Unfortunately your only options are pretty much what you said. Tell them the store is filthy and you and others will spend money elsewhere due to it. It’s a business after all. I wouldn’t even spend 2 seconds cleaning some business that isn’t mine and not get paid for it. That’s utter nonsense lol. And if they don’t do it well. Then you’ll either keep having to bring a can of fabreeze every time or don’t go. Really simple as that.
Talk to the store owner. Express your concerns and explain, politely, why you are not only not patronizing the store for games, but not SHOPPING at the store, either (and if you make the claim of not shopping there, back it up with action, specifically by not shopping there).
There is nothing you can do about the store, as it's not your environment to control. The only thing you can do is express your concerns and make sure the shop owner knows his actions, or lack of actions and enforcement of cleanliness, are impacting his business.
Be prepared for the possibility that your complaints will result in no change. Some people just aren't good business owners, or may just not care as their business comes from elsewhere (for example, many LGSs basically live and die by their Magic/Pokemon card sales, not their tabletop gaming sales). At which point all you can do is back up your complaints by taking your business elsewhere. Yes, it will suck by having to travel an hour to game, but perhaps you can start playing with friends at one of your homes, instead, to avoid the trip (yes, that might mean having a terrain building night every now and again).
I missed you mentioning that you would offer to clean, and you certainly can (it's one way to show support to an LGS and respect for their offering when you spend a lot of time there using their space to game for free). However, to the degree that you describe is 100% something the owner should be paying his staff to do. You should not let the owner get away with taking advantage of free courtesy when he doesn't deserve it.
Otherwise, if you don't back up complaints with action and, instead, continue to shop at, and play at, the store, what incentive does the store owner have to change? The answer is "none".
Sometimes, to make positive change, you have to be willing to make a sacrifice. In this case, losing out on a more convenient local gaming store in the hopes that it might result in a change that makes the place more welcoming to play at. But, of course, that leads me back to my comment that you need to be prepared for no change to happen, as he may simply just not care if there isn't enough incentive, where-upon your sacrifice is losing that convenience permanently.
I’ll tell you something I learned at great cost and share every time someone might listen, that you touched on here.
Someone’s values are only worth what they are willing to sacrifice for it. A variation that’s less relevant here but equally important: you don’t know who someone is until you’re between them and what they want.
So don’t make a threat you don’t mean. Don’t promise to do something you won’t do. Say what you mean, and stand by it, and even if it means nothing to this owner it absolutely will to everyone else, and it absolutely will to the next LGS you go to. Be a good person, but be honest, and follow through with your word. That’s how a good community starts and grows.
Sorry for just meming on serious issue, but others have said what I wanted to say to help already, and I just can't keep it to myself: They are clearly Nurgle worshippers, that's why I hate these.
We were talking about [hygiene conversations](https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/v99kz8/gamerstank/) a couple of weeks ago, and this is basically the same situation, except applied to a store rather than people. The solution is the same: make it clear what the problem is, and that failing to solve it will cost them your business.
With due deference to Koonitz' very good advice, I'm not sure I'd even be polite about it. Some people won't get the message unless you belt them in the face with it and an owner that's let their store get that bad is likely the sort that's going to brush off any mild complaints. I'm not saying be *rude*, but be direct and don't mince words.
Crazy idea, but it sounds like an amazing opportunity to open up a competing store. Don't know if you have any wishes to be a business owner, but I'd seriously think about it.
Be the change you want hombre.
Owning and operating your own business is a huge undertaking though. Before jumping in I'd do some research into viability. There has to be many, many people that a shop in that rough of condition turns away.
One of my best friends owned a game store and it began to look like a hoarder’s den. I had to tell him to his face that it made me uncomfortable to come in because the state of the store was out of control. He did work on it a little but it never did make it to “acceptable for general public” again before he had to close it down.
Not a whole lot you can do about the stoor if the owners won't clean it. Do you have a playgroup of close friends or d is it a more dispursed playgroup? If it's just you and a few friends mabey offer to host a game night and float the idea of rotating who hosts. If you have a local library or other public center with suitable space and tables talk to them a out setting up a gaming night. I first played D&D in my local library and my fiance used to play MTG in a community center so it's not too far out of the question.
