I’ve bought from BoardGameCo on several occasions and always had a positive experience. Sad to see it close but I’m glad you are at peace with the decision.
Sad to see it shutting down, but I completely understand. I’ve had nothing but positive experiences using your service, and I will be eternally grateful for it. Here’s to what’s next!
I've never did any business with BoardGameCo. The reason I subscribed to your channel was for your sincerity and love for board games. Do what's best for you and yours.
Alex, I don't know you or bought anything from you, but I appreciate your honesty. The hardest part of your video to hear was learning about people who hate you for trying to keep your business operating. If some of those people watched this maybe your sincerity will open their eyes.
Sad to see the store close, but happy for you Alex. I cull my collection ruthlessly, and I always sell to BoardGameCo because I truly benefit from the ease of having only 1 buyer. If I have to sell 10 games to 10 different buyers and figure out shipping for each of them and box each game separately, my ruthless desire to cull my collection may wane.
As a recent customer of Board Game Co I’m sad to see it go. Being new to the hobby, it was a great place to buy games. As a former business owner, I completely understand. I know you will have much success in this medium. Best of luck.
Alex, I didn’t trade very often, but I can tell you that my favorite board game of all time came from the BoardGameCo trade system. I know I have more games on my shelves that were from you, but I don’t know what they are, just that your online shop is why I own Core Worlds, and for that I am forever grateful.
Good luck Alex for your next Endeavor and all the changes you will be going through. I discovered you through Boardgame Co, and we dealt a couple of time. And I'm a customer form Canada. But just like in your video, you treated your customer and your business with honesty and your heart. I'm happy to see that you set your own term. I will continue to watch on RUclips and i can just wish you the best! Have a great day!!
You were the third trade I did at BGG way back in 2019, and I've enjoyed all the trades done with you since. I'll miss having BoardGameCo around for trading, but I'm happy you're able to grow elsewhere. As always, great communication and shipping. Easy to work with. Thank you!
Loved that your site existed. It feels like for those who don’t have the time to sell their games it’s gonna get a bit harder. I think most of the enthusiasts in this ,very luxury, hobby trade themselves or just keep most of the games they get.
Congrats Alex, I'm happy to hear you are ready to move on like you've been planning for quite a while now. All major changes are hard but I know you'll be just fine. I wish you all the best and never forget we are all here cheering you on!
Thanks Alex. I did a few trades with you and retail purchases, and some of those games we traded for/bought are our absolute favorites now. I'm glad I got to do so when it existed and I really appreciate the time and energy you went into making it work. It will be sad to see it go, but I'm thrilled for you that you can continue in this space and enjoy your time more too. All the best to you and yours!
Sorry to see Boardgameco shut down. I first bought from you in 2018 and coincidentally I think you were the person who responded to my email within 1 day when one of my games did not show up. I have since bought multiple times and never been disappointed. My only disappointment is that I never had a chance to use boardgameco to trade or sell the games that are piling up in my collection.
I am very pleased with the purchases I made from BGC in every respect! "2nd and Charles" is a chain store (2 locations in SE Michigan that I frequent) that has some used games along with used books. Perhaps they would be interested in your inventory.
I used to sell back my board games to a local comic store. It got to a point where I was getting $8 for an $80 game. Eventually, they would straight up turn down all but the hottest games. While I stopped selling my games this way, I understand that there is a serious costs associated with reviewing components in a used game (and inventory costs). I now have gotten enough sales on ebay to easily sell on the platform and can make more money that way. I'm only really doing it to recover some costs and clear out space in my house. The used game market is hard to make money off of. Ultimately, I'm glad that you are focusing on RUclips as that seems to be where your passion is.
As a former owner of a rental property I absolutely understand the mental struggle of owning something that you once had a lot of passion for and also has other people being affected by the decisions you make which surround it. I first bought and lived in my rental and lived in it for years, but eventually moved out and slowly lost interest in it every year that passed, focusing on my main property and my job. I eventually came to the decision to sell after owning it for over 20 years. I ended up vacating one apartment while warning the others that I had an intention to sell and I would do everything in my power to make sure they had some sort of security during a very insecure time. The mental struggle after you know you no longer want it is tough, especially fighting off the feelings to "just dump it" when issues arise that rise tensions around this newly disinterested thing and knowing your decisions will change other lives. After watching your video I would say that your one possible mistake or stumble (acting emotionally rather than rationally) was not doing a proper exit strategy, both for you and how to replace the lost income without "winging it" and not giving a solid date so your regular customers could get trades and sales in, which would have given them a proper ending while also possibly giving you a rush if games which could have inflated your liquidation price, if that's what you end up doing. I had quite a few games ready to trade and would have had a decision to make with a large portion of my "for trade" collection which may have resulted in me sacrificing more than usual to get the shelf space and some games I want that you had in the process. In a discord discussing this there were several others that were also in this position. At the end of the day though we are here, but wanted to share my thoughts on the video. I wish you the best, along with your employees who will need to find new employment during what are tough times. Life is tough and full of tough decisions and this was surely not an easy decision. I messaged you a bit ago on BGG when I first found out this happened, and I will echo a bit of that. For a good portion of my time on BGG your goal with BGCo was absolutely lived out with me, where I was able to shift out my unwanted games and get games I wanted in a very efficient manner. Thank you for that Alex!
