- Clean, welcoming, spacious, orderly place. I might be a geek, it doesn't mean I go play strategy games in a dank grotto, and I hate promiscuity.
Does your LGS host a lot of swingers parties or something? That has to be one of the most specific and narrow complaints I've seen made towards at a LGS. Not saying it's wrong to feel that way, it just seems like an odd complaint to have.
On-topic, one thing I don't like is when a store employee (or worse, the owner), makes me feel like I'm inconveniencing them by buying something. I'll walk into one of my local LGS, grab some sleeves and ask for a couple of packs, and when I go to pay, whoever is at the till makes a big deal out of having to get up off his chair, grab those packs and take my money (grunting/moaning as he struggles to get up). It's not an issue of weight, it's an issue of laziness. OP, make sure you and your employees are happy to sell to me. I don't go back to that store anymore, because it feels like making money off me is more of a hardship for them than a good thing.
I ask a few simple things of a LGS (in no particular order):
1. CLEAN with a reasonable amount of space to play.
2. Friendly employees.
3. Do not try and price gouge me. I know you need to make a profit, but do not expect me to pay over MSRP on new products (or more that a small mark up on hard to get new products) or try and charge me SCG near mint pricing on something that is obviously heavily played.
My old LGS was guilty of breaking requirement 1 and 3 but it was the only game in town at the time. My current shop fulfills all three to the utmost.
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“Your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”
― Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential
I will always firmly stand by the belief that Magic is a game first and a collectable second.
In addition, is there anything at your LGS, or perhaps a LGS you went to, do that is unique compared to other places that you like/dislike? For example, I went to a LGS in Lynchburg, VA that had something called "Feed the Dragon", where you roll four d6, and if you get certain prizes based on what is rolled. Only costed a dollar per try, and players enjoyed giving it a shot. StarCityGames had a box of mostly played cards they wouldn't sell on their online store for only 25 cents each, as well as a coin machine where you get a random rare for a quarter.
Might this be a "game of chance" that falls under state regulation?
Usually a game of chance involves the possibility of you walking away with nothing or less than what you put up. If you're selling commons at 10 cents each and you do the game a quarter a roll with your worst outcome 4 commons then there's not a loss. Would depend on the state I guess but most likely wouldn't be considered gambling.
Have friendly, helpful employees that don't sit on their butts and keep looking at youtube when customers walk in.
Deal with obnoxious players. The cheaters, the ones who don't shower, and the loud, annoying, temper tantrum ones specifically.
Don't sell me SP cards for NM pricing. Adjust prices for conditions appropriately.
Have a good selection of singles for the in demand formats. I don't expect you to have every oddball tiny leaders common in stock, but I do expect to be able to purchase any standard commons, and almost all uncommons and most rares. Having a solid stock of staples for other formats is nice too, but only makes sense if the playerbase supports them. However, given the prevalence of commander type formats, having a solid stock of dual lands is never a bad idea!
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Legacy: TES
EDH: Grand Arbiter $tax, Freyalise Stompy, Mimeoplasm Death From the Grave
Note: I no longer play modern or standard. Sold both to get a few decks of EDH. I can draft, but do so-so.
Store A: Free FMN that has 30+ people. 4-5 rounds always (not cuts to top4/top8). Prizes are 11/9/7/5/3/1 packs (if <32 people remove 1st place gets 9 and so on) plus you get to choose your promo. The store owner has me run some of the events as TO. This store is a 2nd hand bookstore that is family owed (he runs it with his brother). He runs the store as the event goes on. So as the TO, I am going in the back, submitting scores, adding/dropping people, printing and cutting out slips, calling everything out. Very tiring and goes late ---- no compensation in return. It is great for the experience, but there are no rule calls as most people can answer them. The only benefit I have gotten is being able to draft for free when I TO (basically I add/drop myself so no one has a by). One benefit is this store has a large Thursday EDH crowd to find games. This store has a HUGE HUGE HUGE card inventory with walls and walls of cards and binders organized by sets and colors. Lots of players of many formats, even vintage. I do not know anyone at the store outside of the store and I usually only see them once a week for a few hours. They all have their own friends/college crowds.
Store B: smaller store with no inventory besides what people have traded in for standard. FMN crowd is 8 people. Draft and standard entry price is a bit higher than what I have seen. No EDH scene --- only a standard scene. My friends started going here as they don't frequent store A anymore. The main reason why I have started going to store A is he has been helping me along my judge path. He got me in contact with an area L1 and set up dates for testing with a L2. He assisted me with putting studying material together, etc. He is friendly and gives me slight compenpensation for TOing. The store does other game events: Super Smash Bros, board game night, DDR day, etc. Very small payout for draft and FNM standard.
