Gaming Stores

I don't buy board games on-line. Well, except for Mordred, The First World War, Industrial Waste, and so on. (Those were games which weren't in stock at the local game stores.)

I tend to buy games from a local game store. I say local because there are three to choose from in my area (or at least three that I'm aware of).

Why this preference?

I research games on the web before making a purchase. My trip into a game store tends to be in and out. If they don't have the one item I'm looking for then I leave again otherwise I stop by the cash register and leave.

It is the same experience as buying on-line, but I get the game in hand a little earlier. Most on-line stores let you know if a game is in stock. Instead of driving between three stores, you just click to another site and check their stock.

The rational behind local game stores is that random people might stop in and become interested in the hobby. There's some truth to that. I grew up going to the local game store and when that closed I drove to the game store in the next town.

The internet is good for a lot of things, but it hasn't (at this point) been able to duplicate the experience of entering a good game store: pick up games in the corner, the feel of the carpet under your feet, the smell of games.

It's been years since I've felt that way, though. Maybe I support local brick and mortar stores so that others can experience it.