Definitely made some wonderful purchases from Boardgameco. I was hoping it would change hands rather than close outright, but you gotta do what's best. 10 years isn't a bad run. I'm sad to hear Abecorn is also going or is gone already, because I've found some hard to find games there too. There is definitely a lack of options for buying used games.
I have bought tons of games from BGC and sold or traded many to BGC. It’s been a pleasure throughout the years. You helped me plumb the depths of the board-gaming hobby - games that I never would have played without BGC. Thank you for being there. - Bob Dodin
really sad to find out you're closing. I had tried to make a trade recently and the "trade" system was not available. This explains it :( I appreciate the trades I made with BoardGameCo, I understand it wasn't for everyone but for me it was always a win-win situation where at the end of the day I find an optimal solution to get rid of something I don't care (but others might), and get something I want in return. Wish you the best with the channel and in the closure of BGC.
A very classy way of announcing it. I don't see how anyone could be annoyed or angry with your decision after watching this video and your heartfelt expression of gratitude and your thoughts on why it wasn't working for you.
Thank you for taking time to share the reasons for your decision. I only had great experiences with trading with you. I got some of my favorite games from you that way. I understand wanting to get out of the business, though it will be sad to see you go. I wish you the best with your decision. I hope the liquidation/ sale goes as smoothly as possible. For me and many others, BoardGameco will definitely be missed. You have to do what brings you joy.
Really? Knock on wood, but in the 14 or 15 trades I have done, I have never been robbed. The trust part is hard, but anything truly valuable I would see before trading, as that money can be dumped into my account in minutes.
Even with the (not RUclips parenthetical), I still panicked that for some reason the channel was shutting down and the parenthetical just meant that not all of RUclips was shutting down. So I am happily relieved. (Yes, I am an idiot and need my morning coffee…)
Sad to see you close, Alex. I did one trade with you a while back and was very happy with what I got. Plus, i spoke with you directly during the trade and you were easy to negotiate with. I had to close my own business in 2020 (due to the pandemic) and it's not a great feeling after putting so much work in. Still looking forward to your videos.
I hadn’t been keeping tabs on the fact you were closing and was sad to see the trades gone. Thank you for honoring the credit I had and letting me make one final trade. Trades were always so easy and I always had a positive experience. Issues were handled quickly and professionally. Hopefully no issues this last time. 😁 But thank you for all the effort you put into it. Running a business is TOUGH. I saw it with my father’s business and now with my wife.
Darn... I just ordered a game I've been really looking forward to a few days ago before seeing this video. Will i still be getting the product or will i need to process a refund!?? I am so sad to see BGC shutting down. I was and am a huge fan! But i do wish you the best! Glad you are doing what's best for you Alex.
It's a grieving process, like any other. Relationships, the lives of loved ones. Things end. Hoping partners and employees are well. But things end. Can't be avoided. But endings are also a new beginning and that's the best part of a plaintive process. 50% of all trades in the U.S.? That's an achievement. I had no idea.
Sorry, to hear Alex ... but it sounds like it is a move in the right direction for you. I did a bunch of trades with you and you always were a gentleman, prompt in responses, and fair. Best of luck in future endeavors. Albcann
I thought BoardGameCo was amazing. I will def miss the trading and selling aspect of it.. Loved being able to trade/cull games with you! I didn't mind trading 10-12 games to only get 4-6 games back.. I got rid of what I didn't want to get what I wanted. Always a good experience!
Honestly, in my experience, BoardGameCo offered better trade value than anywhere else I've been. I was always satisfied with the quotes and so glad to had discovered it when I needed to cull or add to my collection. Sad to see that part of the business go, but appreciate the transparency! Wish you all the best!
I am opening a store and will do consignment, but we will not be going into used, as looking at the market of used, I would have to buy games at less that cost, so I can sell it for less that MRSP. Consignment we will do 20 - 40% depending on rarity and quality. We will have Math Trade days, but the used market is crazy.