I am currently a rules advisor seeking to be a judge, so store B would be the choice. But store A has constant [magic action] with free FNM with huge payout and strong EDH. Thoughts or questions?
In addition, is there anything at your LGS, or perhaps a LGS you went to, do that is unique compared to other places that you like/dislike? For example, I went to a LGS in Lynchburg, VA that had something called "Feed the Dragon", where you roll four d6, and if you get certain prizes based on what is rolled. Only costed a dollar per try, and players enjoyed giving it a shot. StarCityGames had a box of mostly played cards they wouldn't sell on their online store for only 25 cents each, as well as a coin machine where you get a random rare for a quarter.
Might this be a "game of chance" that falls under state regulation?
I'd check the laws on it, but I would make sure what I am doing is legal. And to be honest, I would set it up that even when you "lose", there is still some sort of consolation prize, so that you don't feel like you walk away empty-handed.
I don't want to repeat what everyone else has said, so I'll mention one thing I've not seen mentioned, which for me (and my friends) is HUGE:
Sell things for MSRP (or below, in the case of standard booster boxes and standard loose packs). What I'm talking about is, don't be the store that jacks up specialty products. I know it may be tempting, and I have no problem with a store making money off of me, but I don't want to feel like you're bending me over in the process. What am I talking about? Maybe I'm in the minority here, but we have a fantastic LGS in my town, and he sells the following at MSRP:
--From the Vault sets
--Commander's Arsenal, when it was released
--The most popular Commander precon (like the one that had True-Name Nemesis two years ago, or the one that had Containment Priest in it this year
--Modern Masters boxes were sold for $10 over MSRP, but only because he had his allocation reduced.
Again, I have no problem with you making money off of me, but when I see you getting greedy, that's when I'll stop supporting you, and do my business elsewhere. I get it, you're a business, you have overhead. But don't take advantage of me or my friends. Just because YOU'RE working hard for your money, don't assume I didn't work just as damn hard for mine, and I'm not about to give it all to you because of your rampant avarice, or some misguided notion that I owe you because you provide a place in which to play. Trust me, I'll spend enough in your store at MSRP to make it worth your while. Let's establish a good retailer/customer relationship, in the long run it will be beneficial for us both. It's why a shop in my town closed down about a year ago, where NO "hot product" ever went for MSRP, and why the shop I still continue to go to celebrated it's 10-year anniversary last summer, and has recently had to knock down a wall to create more space AND rent out empty storefronts in the complex to handle the spillover attendance at prereleases. People know when they go there, they're getting a fair deal.
I agree with you there, as there are a lot of times LGS abuses the demand of products to make a killing off the product at the customer's expense. Now, when it comes to the From The Vault series, as well as Modern Masters, I may have to increase the price some, but I would still try to keep it at least around (or less) than normal online prices. When it comes to the Commander decks and Modern Event Decks, as well as booster packs, I'll do whatever I can to keep at or below MSRP.
- An atmosphere welcoming to women and younger players.
I much prefer a PG-13 rated environment. I prefer it for myself (I'm 47) and I prefer it for my teenage son.
I'll echo the opinions that a clean store is a plus. To that I will add good heating and cooling. The game shop that is just a five minute drive is cold in the winter (employees typically wear winter hats and coats) and hot in the summer (a room full of young men in tank tops when it is 90 degrees inside is not an inviting atmosphere). There is a relatively new store that is about a 25 minute drive for me. The first time I took my son and two of his friends there for FNM, we weren't there five minutes when one of them commented "this doesn't smell like" the other place (it was summer).
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"Because we cannot prevent draws in paper Magic we allow IDs. If we could prevent draws we would not have IDs in paper Magic. " Scott Larabee.
#1: A playerbase that want a similar game experience to me. If I'm in the mood for cutthroat, ruthless, win-at-all-costs games, I don't want to sit down for a game against someone's Scrambleverse deck.
- The bigger your playerbase, the better likely it is that you have that for as many players as possible.
#2: Friendly but firm staff with extensive rules knowledge.
- Doesn't mean they need to be level 4 judges, but staff that won't tolerate or participate in harassment and that can answer most rules questions correctly. No big deal if they don't understand layers, as long as they understand priority, the stack and all the keywords.
Does your LGS host a lot of swingers parties or something? That has to be one of the most specific and narrow complaints I've seen made towards at a LGS. Not saying it's wrong to feel that way, it just seems like an odd complaint to have.
Wrong wording maybe? I meant, having to rub off against a bunch of people to go from A to B because of poor space design bothers me. I admit though, it's a pretty specific complaint.
