INTERIOR - CAR. DAY. ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.

So I'm driving home and I pass by a small trading-card store. I believe it's "The Card Exchange" or something of that nature. Anyhow, I hadn't actually been there in years, but while I was driving past I figured I might as well stop in and pick up a couple packs. Support the game, right?

So I pull over and go inside. They have tons of various obscure CCGs and the like ... I was half tempted to pick some starters of some obscure CCGs while I was there, just for fun. Anyways, there's a guy already in there that I'd, at least to the best of my knowledge, never seen before, and he's looking to pick up 4 packs of Legion of Superheroes. So the retaily-behind-the-counter-selly guy, whatever his actual title is, goes over to a large shelf with a bunch of VS stuff.

Anywho, the customer sees me and gives me the standard "How ya' doin'?" or something polite and meaningless like that. I respond with something to the like of "Pretty good, just came in ... you know, to buy some VS cards.". The guy gives me a somewhat dis-interested nod.

As I'm standing there, it hits me. I should press this guy with some questions. See where he plays. What if he doesn't have a Hobby League? I should check and if he doesn't, try to recruit him. At the very least, maybe see if I could set him up with one of the guys that stop in at our Hobby League but can't make most of them because of scheduling. You know, "set him up with them" in a non-gay way. Or even a gay way. I don't care, just so long as they play VS. Support the game, right?

Anyhow (which is alot like "anywho", except I moved a couple of the letters around so not to be repetitious), I try to engage him in some small talk. I say "... yeah, I could probably use a couple more Mobilizes", keying in on the fact he was purchasing DLS. "I think we all could", he said.

It's at about this point that Senor' "I-have-a-nametag" (which I admittedly didn't bother to read) comes back and says that he only has two boxes of Legion left, so he'll have to make a call to see if it's ok to sell him any.

So then the customer says, in a somewhat serious tone "What, so you don't want my money?"

That's when it became ackward.

Needless to say, which is a lie because I still need to say it, the retail guy got a little startled and just opened the box anyways without making the call. He kept attempting to console the customer by explaining why he just thought he should call because they only had a couple boxes left and some people like to buy it by the box and after they've been opened he can't sell them that way. He said things such as "You know I wouldn't do anything to chase away your business, right?". He even made that calming gesture with one of his hands that you might make if you had to approach a wild animal with big pointy teeth.

The customer just kind let it roll off him, saying "yeah, yeah I know"; which, by the tone of it, came off as "Ts'ok, I was just joshin' ya'".

So he paid and left, but the entire thing was still too ackward for me too follow it up with anything and he just walked out of the store.

Now there's a good chance that he may already have had a Hobby League - heck, maybe he's even been to a PC. Heck, maybe he's one of you guys. The point still being though, what if he wasn't?

So here's my question. What do you think is the best way to get in touch with fringe VS players, to include them as part of the greater community as a whole. To up player counts for Hobby Leagues not by just attempting to recruit people into the game, but to get in touch with people who already play the game, but so casually as to not really participate in any tournaments, or Hobby Leagues, or even read these forums. I was one of these people for the longest time, and I only found the forums and my Hobby League after being proactive about the attempt, and even that wasn't until the Heralds of Galactus Sneak Peak.

I think based on the fact that he said we could all use more Mobilizes he has a play group and keeps up with the game. But I understand that your thread is not specific to this case. I think the best way would be just to ask where they play at if anywhere and continue the conversation from there.

That was me. I thought you were hitting on me.

Seriously though, most hobby shops have bulletin boards, or places to post flyers. Put something up there about a Hobby League(of course, asking the store permission first, since you're pretty much advertising another store).

What a freak of a shop keep...

Seriously... how long has Legions been out? December? I'm sure there was a line out the door for those two boxes... better make a phone call!

And people wonder why CCG stores aren't thriving! Most folks don't have a choice in avoiding gas stations with creepy attendants... they've gotta get gas somewhere... but creepy store keeps are enough to make someone steer clear of ANY kind of specialty shop.

Our local venue is set up such that, at the back of the store (where all the gaming tables are situated) are all the RPG's and about half the racks for comics. That being said, nearly every customer that comes in the shop just about has to make a loop around those tables if they are doing any form of browsing.

We are often seated, playing a game or discussing something about a deck or a card, and we get that distinctive, "Oooh, comic-shop gaming nerds... don't make eye-contact" looks from the customers. A few linger though, and that's when we engage them.

You get the standard questions: "What is that?" "What're you playing?" "Is that Wolverine?... He's pretty cool." So we start pitching the game, big-time.

I have at sold booster packs and starters (I don't work there, I mean to say I've convinced others to buy) to at least a dozen or so doing this who seem at least casually interested in picking it up. Lots of ex-Magic players, a few D&D diehards, and then those that just love comics.

As for your queustion -- Just get out and play. Play where there are people that might have a common interest. Play where you know you will be seen. Use the retail 10'/5' rule (do they still preach that?) : Anyone who comes within ten feet is aknowledged (vocally)... anyone in five feet is greeted while attempting conversation.

I like to carry lots of freebies with my decks, so that I can ask, "Hey, what character/team do you like?" so I can let them leave with an example.

Ive recently gotten two guys into VS, converting them after Raw Deal died here. I let them play with my decks for their first tournament and gave them a HUGE box of commons and uncommons(1000s) to take home and prepare for the Random Punks event next month. they'll be playing with my decks til they can build their own collection. Its how I got them into Raw Deal, seems to work.


100 posts!!

Nice thread man. Next time just keep talking to him menchin some cool combos that you know. Keep chipping away at the ice and it will break.:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

I wouldn't say he was creepy, he was polite about the whole thing. Overly so, in fact, after the customer seemed to take offense. To me, "creepy" would be more if he demanded the customer to dance slowly before he opened the box or something.