Marcus King on Why Game Store Owners Seem Like Greedy Doofuses

For his first column on ICv2.com, game store owner Marcus King talked about how he defines success in the game industry. His second column explains how relationships have changed between publishers, distributors, retailers and customers over the past two decades. An excerpt describing the current situation:

Retailers are usually “outgunned” in the information on any given product – by the consumer! The consumer who likes Magic: The Gathering will read and learn about his one passion. while the retailer has maybe 2,500 products to keep track of, and over 200 new release titles every month to consider…

This has changed the relationships of all parties involved.  Where the retail store owner used to be revered as a guy with the coolest possible job, they are now often looked at and viewed – by consumers – as some poor doofus who is hopelessly misinformed on all things gaming, and who is akin to a money-grubbing greedy guy who charges “full retail price,” when only dummies pay full retail.

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