I will say not having to be right on top of each other is a pretty good sentiment though, regardless of the word you used. I don't mind being elbows to elbows at a big event because of the number of people there but prefer to have a bit of space for FNM's not trying to jam to many people at a small cluster of tables.
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Trying to make crappy pet cards work since 2002.
I'm usually typing quickly at work or on my phone so I appolize from the crummy grammar
When it comes to From the Vault or Modern Masters and other special releases it's actually not the LGS gouging. Anyone who says different either just don't understand business or is greedy. In those cases I would just offer every customer 1 of the special item at a discount, and guarantee everyone that 1 box. Sell the rest at market price. Fact is people LGS don't set prices. Big MTG retailers like SCG do. So next time you want to blame a LGS for selling stuff above MSRP just go ahead and forward your complaints to SCG for setting the market so high. Only way to fix that problem is SCG sells at MSRP(LOL!!) or wizards prints more of the product. I guess wizards could impose price guidelines for the secondary market...but they just wont. But really selling you a box of cards like MM at MSRP is bad business when you can re sell for more profit then the store you got it from can.
Does your LGS host a lot of swingers parties or something? That has to be one of the most specific and narrow complaints I've seen made towards at a LGS. Not saying it's wrong to feel that way, it just seems like an odd complaint to have.
Wrong wording maybe? I meant, having to rub off against a bunch of people to go from A to B because of poor space design bothers me. I admit though, it's a pretty specific complaint.
OK, that makes sense then, and I think that's an reasonable complaint to have. Having to squeeze by lots of people constantly is something I would find annoying too.
I think "proximity" is the word you were looking for; promiscuity is when someone likes to have lots of casual sex.
Since you've gotten advice about a majority of things, I'll be simple about a single point which has caused me grief, and in fact motivated me to change stores.
Keep up with your website.
If you have an event listed as happening every week on a certain day, at a certain time, and you discontinue it, delete it from the website. The amount of times I've gone to a store advertising Legacy or EDH this way only to find that it no longer happens is far too great.
STATISTICS.
All of these "Let's eliminate bad cards" crusades are simply ignorant. And when they start to devolve into "WotC is conspiring to give us crappy cards," they just become embarrassing. MATH is conspiring to give you crappy cards.
The biggest definition of a "good LGS" is something that is for the most part out of the owner's control. The community. I can't stand playing around people that are irritable, unfriendly, sore losers, poor winners, obnoxious/loud etc. If the regular playerbase is welcoming, both gracious in losing and winning and are fun/entertaining to play with/hang around with then that is the absolute foundation of a good LGS. As for what the owner's can control, I feel a great LGS must:
1) Have a vested interest in their community/be actively engaged in setting up events/active in Social Media.
2) Clean playing environment/friendly, knowledgable staff/fair prices and a reasonable inventory
3) Support for multiple formats outside of just standard.
I also prefer a regular playerbase that are 18+, although that's mostly for eternal formats. I definitely don't mind a more younger ground for Standard/Casual etc.
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Currently Playing: Legacy: RUG(B)Lands UWRMiracles
3) Support for multiple formats outside of just standard.
If you're going to run a successful game store, you're going to need to support multiple games, not just MTG. Maybe not just games, but also comic books or food, or some other alternate revenue stream.
Aside from one pre-release event, I have only ever played Standard MTG in a game store. I have, however, bought other games at a game store. Doesn't really add value to me that I am able to buy other games locally, but it does help keep the store in business and open doors makes for a "good LGS".
One small thing I could suggest for MTG events, especially the regular ones that may be on the small side: have a standby ready to play in the event of an odd number. I don't want to play in a three (or four) round event with the possibility of having to sit out one of the rounds. I have left the store, leaving an even number of people in the event, more than once rather than risk a bye.
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"Because we cannot prevent draws in paper Magic we allow IDs. If we could prevent draws we would not have IDs in paper Magic. " Scott Larabee.
3) Support for multiple formats outside of just standard.
If you're going to run a successful game store, you're going to need to support multiple games, not just MTG. Maybe not just games, but also comic books or food, or some other alternate revenue stream.
Aside from one pre-release event, I have only ever played Standard MTG in a game store. I have, however, bought other games at a game store. Doesn't really add value to me that I am able to buy other games locally, but it does help keep the store in business and open doors makes for a "good LGS".
One small thing I could suggest for MTG events, especially the regular ones that may be on the small side: have a standby ready to play in the event of an odd number. I don't want to play in a three (or four) round event with the possibility of having to sit out one of the rounds. I have left the store, leaving an even number of people in the event, more than once rather than risk a bye.
