FLGS Not-So-Friendly (semi-rant)

[JohnathanChance]

Why is it that the only game store within 3 hours driving distance has to such bad customer service! I special ordered USPD over TWO weeks ago and it is still not in! When I ask what the problem is the clerk just says that the distrubuter hasn't sent it to us yet. I mean what the heck, I paid up-front for this book, and this guy has the nerve to feed me this line of $@!# I really wish I had a better local game store than that, but it seems I am doomed in that regards. OK, now that I have gotten that out of my system :o Does anyone here know af any good online merchants I can start using?

Chance

[Hitchhiker]

Since I live in Europe, I have the same problem. Until my ordered books arrive, up to four weeks can pass.

Why don't you take a look here:
http://www.herogames.com/Products/heroretailers.htm

That's where I found my online merchant.

[tesuji]

frpgames.com has always done good by me.

[Talon]

It's entirely possible that the guy is correct.

Alliance, which is apparently the big fish that muscles out all other distributors, seems to have a policy where they send out products (Hero products at least) in batches. I waited about 6 weeks to get Star Hero, but the next product (TUV, I think) came out at literally the same time. Small game stores basically have to use Alliance, so they are stuck in this cycle.

Still, that's no excuse IMO -- I don't feel that my money should go to support such a messed up distributor, so I've started using frpgames myself, which has very good delivery times.

[JohnathanChance]

Last time I special ordered something from them I got it a week later, and that was under identical circumstances, I think they just forgot to order it and are now trying to hide that fact, needless to say if I don't have the book by this weekend I plan on asking for my money back.
Also, this never seems to happen with any of their other special orders, if I have to drive all the way to San Antonio to get my Hero books i guess that is what I will do.

[zornwil]

Yeah, to me one of the biggest myths is how the big company stores push out these "lovely friendly local stores".

Now don't get me wrong - I've seen it happen. But I've also seen it happen where the big company stores pushed out some horrible little over-priced and obnoxious merchants who long-deserved it, who took advantage of living in a one-horse town.

[Agent X]

Originally posted by JohnathanChance
Last time I special ordered something from them I got it a week later, and that was under identical circumstances, I think they just forgot to order it and are now trying to hide that fact, needless to say if I don't have the book by this weekend I plan on asking for my money back.
Also, this never seems to happen with any of their other special orders, if I have to drive all the way to San Antonio to get my Hero books i guess that is what I will do. I've got a buddy with a store in Del City, Oklahoma he deals with Air Force guys and ships their stuff overseas to them so I'm sure he could handle an order to Texas. His store phone number is (405) 677-2559. It might not hurt to talk to him about mailing you your game orders.

[JohnathanChance]

The other problem I have with our local game store is his lack of tact when it comes to dealing with his customers, but that is another rant entirely:D
By the way thanks for all the suggestions, but I will probably go through a store in San Antonio, I actually first found this one through the Retailers section here. It's also where i picked up most of my Hero books, seeing as how our local store doesn't really stock much in the way of Hero products, I think I have only seen three Hero products at his store, ever:(

[ChaosDrgn]

Personally I use GamersAttic.com. Also in Dallas/Ft. Worth Lone Star Books & Comics and Game Chest is pretty good (NOW they are at any rate). After just moving down to Waco, Game Closet seems to stock the Hero books pretty well; and if I recall Dragon's Lair in Austin always seemed to carry the Hero books (at least 4th, haven't been there lately).

[Harvester]

I have waited my Star Hero 6 months now. Everytime I ask have they got my order, they tell me that "yeah, yeah, we have received it and book is coming". I got bored this and ordered it elsewhere. Usually it takes about 2-4 weeks and I have been quite pleased for their costumer service.

Books also cost much more than example in USA. If you pay 30 dollars, I have to pay over 40. Fortunately, it is possible order some books from Amazon and U.K.

[JohnOSpencer]

Originally posted by Geoff Speare
It's entirely possible that the guy is correct.

Alliance, which is apparently the big fish that muscles out all other distributors, seems to have a policy where they send out products (Hero products at least) in batches. I waited about 6 weeks to get Star Hero, but the next product (TUV, I think) came out at literally the same time. Small game stores basically have to use Alliance, so they are stuck in this cycle.

Still, that's no excuse IMO -- I don't feel that my money should go to support such a messed up distributor, so I've started using frpgames myself, which has very good delivery times.

Actually Alliance(and most ditributors) send stuff out as soon as the store orders it. Unfortunatly if the store isn't ordering "Hot Product"(ie: D&D, Magic or the like) they may be out of it and their buyers are horrible at keeping other games stocked. They get a few copies when the game comes out and then wait for those to run out before they think about ordering more. For a big company, they run like a nickle and dime joint.

Just my 2 cents(as I used to work there)

John Spencer