Hobby Retailer Input for WotC

Pulp Fiction · #1 January 23rd, 2008, 05:44 PM

I thought it would be appropriate to have a thread on here for hobby retailers such as myself to have an opportunity to fire away with questions, requests, and if nothing else; an opportunity for us to give a thumbs up on some of the other discussions that could have a (potentially) huge impact on those of us that stock Heroscape.

To get the ball rolling, here are a few things that I have seen discussed on here both yesterday and in the past that I think are worth drawing attention to the Powers That Be at WotC. Understand, these are just my thoughts and opinions.

1.) I for one am completely open and enthused by the idea of a "terrain package" as an exclusive to hobby shops. The major gripe against this is of course those who are fans of the game not having a shop nearby but with the amount of stores that do online sales I don't forsee this as any issue.

2.) This has been discussed before about other games (MtG as an example) but I think it deserves mention here... Strictly enforced release dates. It's something I as a retailer want to pull my hair out sometimes as I find out big box stores getting shipments early and putting product on the shelves before we hobby retailers even have the chance to sell. A strict date or even an early realease date for Hobby retailers would be awesome.

3.) This one is more of a question then a blanket statement... Do you guys plan on changing the cost on our end for boosters and or starters? I have supported this game to a small degree in our store due to space constraints mixed with our cost being so "difficult".

...these are just a few my thoughts. Anyone else who owns/ runs a shop out there have any opinions??

-Drew

Jexik · #2 January 23rd, 2008, 05:45 PM

Adding it to the index.

~~Onacara~~ · #3 January 23rd, 2008, 06:32 PM

I happen to have 1 hobby shop in my area left but there is no guarantee it will stay open as the other 3 locations this store had are all closed.

I respectfully have to disagree with you on this being a non-issue.

Hobby shop prices are higher than big box stores and if I then have to pay shipping and handling on top of it which means I am now paying more for less than I would be paying if it was sold in Target, WalMart, TRU etc.

So now I will impose a question to you...will you be adhering to MSRP or will you jack it up knowing that you are the only place for some people to get it?

TOG · #4 January 23rd, 2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onacara

I happen to have 1 hobby shop in my area left but there is no guarantee it will stay open as the other 3 locations this store had are all closed.

I respectfully have to disagree with you on this being a non-issue.

Hobby shop prices are higher than big box stores and if I then have to pay shipping and handling on top of it which means I am now paying more for less than I would be paying if it was sold in Target, WalMart, TRU etc.

So now I will impose a question to you...will you be adhering to MSRP or will you jack it up knowing that you are the only place for some people to get it?

WotC already said the big box stores don't want large expansions. So if they were introduced, the only place you could get them would be hobby stores or online.

Pulp Fiction · #5 January 23rd, 2008, 07:52 PM

As a retail owner I can more than appreciate the fact that we have an uphill battle competing with not only each other, but also the big box stores and (more importantly) online retail sales. That being said, I will not - nor ever have been - be one of those stores that takes advantage of my customer base due to a lack of competition. So, as far as I am concerned, MSRP or cheaper even!

My statement of it being a non-issue goes more to the fact that if anyone is surfing this site to find out more info about all-things-Heroscape then they probably can access any reputable online retailer to make whatever purchases they want that might be exclusive to hobby shops... That's all.

From a personal perspective, I know we intend to look into online sales in the future and will probably be very competitve price and stockwise with everyone else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onacara

I happen to have 1 hobby shop in my area left but there is no guarantee it will stay open as the other 3 locations this store had are all closed.

I respectfully have to disagree with you on this being a non-issue.

Hobby shop prices are higher than big box stores and if I then have to pay shipping and handling on top of it which means I am now paying more for less than I would be paying if it was sold in Target, WalMart, TRU etc.

So now I will impose a question to you...will you be adhering to MSRP or will you jack it up knowing that you are the only place for some people to get it?

~~Onacara~~ · #6 January 23rd, 2008, 11:05 PM

I hope you didn't take it as a direct "attack" on you Pulp ..it wasn't meant to be...and I will assure you that if you do sell online and maintain that reasonable price and shipping I will order from you.

~~Onacara~~ · #7 January 23rd, 2008, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOG

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onacara

I happen to have 1 hobby shop in my area left but there is no guarantee it will stay open as the other 3 locations this store had are all closed.

I respectfully have to disagree with you on this being a non-issue.

Hobby shop prices are higher than big box stores and if I then have to pay shipping and handling on top of it which means I am now paying more for less than I would be paying if it was sold in Target, WalMart, TRU etc.

So now I will impose a question to you...will you be adhering to MSRP or will you jack it up knowing that you are the only place for some people to get it?

WotC already said the big box stores don't want large expansions. So if they were introduced, the only place you could get them would be hobby stores or online.

TOG...you do realize that the source of the information is the one who would be making the money on it right? I am not saying it isn't fact but we don't know. It's like when eBay sellers tell you something is RARE or HARD TO FIND when it really isn't.

DrRansom · #8 January 23rd, 2008, 11:21 PM

I would buy figures at your store if you had Nerak, the Dark KNight, Woo and EOV in a $15 expansion. Even with no glyphs or terrain!

ej · #9 January 23rd, 2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onacara

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOG

WotC already said the big box stores don't want large expansions. So if they were introduced, the only place you could get them would be hobby stores or online.

TOG...you do realize that the source of the information is the one who would be making the money on it right? I am not saying it isn't fact but we don't know. It's like when eBay sellers tell you something is RARE or HARD TO FIND when it really isn't.

You remember the info comes from WotC, right?

~~Onacara~~ · #10 January 23rd, 2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ej

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onacara

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOG

WotC already said the big box stores don't want large expansions. So if they were introduced, the only place you could get them would be hobby stores or online.

TOG...you do realize that the source of the information is the one who would be making the money on it right? I am not saying it isn't fact but we don't know. It's like when eBay sellers tell you something is RARE or HARD TO FIND when it really isn't.

You remember the info comes from WotC, right?

Was that directed at me? Cause I don't quite understand your point....

TOG · #11 January 23rd, 2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onacara

TOG...you do realize that the source of the information is the one who would be making the money on it right? I am not saying it isn't fact but we don't know. It's like when eBay sellers tell you something is RARE or HARD TO FIND when it really isn't.

It would also be consistent with what a lot of folks here are reporting in their Targets and WalMarts, Master Sets and Small Expansions only.

~~Onacara~~ · #12 January 23rd, 2008, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOG

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onacara

TOG...you do realize that the source of the information is the one who would be making the money on it right? I am not saying it isn't fact but we don't know. It's like when eBay sellers tell you something is RARE or HARD TO FIND when it really isn't.

It would also be consistent with what a lot of folks here are reporting in their Targets and WalMarts, Master Sets and Small Expansions only.

Walmart only has Marvel Master Set on their latest Plan-O-Gram...Target can't keep the large expansions in stock long enough...the only place I ever see them sitting on the shelf is TRU and that's mainly due to price point...and that's only large figure packs...Tundra and RTF are gone usually the day they are put out. ...And the fact that they come in nice square boxes make them easier to store and display.