Care to elaborate more on the side event? What would that look like?
3) Support for multiple formats outside of just standard.
If you're going to run a successful game store, you're going to need to support multiple games, not just MTG. Maybe not just games, but also comic books or food, or some other alternate revenue stream.
Aside from one pre-release event, I have only ever played Standard MTG in a game store. I have, however, bought other games at a game store. Doesn't really add value to me that I am able to buy other games locally, but it does help keep the store in business and open doors makes for a "good LGS".
One small thing I could suggest for MTG events, especially the regular ones that may be on the small side: have a standby ready to play in the event of an odd number. I don't want to play in a three (or four) round event with the possibility of having to sit out one of the rounds. I have left the store, leaving an even number of people in the event, more than once rather than risk a bye.
Care to elaborate more on the side event? What would that look like?
I would, but I'm not sure what you are asking about.
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"Because we cannot prevent draws in paper Magic we allow IDs. If we could prevent draws we would not have IDs in paper Magic. " Scott Larabee.
Admittedly, I haven't read all of the posts. Also, I come at this as a player who stuck it out through a TERRIBLE game shop for 2 years to avoid the hour drive to the next closest shop. Recently, I moved to a new state, and found two shops which are both really good, although for different reasons. (also, a disclaimer: I'm a Judge, so TO interactions go a long way with me)
In no particular order...
1. Be clean, un-cluttered, and set up for games. I came to play, I shouldn't have to go find a table from a stack in the corner and set it up myself. That should all be ready before the doors are unlocked.
2. Clean functional bathroom.
3. Easy access to inventory. I want to know what you have so that I can buy it. I'm fine with looking through boxes or binders, but have some organization to it beyond "here's the boxes of Magic singles... they're not sorted at all."
4. Working Climate Control. Granted, in a small shop, if there are a lot of people, it gets hot. That's fine. But the AC should at least be trying to keep up.
5. Have multiple event formats. I don't like to draft. If every event you hold is Limited, I won't be playing in your events and you've lost my dollars.
6. Listen to your players. Your players pay your bills. If they indicate that they want to try Modern, give Modern a run for a few weeks and see if it sticks. If they request more Sealed, try that. If players complain about entry fees, compromise by lowering fees, but reducing prize support. Find what your players want, and give it to them. They'll keep coming back.
7. FURNITURE!!! It's part of the cost of business. You will need tables and chairs. They will need to hold the weight of players. They will wear out and break. They will need to be replaced. REPLACE THEM.
8. Treat your Judges fairly. If you can manage to get a staff member to become a Judge, Great! If you sign on "freelance" judges, awesome! Either way, treat them fairly. Compensate them for their time. 3 packs payment for running your 30 player midnight pre-release and not playing is not adequate reimbursement for their time.
9. Have a calendar, stick to it, update it, and make it public. Online is probably best, but in some way make it evident what is happening and when.
10. If you start running competitive REL events (PPTQs, IQs, etc.), communicate with your local judges BEFORE setting a date. Especially in areas where L2 judges are in short supply, scheduling a PPTQ only to find that you can't get a judge for that weekend is asking for disaster.
11. Once you announce prize support for an event, stick to it. If the prizes are in product, make sure you have that much product on hand, set aside so it's not sold. If it's for Cash (SCG IQs, etc.), set aside cash in the office somewhere that your employees can't accidentally use it for purchasing cards for your buylist.
12. Either have access to food inside the shop (snack bar) or find a location with easy access to quick meals.
I have more, but I feel like this is starting to get rant-y, and I don't want that. I'm sure you've gotten more suggestions above that I'd be repeating.
Best of luck with your venture. It's always exciting when a new shop comes to town.
When it comes to From the Vault or Modern Masters and other special releases it's actually not the LGS gouging. Anyone who says different either just don't understand business or is greedy. In those cases I would just offer every customer 1 of the special item at a discount, and guarantee everyone that 1 box. Sell the rest at market price. Fact is people LGS don't set prices. Big MTG retailers like SCG do. So next time you want to blame a LGS for selling stuff above MSRP just go ahead and forward your complaints to SCG for setting the market so high. Only way to fix that problem is SCG sells at MSRP(LOL!!) or wizards prints more of the product. I guess wizards could impose price guidelines for the secondary market...but they just wont. But really selling you a box of cards like MM at MSRP is bad business when you can re sell for more profit then the store you got it from can.
My LGS has preorders at MSRP, period. There are often a handful of reserved preorders for items that run out (as thanks for being the guy who runs the EDH league, I automatically get a preorder for FTV; I still pay, but I don't have to make sure to get my order in before the supply is gone).