I noticed that you weren’t doing trades. I was going to trade but then I had to delay that because of my cross-country move. I am currently doing the year long “no buy” with Devon, so I am sad that I won’t be able to order those hard to get games. Sad to see the company close down!
As the hobby grows maybe other competitors will pop up. Either way you provided a valuable service. Anyone who wants to break into this sector of the industry should consult with you.
Alex you were right when you told me that you were going to leave that business, is sad but do what best to you I wish you the best of luck and I just made a purchase hours ago. Thank you and I will continue to follow your videos as always.
The biggest allegiance you owe is to yourself, to your family and what you need to be happy. That’s never a bad thing Alex. You haven’t done a bad thing, you did the best thing you could.
Really sorry to see BGC close down. I see that BGG marketplace is closing too and morphing into something else and no doubt the two are connected. Please keep the love of gaming strong and keep producing great content, if it gives you the love of gaming and profit needed to make it worth while. Ive really enjoyed your you tube content and games reviews, great quality and very fairly made too.
I get why you are moving on and respect it. I did numerous trades with you throughout the past few years and never regretted any of them/always got what I expected. You provided a unique service and it often made sense. Sometimes I just wanted to clear space on my shelves and getting to offload 5 games and pick up maybe 2 that I didn't have always worked for me. Sadly I think I will be left with BGG for trades as they are sort of the only reliable shop in town left. I imagine you are relieved to be winding it all down finally.
Alex you occasionally have to prune the plant so that it can grow properly. I know you struggled with this decision but if it feel right then it’s the right thing now.
@@BoardGameCo No worry on that man, I just wanted to be sure you know. If you ever want to chat my email is open. Free, unasked for advice follows, delete and block as needed. I also want to leave you with something to think about when you inevitably start whatever next business you start (c'mon we all know its going to happen lol). Every business that you have talked about having started had one common element, you as the go juice. Businesses that require "you" can become huge powerful things but its fairly uncommon because being able to make "you" stretch is a very, very difficult thing. Its like Kentucky Fried Chicken wouldn't be the brand it is today if Harlan Sanders had to fry every chicken now would it? But he was able to bring force multipliers by teaching people to fry the chicken. Unless the channel blows up and becomes a television empire try to make your next business something that takes advantage of your gifts with out requiring so much you. The other thing is you mention you had to work on customer support overflow, but did it "have" to be you? That absolutely doesn't sound like a job where your unique abilities add value. Small entrepreneurs struggle with learning how to take their hand off the tiller of tasks they don't have to do. Pushing past that struggle will make your scope of control explode and reenergize your business. Hire capable people you trust and learn to delegate. Some of those trusted people will inevitably let you down but the ones that don't? Boy howdy do they become the wind beneath your wings.
I feel like I must have missed out. I honestly didn't know anything about Board Game Co. But I also didn't start watching the channel until spring of 2020.
As I got into board gaming and made some money on trades and out of print market values, I also briefly considered starting this business model. However, in my estimates, it simply did not scale well enough to be worth the money. This is what you seem to have found in practice as well. Being the trade platform itself is where I believe the money is to be made. You said you were half the games traded on BGG. Every one of those trades went through the BGG market, meaning they took a cut of it *just for being there*. Little to no human input. Just a service that sits there and makes money for people trading with each other. I'm sure you have the dollar amount for that cut over the years, and I'm sure it is non-trivial. BGG recently opened their new marketplace and as part of that move they are taking an even bigger cut. I think there is room for someone to launch a 3rd party service for this and to undercut BGG. It might take a few years to meaningfully grow, but it would be relatively passive income. I also think that a basic store front to your warehouse (in a populated enough area) would add a much larger margin to your business since games in hand out the door is a lot less costly than picking, packing, and shipping; and you can typically charge more for them that way, too. Never fun when you have to let go of something you were passionate about! I'm glad you had the sense to shrug off the people that didn't like your offers. The average nerd on the internet doesn't have any business sense and their opinions on the subject don't matter.
I totally understand it and boardgameco was my go to to make big trades. I would save up my unwanted games and make big trades with you guys. It was much more worth it to me than running to the post office multiple times. Your trades were better than the store credit I would get from the more local 2nd and Charles store. I am glad to see you are doing what’s best for you and your family though.
Oof, I'll miss Boardgameco. I think I passed 50 or more games or more though Boardgameco over time. They were the perfect place to turn 10 games I wasn't playing into 3-5 games I might actually play. I'm not a hoarder and this was the perfect solution, especially in terms of time investment. Of course you're not getting a dollar return, but you're getting a *value* return which is not even remotely the same thing. I was one of the people who messaged about the trade vanishing, had my eye on Maglev Metro and Sleeping Gods 🤣 You were always great, even when things went wrong. I'll still see your videos here, but you're right about a void opening up in your absence. In the end though, you need to focus on your life, and let the void draw people to satisfy the need.
