing else. Books, sodas, McDonalds et al. somewhere else.
An over 18 late night
Some beer for those nights
A Microwave because I like to bring my own left overs.

I do all my gaming at home and order just about everything on the web so I really only go to a brick & mortar store when I am travelling and go to check them out out of curiosity or to kill time.

When I did play in them I expected:

1. Cleanliness of bathroom and gaming area and no "gamer funk" lingering in the air

2. Proper ventilation/AC

3. if they had open gaming/events I expected full size tables, an adequate amount of terrain and enough space for the number of people being admitted.

4. soda machine/beverage availability

5. basic essentials: dice, glue, paints/brushes, hobby tools, etc.

6. Defined open gaming times and schedules

7. Friendly/informed staff

8. Cutomer friendly hours

9. Hassle free parking

10. self-policing of TFGs, and game room loiterers that detract from an enjoyable game

 MisterMoon wrote:
I started the thread about lack of merchandise, so I'll play.

1.) Proprietorship that understands and appreciates the hobby, and those who play it.
2.) Reasonable mount of stock for impulse buys to allow me browse through, and enough space to display said "reasonable amount."
3.) If you don't have it, then tell me you can order it for a DISCOUNT. Just offering to order at full MSRP it is such a joke to be nearly insulting. It also means you don't pass the first rule.
4.) Gaming tables with decent terrain selection. Also enough space to accommodate said gaming tables.
5.) No gamer stank. If someone comes in without proper hygiene, get them out of there, for the love of God...
6.) Be a reliable rules lawyer, and almost everyone accepts you as such.
7.) Gamer friendly hours of operation, no banker hours on weekends, let us finish our game.
8.) Dont' be scared to tell some folks to not bother coming back if they deserve it.
9.) Well organized tournaments, contests, and lock-in type events.
10.) Occasional sales and discounts.

On a personal note...
Tournaments where the only thing allowed on the table are Fully Painted armies, and terrain. Dice and templates only when they are used. And nothing else. Books, sodas, McDonalds et al. somewhere else.
An over 18 late night
Some beer for those nights
A Microwave because I like to bring my own left overs.

Your profile says you are from the ATL... come on up to Giga-Bites Cafe if you want something that meets 95% of your list (they don't have a microwave but have awesome food)

Mohoc wrote:

 MisterMoon wrote:
I started the thread about lack of merchandise, so I'll play.

1.) Proprietorship that understands and appreciates the hobby, and those who play it.
2.) Reasonable mount of stock for impulse buys to allow me browse through, and enough space to display said "reasonable amount."
3.) If you don't have it, then tell me you can order it for a DISCOUNT. Just offering to order at full MSRP it is such a joke to be nearly insulting. It also means you don't pass the first rule.
4.) Gaming tables with decent terrain selection. Also enough space to accommodate said gaming tables.
5.) No gamer stank. If someone comes in without proper hygiene, get them out of there, for the love of God...
6.) Be a reliable rules lawyer, and almost everyone accepts you as such.
7.) Gamer friendly hours of operation, no banker hours on weekends, let us finish our game.
8.) Dont' be scared to tell some folks to not bother coming back if they deserve it.
9.) Well organized tournaments, contests, and lock-in type events.
10.) Occasional sales and discounts.

On a personal note...
Tournaments where the only thing allowed on the table are Fully Painted armies, and terrain. Dice and templates only when they are used. And nothing else. Books, sodas, McDonalds et al. somewhere else.
An over 18 late night
Some beer for those nights
A Microwave because I like to bring my own left overs.

Your profile says you are from the ATL... come on up to Giga-Bites Cafe if you want something that meets 95% of your list (they don't have a microwave but have awesome food)

Gigabites wins hands down on food offerings for a FLGS. That said it's a bit off my beaten path- on the other side of ATL from where I live.

Well, I live out by Covington and manage to make it at least once a week. However, if you check on their forums, you can probably ride-share on weekends.

Well only things I really EXPECT:

- Friendly/kindness
- Cleanliness (within reason, like if there is a rain/snow storm and near the front door is wet/muddy... thats alright lol)

Everyone else has pretty much covered it. Let me add one thing though.

How about a smile. I don't like being treated like my existence is a big inconvenience when I patronize your store. That means yes you have to get up from your magic game or off call of duty on your pc and interact with me. Why do store owners now treat their stores like its their own private club and any customer gets the obnoxious routeen?