For extremely limited product (Commander's Arsenal), the owner of my LGS refused to sell it at all. He didn't want to gouge his customers at $300+ a pop, and he didn't want a first-come, first-served setup at or near MSRP when they only had like 5 copies. Instead, all of the CA boxes were reserved as prizes for events, including one for my EDH League which we drafted from for prizes at the end of the season.
Note: I no longer play modern or standard. Sold both to get a few decks of EDH. I can draft, but do so-so.
Store A: Free FMN that has 30+ people. 4-5 rounds always (not cuts to top4/top8). Prizes are 11/9/7/5/3/1 packs (if <32 people remove 1st place gets 9 and so on) plus you get to choose your promo. The store owner has me run some of the events as TO. This store is a 2nd hand bookstore that is family owed (he runs it with his brother). He runs the store as the event goes on. So as the TO, I am going in the back, submitting scores, adding/dropping people, printing and cutting out slips, calling everything out. Very tiring and goes late ---- no compensation in return. It is great for the experience, but there are no rule calls as most people can answer them. The only benefit I have gotten is being able to draft for free when I TO (basically I add/drop myself so no one has a by). One benefit is this store has a large Thursday EDH crowd to find games. This store has a HUGE HUGE HUGE card inventory with walls and walls of cards and binders organized by sets and colors. Lots of players of many formats, even vintage. I do not know anyone at the store outside of the store and I usually only see them once a week for a few hours. They all have their own friends/college crowds.
Store B: smaller store with no inventory besides what people have traded in for standard. FMN crowd is 8 people. Draft and standard entry price is a bit higher than what I have seen. No EDH scene --- only a standard scene. My friends started going here as they don't frequent store A anymore. The main reason why I have started going to store A is he has been helping me along my judge path. He got me in contact with an area L1 and set up dates for testing with a L2. He assisted me with putting studying material together, etc. He is friendly and gives me slight compenpensation for TOing. The store does other game events: Super Smash Bros, board game night, DDR day, etc. Very small payout for draft and FNM standard.
I am currently a rules advisor seeking to be a judge, so store B would be the choice. But store A has constant [magic action] with free FNM with huge payout and strong EDH. Thoughts or questions?
How does store A) even afford to run that event? That looks like a massive loss each week.
Note: I no longer play modern or standard. Sold both to get a few decks of EDH. I can draft, but do so-so.
Store A: Free FMN that has 30+ people. 4-5 rounds always (not cuts to top4/top8). Prizes are 11/9/7/5/3/1 packs (if <32 people remove 1st place gets 9 and so on) plus you get to choose your promo. The store owner has me run some of the events as TO. This store is a 2nd hand bookstore that is family owed (he runs it with his brother). He runs the store as the event goes on. So as the TO, I am going in the back, submitting scores, adding/dropping people, printing and cutting out slips, calling everything out. Very tiring and goes late ---- no compensation in return. It is great for the experience, but there are no rule calls as most people can answer them. The only benefit I have gotten is being able to draft for free when I TO (basically I add/drop myself so no one has a by). One benefit is this store has a large Thursday EDH crowd to find games. This store has a HUGE HUGE HUGE card inventory with walls and walls of cards and binders organized by sets and colors. Lots of players of many formats, even vintage. I do not know anyone at the store outside of the store and I usually only see them once a week for a few hours. They all have their own friends/college crowds.
Store B: smaller store with no inventory besides what people have traded in for standard. FMN crowd is 8 people. Draft and standard entry price is a bit higher than what I have seen. No EDH scene --- only a standard scene. My friends started going here as they don't frequent store A anymore. The main reason why I have started going to store A is he has been helping me along my judge path. He got me in contact with an area L1 and set up dates for testing with a L2. He assisted me with putting studying material together, etc. He is friendly and gives me slight compenpensation for TOing. The store does other game events: Super Smash Bros, board game night, DDR day, etc. Very small payout for draft and FNM standard.
I am currently a rules advisor seeking to be a judge, so store B would be the choice. But store A has constant [magic action] with free FNM with huge payout and strong EDH. Thoughts or questions?
How does store A) even afford to run that event? That looks like a massive loss each week.
A lot of tournaments are run at a loss or break even. Tournaments are generally advertisements to get people in the LGS's door. Getting a customer in the door is the first and most important step to getting a sale, as pretty much any businessman will tell you.
Granted, not all tournaments are run like that, and not all tournaments are getting you into the door of a particular LGS (even putting aside professional level stuff, some people run tournaments in malls). But it's pretty common.
