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My "local" gaming store is about 75 miles away, which means I only get there about every 6 or 7 weeks. I rarely game anymore (adult life got in the way), but I do actively collect and convert. Every time I'm there I buy at least one small kit or codex, and some bits. Usually I buy much more.

Luckily this store has an EXTENSIVE bits box that gets replenished frequently, and is the reason I choose this store. When I'm there I spend about 15 minutes scraping through the bits, finding odds and ends for conversions. If I find a set of Marine legs I'll grab it, as I know it's just a matter of time until I find a torso and backpack.

Through this method I have collected hundreds of extra points worth of figures in the last decade. By my estimate, more than 20 ork boys, 15 marines, a dozen or so Kabalite Warriors, a handful of guardians, a full squad of rough riders, Nurglings, ripper swarms and spore mines, and enough parts to convert dozens of "normal" troopers with special weapons, heavy weapons, jump packs, squad leader upgrades, vehicle upgrades, etc. All this for basically whatever loose change I've had in my pocket at the time.

However, while discussing this with a friend on how he can save money expanding into the hobby, I got accused of being a bit of a "leech". He believes veteran gamers should know better than to drain a resource for the casual converter or high school kid. I say it's a boon for the store as that is how they get money from me over an online retailer.

What do you guys think? Are bits-box hogs a nuisance, or are we just accepting what is provided for us?

Are you taking advantage of the situation?? Are you just picking up what you need in bits.. that is fine. But taking the lions share of the bits is something else ..

Another example is my local game store has a game auction two times a year.. usually gets some very good stuff and people can find some good deals.. I like knowing
that my stuff went to a local gamer that got something he may not afford. But recently we had "flippers" that buy up everything trying to resale it on eBay. This happened
before and people stopped putting anything worth something into the auction and they stopped for a few years. But now after they restarted the last one had a few in the
audience and it was clear what they were doing. I kind of feel its the same thing.. a few items.. no big deal.. Try to take everything for your own personal gain.. then your a

In my defense, I don't exactly walk up and say "I'll take the whole tub please." I take parts I need for active conversion work, and if I see something of use on my way through I grab it.

Heck, I've started more than one whole army based on a small squad I built from spare bits. It's just hard to pass up a set of Marine legs that costs a dime, or some wings to a LOTR Balrog for $1.

You bought balrog wings for $1? If you see more, please pick them up for me. I'll pay for shipping and a couple more bucks for your trouble.

if you only take parts you know you're gonna need and don't just resell them, then I don't see a problem. Hell if a store would do that near me I would also come there more often to look through the bitz box for parts

Wait-so you pay for the bits? From your OP, it seems like the bits are free (making that a CRAZY GOOD Hobby Store) but if you pay for them, I see no issues.

If you are paying for the bits then who cares?

If the bits are free, it seems the store should have a policy in place for how bits are distributed among customers to avoid accusations of people "hogging" the bits.

But it seems from your backstory that these are paid for, so I think your friend needs to re-think his position. The store presumably sells bits as a service to players who are interested in conversions and if that is the case the rule of "first come first served" should be respected. Plus, if you are only going to the store every 2 months or so there are plenty of opportunities for casual or new players to gain access to bits when you aren't around.

Your friend's stance on this issue is odd based off what you have shared.

You're spending over an hour or so traveling each way to the store. You make purchases there. You pay for the bits. Sorry, your buddy is wrong. It's like the "have a penny/need a penny" change jar at places. They're for everyone, not just those within some kind of moving goalpost income threshold lol.

One players bits are another players treasure.

To be honest, I'd be buying the entire bitz box every time I went in. Don't have shame, OP.

If it were some communal pool of free bits that you were building squads from there might be some basis for accusing you of robbing the newbies and regulars.

However, as it is a bits-for-sale operation, there is NO reason you shouldn't buy whatever bits you desire. Believe me, the owners of the store are glad you are buying their castoffs which are probably leftover from batches they buy and resell. Keep buying and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. if you are depleting the store of bits -which I hightly doubt-, the owners have the options to raise the prices or impose a limit.

I used to stop by a FLGS to go through their bits bins and used parts, but the prices slowly ticked up to the point where it wasnt' worth it as an impulse buy for me. I'm sure the GW gamers at the store found it to be a great deal, but for non-GW gamers it just wasn't a bargain anymore.