TDG: Cody's Top Ten Game Store Pet Peeves (April 2024)

Join Cody as he considers his top ten pet peeves about game stores.
Cody Carlson, PhD: / @codycarlsonph.d.5591
Facebook: / thediscriminatinggamer
Twitter: / codyk76
Galaxy of Games: galaxyof.games/

[@silverfang6668]

I’m looking forward to part two: Game store’s top ten peeves about Dr Cody. :p

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

It's probably coming.

[@NClark-lp3bq]

I just found you channel yesterday and immediately loved it! Thank you for your great and amusing content! Will be checking out your other channel shortly!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you! Glad to have you aboard.

[@espenfr]

You have hours upon hours of good content to look forward to here then.

[@mickbeast8371]

Your list explains why I like my store for the most part…it is small and the play area is cramped…those in our area refer another larger store with a great play area with a snack bar…however that store has a well organized area for games for sale….however, limited selection…my store….disorganized, cramped, but it is like a treasure hunt…finding that game you never heard of because you were looking at something behind it makes it fun…customer engagement is top notch and the owner does a great job mentoring his employees on this

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Sounds like a great store. Thanks.

[@Diabolik771]

Lights. We have an store here that is dark and overstuffed. Many times I use my own flashlight to check out the games. He's got EVERY war game ever and tons of other stuff but it's so messy and dark.

[@Sophie1Lynne]

I think I know the store you're referencing...

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yeah. Not good. We need light.

[@chrisdonovan8795]

I'm picturing Cody's next super awkward visit to his local gaming store... Seriously though, you make some good points. I do have sympathy for brick and mortar stores in the age of Amazon though. I have even more sympathy for an employee who might be earning very little. Also, when there are a shortage of tables, I believe it's tradition to have hand to hand combat.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha! I certainly don’t blame the overworked employee. Thanks!

[@pedroribeiro7922]

#1 for me: If the place smells like weeks old gym clothes and curated cheese. I am out in five seconds.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed.

[@johncullen9436]

Well, I like the smell of a well aged cheese. So I'm not with you on that. But I would call what I've encountered "boy's locker room smell". I can live with it, but it's not pleasant and it's not what I've come to the store for. At least it's strongest by the D&D section, which I'm not interested in so I don't get too close to it. But really. Perhaps they could put up a sigh asking them to shower before hand. Or maybe just a whole lot of ventilation. I don't know.

[@danacoleman4007]

Well said!!!!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks.

[@maubunky1]

I've seen the opposite of "unfriendly" to an extreme. The second you walk in the door they shout across a very large room "Hey, how are you! Can I help you?". And then they proceed to not let you shop in peace and constantly barrage you with questions and comments to the point where you can't even read the descriptions on the game boxes due to the distraction. It's like their personal space has about a 5 mile diameter and once you're in it, it's like tending to a child needing constant attention. I personally witnessed one customer get angry and shout back "Hey, I said I didn't need anything, you already asked me "can i help you?" five times in the last 5 minutes, can you just leave me alone!"

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I could see where that would be a problem - but that hasn't been my experience.

[@12sduke]

my top 10 pet peeves of pet peeve lists…😜 Actually, I think you did a nice job. The only one I could add, might be outrageous prices when you try to support a brick and mortar shop and they have something priced above retail.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Good point.

[@justcallmefred]

Yes...my closest store...prices are much higher than online....including shipping !

[@12sduke]

@@justcallmefred yes I try to throw some love towards a store if I can but be reasonable. I've deliberately paid retail to help out but don't jack up the price as if we had no idea what the going rate for a game is...

[@bizzbumsheethead]

Had a successful game store in Austin that was purchased by a scotophile (actually wore kilt etc to work) who changed the store times on the website to GMT with a very tiny gmt as a subscript… when he was told that most people in Texas would consider it (CDT), he indicated that they should just add 5 hours 🫣. At least, the prices were not in £ 🤓. Store stayed open about 6 months. No new customers apparently…

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Too bad.

[@SeanUCF]

I'm fortunate that I live near a 10/10 game store right now. Large selection, well lit, cool A/C (to keep the nerd stink down), large gaming area with many tables, clean bathroom etc. The unfortunate thing is that I'll be moving away from it in the next few months and it would be a bit of a drive to go there... at least frequently.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Sorry to hear you're moving away, but maybe you'll find another good store near you.

