Author: Ernest Mueller (---.rr.com)
Date: 07-04-2005 07:52
A very good article. I've had my share of bad experiences 'special ordering' items from gaming stores, and I never do it any more. It's always a hassle, it takes a long time, they never tell you when they get it in, and you have to go there and get it.
Other common retailer stocking errors I see:
- Stocking supplements for a game but not stocking the main ruleset. I remember trying to buy Spycraft from a local store that had about 5 supplements, but over the course of several months never got in the main book. Talk about cockblocking your own sales! RPGs often rely on chained sales in that way, ignore the start of the product chain at your peril.
- Not immediately ordering something when someone asks about it. When I even take the trouble to ask the shopkeeper about a title and they don't have it, and if I'm not interested in special ordering, it'd be smart for them to order a copy anyway. And if I ask about something that's not out yet, it'd be smart to make sure a copy shows up when it is out. Take the free insight into your customers' buying habits, guys.
- Not paying any attention at all to what's going on in the rest of fandom. You know, if a movie is coming out, like Hellboy, League of Extraordinary Gentlement, Star Wars, etc., you should probably order some related stock. It only takes a little bit of cross-promotion. New Star Wars movie? Great chance to sell some Star Wars RPG, including clearing your shelves of anything related not moving fast. Run a demo, put up a special display.
Here's the deal. I think my buying habits are a lot like other folks out there. If I go to a game store, and they have something I want, I'll buy it there. If they don't, and I need to work for it, I'll order it, in order of preference, from a) Amazon if they have it due to the deep discounts, b) another online retailer if they don't, c) eBay. I'm going to follow the path of least hassle to me.
Why do I go into game stores? To see the whole breadth of what's out, to look at the books instead of having to rely on reviews etc. Not to play games with random transients or to hobnob at length with strangers. Gaming stores need to remember what the core advantage of any brick-and-mortar store is over any online store and not get caught up in "gaming space" and the like. You have some compelling advantages, which are yours to squander.
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