Why do you shop at Gen Con
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Posted by jpederso

I enjoy the vendor hall as much for the independent stores and sellers as for the game companies.  Picked up some older Cthulhu and Judge Dredd minis in previous years.  You run across things you didn't know existed.  I guess you could take a picture of it and search the internet, but what's the fun in that.  That being said, every year I go to the Ral Partha booth hoping they have the old Chaos Warriors (the first minis that were painted for me back in 84) and have yet to find them.   And there's something about picking out a mug full of dice that comes to about $0.25 a piece.  

Posted by bonham

'Back in the day' I would spend a lot at Gen Con.  And by back in the day I mean back in Milwaukee before pretty much anything and everything could be found/purchased online.  Gen Con was where you saw stuff you would almost never find anywhere else.  Nowadays you can pretty much find anything there online.  Its good that you can find everything so easily now, but it kind of took a little of the magic of Gen Con away too.

So...

Since I fly in I won't buy anything I can get for the same price or less at home or online.  Even if it's an 'early' release.  I'm not interested in paying more just to have it before someone else and I have the patience to wait until the rush is over or the official release date has passed.  The Fantasy Flight booth for example: Why the hell would I stand in line just to get into a booth where I'm going to pay MSRP then have to lug it all home with me on the plane?  Nooo thanks.

I do tend to buy a new set of dice there each year out of tradition and maybe some other specialty dice that are hard to find.

If I'm looking for a board game that is out of print (and likely to remain so) I might pick it up if it's not too expensive.

I might buy Magic: TG singles if I'm looking for something specific and the price is right, but I don't play much anymore so that's unusual.

If I play a new RPG at the Con that I end up really liking I'll potentially pick up the main rule-book for it as reading material for down-time or the flight home.

I typically pack light on shirts and pick up a couple at the convention.

Limited Ed signed and numbered items I'll pick up.  I've got about a dozen prints between Elmore, Parkinson, Easley, Caldwell, etc.  Just FYI, I will bring a hard cardboard tube, 6" wide ideally, or find one in Indy to put them in to either bring or ship home.  Usually I don't worry about author signings as my time (standing in line) is worth more to me than their autograph.

Other than that I might pick up a few odds and ends but, again, if they are at all bulky and they have an online store I'll just pick up a business card and order it when I get home.  There's a chance I'll have to pay shipping, but I avoid the local taxes at the same time.

Posted by ad3037

I'm local and don't visit FLGS. Last year I found some ding & dent games at various Gencon vendors and negotiated discounts for them. Also got Caverna for $45 from Mayfair with the 50% coupon. Plus, this nice lady at a Chessex booth let me have some extra dice when I made a bulk purchase.

Posted by quarex jpederso

jpederso wrote:I enjoy the vendor hall as much for the independent stores and sellers as for the game companies.  Picked up some older Cthulhu and Judge Dredd minis in previous years.  You run across things you didn't know existed.  I guess you could take a picture of it and search the internet, but what's the fun in that. 
I am 100% with you; Bonham is obviously completely correct that it technically makes no sense to buy things potentially at full retail price at Gen-Con and carry them home with you, but darn it, I love doing it anyway.  Particularly because the primary way I keep my nerdy spending in check is by deliberately ignoring the limitless perpetual potential to search for physical goods I might want online, and instead wait for that glorious 4-day period where I allow myself to act like I am a stupid kid in a candy store with fists full of cash.

Posted by dautzen64

I always look for out-of-print items for myself and/or customers. I love the Chessex bulk dice bins because I can load up my loose dice bins at the shop.

Occasionally I buy new items, but only because I am eager to play it RIGHT AWAY!

Posted by bonham quarex

quarex wroteI am 100% with you; Bonham is obviously completely correct that it technically makes no sense to buy things potentially at full retail price at Gen-Con and carry them home with you, but darn it, I love doing it anyway.  Particularly because the primary way I keep my nerdy spending in check is by deliberately ignoring the limitless perpetual potential to search for physical goods I might want online, and instead wait for that glorious 4-day period where I allow myself to act like I am a stupid kid in a candy store with fists full of cash.

And you just can't argue with that logic. Heh.

Posted by melkor

I used to drop waaaay too much $ in the Dealers room. I still may do an impulse buy(or 5), but not like I used to. I pick up a bag full of web addresses,  brochures, business cards, catalogs, etc...from the dealers every year now, and then make a day a few weeks after the con to look through them all at my leisure. Maybe grab a few things online then.

Except dice, must have more dice to keep all the other dice company.