[@Rich944inSK]

All of these are valid pet peeves, and reasons why I haven't purchased a game from a brick and mortar store in years. That, and the fact it's nearly impossible to find a full-line gaming store around here anymore. It's a question of buying online or not buying at all.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I hope you have a good one pop up in your area soon. There are many really good game stores out there.

[@westcoastavengers1]

I unfortunately know a players that curses constantly throughout the game. And another that curses and says wildly inappropriate things throughout the game.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yeah. They’re part of the hobby, too.

[@richardkingston794]

Another interesting video, I totally relate to all these points. Luckily my local game store in Cardiff now has a store, play area and cafe in a huge warehouse with car parking!!!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

That's great. Thanks!

[@raortiz73]

Great list. Size might be an issue for many sites nowadays. Other than for MTG, i have never gamed in a store. Unfortunately my area has no local game store. It's solo gaming and online/crowdfunding for me.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks. Hopefully you'll find some people to game with soon.

[@crispy9872]

I think all your points are valid. For me I wish there were more solitaire games at board game stores.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Good point.

[@RogCBrand]

I gave up going to game stores many years ago. I got so tired of the poor selection- many I found had switched over to just games like War Hammer or Magic the Gathering, or often the people just feel rude, almost like they are irritated by someone coming in to their store! It's a shame because game stores are a great way to bring a community together, but if you want to have a successful business, you need to put some effort into staying clean, well stocked and above all else, making your customers feel welcome.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yeah. If a store is going to survive it takes effort.

[@eatingweevils]

My peeve is cliquey gameshops where you feel its just run for the owners friends. I walked out of one shop due to a youngster shop assistant condescending smug manner. Thankfully now dont have to travel far for a gameshop a American lady has opened a bookshop/gameshop in my small Yorkshire town. I find her very friendly and helpful. She even ordered games in for me(i perfer to support local shops than internet shopping) Though having a good shop on my doorstep is far too tempting . Popped in a few times and come out with games ive not heard of before.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yeah, unexpected purchases is a real danger for people like us and game stores. Thanks.

[@eatingweevils]

My last impromptu buy was a quirky solo rpg "Be Like A Crow" where you play one of the corvid birds. No dice instead use normal playing cards. It not my normal type game so the jury is still out if I like it But do like my local game shop has obscure indie games

[@carstenwagner3355]

In Germany you will not have this problem, because here are no game stores left. Really, this kind of game store does no longer exist here....

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Check the comments. At least one of your countrymen disagrees.

[@Gibsonrick81]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Dr. Carlson! I just played Dune: War for Arrakis the other night solo to learn the game. I think you’d really enjoy it! Reminded me of Star Wars: Rebellion a lot. Hope you get a chance to play it sometime!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Looking forward to playing it. Thanks.

[@Sophie1Lynne]

One of my pet peeves is the store (and/or its staff) are filthy. When I worked for GW, I visited dozens of stores that were grimy, dusty, and smelled bad. One of my coworkers once found a half eaten sandwich on a shelf of TSR books. If you don't care enough about the store or your customers to even run a vacuum or (God forbid) shower once in a while, why should I patronize your store?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed. Great points.

[@chrisdonovan8795]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Then again, free sandwich....

[@GenghisVern]

Book stores occasionally sold games. Remember book stores?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Barnes & Noble?

[@GenghisVern]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer it was a little joke. didn't get much bigger here.

[@christopherwilson2606]

I went into my local book store about six months ago and was pleasantly surprised to find a huge stock of board games.

[@GenghisVern]

@@christopherwilson2606 You mus' be from the Big city then, ain't ya? 🙂Maybe that trope about book stores and video rentals is just a local thing fer us hicks up here :)

[@turks1966]

#1 pet peeve smelly like body odor

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

That's a concern as well, for sure.

[@jeffreyschuner4008]

Sounds like you need to visit the best and biggest game store in the country - Millennium Games in Rochester, NY

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I'd like to. Sounds like fun.

