What do YOU want to see in the ideal game store?

Post by **BurningDoom** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:28 pm

Very simple: DO NOT FOLLOW GAMESTOP'S EXAMPLE!!! I don't know how many places I walk into that look uncannily like GameStop. And more to the point: Sell more than just PS2 and above generations. I want to see Atari 2600, NES, SNES, PS1, TG-16, and so on at game stores. That's what makes me light up and get excited like a 7-year old.

I would also LOVE to see a small movie & anime section for the niche stuff that many gamers seem to like. It's hard to find animes and movies like that that I'm looking for at Blockbuster, Best Buy, or Wal-Mart. They just have the blockbuster mainstream stuff. What if I'm looking for a copy of the animed-movie Casshan: Robot Hunter from the early 90s (which I really am)? Well, then I have to pay for some guy's copy on eBay that is usually A. Far too overpriced, or B. I'm told it's great condition and I when I pull it out of the envelope/box the front of the case falls off it. At a store, I can personally inspect it and make my own judgment.

And most importantly, IMO, is don't cater to one type of game fan, try to help everyone out. Some guys may be wanting pristine condition stuff, have it and price it accordingly. But also have the cheap, opened, no-case stuff for the budget gamer that may not want to pay $40-$60 a pop on a game, and price it accordingly not the same price **coughGAMESTOPcough**.

Post by **BoringSupreez** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:45 pm

jay_red wrote:haha I hear that! One of my biggest problems with the few local stores are the serious price gouging. Good prices would be a must!

Yes, link your prices to videogames.pricecharting.com. Charge a little extra, I suppose, but don't be ridiculous. Some more suggestions:

Carry new & used PC games. So many video game retailers won't touch 'em, it's an untapped market.

Have real sales once in a while. Places like Walmart almost never do stuff like that, it'd be a good draw for your store.

Don't charge extra for stuff just because it's Mario, Zelda, etc. Charge the real worth.

TEST YOUR USED SYSTEMS!

Carry imports for region-free consoles like DS, GBA, GBC/GB, PC, etc.

Offer mod services.

Carry games for a wide variety of systems, not just mainstream stuff.

Don't rely on trade-ins alone for your stock. Buy stuff online to beef up your selection.

If you hire any employees, make sure they are both retro gamers and knowledgeable on the subject!

Post by **RyaNtheSlayA** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:57 pm

BoringSupreez wrote:
jay_red wrote:haha I hear that! One of my biggest problems with the few local stores are the serious price gouging. Good prices would be a must!
Yes, link your prices to videogames.pricecharting.com. Charge a little extra, I suppose, but don't be ridiculous. Some more suggestions:

Carry new & used PC games. So many video game retailers won't touch 'em, it's an untapped market.

I agree with a lot of your points, but legally (at least in the USA) retailers can't sell used PC games. (Or maybe they just don't choose too, but I recall some legal issues with it as well)

Post by **dedalusdedalus** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:02 pm

RyaNtheSlayA wrote:legally (at least in the USA) retailers can't sell used PC games. (Or maybe they just don't choose too, but I recall some legal issues with it as well)

Really? Do you have a source for this? That seems like a pretty big exception to the first sale doctrine.

Post by **DinnerX** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:02 pm

RyaNtheSlayA wrote:
BoringSupreez wrote:
jay_red wrote:haha I hear that! One of my biggest problems with the few local stores are the serious price gouging. Good prices would be a must!
Yes, link your prices to videogames.pricecharting.com. Charge a little extra, I suppose, but don't be ridiculous. Some more suggestions:

Carry new & used PC games. So many video game retailers won't touch 'em, it's an untapped market.
I agree with a lot of your points, but legally (at least in the USA) retailers can't sell used PC games. (Or maybe they just don't choose too, but I recall some legal issues with it as well)

I'm pretty sure they can. Half price books does. It's just with DRM on a lot of titles it's hard to tell if a used copy is any good.

Post by **jay_red** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:03 pm

Im glad to get this in put from you guys, it shows me that you guys want a game store with the same qualities that I want to put into one! Almost everything suggested is something that we have discussed to some extent.

Post by **Breetai** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:14 pm

jay_red wrote:Im glad to get this in put from you guys, it shows me that you guys want a game store with the same qualities that I want to put into one! Almost everything suggested is something that we have discussed to some extent.

Have you been to Japan? Seriously, if you really do intend to open a game store, you would get some WONDERFUL ideas from browsing a few shops there (both modern electronic shops that sell games, and dedicated game shops dealing with retro games). Geo and Momotaro are two nice chain shops that have both modern and retro games. As I mentioned earlier, the dedicated retro game shops are amazing.

One cool aspect of some of these shops is a "junk bin." Basically, these are just common and untested games that sell for a cheap price. This is where your $5 or less games might go, or extra stock of games you have a lot of. Full it with $1-2 sports games, Mario/Duck Hunts, Sonic 2s, games with ripped labels/discoloured, etc. If they are cheap, they will get moved. Some shops through a gem or two in there sometimes, I think just to get people in there. They tend to buy more that way! If someone finds a game they are willing to pay a dollar or two on, the chances are higher that they will buy a FEW games like that.

Having a few displays set up would also be nice (as would those arcade cabs). This would entice people to come in and stay for a while, therefore raising the chances that they will buy something and become regulars.

Also, invest in some sort of security systems. Non-Japanese people like to steal things!

Post by **ATARI800XLfan** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:34 pm

This reminds me of a game store from where I am from, started this way back in 1985 and now has 3 stores in my town alone plus one in Indianapolis. It is called mcvans. There slogan is, a place where you can find something for any generation of gamer. They have everything from Atari and Neo Geo to PS3 and Xbox 360. Good luck with the store, seem to have a pretty good plan already.

http://www.mcvans.com/

Post by **o.pwuaioc** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:36 pm

Something that you might find helpful is if you had extra cash in order to buy bigger and cheaper lots. Essentially the same idea behind wholesale.

Post by **hashiriya1** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 1:52 am

Breetai wrote:
One cool aspect of some of these shops is a "junk bin." Basically, these are just common and untested games that sell for a cheap price. D

Hell yeah, I love the junk bins! I found so many gems in those things.

Here is a sample of Japanese store junk bins:

What do YOU want to see in the ideal game store?

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