Posted by divachelle bonham

bonham wrote:
quarex wroteI am 100% with you; Bonham is obviously completely correct that it technically makes no sense to buy things potentially at full retail price at Gen-Con and carry them home with you, but darn it, I love doing it anyway.  Particularly because the primary way I keep my nerdy spending in check is by deliberately ignoring the limitless perpetual potential to search for physical goods I might want online, and instead wait for that glorious 4-day period where I allow myself to act like I am a stupid kid in a candy store with fists full of cash.

And you just can't argue with that logic. Heh.

Bravo!!!

Posted by eternusiv

To support my favorite companies.  Ain't nobody gettin' rich up in he-are!

plus

The auction is so darned awesome, even for a little while.

Posted by dragonheart qwaserity

qwaserity wrote:
helenbb wrote:
We generally don't shop at GenCon. It's so expensive to fly out to Indianapolis (more expensive fors us than flying across the entire country) and the hotel is not cheap either. We spend our money on airfare and hotel. Besides, since we fly, we don't have much room in our suitcases to bring things home. What we will do is look at a few things and them maybe buy online later on. We do get a number of free things (swag, tournament prizes, etc.) and I always leave a little room in our suitcases for that stuff. But rarely do we buy at GenCon. 
 I believe they have an UPS booth at Gen Con. One year at the GAMA trade show in Las Vegas I just boxed up all of the swag and mailed it to myself (for $35). It's cheaper than a check on bag and I didn't have to carry it around the airport with me.
I second the UPS booth idea.  It was MUCH cheaper to ship stuff home than to fly with it.  
 

Posted by dragonheart melkor

melkor wrote:
I used to drop waaaay too much $ in the Dealers room. I still may do an impulse buy(or 5), but not like I used to. I pick up a bag full of web addresses,  brochures, business cards, catalogs, etc...from the dealers every year now, and then make a day a few weeks after the con to look through them all at my leisure. Maybe grab a few things online then.
Except dice, must have more dice to keep all the other dice company.
Can you really ever have 'enough' dice????

Posted by nsolo timjs21

timjs21 wrote:
I've stopped purchasing from the exhibitors at the dealers hall the past few years since they've decided that - in almost all cases - they want to charge retail pricing.  Going back about 4-5 years ago, I could always find either discounted games or  end-of-day / end-of-con specials that made it worth while to purchase at the  exhibitor hall.  Sadly those days seem to be gone.
I can still see value in purchasing at the exhibitors hall for items that are limited release, or game add-ons that are difficult to find elsewhere.  For most games though, I can save money by purchasing through Amazon or a local store back home.
One exception is that many vendors will have a "show special."

Posted by quarex nsolo

nsolo wrote:
timjs21 wrote:
I've stopped purchasing from the exhibitors at the dealers hall the past few years since they've decided that - in almost all cases - they want to charge retail pricing.  Going back about 4-5 years ago, I could always find either discounted games or  end-of-day / end-of-con specials that made it worth while to purchase at the  exhibitor hall.  Sadly those days seem to be gone.
I can still see value in purchasing at the exhibitors hall for items that are limited release, or game add-ons that are difficult to find elsewhere.  For most games though, I can save money by purchasing through Amazon or a local store back home.
One exception is that many vendors will have a "show special."
Yeah, I just picked up a copy of the Dr. Seuss-style Call of Cthulhu children's book at Origins for less than you can find it online.  And that is a fairly new item that sells fine even at full price, so it was kind of weird that it was on sale...HMMMmmm

Posted by castigere

I spend money in the Dealer Hall (and GenCon in general) for one reason... GenCon!  In this day, when consumerism has never been easier or more convenient (Amazon, ebay, brick-n-mortar superstores), *where* you buy is sometimes as important as *what* you buy.  

We're voting with our dollars.  I never buy gaming stuff online, because I want my FLGS to stay in business.  I drive out of my way to get there, and I cheerfully spend the extra 10-20% on the item I could have just ordered online because I love going there.   I love seeing younger people putting their cell phones down and gaming with other live humans.   

Similarly, I adore GenCon.  It's bolded and underlined on every calendar.  I *want* to spend my money there because I want them to continue to view it as a worthwhile $$ enterprise.  It's not about profiteering from the poor gamers of the world (I won't go if it becomes that), but all the vendors and organizations who create games, content, and fun, spend a lot of time/effort/ and money to do so, not to mention the GenCon people themselves, and we need to support that.  If my favorite vendor doesn't make enough money at GenCon to make it worth the effort, they won't be back, and wouldn't that be sad?

Everyone has to find the budget at GenCon that they're comfortable with.  I generally spend around 300-500 bucks on stuff.  

Plus... I think we can all agree, you ALWAYS need to get at least one set of new dice at every GenCon, don't you???   

