Quote from: jeff37923;663976See, you didn't seem like a douchebag at all when you posted that. Why can't Emperor Norton learn this skill?

I would guess he's imitating you. You're a overly sensitive, childish git who calls people names, and doesn't like to be wrong.

There are several dedicated game stores here, and none of them participated in Free RPG day. One was going to (Dave's Clubhouse), but cancelled at the last minute using Origins as an excuse. Which makes sense, since Origins was expecting about 20k people this year, most, if not all of whom would not travel out to the burbs to a rinky-dink shop. I hear they postponed it until July.

I only like one game store in town, because it's big, well lit, well stocked, and clean. Sometimes it smells like a cat box (because a cat actually lives in the store), but usually it's okay. However, the employees are generally lazy and if a girl (of any size or shape) is in the store, prepare to be ignored, even if you have $100 worth of stuff waiting to check out. So I stopped going. And that's my favorite in-town store. (The Guard Tower, in case you were wondering).

Then there is The Soldiery, which is dark, dank, and mostly sells minis and magic cards. They have a large selection of used books and boardgames, but sell them at ridiculously high prices (example: they've had 12 copies of Revised Recon on the shelf for 15 years, in various states of disrepair... all for cover price). My old roommate goes there a lot and gets some deals because him and the owner are on a first-name basis.

Then there is Ravenstone, which is predominantly 4th edition and Pathfinder, with schmuck employees and schmuck regular customers. The place is relatively tidy and you can find some cool stuff if you really look around, but the staff isn't helpful unless you're pals with them.

Half-Price Books is probably the best place for game books in Columbus.

Here's what I want in a game store:

• Friendly, clean, professional employees. This is a retail business after all. Greet every single person who walks in, and ask them if they need help finding anything. Staff should be knowledgeable about the products, and be able to recommend products, but should never shit on any of the products. The point of a business is to make money, not crap on what someone may enjoy.
• Good lighting, clean floors, open walkways, and air conditioning. It's not hard to replace light bulbs, sweep the floor at close, and move boxes of shit out of the way. Air conditioning keeps the books in good shape and keeps that stank down.
• A large storefront with windows that allow lots of natural light inside. Once again, it's a business. It should be inviting to window shoppers and the curious. It shouldn't be a place for goblinoid motherfuckers to hide out to escape sunlight.
• Artwork and Music. I want my game store to feel like a top notch record or comic shop. It should be cool to go to the game store, not dirty like a porn shop. No muzak or top 40 or elevator music. This ain't a supermarket or Bath and Body works. It should have an edge, but having an edge doesn't mean being a shithole. For me, I would just play punk, metal, and hip hop, mostly local and/or underground. Promo posters and the like should be regularly rotated, the walls should be covered in badass art, clothes, and the like.
• Sponsor local non-gaming events. Build partnerships with other local, niche stores. Be active in the community. Here in Cbus, that means opening booths at Comfest and Independence Day festivals, joining the Small Business Beanstalk, discounts for bike riders, joining the Doo Dah Parade, and sponsoring local art and music shows.

This may keep certain types of customers away, but it would bring in people who otherwise wouldn't check out a game store.

Quote from: taustin;663978I would guess he's imitating you. You're a overly sensitive, childish git who calls people names, and doesn't like to be wrong.

Bingo.

The initial post was a response that maybe he should look up the term, a legitimate response to the way he was using it. It wasn't snide, that was what he read into it because he apparently can't tell the difference between genuine "I don't think you are using that word right" and "Ha ha you moron, you stupid."

Quote from: everloss;663980

• Sponsor local non-gaming events. Build partnerships with other local, niche stores. Be active in the community. Here in Cbus, that means opening booths at Comfest and Independence Day festivals, joining the Small Business Beanstalk, discounts for bike riders, joining the Doo Dah Parade, and sponsoring local art and music shows.

Provided it doesn't increase their prices overly much. They are a business, after all, as you note.

And by and large, the rest is what I expect from all stores.

Quote from: Emperor Norton;663982Bingo.

The initial post was a response that maybe he should look up the term, a legitimate response to the way he was using it. It wasn't snide, that was what he read into it because he apparently can't tell the difference between genuine "I don't think you are using that word right" and "Ha ha you moron, you stupid."

In much the same way that you and I took his use of the term wrong, to be honest, I thought your first comment was easily taken as being a little snotty. Only a little, mind you, but then, the entire conversation was pretty snotty on both sides.

Quote from: taustin;664019In much the same way that you and I took his use of the term wrong, to be honest, I thought your first comment was easily taken as being a little snotty. Only a little, mind you, but then, the entire conversation was pretty snotty on both sides.

I do apologize to him if it sounded snotty. That wasn't the intention. I still think there was a hell of an overreaction though.

(And yeah, I work in marketing, which is why the second time he used it and it looked a little bit wonky it irritated me a bit).

