tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387576523369148744.post5149460676199300258..comments2024-03-28T07:23:31.352+00:00Comments on Farsight Blogger: Why do local gaming stores seem to want the RPG hobby to fail?Farsight Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992068691142951379noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387576523369148744.post-78627097240766942032010-05-17T14:46:24.409+01:002010-05-17T14:46:24.409+01:00I remember going into 'said' shop with you...I remember going into 'said' shop with you once and they leered at me as though i was the first woman with breasts they had ever seen. Needless to say i left and havent gone back. The nicest shop for rpg's i have been to is possibly the Two Fat Goblins in Stafford. Its so very tiny but the lads who own it are open and friendly and will do what they can to get you the bargain or support for your gaming club...thumbs up.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01933044619407401695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387576523369148744.post-54605842372744202352010-05-17T14:28:04.673+01:002010-05-17T14:28:04.673+01:00@ Matt - I've tried the letter writing thing b...@ Matt - I've tried the letter writing thing before (sans improvement suggestions) and nothing ever came of it, not even a response. The guy who owns the shop is very much into his games, and that's probably part of the problem - it appears he's treating the shop like a private collection than a place where he's supposed to make money, and his 'regulars' treat it like a private clubhouse. I'm amazed it's still going.<br /><br />@ James - There's a lovely shop an hour and a half from me where the guy in charge welcomes you, and of you're in there for a while he'll checks up to make sure you're okay, just in case you can't find what it is you're looking for. They're all friendly and I can't remember the last time I went in there and didn't hear the vacuum cleaner going - the polar opposite to your experience.<br /><br />These days, my measuring stick is based on hair. If the guy behind the counter has long, lank greasy, unkempt hair I'm almost certain I'm in for a bad experience.Farsight Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08992068691142951379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387576523369148744.post-30138005828020102102010-05-17T14:03:07.695+01:002010-05-17T14:03:07.695+01:00Perhaps a letter to the owner explaining your dist...Perhaps a letter to the owner explaining your distaste of the place, and a list of possible improvements? It's possible the owner doesn't even realize how disgusting that is. I'd be willing to bet it's owned by someone who does not play anything at all.Matt Conlonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02616567498642991754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387576523369148744.post-70564584271993988972010-05-17T12:18:45.229+01:002010-05-17T12:18:45.229+01:00Back in the Hogshead days I had a system for appra...Back in the Hogshead days I had a system for appraising games shops: I'd go in, browse and see how long it took for someone to ask me if I needed any help. If it was more than two minutes they got taken off our publicity list. The record was a now-defunct shop in the Midlands, where after thirty minutes (I was killing time) the store guy looked up from his Magic game and grunted, "You all right there?"James Wallishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06422856991822440964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387576523369148744.post-18075520108133772502010-05-17T10:20:36.821+01:002010-05-17T10:20:36.821+01:00There's a tiny wargaming shop very near me who...There's a tiny wargaming shop very near me who are the just as bad - I went to a 'wargaming club' meeting last week. It was just a get-together of a few mates in a tiny smelly room where they could make sexual innuendos all night. I stuck it out but when i asked a couple of questions (I was looking into getting back into the wargaming scene) I had the same feeling that I was intruding on their fun.<br /><br />There are a couple of good shops within an hour and a half journey of me and I could spend a couple of hours in them - they're just a pain in the bum to get to. The existing ones need to be more welcoming! I shouldn't have to travel to another county to get good service.Farsight Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08992068691142951379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387576523369148744.post-24804523606393657422010-05-17T10:08:37.548+01:002010-05-17T10:08:37.548+01:00That's terrible. Pity the economy is like it i...That's terrible. Pity the economy is like it is or you could blow them away. The local Reading FLGS, Eclectic Games, is tucked out of the way but is very friendly and well lit. My favourite all time FLGS is Leisure Games in Finchley, London. Not only the place that introduced me to gaming in the first place and a place that I worked for a summer but also a light and friendly shop.<br /><br />Testimony to Leisure Games's friendly atmosphere was that my mother always enjoyed going in there before Christmas to buy books like 'Paranoia' or the 'Space Marine' boxed game. A FLGS should be a shop you'd be happy to send your mum into.Rob Langhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01377928640392467606noreply@blogger.com