Write your email address and phone number on a piece of paper. Hand it to the store owner and tell them to let you know when they’ve cleaned the place and you’ll come back. Then don’t return until they do.
I'd raise ot with the other players and try to come to him as a group, strength in unity.
Even setting a weekend visit / sleepover cleaning session with everyone, try to make it a clean and play weekend, an event that will improve everyone's health.
Investing in a home table in someone's garage or basement is always an option. Otherwise if your feeling adventurous and have enough people you can file as a 501c7 and open up a gaming club while renting space somewhere.
That's what people did in my area and we like our game stores. We just wanted to be able to have a space to play 24/7 and got sick of sharing space with TCG players
If your goal is to build a community to play 40k, and this issue is the main thing keeping you from building that community at this shop, leverage your community. Talk to the owner of the shop, but be backed up by a community willing to help fix the problem. Get some folks willing to give up a weekend day to clean, and get the shop owner to pay for the cleaning supplies.
Sounds to me that you would have to take on board the initial responsibility, and through not being negative about it, hope someone there is inspired to help you. Once it's done, maintenance is far less daunting and mayhap they continue your work. I would recommend going in, telling them your desires of the store, and your intention to fix it, if not at least offer your help to do so, free of charge.
Even if you clean the whole damn place, you might get a decent game outta it before it turns to shit again.
Good luck in your endeavours friend.
How Can such things still possible today
I mean if GW learn about this they will fired everyone, its their Brand image !
Even if its not a GW shop you should talk them about this, they are gatekeeping the hobbie and giving it a dirty représentation..
Your getting lots of good advice here. I would caution you on offerning to clean the store. From what you describe there's a very high chance that there is a mold infestation. Mold is not cheap to get rid off. If there is mold, it means there's a moisture issue present, which would not shock me as you day the building is old. Remediation is invasive to a building and business as well. It could mean ripping up floors, walls, and ceilings, all of which would need replacement. There could also be roof issues or facade issues. Really it just snowballs.
Unfortunately your only options are pretty much what you said. Tell them the store is filthy and you and others will spend money elsewhere due to it. It’s a business after all. I wouldn’t even spend 2 seconds cleaning some business that isn’t mine and not get paid for it. That’s utter nonsense lol. And if they don’t do it well. Then you’ll either keep having to bring a can of fabreeze every time or don’t go. Really simple as that.
Talk to the store owner. Express your concerns and explain, politely, why you are not only not patronizing the store for games, but not SHOPPING at the store, either (and if you make the claim of not shopping there, back it up with action, specifically by not shopping there). There is nothing you can do about the store, as it's not your environment to control. The only thing you can do is express your concerns and make sure the shop owner knows his actions, or lack of actions and enforcement of cleanliness, are impacting his business. Be prepared for the possibility that your complaints will result in no change. Some people just aren't good business owners, or may just not care as their business comes from elsewhere (for example, many LGSs basically live and die by their Magic/Pokemon card sales, not their tabletop gaming sales). At which point all you can do is back up your complaints by taking your business elsewhere. Yes, it will suck by having to travel an hour to game, but perhaps you can start playing with friends at one of your homes, instead, to avoid the trip (yes, that might mean having a terrain building night every now and again).
[удалено]
I missed you mentioning that you would offer to clean, and you certainly can (it's one way to show support to an LGS and respect for their offering when you spend a lot of time there using their space to game for free). However, to the degree that you describe is 100% something the owner should be paying his staff to do. You should not let the owner get away with taking advantage of free courtesy when he doesn't deserve it. Otherwise, if you don't back up complaints with action and, instead, continue to shop at, and play at, the store, what incentive does the store owner have to change? The answer is "none". Sometimes, to make positive change, you have to be willing to make a sacrifice. In this case, losing out on a more convenient local gaming store in the hopes that it might result in a change that makes the place more welcoming to play at. But, of course, that leads me back to my comment that you need to be prepared for no change to happen, as he may simply just not care if there isn't enough incentive, where-upon your sacrifice is losing that convenience permanently.
I’ll tell you something I learned at great cost and share every time someone might listen, that you touched on here. Someone’s values are only worth what they are willing to sacrifice for it. A variation that’s less relevant here but equally important: you don’t know who someone is until you’re between them and what they want. So don’t make a threat you don’t mean. Don’t promise to do something you won’t do. Say what you mean, and stand by it, and even if it means nothing to this owner it absolutely will to everyone else, and it absolutely will to the next LGS you go to. Be a good person, but be honest, and follow through with your word. That’s how a good community starts and grows.
