When hunting/shopping for games, do you carry a list?

[CRTGAMER]

I'm backwards. I punch a list in my phone memo pad from the store and go home and take the time to research them. If I know ahead of time of a particular title or if the title is inexpensive and looks obscure, I might take a chance buy it up front.

[SNKnicotine]

To SpoonyBard

People price checking in store has always bothered me. I feel like when you're asking a local store to compete directly with the internet, you're telling them that you don't value the convenience or service they offer

When you're in a store with amazon price lists and constantly asking to match online prices, how many of those extra deals do you think they're going to throw over to you?

I don't believe I ever said, "I ask them to match Amazon prices" In my post. I only stated that I like to have an idea of what the games are going for, plus even "IF" I did present an amazon price sheet, what's wrong with that? I thought haggling was the art of trying to get the best possible price you can on an item, if the owner/cashier is willing to wiggle on the price, why not take advantage of tools at hand.

Others Price checking bothers you? Why? because the person wants to better educate themselves before a purchase?

[SpoonyBard]

I don't believe I ever said, "I ask them to match Amazon prices" In my post. I only stated that I like to have an idea of what the games are going for, plus even "IF" I did present an amazon price sheet, what's wrong with that? I thought haggling was the art of trying to get the best possible price you can on an item, if the owner/cashier is willing to wiggle on the price, why not take advantage of tools at hand.

I got a bit carried away in my post, I didn't mean to infer that you did that. However, it's become a very common thing. I get people that come in to my store all day and show me Amazon print-outs and ask me to match their prices. My shop is priced higher than most internet shops as most game stores i've run into are priced higher than most internet shops.

Seriously, about half of my customers do this. I see it happen all the time at game stores too.

But if you've got a problem with a game, isn't it nice to be able to return it that day and get a refund/repair/replacement? Isn't it nice to be able to test out a game before you buy it? To not wonder what kind of shape the manual and everything is in? I think these services are more than worth a few extra dollars here and there. That's why I find it disrespectful to show online prices and ask to match.

Nothing wrong with a bit of haggling, but I feel that "someone offering an inferior service to back up this product, but their price is lower!" is really poor leverage for that.

Others Price checking bothers you? Why? because the person wants to better educate themselves before a purchase?

Nothing wrong with price checking. It's just irritating to sit at the counter and watch someone pick up item after item, look at their phone and set each one down. I'll try to find it, but I recall reading a study done on it a few months ago where they came up with a figure of over 50% of customers showrooming would buy the product online for a less than $5 price difference.

I'm not going to pretend to know what everything is worth. I don't. I go into a lot of stores and find a lot of stuff blind. But if it's something you want and you find it at a price you're willing to pay for it - that's what it's worth. If it seems high to you, don't buy it unless you have to.

[SNKnicotine]

I don't believe I ever said, "I ask them to match Amazon prices" In my post. I only stated that I like to have an idea of what the games are going for, plus even "IF" I did present an amazon price sheet, what's wrong with that? I thought haggling was the art of trying to get the best possible price you can on an item, if the owner/cashier is willing to wiggle on the price, why not take advantage of tools at hand.

I got a bit carried away in my post, I didn't mean to infer that you did that. However, it's become a very common thing. I get people that come in to my store all day and show me Amazon print-outs and ask me to match their prices. My shop is priced higher than most internet shops as most game stores i've run into are priced higher than most internet shops.

Seriously, about half of my customers do this. I see it happen all the time at game stores too.

But if you've got a problem with a game, isn't it nice to be able to return it that day and get a refund/repair/replacement? Isn't it nice to be able to test out a game before you buy it? To not wonder what kind of shape the manual and everything is in? I think these services are more than worth a few extra dollars here and there. That's why I find it disrespectful to show online prices and ask to match.

Nothing wrong with a bit of haggling, but I feel that "someone offering an inferior service to back up this product, but their price is lower!" is really poor leverage for that.

Others Price checking bothers you? Why? because the person wants to better educate themselves before a purchase?

Nothing wrong with price checking. It's just irritating to sit at the counter and watch someone pick up item after item, look at their phone and set each one down. I'll try to find it, but I recall reading a study done on it a few months ago where they came up with a figure of over 50% of customers showrooming would buy the product online for a less than $5 price difference.

I'm not going to pretend to know what everything is worth. I don't. I go into a lot of stores and find a lot of stuff blind. But if it's something you want and you find it at a price you're willing to pay for it - that's what it's worth. If it seems high to you, don't buy it unless you have to.

I see where your coming from, personally I rather pay a few bucks more to see and grade the item myself,

[soul_hacker]

People price checking in store has always bothered me. I feel like when you're asking a local store to compete directly with the internet, you're telling them that you don't value the convenience or service they offer. Nothing wrong with a bit of haggling, but handing them print-outs or showing them websites I find to be insulting. That may just be me though.

I kind of agree, although I use it just to see what prices are on amazon just to see if it's worth picking up the game at the store if I don't know the general price off of the top of my head. Game stores around me have very... odd pricing. Aladdin on SNES? Fifteen dollars. Super Turrican? Three. I never haggle with them. I just look at the prices on amazon or Trade 'n Games and decide if I feel like spending the amount that the store is asking at the time.

[Nintendork666]

No.

[jinx]

Before heading out, I usually keep a mental list of what I'm looking for and recently seen prices. I don't feel it's necessary to do a shopping list at the moment, and have been just buying things I've always wanted in my original collection.

I have been thinking about setting up something like GCstar to manage my collection as it gets larger. As a kid, I'd always facepalm when I got home and realized I bought the same game twice. I didn't sell stuff on eBay, and I knew Game Trader was going to shaft me if I tried to sell it to them.

[FerretGamer]

A printout from Notepad.

I need to get into one of the collector sites that have an app companion. I am ashamed to say that I have bought games that I already had in my collection.

I usually do a price check in store on an item that I am not familiar with. I only do it to see if its a reasonable price and I never haggle with stores on prices. I will pay extra for the ability to see an item in person and also take it home with me at that same moment. I also recognize that stores have overhead and bills to pay. In my own experience, however, I will say that stores end up being cheaper.

I know SNKnicotine can vouch for some of our local stores like the Record Exchange which actually have a reward system for buying items. They give out punch cards and for every $20 you spend you get a punch on the card. After 10 punches, they give you $20 store credit. I love supporting local businesses and I'm sorry SpoonyBard that you've had so many customers try to haggle with you.

[AppleQueso]

I have been thinking about setting up something like GCstar to manage my collection as it gets larger. As a kid, I'd always facepalm when I got home and realized I bought the same game twice. I didn't sell stuff on eBay, and I knew Game Trader was going to shaft me if I tried to sell it to them.

RFGeneration! It's a great place for managing a collection!

[SNKnicotine]

A printout from Notepad.

I need to get into one of the collector sites that have an app companion. I am ashamed to say that I have bought games that I already had in my collection.

I usually do a price check in store on an item that I am not familiar with. I only do it to see if its a reasonable price and I never haggle with stores on prices. I will pay extra for the ability to see an item in person and also take it home with me at that same moment. I also recognize that stores have overhead and bills to pay. In my own experience, however, I will say that stores end up being cheaper.

I know SNKnicotine can vouch for some of our local stores like the Record Exchange which actually have a reward system for buying items. They give out punch cards and for every $20 you spend you get a punch on the card. After 10 punches, they give you $20 store credit. I love supporting local businesses and I'm sorry SpoonyBard that you've had so many customers try to haggle with you.

It's an awesome system, I love finding a rare title and using my punch card to soften the blow to the wallet