Can't wait to see everyone at the con!

-Brian

Posted by tonythetoyman

I mostly bought exclusives, or games that come with or give me access to promos/exclusives.  Spent some good money at CMON to add on some of the original Arcadia Quest exclusives, like The Nameless Campaign (it was a KS exclusive and sells for quite a bit now).  Also bought the new Dead of Winter as it came with a free promo figure.  I don't think I bought anything I could get at home unless there was some incentive for doing so. 

Posted by linuxfox00 nascragman

Gencon has some real deals on sunday when sellers are trying to dump there inventory I got a copy of boats and roads in 2015 for $80 on sunday. My friends play Magic the Gathering and some dealers have heavily played I believe "starcitygames" they are hard to sell online but don't look as bad as you would think in person. Auction house can do it for me as well. Also your coupon book does offer some good discounts. Gencon is a good place for resellers or publishers to demo and dump stock that isn't moving usually at some sort of discount.(as gaming is growing much faster than a few years ago the market is quite overwhelmed with new games that get missed)

Posted by urielblue

I do shop at the FLGS, as it's 3 blocks from my apartment. I used to be the general manager, and they graciously still give me my 30% discount. Also, the current general manager there is attending Gencon with me.
I usually set aside $1000 or so for the dealer's room, and sometimes spend it, sometimes not.
I buy things that I can't get easily at the FLGS;

Single Q-Workshop dice - I own a LOT of these, but I lose them, gift them to folks, and generally just love picking up more while at Gencon.

T-Shirts/gifts for folks back home: Things that we can't get easily at the FLGS, like Arkham House shirts, the leather-bound notebooks, and other similar things.

Games that have yet to come out at the FLGS. Something might be out in 6 months, but if it looks fun, I'll pick it up, especially if it looks like a fun pick-up game for my friends and I whilst at gencon.

Anything that I can buy directly from a small game company, I will happily do so at the Con. For instance, a couple years back, I picked up the entire Shadows of Esteren line, as they were still running the Kickstarter late pledge deal. That also brings up: Kickstarters that I missed out on.

I also search high and low for a super-duper-awesome, not-available-at-the FLGS type present for the friend who stays with/takes care of my two cats. 
 

Posted by urielblue castigere

bwd72 wrote:
I spend money in the Dealer Hall (and GenCon in general) for one reason... GenCon!  In this day, when consumerism has never been easier or more convenient (Amazon, ebay, brick-n-mortar superstores), *where* you buy is sometimes as important as *what* you buy.  
We're voting with our dollars.  I never buy gaming stuff online, because I want my FLGS to stay in business.  I drive out of my way to get there, and I cheerfully spend the extra 10-20% on the item I could have just ordered online because I love going there.   I love seeing younger people putting their cell phones down and gaming with other live humans.   
Similarly, I adore GenCon.  It's bolded and underlined on every calendar.  I *want* to spend my money there because I want them to continue to view it as a worthwhile $$ enterprise.  It's not about profiteering from the poor gamers of the world (I won't go if it becomes that), but all the vendors and organizations who create games, content, and fun, spend a lot of time/effort/ and money to do so, not to mention the GenCon people themselves, and we need to support that.  If my favorite vendor doesn't make enough money at GenCon to make it worth the effort, they won't be back, and wouldn't that be sad?
Everyone has to find the budget at GenCon that they're comfortable with.  I generally spend around 300-500 bucks on stuff.  
Plus... I think we can all agree, you ALWAYS need to get at least one set of new dice at every GenCon, don't you???   
Can't wait to see everyone at the con!
-Brian
Man, why isn't there a 'Like' button??? GENCON!!!!!!!!!

Posted by armadilloal linuxfox00

linuxfox00 wrote:
My friends play Magic the Gathering and some dealers have heavily played I believe "starcitygames" they are hard to sell online but don't look as bad as you would think in person.

FYI:  Star City Games will not be at Gen Con this year.  Other Magic dealers obviously will, but I don't think any of them had as extensive of a "Heavily Played" section as SCG.

Posted by stryder_crb

I'm planning on buying some stuff there because I have a budget that my wife is comfortable with, and it's my first gaming conference.

There's a handful of game shops (not a fan of the term FLGS) locally to me, and I'm probably an outlier on this but usually they're a bit more expensive than I can get on Amazon or other online retailers -- so usually I don't even bother going to them, unless I want something right now. 

EDIT: I realized that makes me sound like a jerk. There is one store in particular that I went to not too long ago that was actually really great. The games were a more pricey than MSRP, but I think he offered a discount if you got on a mailing list...I didn't get any games, but I got some comics. 

 

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