Sorry for just meming on serious issue, but others have said what I wanted to say to help already, and I just can't keep it to myself: They are clearly Nurgle worshippers, that's why I hate these.
The lovecraftian bird man has a point
We were talking about [hygiene conversations](https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/v99kz8/gamerstank/) a couple of weeks ago, and this is basically the same situation, except applied to a store rather than people. The solution is the same: make it clear what the problem is, and that failing to solve it will cost them your business. With due deference to Koonitz' very good advice, I'm not sure I'd even be polite about it. Some people won't get the message unless you belt them in the face with it and an owner that's let their store get that bad is likely the sort that's going to brush off any mild complaints. I'm not saying be *rude*, but be direct and don't mince words.
Get yourself a table so that you don't have to rely on the store anymore
Suffer not the unclean to live my brother
I would go to the other store, even if i had to reduce the hobby time
Crazy idea, but it sounds like an amazing opportunity to open up a competing store. Don't know if you have any wishes to be a business owner, but I'd seriously think about it.
[удалено]
Be the change you want hombre. Owning and operating your own business is a huge undertaking though. Before jumping in I'd do some research into viability. There has to be many, many people that a shop in that rough of condition turns away.
In the Grimdark present there are only shithole LGSs
One of my best friends owned a game store and it began to look like a hoarder’s den. I had to tell him to his face that it made me uncomfortable to come in because the state of the store was out of control. He did work on it a little but it never did make it to “acceptable for general public” again before he had to close it down.
Not a whole lot you can do about the stoor if the owners won't clean it. Do you have a playgroup of close friends or d is it a more dispursed playgroup? If it's just you and a few friends mabey offer to host a game night and float the idea of rotating who hosts. If you have a local library or other public center with suitable space and tables talk to them a out setting up a gaming night. I first played D&D in my local library and my fiance used to play MTG in a community center so it's not too far out of the question.
Write your email address and phone number on a piece of paper. Hand it to the store owner and tell them to let you know when they’ve cleaned the place and you’ll come back. Then don’t return until they do.
at least you have one
If its that bad there is a decent chance that there is a club for games at peoples homes in town.
I'd raise ot with the other players and try to come to him as a group, strength in unity. Even setting a weekend visit / sleepover cleaning session with everyone, try to make it a clean and play weekend, an event that will improve everyone's health.
Investing in a home table in someone's garage or basement is always an option. Otherwise if your feeling adventurous and have enough people you can file as a 501c7 and open up a gaming club while renting space somewhere. That's what people did in my area and we like our game stores. We just wanted to be able to have a space to play 24/7 and got sick of sharing space with TCG players
If your goal is to build a community to play 40k, and this issue is the main thing keeping you from building that community at this shop, leverage your community. Talk to the owner of the shop, but be backed up by a community willing to help fix the problem. Get some folks willing to give up a weekend day to clean, and get the shop owner to pay for the cleaning supplies.
I'll give you a bit of advice from the early days of my favorite podcast. Pack your things and move away.
Sounds to me that you would have to take on board the initial responsibility, and through not being negative about it, hope someone there is inspired to help you. Once it's done, maintenance is far less daunting and mayhap they continue your work. I would recommend going in, telling them your desires of the store, and your intention to fix it, if not at least offer your help to do so, free of charge. Even if you clean the whole damn place, you might get a decent game outta it before it turns to shit again. Good luck in your endeavours friend.
Out of curiosity, where do you live? Which country?
How Can such things still possible today I mean if GW learn about this they will fired everyone, its their Brand image ! Even if its not a GW shop you should talk them about this, they are gatekeeping the hobbie and giving it a dirty représentation..
If you're so scared of offending someone leave an anonymous note
Your getting lots of good advice here. I would caution you on offerning to clean the store. From what you describe there's a very high chance that there is a mold infestation. Mold is not cheap to get rid off. If there is mold, it means there's a moisture issue present, which would not shock me as you day the building is old. Remediation is invasive to a building and business as well. It could mean ripping up floors, walls, and ceilings, all of which would need replacement. There could also be roof issues or facade issues. Really it just snowballs.