[@justcallmefred]

I meet up 2 days a week. They are playing Lorcana and others like that. Us board gamers are not very loud....but....shewy....the other groups make it so we can't hear each other.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Very often.

[@caseypd63]

Hey Cody, I've been a fan of yours for a long time but this struck a nerve, As a gamer, I do agree with a lot of what you've said. As a game store owner, however, I'd like to add my two cents. Bathrooms - Stop pissing on the floor. It's completely ridiculous how many men refuse to lift the toilet seat or even aim. If you want cleaner bathrooms, stop being such a slob because you're not the one that has to clean it. Staffing - Do you understand the economics of a game store? I work a full-time job in order to keep my store open. The vast majority of the time, I'm the only one there. If you have to wait a couple of minutes, isn't that a small price to pay in order to even have access to a game store in your area? Most of us are hanging on by the skin of our teeth. Rules enforcement - I'm pretty strict about language in my store. It's a family environment and I don't tolerate people who can't speak without cursing. But why do you expect me to be there every time someone curses? Do you think that's the only resposibility that I have during the time my store is open? Most of us do what we can, but again, it's not like I can afford to bring in staff just to monitor behavior. Welcoming - If you're a regular in my store but rarely buy anything, don't expect me to jump up and greet you everytime you show up. I'm providing you with a safe place to play and you'll likely be here for a few hours. The least you can do is to spend a couple of dollars to help keep the lights on. If you're just going to show up every week without spending a dollar, I don't need you. I'm not providing a free public service. Once again, try to at least understand the economics of owning a store. It's a two-way street. If you want a place to play and shop, you should be supporting the business. Lighting - I spent $40k on a new roof and air conditioner last year. To hear you say "make an investment in the store" is rage inducing. Do you have any idea how hard it is to come up with money for capital expeditures? I also need electrical work done, but it's had to take a back seat to keeping the building dry and at a comfortable temperature. The reason the store might have poor lighting isn't because they don't care, it's because the issue costs thousands to remedy and we're working on thin margins. Game selection - While I offer a pretty large selection of board games, not everyone can afford the investment. The vast majority of games are going to sit on the shelf for more than a year. Inventory churn in this business is awful. It's nearly impossible to guess which new products are going to sell. Last time I checked, my store had over $150k in inventory. How many small stores do you think can afford that type of investment? Very few. I'm sorry if my inventory might not cater to your tastes or if I don't have all of the new games that you'd like to see sitting on the shelf so that you can look at it and then purchase it on Amazon. My pet peeve is people complaining about a business that they seem to have little understanding of. Anyway, I'm still a fan and I respect your right of free speech. The whole thing just screams "sense of entitlement" to me.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I appreciate your two cents here, and I can also appreciate the specific challenges, economic and otherwise, that you have to deal with. Speaking as a customer/consumer, however, I would hope that you would appreciate my perspective as well. I am stating the issues I have with some game stores (certainly not all). Maybe I do have a sense of entitlement about these things, but customers usually do, don't you think? My intent was not to offend, but to inform (my opinion, at least). I appreciate you still being a fan, and I wish you and your business the very best of luck.

[@boogieondown5824]

Isn't a lot of this tied to the low profit margins for game stores? Old and low inventory, dirty, dark, or old stores, staff are entry level. I hate disorganized stores, either do it alphabetical or by genre but some are just a mess or packed too tight in a corner of a bookshop. But #1 if your store stinks im out, that goes for any business.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed.

[@CountDewkeww]

I go on vacation, come back and your younger brother takes over!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha!

[@douglaspearson4853]

I agree with all of yours. My game store is great only has one problem. No space to play games. Well very little. Everything else yoiu would have been happy with. Staff is great I hav become freinds with the own and his #2 And have a nice conversaation with their new hires when it wasn't busy. You #10 has happened in otherr stores. As far as retail I worked aa lot of retail before my Computer Job and then after so I cam relate to that.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks.

[@varovaro1967]

give names 😅

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Bah!

[@raygun6271]

Great idea for a video! Agreed with all of them, who wouldn't? Oh yeah, the people who own the stores & are coming up short on your list😃

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha! Thanks!

[@jtbergstrom1336]

Were you playing C&C Napoleonics when you dropped the F-Bomb? Because I think that's okay.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha! Could have been.

