Retro Stores: The death of retro gaming?

[Riqz85]

Welcome to european (UK excluded) reetro game prices.

[emwearz]

I hate when you have to ask for service for a price, in many cases if I have asked once, and it is over priced, I never ask again, shitty business plan, I understand in some situations wanting the sales persons to be able to hard sell it, however many people (myself included) hate shopping because of it.

[gtmtnbiker]

Maybe the guy is used to people haggling? So if the guy does some research and names his price, why not counter with a price you think is fair? Then walk out if it's not suitable to you.

[weaponepsilon]

I used to have a pretty cool retro place a long time ago but they closed. I ended up working for a small video game chain that I attempted to emulate the that old retro store in. Sadly everything is gone. I agree: "Retro" stores are crap. Horrible selections, horrible prices, horrible customer service. Its like dealing with Comic Book Guy. I was (perhaps still) planning to open up a real retro store for us collectors, without the collector's price.

[weasels]

I hate when you have to ask for service for a price, in many cases if I have asked once, and it is over priced, I never ask again, shitty business plan, I understand in some situations wanting the sales persons to be able to hard sell it, however many people (myself included) hate shopping because of it.

im there with you. that's what my local retro store is like. since when i go is like once a month and i look at every detail, i feel bad constantly asking for a price to different things. i know it's there job, but like you said it makes me hate shopping there because of it.

[Gamerforlife]

It sounds to me like the biggest problem is that these places are not run by people who love gaming or appreciate the gaming community. They're not your friends, they just want your money.

I have a local comic book shop I've been going to for the past four years. The guy there clearly loves comic books, he enjoys chatting with customers, and he goes out of his to keep regular customers like me happy. His wife who works there is just as cool as he is too. I wish more retro gaming stores were run by people like that. They are not the only comic shop in my area, but they always get my business. I even make an effort to always remember to bring cash after I once heard him talk about how they get raped with fees when people use debit or credit cards.

[Replica]

At an independent game store that will remain anonymous, I take pride in making small purchases (because the prices are too high) on my debt card. Feels good man.

[Gooseberrysoda]

The only Retro Store I've ever been to that doesn't jack up prices is Hocus Pocus in Traverse City. Places like Titan Games in Battle Creek/Kalamazoo ask for $20 for a NGPC game and will only pay you 50 cents per NES game you bring in.

[MaliceValentine]

Im tempted to take some photos of the retro prices here just to make you guys want to pay 20 bucks for mario.

[lisalover1]

The only Retro Store I've ever been to that doesn't jack up prices is Hocus Pocus in Traverse City. Places like Titan Games in Battle Creek/Kalamazoo ask for $20 for a NGPC game and will only pay you 50 cents per NES game you bring in.

Titan Games can be pretty bad, but the employees in the Kalamazoo store are really nice, and know a lot about gaming. The Battle Creek employees, on the other hand, are total dumb shits that can't tell a Sega Saturn from a rock. I've never actually seen them selling any NGPC games, except for one that they sell along with an NGPC system... for over $100. I was just there yesterday, and they were selling Atari 5200 games for $10 a piece! What a ripoff! I can get those same games at 2nd Chance for $1 each. I'll have to check out that Hocus Pocus shop if I'm ever up near the Traverse City area; it sounds like a nice place.