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/
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@silverfang66685 ай бұрын
I’m looking forward to part two: Game store’s top ten peeves about Dr Cody. :p
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
It's probably coming.
@NClark-lp3bq5 ай бұрын
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!
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Thank you! Glad to have you aboard.
@espenfr5 ай бұрын
You have hours upon hours of good content to look forward to here then.
@mickbeast83715 ай бұрын
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
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Sounds like a great store. Thanks.
@Diabolik7715 ай бұрын
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.
@Sophie1Lynne5 ай бұрын
I think I know the store you're referencing...
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Yeah. Not good. We need light.
@chrisdonovan87955 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Ha! I certainly don’t blame the overworked employee. Thanks!
@pedroribeiro79225 ай бұрын
#1 for me: If the place smells like weeks old gym clothes and curated cheese. I am out in five seconds.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Indeed.
@johncullen94365 ай бұрын
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.
@danacoleman40075 ай бұрын
Well said!!!!
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Thanks.
@maubunky15 ай бұрын
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!"
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
I could see where that would be a problem - but that hasn't been my experience.
@12sduke5 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Good point.
@justcallmefred5 ай бұрын
Yes...my closest store...prices are much higher than online....including shipping !
@12sduke5 ай бұрын
@@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...
@bizzbumsheethead4 ай бұрын
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…
@TheDiscriminatingGamer4 ай бұрын
Too bad.
@SeanUCF4 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer4 ай бұрын
Sorry to hear you're moving away, but maybe you'll find another good store near you.
@Rich944inSK5 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
I hope you have a good one pop up in your area soon. There are many really good game stores out there.
@westcoastavengers15 ай бұрын
I unfortunately know a players that curses constantly throughout the game. And another that curses and says wildly inappropriate things throughout the game.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Yeah. They’re part of the hobby, too.
@richardkingston7945 ай бұрын
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!!!
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
That's great. Thanks!
@raortiz735 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Thanks. Hopefully you'll find some people to game with soon.
@crispy98725 ай бұрын
I think all your points are valid. For me I wish there were more solitaire games at board game stores.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Good point.
@RogCBrand5 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Yeah. If a store is going to survive it takes effort.
@eatingweevils5 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Yeah, unexpected purchases is a real danger for people like us and game stores. Thanks.
@eatingweevils5 ай бұрын
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
@carstenwagner33554 ай бұрын
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....
@TheDiscriminatingGamer4 ай бұрын
Check the comments. At least one of your countrymen disagrees.
@Gibsonrick815 ай бұрын
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!
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Looking forward to playing it. Thanks.
@Sophie1Lynne5 ай бұрын
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?
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Indeed. Great points.
@chrisdonovan87955 ай бұрын
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Then again, free sandwich....
@GenghisVern5 ай бұрын
Book stores occasionally sold games. Remember book stores?
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Barnes & Noble?
@GenghisVern5 ай бұрын
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer it was a little joke. didn't get much bigger here.
@christopherwilson26065 ай бұрын
I went into my local book store about six months ago and was pleasantly surprised to find a huge stock of board games.
@GenghisVern5 ай бұрын
@@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 :)
@turks19665 ай бұрын
#1 pet peeve smelly like body odor
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
That's a concern as well, for sure.
@jeffreyschuner40085 ай бұрын
Sounds like you need to visit the best and biggest game store in the country - Millennium Games in Rochester, NY
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
I'd like to. Sounds like fun.
@justcallmefred5 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Very often.
@caseypd635 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
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.
@boogieondown58245 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Indeed.
@CountDewkeww5 ай бұрын
I go on vacation, come back and your younger brother takes over!
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Ha!
@douglaspearson48535 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Thanks.
@varovaro19675 ай бұрын
give names 😅
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Bah!
@raygun62715 ай бұрын
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😃
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Ha! Thanks!
@jtbergstrom13364 ай бұрын
Were you playing C&C Napoleonics when you dropped the F-Bomb? Because I think that's okay.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer4 ай бұрын
Ha! Could have been.
@BreinGames5 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
I have no idea - but I hate it!
@wartable5 ай бұрын
Exactly….Dirty bathrooms🤢
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
No one wants to take a #2 on a toilet covered by somebody else's #2.
@ricardovelez76864 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer4 ай бұрын
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.
@BreinGames5 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Good points.
@andrewmcdonagh96995 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Good points. Thanks.
@IvanGrimm15 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Yeah. The manager needs to ask him to cool it or leave.
@caseypd635 ай бұрын
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.
@MagicMan5085 ай бұрын
If you have to ask for the price, then you can't afford it
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Ha!
@ROOKTABULA4 ай бұрын
Hardly. That thinking makes people ripe for being ripped off. 🙄
@ricardovelez76864 ай бұрын
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.
@fabiansteins62235 ай бұрын
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 ...
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Thanks.
@jeffthompson22645 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Indeed.
@Suprsim5 ай бұрын
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.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer5 ай бұрын
Common courtesy is “Boomer Shit” now?
@virgilalighieri71925 ай бұрын
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.
@Sophie1Lynne5 ай бұрын
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?
@jameskyle79435 ай бұрын
Now we know what the inattentive sales clerk was doing...making obnoxious comments on KZbin.
@MisterAbysmul5 ай бұрын
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.