My local store used tournaments and drafts to basically sell packs. Since the entry fee paid for the packs. So basically, it was the way the shop made money each week. Which is why when people stopped turning up for the weekly drafts and fnm, the store shut, even though it was busy during the day.
Parking, parking, parking. Ample, close, and well-lit.
Free open gaming areas; a now-closed local shop charged $5 per person just to sit at their tables and play, or even just sit. Guess whose tables were empty?
Well-lit, clean, functional plumbing, in-house food and drink (and a microwave). If you can swing a liquor license, sell beer! I've never actually encountered this, but it would make for an awesome place to visit! It would probably bring its own lot of problems, though, so maybe not.
Beware of people using your store as a free daycare. Some kids are awesome, some are less so, which is probably why momma drops them at your store when you open and then disappears until closing time.
Functional hours - at least 8 hours a day, at least 5 days a week, with hours that take into account people working til 6 or later. Be willing to run into the wee hours on weekends, and not just because of events.
A variety of games and support for them, and not just Magic. Organized Magic singles. Some shops I've been too have it computerized - you type in a list of cards into the store dedicated laptop, and it prints out the shelf and box of the card(s), which their staff then pulls. Others feature the "box o' all the cards."
Have cards for people to browse, either under glass, in a box, or in binders. Impulse shopping is a thing and how I ended up with a good one-third of my collection! That said, shady individuals might take advantage of this and either shift cards to cheaper binders or outright steal them, so ymmv.... Maybe computerized browsing?
Competent, friendly staff.
Clearly posted shop rules.
In-house security cameras to help quell the almost inevitable thefts, or at least to catch the perps.
Sell at MSRP (or less) whenever possible. Also, do preorders and special orders when possible.
Advertise and maintain a digital footprint; Facebook, normal website, maybe other social media sites.
Good luck with your shops!
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If in the area, check out Gamers N Geeks and Mini War Games in Mobile, Alabama and Underhill's Games in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Krichaiushii on PucaTrade.
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Does your LGS host a lot of swingers parties or something? That has to be one of the most specific and narrow complaints I've seen made towards at a LGS. Not saying it's wrong to feel that way, it just seems like an odd complaint to have.
On-topic, one thing I don't like is when a store employee (or worse, the owner), makes me feel like I'm inconveniencing them by buying something. I'll walk into one of my local LGS, grab some sleeves and ask for a couple of packs, and when I go to pay, whoever is at the till makes a big deal out of having to get up off his chair, grab those packs and take my money (grunting/moaning as he struggles to get up). It's not an issue of weight, it's an issue of laziness. OP, make sure you and your employees are happy to sell to me. I don't go back to that store anymore, because it feels like making money off me is more of a hardship for them than a good thing.
1. CLEAN with a reasonable amount of space to play.
2. Friendly employees.
3. Do not try and price gouge me. I know you need to make a profit, but do not expect me to pay over MSRP on new products (or more that a small mark up on hard to get new products) or try and charge me SCG near mint pricing on something that is obviously heavily played.
My old LGS was guilty of breaking requirement 1 and 3 but it was the only game in town at the time. My current shop fulfills all three to the utmost.
― Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential
I will always firmly stand by the belief that Magic is a game first and a collectable second.
Usually a game of chance involves the possibility of you walking away with nothing or less than what you put up. If you're selling commons at 10 cents each and you do the game a quarter a roll with your worst outcome 4 commons then there's not a loss. Would depend on the state I guess but most likely wouldn't be considered gambling.
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Deal with obnoxious players. The cheaters, the ones who don't shower, and the loud, annoying, temper tantrum ones specifically.
Don't sell me SP cards for NM pricing. Adjust prices for conditions appropriately.
Have a good selection of singles for the in demand formats. I don't expect you to have every oddball tiny leaders common in stock, but I do expect to be able to purchase any standard commons, and almost all uncommons and most rares. Having a solid stock of staples for other formats is nice too, but only makes sense if the playerbase supports them. However, given the prevalence of commander type formats, having a solid stock of dual lands is never a bad idea!
EDH: Grand Arbiter $tax, Freyalise Stompy, Mimeoplasm Death From the Grave
There are 2 LGSs near me.
Note: I no longer play modern or standard. Sold both to get a few decks of EDH. I can draft, but do so-so.