I made a trade to you guys once and while low it wasn’t terrible and I felt it was fair for what I was trading in. I was able to trade 6 games I didn’t play for 3 good games. No complaints. It was great but with shipping costs and overhead it’s no surprise it’s not worth keeping open.
Alex, thank you so much for the service you provided me over the past few years! I will sincerely miss (and already do) the trading service. I traded 84 games to you and received 38 games. It has been the best way to curate my collection as my board gaming has developed. I totally understand and respect your decision.
Used goods with almost anything is a niche market with it's particular quirks. You had the experience with Half Price Books -- me too. Familiar to selling used video games -- which is even worse on the return. ($70 new = $6-10 used ... maybe). It seems board gamers are more akin to book readers. You have your collection of favorites, then a rotating group of current 'tries' (playing/reading) that you trade out at a reasonable price, that someone may want and doesn't mind it being slightly (hopefully lovingly) used. (No writing in books, or dog-earred pages. No missing game pieces, no greasy chits.) Sorry to hear about BoardGameCo. :hug:
I've never been able to bring myself to sell one of my games 😂. But I bought from you and will miss your site's existence! Best of luck with your own existence!!
Hey Alex, this was so interesting and engaging, thanks for the honesty. Totally too far on the outside of your detailed situation even after this video to really be able to add more than the decision you've taken. But, it feels so right for the reasons you have given here but also from my following you and the channel over the last year. I think the extra focus you'll have on your own life and towards the channel should more than make up for it and I hope sooner than later. Wishing you all the best!
I think this just makes sense for you. If it was making that little for that amount of time you are better off using that time for the channel or something else part time as a money maker. It’s weird to see your store go I did a few trades years ago and thought it was a great option for people to do a mass trade never understood the hate. Oddly enough your RUclips channel was part of what helped me get in to trading via Facebook and local groups.
even thought you made the decision it was probably a tough one and tough video to make, not a fun topic. you'd kind of think that a youtube channel with 10,000s of followers would have boosted it but like you said you haven't promoted it in a very long time. many of your subs probably didn't know it existed. when you started you said you started the company with about 1500 games, if you care to share do you have any idea about how many are in inventory now?
It sounds to me you are making the smart business decision, and taking steps such as this video, to let the stakeholders know what’s going on and why. Releasing the employees is the hardest part too me. If your partner choses to close also rather than buy you out, you have no choice. Still, telling someone their job is over is tough, especially in a situation like this. In the end it comes to was it worth your time? No, it was not, it didn’t pan out. You have a wife and kids and need to dedicate your time to what works for you and them. Sounds to me you’re doing the right thing and thanks for telling us.
Alex though decisions are sometimes the best decisions to make. I think it hold back your future but also those of your employees and partner. Hope is a dangerous thing. I did always hope that the concept would lift off. We had a local non profit concept for trading. Amazing how much crowd were there during game cons.
I went to the website to order 3 games and saw they were closed. My heart sank with disbelief.. This was my go to game site. But, I understand. Much luck 2 u.
As a former Half Price Books employee, I can honestly tell you that the transparency of your trading tool was the greatest thing ever! As they say, all good things must come to an end! Was great trading with y'all, thanks for the opportunity to help build my collection, good luck whatever may come! And if you can go back and rate our past trades (for the positive) moving forward, all the better! Kol toov!
You always paid shipping when we sold you used games. I can imagine that the rising costs associated with that must have been hard to balance. Good luck to you.
I’ve bought from BoardGameCo on several occasions and always had a positive experience. Sad to see it close but I’m glad you are at peace with the decision.
Thanks Noah!
Sad to see it shutting down, but I completely understand. I’ve had nothing but positive experiences using your service, and I will be eternally grateful for it. Here’s to what’s next!
Thanks Jeremiah!
I've never did any business with BoardGameCo. The reason I subscribed to your channel was for your sincerity and love for board games. Do what's best for you and yours.
Alex, I don't know you or bought anything from you, but I appreciate your honesty. The hardest part of your video to hear was learning about people who hate you for trying to keep your business operating. If some of those people watched this maybe your sincerity will open their eyes.
Thanks for inviting us to share in what is pretty clearly a grieving process. All the best.
Thank you.
Sad to see the store close, but happy for you Alex. I cull my collection ruthlessly, and I always sell to BoardGameCo because I truly benefit from the ease of having only 1 buyer. If I have to sell 10 games to 10 different buyers and figure out shipping for each of them and box each game separately, my ruthless desire to cull my collection may wane.
Thanks Stewart!
We just donated several to our public library, after borrowing Terraforming Mars, Auztralia, Spirit Island, and 7 Wonders.
