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You don't sell computer games? You'l be out of business in a year! (long)

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  • You don't sell computer games? You'l be out of business in a year! (long)

    At the Gaming Store where I work every Saturday, we get at least 5-6 calls in the 12 hours we're open and we get about 1-2 walk-ins asking about Computer Games.

    It's funny because you can spot the computer gamers.

    This is the set-up of the store: We carry board games, puzzles, card games (i.e., rook, bridge cards, fluxx, etc.), Warhammer 40K and Warhammer Fantasy stuff, non-d20 roleplaying games, comic books, historical miniatures, Gurps, a small anime section, d20 section (very large, with WoTC's D&D stuff has its own little island).

    In the middle of the front portion of the store is the cash wrap section with long glass cases that hold snacks, dice, and various sundry stuff like a D&D chess set, and a scarab for Halo Heroclix game (it's only $250! ) Behind the counters, where we cashiers sit/stand, we have every single CCG (Collectible Card Games) ever made.

    We also have computer stations where you can play WoW and other computer games. Beyond that, we have large 3x5 tables (4) for miniatures gaming, and some smaller rectangle tables for Magic games and other games. Plus we have a room with a door where the Roleplayers like to play their games in quiet.

    Okies, sorry about that - now, those looking for computer games, come in, get this completely glazed look in their eyes, their jaws go slack (literally, I've seen it in person, and besides, would I lie to you guys!? ). I then have to say "Welcome to Gaming Store! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!" (Or a variation). After wandering the entire store, they'll come up to me and ask about computer games.

    The look on their faces when I say that is the only thing we do not carry is comical beyond belief! They huff off like I just told them that we did have those games, but right before they came in, I sacrificed them all to the Computer Gaming Gods.

    I mean, I like computer games (Diner Dash, Solitaire, etc.), but come one! I love setting up the house/getting snacks together/etc. to get people together to play games. That's the fun part. What's so fun about sitting behind a computer, playing a game with people I don't even know? (<-- that's a rhetorical question).

  • #2
    Damn. Gamer Nirvana. It's been a long time since I've seen a quality gaming store. I thought they'd all gone out of business. Any chance this one is somewhere near Central NJ? I'd love to visit it sometime.

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    • #3
      Nope, sorry, not unless you consider Northern Virginia to be realitively close to Central Jersey. The owner has 2 stores - both in Northern VA (though the one I work at is closer to central VA - sorta. It's about 30 minutes away from Quantico Marine Base).

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      • #4
        Aw, damn, you've gotta have the best job in the world!


        Well, I just had to try it once to see how it worked from the other side....

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        • #5
          I remember back when I lived in Indiana going to a place called Wizard's Keep in Muncie that sounds very similar to this. That place was BAD ASS. Sure, I didn't really get too in depth as far as tabletop RPGs, but I loved going to that place and getting new figures anyway to paint. There was all KINDS of cool stuff there...I wonder if it's still in business?
          You can find me on Backloggery, Facebook, Twitch, Twitter, YouTube

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          • #6
            Brick & mortar gaming stores are hard to keep in business because of Amazon and the bookstores. However, hubby did check and Amazon is no longer giving an awesome discount on WoTC stuff, and there was something written on the WoTC website, I think, about how they want the brick & mortars to be able to compete, but it's all hearsay on my part.

            Anyway, I do love my job! I get to meet people who tell me about their charries & I tell them about mine. (yes, I am a geek). And I get to learn how to play new games. And most of my first paycheck is going to be going back to the store. I have like 4 or 5 things I want to get my daughter for Christmas! Plus, the 20% discount is nothing to sneeze at neither.

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            • #7
              Quoth Pedersen View Post
              Damn. Gamer Nirvana. It's been a long time since I've seen a quality gaming store. I thought they'd all gone out of business. Any chance this one is somewhere near Central NJ? I'd love to visit it sometime.
              I agree. I haven't seen a real and good gamine store since I left NH (The Wizard's Tower in Nashua). They had a sign, "We don't call the cops on shoplifters, we call the Wizard". They even had a dozen (or so) tables you could rent out and the owner lived on the second floor of the store so you could have all night gaming sessions and he had the soda and candy machines FULLY stocked (soda was always cold) and low priced (he still made $$$ but wasn't charging $0.75 a can like everyone else).

              If I lived in central Jersey I WOULD make the two hour drive just to go there. I don't mind taking long trips for quality.

              I hope you allow dogs, mine are sweet.
              Last edited by draggar; 11-21-2007, 10:44 AM.
              Quote Dalesys:
              ... as in "Ifn thet dawg comes at me, Ima gonna shutz ma panz!"

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              • #8
                That sounds like a cool store.
                "I can tell her you're all tied up in the projection room." Sunset Boulevard.

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                • #9
                  It is, but you won't believe how many people call asking for Wii's, advice on how to properly save stuff on their Playstations, etc. I have to tell them that we don't deal with any of that, and there's this note of questioning in their voices when they either 1. Ask what we do sell and 2. Say thank-you and hang up. It's funny, but odd. We do realize that there are other games out there other than the ones on the computer, right?

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                  • #10
                    We had some really nice independent and small chain Gaming stores in the UK, but Games Workshop blew most of them away, and the smaller shops are only recently returning to strength. It's a real shame, because GW only (or mainly?) retail stuff they publish themselves, so a lot of gaming systems are hard to get.

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                    • #11
                      Right. As I understand it, Gamesworkshop likes to sell their own product, thereby not having to pay the middle man (non-Gamesworkshop gaming stores) to sell their product too. What we have on the shelves, we have until we run out and then the people who like Gamesworkshop games have to either go to their little stores (there's one in the mall across the street from us) or the have to go online to the Gamesworkshop website to get stuff.

                      The one thing that is different between us and the Gamesworkshop stores is that if your armies are unpainted, we don't care and 99% of the people you'll be playing against don't care neither. If you want to play at the Gamesworkshop stores your armies HAVE TO be painted.

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                      • #12
                        Because GW sells paint too, I expect...

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                        • #13
                          forgive the very off topic question, but do you carry space games; B5, Federation Commander, stuff like that? my local game store carries warhammer, and warmachine, and thats the extent of their scifi stuff. mind you, they will order stuff for me, but they dont have it in the store proper.
                          http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...inalcopy-1.png

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                          • #14
                            I've got two gaming stores near me, both of them stock just about everything and will order anything they don't have in stock, usually you get it within a week. The customers at both stores seem to be exclusively members of the local RPG club, board game club, and university gaming clubs.

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                            • #15
                              Quoth Bagga View Post
                              Because GW sells paint too, I expect...
                              Bullseye. Get the man(?) a prize!
                              ...WHY DO YOU TEMPT WHAT LITTLE FAITH IN HUMANITY I HAVE!?! -- Kalga
                              And I want a pony for Christmas but neither of us is getting what we want OK! What you are asking is impossible. -- Wicked Lexi

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