My (not so) FLGS

a random pic, but kinda à propos nonetheless, err, cràpropos...

So I'm going to do something a little uncharacteristic for Mik's Minis, and that's rant...just a tad. Also, for the record, I just deleted my long-winded diatribe in lieu of something a little more direct and a little more to the point, which hopefully follows.

I've mentioned the new Space Hulk before and lamented not getting it. Well last week I called hobby shop #1 and they were sold out, no surprise. Then I called hobby shop#2 and they "still had a whole bunch left". Great, I hopped in my car and headed straight to the mall, walked in, found my way to the GW rack, scooped up the beautifully heavy, new Space Hulk goodness and proceeded to the register. Then I glanced at the pricetag.

It said $149.99.

This is a retail store in a shopping mall. Their foot traffic comes from overflow out of the food court, yet here they are, friggin' price-gouging the new hotness. At the register I asked what the deal was and the half-arsed reply was, "People were buying up multiple copies to sell on the internet." So what? You are a retail store, what do you care what people do with the product when it walks out your doors? If you're concerned about that, truly, then simply slap a "limit one per customer" sign on it or something. Having worked retail before, I know that the number one job of such a place is to sell, not be self-appointed morality police.

Obviously I didn't buy it, instead I picked up a Reaper fig off the racks and the beautiful new Mouseguard RPG book. But it still stuck in my craw, so to speak. This was last week, and after venting with my friends at last night's game session, I realized I didn't even want to support this particular game store anymore because of their unethical? practice.

It's true, businesses can do whatever they want, but when it's blatantly a slap in the customer's face, I choose to no longer support them, especially when they give me no reason to do so. Brick and mortar game shops are important, I know the debates of supporting them, but not this one, no more. I can honestly say I've been buying from these guys for well over twelve years now, but I won't spend another penny in their store. Ever.

I went back tonight with my Mouseguard book, unopened Reaper fig, my receipt, and got a full refund. It was just a kid working the counter, so I didn't feel my Braveheart-inspired "this ain't right" speech would've meant anything to them. It was kind of sad though, knowing my resolve meant never stepping foot in there again, or if I do it's to get a firsthand look at something to decide if I want to buy it somewhere else. Walking out the door, I smirked when I saw that their six copies of $149.99 Space Hulk were still on the shelf.