Maybe I could ask a game store in my hometown if I buy in bulk that they would lower the price?
I know one of the local stores here gives me crazy deals. But I am in his store constantly (at least 2-3 times a month) and I make it a point to always leave with something.
One day it might be a $3 dollar game. Now and then I might drop $100 or more.
I've gone in a few times planning to drop $20 and walked out with $30-$40 in games he marked down. One time I dropped $100 and he marked it down to $50. So I just put more games on the counter until we were back to the $100 I'd intended to spend. Another time I wasn't sure about a PSP so he gave me the charger, a 2 gig memory stick, and a carrying case and said "tell you what, try it for the weekend and let me know next week if you want it." When I came back later and told him I wanted it and pulled out my card he gave me a steep discount from the original price he'd quoted.
Over the past several months I can't think of a time he charged me actual sticker price for anything and always his sticker prices are less than amazon/ebay to begin with.
My point is not to brag but to bring up the fact that I've _never_ asked him for a discount and I even said on one visit "Dude, if I walk into your store and take up your time. I'm leaving you with some amount of cash. It might not be a lot. But it will be something."
The first visit to a shop is what I like to call "the honeymoon" visit. They point out their most impressive items and might cut you a deal. But often time it's just a facade.
If you look for the right signs, that time and each visit after you can start to see how they really operate. Look at their sticker prices to start with. Are they on par with, more than, or less than ebay/amazon? If they are more than, forget about discounts. They want every penny they can get. Are they on par with or less? Maybe there's some wiggle room.
Stand off in the back and listen to how they treat other customers. How do they deal with trades? Are they robbing folks blind or are they negotiating and giving them a decent deal? If they are robbing the guy blind they are unlikely to give you a discount. Again, they are maximizing their profit.
Pull out your cellphone as you look stuff over and see how they reach. I had one store owner roll his eyes and make a comment to someone else about how it annoyed him when folks did price checking right there in front if him. Little did the douchebag know I was actually checking my wishlist here on vgcollect. I left that store and never went back even though he had an item on my wishlist. He didn't see me as anything other than a wallet with money that he felt was his.
Try to shoot the breeze with the person at the counter. Is he the owner or an employee? Employees are generally limited in what they can do for you. The owner however can do whatever the hell he wants. So what does he want? Is he/she a friendly fellow or do they give off a "buy something or get the hell out" attitude? If they are friendly a deal is more likely.
Lastly, how many customers appear to be repeat customers? Are folks coming in all "hey buddy! good to see you?". Smart folks don't come back to stores that overcharge and abuse.
There are about 6 shops within a 20 mile radius of my house and after a few visits to the others I've decided they are not for me unless I have no other options (even then a few of them are out, period.)
Yeah there are deals to be had buying in bulk. But with the right store it's my experience that there are deals to be had as a repeat customer and you don't end up with a ton of dupe sports titles and Mario / Duck Hunts.
Not saying the lot thing is bad. If you find a good deal jump on it. theflea is amazing at it. But it largely depends on your area and the attitudes of the folks in play.
