Retailer License

[DMX]

Can anyone refer me to any online resources to acquire a retailer's license?

[Guyra]

I think you just need to register with a distributor of your choice: https://wizkids.com/distributors/

[Kor]

If you have a bricks and mortar store, then you should have no issues with finding a distributor that will work with you.

If you are wanting to just have an online store, then most distributors will not want to work with you. Alliance Games Distributors will, likely open an account for you -- but I found then very unreliable and communication was horrible. I couldn't run an online store if I didn't know if I was getting product so I had to close down. Their time and attention definitely goes to their bigger accounts -- and understandably so.

Also, if you are trying to set up an online store, don't forget that most municipalities may also require you to have a business licence and any game distributors that will transact with you will typically require to see it before they will sign you up.

Good luck with your store.

[coyotee]

I wonder if there are enough of us on here to get our own licence and start buying cases whole sale?

[berk the black]

Our varied geographic locations would present a challenge to making something like this work.

[greyhaze]

I thought we were 90% Canadians?

[Kor]

There are probably enough case buyers here from Canada that could bulk buy together, but what kills the savings is that shipping across Canada is expensive. Although my wholesale account is still active and I could technically do this -- the frustration of dealing with Alliance Games is just too much (and they are the only distributor that will deal with non-bricks and mortar retailers in Canada. Then there's the difficult dilemma of what to do we do when we order 6 cases and only 4 show up.

I'm not sure of the current Canadian cost for a case, but I remember paying just shy of $600 at retail, versus $400 at wholesale. A solution that I finally went with, was to approach a smaller game store in Calgary. The small games retailers (like the card shops that don't sell a lot of rpg stuff -- if any) always welcome special order stock. They need to keep cash flowing through their distributor accounts -- and in some cases the more money of product they purchase, the greater the discounts they get.

Back when the wholesale cost for a case was $400, I found a great store in Calgary (Shoebox Games), that offered to sell me a case for $475, or for $450 if I ordered multiples. I partnered with another local case buyer I found on Kijiji and was able to just pay the $450. They also didn't use Alliance Games to order from (which was a plus for me because of their unreliability) -- the downside was that the distributor they used usually got the product 1-2 weeks after release date. (But of course the wait was worth the savings).

Alternatively, I guess Canadian members could form a buying cartel (club) and find the best place in Canada to negotiate a bulk buy price from. There are several games stores in Canada, like 401 Games that are well set up for online sales, which also means they get great shipping rates from Canada Post. With some negotiation, members could probably work it out so that a single order is placed, but each member is responsible for paying them separately. (It might also depend on whether the retailer would want a deposit for the order). Members could then solicit for more members to join from their local communities -- similar to what I did via Kijiji.

Currently, I do receive occasional marketing samples from WizKids, so I don't always know what I will be buying until a few weeks before or after the release date. Accordingly I probably would not be able to join/participate in such a buying club/cartel.

[coyotee]

Alright, lets start testing the waters for discounts!

I am in Princeton , BC, Canada. Who else here is in BC/Alberta?

[deadsmurf]

I'm on the other side of the country (Nova Scotia) and mostly buy singles - so i'm not useful here.

[snaggle2th]

I thought we were 90% Canadians?

I didn't realize this! Have we ever done a geographical poll? Kor, do you have stats?

I'm on the other side of the country (Nova Scotia) and mostly buy singles - so i'm not useful here.

I'm in Halifax. Anyone else in Nova Scotia? I would be interested in doing some local trading.

[greyhaze]

I'm in the center of the universe. I mean, southern ontario.

[snaggle2th]

I'm in the center of the universe. I mean, southern ontario.

Yeah, that tracks....

[deadsmurf]

I thought we were 90% Canadians?

I didn't realize this! Have we ever done a geographical poll? Kor, do you have stats?

I'm on the other side of the country (Nova Scotia) and mostly buy singles - so i'm not useful here.

I'm in Halifax. Anyone else in Nova Scotia? I would be interested in doing some local trading.

I have a post up in the trading post (which I need to update, and will do so shortly) if you want to do some local trading then - I'm just across the harbour.

[BBShockwave]

LOL I never knew so many people on the board were from Canada!

[Kezghan]

LOL I never knew so many people on the board were from Canada!

We Are Legion!

Yeah a lot of Canucks on board here.