This review is a warning to the hobbyists: take your business elsewhere. If you're new to the Bay and looking for an LGS, I assure with the utmost confidence that this city has so much more to offer. If you are so inclined, step in for yourself if you want to experience what bottom of the barrel looks like.
tldr: unwelcoming & overpriced.
Poor service, tyrannical management. Nothing's changed in two decades. Other Yelpers seem to agree that the staff members can be very rude and in-your-face. (I'm the type that'd gaslight myself into thinking that I was the inconsiderate one; the shared sentiments are reassuring!) I'm asked, what feels like every two minutes, whether I "need help" which I find more distracting than actually helpful. To extend a bit of sympathy, it's nothing personal against the staff, to an extent. I have begrudgingly dealt with the owner in the past, and his morals are very clearly reflected in his hiring practices and are furthermore reproduced within the work culture. Customer inquiries are met with disdain, which I find shocking, considering the lack of depth and experience in the industry. C'mon now, just about anyone can use tcgplayer!
Regarding their aftermarket collectibles: their prices are often worse than the online market and the business has no interest in working with you. I've bought/sold/traded collectibles for some time, and while Legends's trade-in procedure is typical of most stores, be prepared for the worst. In the few trade-ins I've done with them over the years, I felt like I've had to outsmart them simply to get a trade I felt was remotely fair. Obtaining collectibles is one of my favorite ways of forming fond memories, and simply don't think that is possible here. Dealing with the business feels uncannily like dealing with a bad ex. I've never offered a handshake to close deal here, and likely never will.
Their selection is flashy, but of no real substance. The inventory consists of items either high-end and inaccessible, or new and volatile. It's a tell-tale sign that this is the place where people go for a pump n dump. In my experience, stagnant inventory is an indicator of the health of the community that an LGS homes. If you decide to host weekly game nights here, I wish you the best.
To my chagrin, the owner has expanded his business over the decades and now has multiple stores in the Bay Area. Do not confuse this ubiquity with quality. Given the rise of online retail and the rising cost of rent, there has been a dearth of quality game stores for some time. Desperation is not enough to bring me back to this business.
At the time of writing this, I would vouch for these alternatives:
- Isle of Gamers (Santa Clara)
- Game Kastle (Santa Clara, Redwood City)
- Card Shop Santa Clara
- Victory Point Games (Berkeley)
- CardArt (Sunnyvale) read more