As a recent customer of Board Game Co I’m sad to see it go. Being new to the hobby, it was a great place to buy games. As a former business owner, I completely understand. I know you will have much success in this medium. Best of luck.
Appreciate it Steve!
Alex, I didn’t trade very often, but I can tell you that my favorite board game of all time came from the BoardGameCo trade system. I know I have more games on my shelves that were from you, but I don’t know what they are, just that your online shop is why I own Core Worlds, and for that I am forever grateful.
I'm glad to hear!
Good luck Alex for your next Endeavor and all the changes you will be going through. I discovered you through Boardgame Co, and we dealt a couple of time. And I'm a customer form Canada.
But just like in your video, you treated your customer and your business with honesty and your heart. I'm happy to see that you set your own term. I will continue to watch on RUclips and i can just wish you the best!
Have a great day!!
You were the third trade I did at BGG way back in 2019, and I've enjoyed all the trades done with you since. I'll miss having BoardGameCo around for trading, but I'm happy you're able to grow elsewhere. As always, great communication and shipping. Easy to work with. Thank you!
Thank you!
Thanks for the update on the Boardgameco business and sharing about your experiences with it. Best of luck as you continue to navigate the transition.
Loved that your site existed. It feels like for those who don’t have the time to sell their games it’s gonna get a bit harder.
I think most of the enthusiasts in this ,very luxury, hobby trade themselves or just keep most of the games they get.
Thank you, I totally agree
Congrats Alex, I'm happy to hear you are ready to move on like you've been planning for quite a while now. All major changes are hard but I know you'll be just fine. I wish you all the best and never forget we are all here cheering you on!
Must have been a hard decision, but glad you are valuing yourself and your time. Excited to continue seeing the channel grow.
Thank you Charles.
Thanks Alex. I did a few trades with you and retail purchases, and some of those games we traded for/bought are our absolute favorites now. I'm glad I got to do so when it existed and I really appreciate the time and energy you went into making it work. It will be sad to see it go, but I'm thrilled for you that you can continue in this space and enjoy your time more too. All the best to you and yours!
Appreciate it!
Sorry to see Boardgameco shut down. I first bought from you in 2018 and coincidentally I think you were the person who responded to my email within 1 day when one of my games did not show up. I have since bought multiple times and never been disappointed. My only disappointment is that I never had a chance to use boardgameco to trade or sell the games that are piling up in my collection.
I am very pleased with the purchases I made from BGC in every respect! "2nd and Charles" is a chain store (2 locations in SE Michigan that I frequent) that has some used games along with used books. Perhaps they would be interested in your inventory.
Thank you Gary!
I used to sell back my board games to a local comic store. It got to a point where I was getting $8 for an $80 game. Eventually, they would straight up turn down all but the hottest games. While I stopped selling my games this way, I understand that there is a serious costs associated with reviewing components in a used game (and inventory costs). I now have gotten enough sales on ebay to easily sell on the platform and can make more money that way. I'm only really doing it to recover some costs and clear out space in my house. The used game market is hard to make money off of. Ultimately, I'm glad that you are focusing on RUclips as that seems to be where your passion is.
It very much is.
As a former owner of a rental property I absolutely understand the mental struggle of owning something that you once had a lot of passion for and also has other people being affected by the decisions you make which surround it. I first bought and lived in my rental and lived in it for years, but eventually moved out and slowly lost interest in it every year that passed, focusing on my main property and my job. I eventually came to the decision to sell after owning it for over 20 years.
I ended up vacating one apartment while warning the others that I had an intention to sell and I would do everything in my power to make sure they had some sort of security during a very insecure time. The mental struggle after you know you no longer want it is tough, especially fighting off the feelings to "just dump it" when issues arise that rise tensions around this newly disinterested thing and knowing your decisions will change other lives.
After watching your video I would say that your one possible mistake or stumble (acting emotionally rather than rationally) was not doing a proper exit strategy, both for you and how to replace the lost income without "winging it" and not giving a solid date so your regular customers could get trades and sales in, which would have given them a proper ending while also possibly giving you a rush if games which could have inflated your liquidation price, if that's what you end up doing.
I had quite a few games ready to trade and would have had a decision to make with a large portion of my "for trade" collection which may have resulted in me sacrificing more than usual to get the shelf space and some games I want that you had in the process. In a discord discussing this there were several others that were also in this position.
At the end of the day though we are here, but wanted to share my thoughts on the video. I wish you the best, along with your employees who will need to find new employment during what are tough times. Life is tough and full of tough decisions and this was surely not an easy decision. I messaged you a bit ago on BGG when I first found out this happened, and I will echo a bit of that. For a good portion of my time on BGG your goal with BGCo was absolutely lived out with me, where I was able to shift out my unwanted games and get games I wanted in a very efficient manner. Thank you for that Alex!