Store A: Free FMN that has 30+ people. 4-5 rounds always (not cuts to top4/top8). Prizes are 11/9/7/5/3/1 packs (if <32 people remove 1st place gets 9 and so on) plus you get to choose your promo. The store owner has me run some of the events as TO. This store is a 2nd hand bookstore that is family owed (he runs it with his brother). He runs the store as the event goes on. So as the TO, I am going in the back, submitting scores, adding/dropping people, printing and cutting out slips, calling everything out. Very tiring and goes late ---- no compensation in return. It is great for the experience, but there are no rule calls as most people can answer them. The only benefit I have gotten is being able to draft for free when I TO (basically I add/drop myself so no one has a by). One benefit is this store has a large Thursday EDH crowd to find games. This store has a HUGE HUGE HUGE card inventory with walls and walls of cards and binders organized by sets and colors. Lots of players of many formats, even vintage. I do not know anyone at the store outside of the store and I usually only see them once a week for a few hours. They all have their own friends/college crowds.
Store B: smaller store with no inventory besides what people have traded in for standard. FMN crowd is 8 people. Draft and standard entry price is a bit higher than what I have seen. No EDH scene --- only a standard scene. My friends started going here as they don't frequent store A anymore. The main reason why I have started going to store A is he has been helping me along my judge path. He got me in contact with an area L1 and set up dates for testing with a L2. He assisted me with putting studying material together, etc. He is friendly and gives me slight compenpensation for TOing. The store does other game events: Super Smash Bros, board game night, DDR day, etc. Very small payout for draft and FNM standard.
I am currently a rules advisor seeking to be a judge, so store B would be the choice. But store A has constant [magic action] with free FNM with huge payout and strong EDH. Thoughts or questions?
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
I'd check the laws on it, but I would make sure what I am doing is legal. And to be honest, I would set it up that even when you "lose", there is still some sort of consolation prize, so that you don't feel like you walk away empty-handed.
I agree with you there, as there are a lot of times LGS abuses the demand of products to make a killing off the product at the customer's expense. Now, when it comes to the From The Vault series, as well as Modern Masters, I may have to increase the price some, but I would still try to keep it at least around (or less) than normal online prices. When it comes to the Commander decks and Modern Event Decks, as well as booster packs, I'll do whatever I can to keep at or below MSRP.
I much prefer a PG-13 rated environment. I prefer it for myself (I'm 47) and I prefer it for my teenage son.
I'll echo the opinions that a clean store is a plus. To that I will add good heating and cooling. The game shop that is just a five minute drive is cold in the winter (employees typically wear winter hats and coats) and hot in the summer (a room full of young men in tank tops when it is 90 degrees inside is not an inviting atmosphere). There is a relatively new store that is about a 25 minute drive for me. The first time I took my son and two of his friends there for FNM, we weren't there five minutes when one of them commented "this doesn't smell like" the other place (it was summer).
- The bigger your playerbase, the better likely it is that you have that for as many players as possible.
#2: Friendly but firm staff with extensive rules knowledge.
- Doesn't mean they need to be level 4 judges, but staff that won't tolerate or participate in harassment and that can answer most rules questions correctly. No big deal if they don't understand layers, as long as they understand priority, the stack and all the keywords.
#3: Pricing that seldom seems like a ripoff.
#4: Events that suit the playerbase.
Wrong wording maybe? I meant, having to rub off against a bunch of people to go from A to B because of poor space design bothers me. I admit though, it's a pretty specific complaint.
I'm usually typing quickly at work or on my phone so I appolize from the crummy grammar
OK, that makes sense then, and I think that's an reasonable complaint to have. Having to squeeze by lots of people constantly is something I would find annoying too.
I think "proximity" is the word you were looking for; promiscuity is when someone likes to have lots of casual sex.
Keep up with your website.
If you have an event listed as happening every week on a certain day, at a certain time, and you discontinue it, delete it from the website. The amount of times I've gone to a store advertising Legacy or EDH this way only to find that it no longer happens is far too great.
1) Have a vested interest in their community/be actively engaged in setting up events/active in Social Media.
2) Clean playing environment/friendly, knowledgable staff/fair prices and a reasonable inventory
3) Support for multiple formats outside of just standard.
I also prefer a regular playerbase that are 18+, although that's mostly for eternal formats. I definitely don't mind a more younger ground for Standard/Casual etc.
Legacy:
RUG(B)Lands
UWRMiracles
The grind, the durdle, the control!
If you're going to run a successful game store, you're going to need to support multiple games, not just MTG. Maybe not just games, but also comic books or food, or some other alternate revenue stream.
Aside from one pre-release event, I have only ever played Standard MTG in a game store. I have, however, bought other games at a game store. Doesn't really add value to me that I am able to buy other games locally, but it does help keep the store in business and open doors makes for a "good LGS".
One small thing I could suggest for MTG events, especially the regular ones that may be on the small side: have a standby ready to play in the event of an odd number. I don't want to play in a three (or four) round event with the possibility of having to sit out one of the rounds. I have left the store, leaving an even number of people in the event, more than once rather than risk a bye.