[@BreinGames]

Do you think stores dont put prices on games so they could adjust prices on a whim? I hate it too. I think it’s slimey.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I have no idea - but I hate it!

[@wartable]

Exactly….Dirty bathrooms🤢

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

No one wants to take a #2 on a toilet covered by somebody else's #2.

[@ricardovelez7686]

I disagree a little bit with the language. If there's kids then I 100% agree with you. But if it's just a a bunch of guys playing games then don't be the prude bro. I have to watch what I say how I say when I say things at work, in front of my kids, and most outside endeavors. I play cards / board games to relax and finally be myself. Now I agree it shouldn't sound like a modern warfare chat room but I want to be myself lol.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I don't mind it here and there, but if it is a constant stream it's just annoying - especially if you are very, very loud.

[@BreinGames]

I dont like when theres no trash cans readily available. Should be a couple throughout the store. And large ones. Not the smaller office sized ones. And air conditioning. Nothing worst than playing in a hot store that is cheating out on AC during the summer. They think it’s ok to just use fans and keep doors open.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Good points.

[@andrewmcdonagh9699]

One of mine is dirty gaming tables. I really don’t like it if the store encourages people to bring in their own games to play with others. Then you find a layer of dust or something else. Also the body odour situation. I can understand it if it’s been a long tournament and the local has the heating on. But early in the day and someone smells more then ripe. Nope not a chance. I went to a convention in a small hall and at 9:00 am there was a person walking around that had that fragrance of not showing for a while. All accounts they were asked to leave quickly. As a bit of a swearer if I am at a board game shop I keep it watershed. No swearing until after 9pm and keep it lite and in context of the situation. If loosing there is no need to swear or play poorly. Also if there are kids around swearing is completely off the table so to speak. Always go by the a time and a play for everything.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Good points. Thanks.

[@IvanGrimm1]

There a toxic person that plays at my flgs game night who is driving folks away. Just constantly cracking jokes at others expense. And he usually arrives with booze.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yeah. The manager needs to ask him to cool it or leave.

[@caseypd63]

This is completely unacceptible. Making others feel uncomfortable gets one warning from me. A second offense or bringing in alcohol gets an immediate ban. If the store owner is aware of this and isn't addressing it, they don't deserve your business.

[@MagicMan508]

If you have to ask for the price, then you can't afford it

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha!

[@ROOKTABULA]

Hardly. That thinking makes people ripe for being ripped off. 🙄

[@ricardovelez7686]

Relax bro it's a game store not a car dealership LOL. Every place I've been to like that they do it so they can look up the latest ongoing price and charge you the market value. Plain and simple.

[@fabiansteins6223]

Hm, quite ambivalent on this video. On the one hand you went the way (personally speaking) of the internet influencer, making a video full of complaints. But some points are absolutely valid, especially number one. As someone who cleaned the facilities at our flgs for a long time, I can absolutely relate. :) ... hehe, number one is about bathrooms ... I'll chuckle myself to sleep now ...

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks.

[@jeffthompson2264]

Swearing rules. Or the lack of accountability by the staff on the part of patrons. I don’t need my son and I exposed to unrestrained customer foul mouthing.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed.

[@Suprsim]

Cody demanding to be greeted immediately otherwise he refuses to buy something is some real boomer shit. Sorry bud, not everyone likes this, get over yourself.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Common courtesy is “Boomer Shit” now?

[@virgilalighieri7192]

A little bit, sorry. Most people my age feel similarly. The younger generations' common courtesy is "Leave me alone unless I request help." My pet peeve is when people talk to me unprompted. Now if you ask for help and they're rude, that's an issue. I HAVE seen that at game stores.

[@Sophie1Lynne]

Acknowledging the customer is the #1 way of preventing shoplifting. Also, it makes me feel welcome in the store. But I'm Gen X... what do I know?

[@jameskyle7943]

Now we know what the inattentive sales clerk was doing...making obnoxious comments on KZbin.

[@MisterAbysmul]

Want my business? Acknowledge that I'm a customer. No, don't follow me around trying to help, but let me know you are there if I have questions.

[@ishotmyboss]

What's a peeve?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

It’s the opposite of an Eveep.