Thank you, and you're not wrong in the slightest on your analysis of the situation either.
Didn’t even know you were shutting down. I ordered some games last week, noticed today the website is shut down. I’ll be hoping and watching the mail!
I hope this will resolve in the best way possible for you. Good luck!
Thank you!
Definitely made some wonderful purchases from Boardgameco. I was hoping it would change hands rather than close outright, but you gotta do what's best. 10 years isn't a bad run. I'm sad to hear Abecorn is also going or is gone already, because I've found some hard to find games there too. There is definitely a lack of options for buying used games.
Yep, I was sad to see abecorn go too.
Sad to hear it, but understandable. Always loved trading with you!
Thank you Jack!
I have bought tons of games from BGC and sold or traded many to BGC. It’s been a pleasure throughout the years. You helped me plumb the depths of the board-gaming hobby - games that I never would have played without BGC. Thank you for being there. - Bob Dodin
really sad to find out you're closing. I had tried to make a trade recently and the "trade" system was not available. This explains it :( I appreciate the trades I made with BoardGameCo, I understand it wasn't for everyone but for me it was always a win-win situation where at the end of the day I find an optimal solution to get rid of something I don't care (but others might), and get something I want in return. Wish you the best with the channel and in the closure of BGC.
A very classy way of announcing it. I don't see how anyone could be annoyed or angry with your decision after watching this video and your heartfelt expression of gratitude and your thoughts on why it wasn't working for you.
Thank you! And sadly yes, there are definitely those who will still be unhappy with me.
For my part I’ll miss BG Co and my heart goes out to you, I know how hard this transition will be.
Thank you Andrew.
I’m really glad you found something in the channel you really loved - it sounds like it was kind of by accident
I too have purchased items from BoardGameCo and always had a great experience. Sad to see it go but onward and upward man!
Thank you Robert!
I absolutely loved being able to trade with BoardGameCo and am sad to see it go 😩 Thanks for everything over the years Alex!
Thank you Andrew
Thank you for taking time to share the reasons for your decision. I only had great experiences with trading with you. I got some of my favorite games from you that way. I understand wanting to get out of the business, though it will be sad to see you go. I wish you the best with your decision. I hope the liquidation/ sale goes as smoothly as possible. For me and many others, BoardGameco will definitely be missed. You have to do what brings you joy.
Thank you Vaughn!
I honestly didn’t know that Board Game Co. was anything more than a RUclips channel. Sorry that the business didn’t work out.
That's intentional Shawn, I tried not to promote it heavily given that I knew there was a shelf life on it.
Same here!
I have nowhere to trade games now :(. BGG trading is so unreliable.
Really? Knock on wood, but in the 14 or 15 trades I have done, I have never been robbed. The trust part is hard, but anything truly valuable I would see before trading, as that money can be dumped into my account in minutes.
I'm sorry Emmanuel.
Even with the (not RUclips parenthetical), I still panicked that for some reason the channel was shutting down and the parenthetical just meant that not all of RUclips was shutting down. So I am happily relieved.
(Yes, I am an idiot and need my morning coffee…)
Enjoy your coffee!
Sad to see you close, Alex. I did one trade with you a while back and was very happy with what I got. Plus, i spoke with you directly during the trade and you were easy to negotiate with. I had to close my own business in 2020 (due to the pandemic) and it's not a great feeling after putting so much work in.
Still looking forward to your videos.
Appreciate it Wade!
Out of curiosity, will the name of this channel stay the same sort of as a last memento of boardgameco or will you change it to something else?
As of now staying the same
thanks for all the great trades. greatly do appreciate the years of great service and fair deals
I hadn’t been keeping tabs on the fact you were closing and was sad to see the trades gone. Thank you for honoring the credit I had and letting me make one final trade. Trades were always so easy and I always had a positive experience. Issues were handled quickly and professionally. Hopefully no issues this last time. 😁 But thank you for all the effort you put into it. Running a business is TOUGH. I saw it with my father’s business and now with my wife.
I just subscribed and I really like your channel please keep going!!!
Thank you!
Wow! I came to your channel for GENCON content :) I just watched the 2022 GENCON content. I am excited to see RUclips will remain!
Thanks :)
Look forward to the series!
:)
Darn... I just ordered a game I've been really looking forward to a few days ago before seeing this video. Will i still be getting the product or will i need to process a refund!?? I am so sad to see BGC shutting down. I was and am a huge fan! But i do wish you the best! Glad you are doing what's best for you Alex.