Care to elaborate more on the side event? What would that look like?
In no particular order...
1. Be clean, un-cluttered, and set up for games. I came to play, I shouldn't have to go find a table from a stack in the corner and set it up myself. That should all be ready before the doors are unlocked.
2. Clean functional bathroom.
3. Easy access to inventory. I want to know what you have so that I can buy it. I'm fine with looking through boxes or binders, but have some organization to it beyond "here's the boxes of Magic singles... they're not sorted at all."
4. Working Climate Control. Granted, in a small shop, if there are a lot of people, it gets hot. That's fine. But the AC should at least be trying to keep up.
5. Have multiple event formats. I don't like to draft. If every event you hold is Limited, I won't be playing in your events and you've lost my dollars.
6. Listen to your players. Your players pay your bills. If they indicate that they want to try Modern, give Modern a run for a few weeks and see if it sticks. If they request more Sealed, try that. If players complain about entry fees, compromise by lowering fees, but reducing prize support. Find what your players want, and give it to them. They'll keep coming back.
7. FURNITURE!!! It's part of the cost of business. You will need tables and chairs. They will need to hold the weight of players. They will wear out and break. They will need to be replaced. REPLACE THEM.
8. Treat your Judges fairly. If you can manage to get a staff member to become a Judge, Great! If you sign on "freelance" judges, awesome! Either way, treat them fairly. Compensate them for their time. 3 packs payment for running your 30 player midnight pre-release and not playing is not adequate reimbursement for their time.
9. Have a calendar, stick to it, update it, and make it public. Online is probably best, but in some way make it evident what is happening and when.
10. If you start running competitive REL events (PPTQs, IQs, etc.), communicate with your local judges BEFORE setting a date. Especially in areas where L2 judges are in short supply, scheduling a PPTQ only to find that you can't get a judge for that weekend is asking for disaster.
11. Once you announce prize support for an event, stick to it. If the prizes are in product, make sure you have that much product on hand, set aside so it's not sold. If it's for Cash (SCG IQs, etc.), set aside cash in the office somewhere that your employees can't accidentally use it for purchasing cards for your buylist.
12. Either have access to food inside the shop (snack bar) or find a location with easy access to quick meals.
I have more, but I feel like this is starting to get rant-y, and I don't want that. I'm sure you've gotten more suggestions above that I'd be repeating.
Best of luck with your venture. It's always exciting when a new shop comes to town.
For extremely limited product (Commander's Arsenal), the owner of my LGS refused to sell it at all. He didn't want to gouge his customers at $300+ a pop, and he didn't want a first-come, first-served setup at or near MSRP when they only had like 5 copies. Instead, all of the CA boxes were reserved as prizes for events, including one for my EDH League which we drafted from for prizes at the end of the season.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
How does store A) even afford to run that event? That looks like a massive loss each week.
Granted, not all tournaments are run like that, and not all tournaments are getting you into the door of a particular LGS (even putting aside professional level stuff, some people run tournaments in malls). But it's pretty common.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Free open gaming areas; a now-closed local shop charged $5 per person just to sit at their tables and play, or even just sit. Guess whose tables were empty?
Well-lit, clean, functional plumbing, in-house food and drink (and a microwave). If you can swing a liquor license, sell beer! I've never actually encountered this, but it would make for an awesome place to visit! It would probably bring its own lot of problems, though, so maybe not.
Beware of people using your store as a free daycare. Some kids are awesome, some are less so, which is probably why momma drops them at your store when you open and then disappears until closing time.
Functional hours - at least 8 hours a day, at least 5 days a week, with hours that take into account people working til 6 or later. Be willing to run into the wee hours on weekends, and not just because of events.
A variety of games and support for them, and not just Magic. Organized Magic singles. Some shops I've been too have it computerized - you type in a list of cards into the store dedicated laptop, and it prints out the shelf and box of the card(s), which their staff then pulls. Others feature the "box o' all the cards."
Have cards for people to browse, either under glass, in a box, or in binders. Impulse shopping is a thing and how I ended up with a good one-third of my collection! That said, shady individuals might take advantage of this and either shift cards to cheaper binders or outright steal them, so ymmv.... Maybe computerized browsing?
Competent, friendly staff.
Clearly posted shop rules.
In-house security cameras to help quell the almost inevitable thefts, or at least to catch the perps.
Sell at MSRP (or less) whenever possible. Also, do preorders and special orders when possible.
Advertise and maintain a digital footprint; Facebook, normal website, maybe other social media sites.
Good luck with your shops!
Krichaiushii on PucaTrade.