Quote from: everloss;663980

• Friendly, clean, professional employees. This is a retail business after all. Greet every single person who walks in, and ask them if they need help finding anything. Staff should be knowledgeable about the products, and be able to recommend products, but should never shit on any of the products. The point of a business is to make money, not crap on what someone may enjoy.
• Good lighting, clean floors, open walkways, and air conditioning. It's not hard to replace light bulbs, sweep the floor at close, and move boxes of shit out of the way. Air conditioning keeps the books in good shape and keeps that stank down.
• A large storefront with windows that allow lots of natural light inside. Once again, it's a business. It should be inviting to window shoppers and the curious. It shouldn't be a place for goblinoid motherfuckers to hide out to escape sunlight.
• Artwork and Music. I want my game store to feel like a top notch record or comic shop. It should be cool to go to the game store, not dirty like a porn shop. No muzak or top 40 or elevator music. This ain't a supermarket or Bath and Body works. It should have an edge, but having an edge doesn't mean being a shithole. For me, I would just play punk, metal, and hip hop, mostly local and/or underground. Promo posters and the like should be regularly rotated, the walls should be covered in badass art, clothes, and the like.
• Sponsor local non-gaming events. Build partnerships with other local, niche stores. Be active in the community. Here in Cbus, that means opening booths at Comfest and Independence Day festivals, joining the Small Business Beanstalk, discounts for bike riders, joining the Doo Dah Parade, and sponsoring local art and music shows.

All those sound nice. I've never quite understood why most game stores don't try to reach out to the greater geek community. Geeks are a pretty predictable bunch, you can guess what kinds of things we're going to like to do and see.

Talk with the local comic shops, theaters, music stores, video game shops, etc... I'm sure there are lots of opportunities for cross promotion.

Quote from: Emperor Norton;664027I do apologize to him if it sounded snotty. That wasn't the intention.

Welcome to the internet. Good intentions, and a couple of bucks, might get you a cup of coffee.

Quote from: Emperor Norton;664027I still think there was a hell of an overreaction though.

You are, perhaps, less than perfectly literate in your writing. He's a snot nosed little punk. This is hardly news.

Quote from: Emperor Norton;664027(And yeah, I work in marketing, which is why the second time he used it and it looked a little bit wonky it irritated me a bit).

Yeah, he clearly isn't using it the way you and I do. (I've been in retail for 30+ years, most of it at management levels and up.) There's a quote from Inigo Montoya, but I'll refrain.

Quote from: Piestrio;664029All those sound nice. I've never quite understood why most game stores don't try to reach out to the greater geek community. Geeks are a pretty predictable bunch, you can guess what kinds of things we're going to like to do and see.

The gaming industry, top to bottom, start to finish, game designer to publisher to distributor to retailer to gamer, with only a few exceptions, is an industry of amateurs. And most of them are idiots. (According to the Dilbert Principle, they're all idiots at least once in a while, as is everyone else, but most of the people in the gaming industry are idiots all the time.) They have no clue, and won't learn even if you beat them with a clue by four. Most of them, in fact, will consciously choose to go out of business rather than admit that any customer ever might possibly want something other than what the store wants to sell.

When I had Hyperbooks going, it was a rare joy to work with someone who knew their ass from a hole in the ground.

Quote from: Piestrio;664029All those sound nice. I've never quite understood why most game stores don't try to reach out to the greater geek community. Geeks are a pretty predictable bunch, you can guess what kinds of things we're going to like to do and see.

Talk with the local comic shops, theaters, music stores, video game shops, etc... I'm sure there are lots of opportunities for cross promotion.

On that Idea or thought - for the past two years or more our store has had a pretty good connection or networking thing going on with the local bunch of Rennies (Rennaissance Festival workers & groupies)  and the Steampunk group that puts on conventions.

There has been a noticeable GOOD ripple effect with 'who knows who' and how they've heard about us.

- Ed C.

Quote from: Emperor Norton;664027I do apologize to him if it sounded snotty. That wasn't the intention. I still think there was a hell of an overreaction though.

(And yeah, I work in marketing, which is why the second time he used it and it looked a little bit wonky it irritated me a bit).

No apology is needed, but it is appreciated. I overreacted as well. Mea culpa.

Quote from: taustin;663978You're a overly sensitive, childish git who calls people names, and doesn't like to be wrong.

Quote from: taustin;664045He's a snot nosed little punk.

Wow, you've been thinking about me all day, haven't you?

Quote from: jeff37923;664168No apology is needed, but it is appreciated. I overreacted as well. Mea culpa.

If you keep acting like a grown up, we're going to have to send assassins after you.

Quote from: jeff37923;664172Wow, you've been thinking about me all day, haven't you?

No, I really haven't. You, perhaps, might have to spend all day considering the obvious, but I can type pretty quickly.

Quote from: taustin;664260No, I really haven't. You, perhaps, might have to spend all day considering the obvious, but I can type pretty quickly.

Dance, monkey! Dance!