Anything you order should still work. Until the site is actually down, everything is business as usual.
It's a grieving process, like any other. Relationships, the lives of loved ones. Things end. Hoping partners and employees are well. But things end. Can't be avoided. But endings are also a new beginning and that's the best part of a plaintive process.
50% of all trades in the U.S.? That's an achievement. I had no idea.
Thank you
Sorry, to hear Alex ... but it sounds like it is a move in the right direction for you. I did a bunch of trades with you and you always were a gentleman, prompt in responses, and fair. Best of luck in future endeavors. Albcann
Always a pleasure Alex :) hopefully it’s less stress on your life.
Thank you Kadeus!
Sorry to hear, but glad to see you added "(not RUclips)" in your video title otherwise some may have accused you of being click-baity :)
I thought BoardGameCo was amazing. I will def miss the trading and selling aspect of it.. Loved being able to trade/cull games with you!
I didn't mind trading 10-12 games to only get 4-6 games back.. I got rid of what I didn't want to get what I wanted.
Always a good experience!
Honestly, in my experience, BoardGameCo offered better trade value than anywhere else I've been. I was always satisfied with the quotes and so glad to had discovered it when I needed to cull or add to my collection. Sad to see that part of the business go, but appreciate the transparency! Wish you all the best!
I am opening a store and will do consignment, but we will not be going into used, as looking at the market of used, I would have to buy games at less that cost, so I can sell it for less that MRSP. Consignment we will do 20 - 40% depending on rarity and quality. We will have Math Trade days, but the used market is crazy.
Thanks for all the trades over the years.
Oh no. I just bought a ton of games, they were delivered Thursday. I didn't realize that you were closing. :(
This is a bummer. I ordered a few times as well and always had a great experience
I noticed that you weren’t doing trades. I was going to trade but then I had to delay that because of my cross-country move. I am currently doing the year long “no buy” with Devon, so I am sad that I won’t be able to order those hard to get games. Sad to see the company close down!
Thank you Ben.
As the hobby grows maybe other competitors will pop up. Either way you provided a valuable service. Anyone who wants to break into this sector of the industry should consult with you.
Alex you were right when you told me that you were going to leave that business, is sad but do what best to you I wish you the best of luck and I just made a purchase hours ago. Thank you and I will continue to follow your videos as always.
Rest in Peace, BoardGameCo Retail Operation. A few months ago I sold some games I had barely played and was likely never going to play again.
The biggest allegiance you owe is to yourself, to your family and what you need to be happy. That’s never a bad thing Alex. You haven’t done a bad thing, you did the best thing you could.
Thank you Bryan.
Thank you for the video Alex. After this, are there any thoughts to changing the channel name?
Not at the moment, I'm too deep into that at the moment :)
It mooked very good i was always looking for a likewise concept in belgium but did not find one . Just good you came to terms with it
Really sorry to see BGC close down. I see that BGG marketplace is closing too and morphing into something else and no doubt the two are connected. Please keep the love of gaming strong and keep producing great content, if it gives you the love of gaming and profit needed to make it worth while. Ive really enjoyed your you tube content and games reviews, great quality and very fairly made too.
All the best with the upcoming negotiations
I get why you are moving on and respect it. I did numerous trades with you throughout the past few years and never regretted any of them/always got what I expected. You provided a unique service and it often made sense. Sometimes I just wanted to clear space on my shelves and getting to offload 5 games and pick up maybe 2 that I didn't have always worked for me. Sadly I think I will be left with BGG for trades as they are sort of the only reliable shop in town left. I imagine you are relieved to be winding it all down finally.
I am indeed relieved, this has been a long time coming.
Alex you occasionally have to prune the plant so that it can grow properly. I know you struggled with this decision but if it feel right then it’s the right thing now.
Thanks Bryan, I am not unmindful of your email
@@BoardGameCo No worry on that man, I just wanted to be sure you know. If you ever want to chat my email is open. Free, unasked for advice follows, delete and block as needed.
I also want to leave you with something to think about when you inevitably start whatever next business you start (c'mon we all know its going to happen lol). Every business that you have talked about having started had one common element, you as the go juice. Businesses that require "you" can become huge powerful things but its fairly uncommon because being able to make "you" stretch is a very, very difficult thing. Its like Kentucky Fried Chicken wouldn't be the brand it is today if Harlan Sanders had to fry every chicken now would it? But he was able to bring force multipliers by teaching people to fry the chicken.
Unless the channel blows up and becomes a television empire try to make your next business something that takes advantage of your gifts with out requiring so much you.
The other thing is you mention you had to work on customer support overflow, but did it "have" to be you? That absolutely doesn't sound like a job where your unique abilities add value. Small entrepreneurs struggle with learning how to take their hand off the tiller of tasks they don't have to do. Pushing past that struggle will make your scope of control explode and reenergize your business. Hire capable people you trust and learn to delegate. Some of those trusted people will inevitably let you down but the ones that don't? Boy howdy do they become the wind beneath your wings.
Thx for the update. Do you have an idea if you will/can keep the name for the channel? Also hope all staff finds a new job soon!
All my experiences purchasing from, and selling to, Boardgameco were positive. I wish you success.
Oh no. I don’t see they mention anything on their website and i just placed an order tonight. Am i still able to receive it?
I feel like I must have missed out. I honestly didn't know anything about Board Game Co. But I also didn't start watching the channel until spring of 2020.
As I got into board gaming and made some money on trades and out of print market values, I also briefly considered starting this business model. However, in my estimates, it simply did not scale well enough to be worth the money. This is what you seem to have found in practice as well. Being the trade platform itself is where I believe the money is to be made. You said you were half the games traded on BGG. Every one of those trades went through the BGG market, meaning they took a cut of it *just for being there*. Little to no human input. Just a service that sits there and makes money for people trading with each other. I'm sure you have the dollar amount for that cut over the years, and I'm sure it is non-trivial. BGG recently opened their new marketplace and as part of that move they are taking an even bigger cut. I think there is room for someone to launch a 3rd party service for this and to undercut BGG. It might take a few years to meaningfully grow, but it would be relatively passive income.
I also think that a basic store front to your warehouse (in a populated enough area) would add a much larger margin to your business since games in hand out the door is a lot less costly than picking, packing, and shipping; and you can typically charge more for them that way, too.
Never fun when you have to let go of something you were passionate about! I'm glad you had the sense to shrug off the people that didn't like your offers. The average nerd on the internet doesn't have any business sense and their opinions on the subject don't matter.
Sorry to here the news, but happy the great content continues!
Thank you!
best of luck! I had nothing but good experiences with BGco
Thanks Aaron!
So.. the paychecks your employess make is worth their time but the amount you make isnt worth your time... ? Interesting.
Correct, I make less than them.
I totally understand it and boardgameco was my go to to make big trades. I would save up my unwanted games and make big trades with you guys. It was much more worth it to me than running to the post office multiple times. Your trades were better than the store credit I would get from the more local 2nd and Charles store. I am glad to see you are doing what’s best for you and your family though.
Oof, I'll miss Boardgameco. I think I passed 50 or more games or more though Boardgameco over time. They were the perfect place to turn 10 games I wasn't playing into 3-5 games I might actually play. I'm not a hoarder and this was the perfect solution, especially in terms of time investment. Of course you're not getting a dollar return, but you're getting a *value* return which is not even remotely the same thing. I was one of the people who messaged about the trade vanishing, had my eye on Maglev Metro and Sleeping Gods 🤣
You were always great, even when things went wrong. I'll still see your videos here, but you're right about a void opening up in your absence. In the end though, you need to focus on your life, and let the void draw people to satisfy the need.
Thank you J, I really appreciate it.
Good luck as you transition to the next phase again
I made a trade to you guys once and while low it wasn’t terrible and I felt it was fair for what I was trading in. I was able to trade 6 games I didn’t play for 3 good games. No complaints. It was great but with shipping costs and overhead it’s no surprise it’s not worth keeping open.
Alex, thank you so much for the service you provided me over the past few years! I will sincerely miss (and already do) the trading service. I traded 84 games to you and received 38 games. It has been the best way to curate my collection as my board gaming has developed. I totally understand and respect your decision.
It was the only place where I found a stronghold undead. Very positive experience.
Thanks Ivan.
good for you. gotta do what is right for you. never going to make everyone happy. so make yourself happy.
Used goods with almost anything is a niche market with it's particular quirks. You had the experience with Half Price Books -- me too. Familiar to selling used video games -- which is even worse on the return. ($70 new = $6-10 used ... maybe). It seems board gamers are more akin to book readers. You have your collection of favorites, then a rotating group of current 'tries' (playing/reading) that you trade out at a reasonable price, that someone may want and doesn't mind it being slightly (hopefully lovingly) used. (No writing in books, or dog-earred pages. No missing game pieces, no greasy chits.) Sorry to hear about BoardGameCo. :hug:
I've never been able to bring myself to sell one of my games 😂. But I bought from you and will miss your site's existence! Best of luck with your own existence!!
Follow your best life, man. It's tough to let people down, but ultimately you deserve to spend your time and focus on the things you need and want to.
Being a man of integrity is a not a easy path to take, your goals are commendable. Best wishes for you and your family.
Thank you Dale.
I’d love to have a convo with you if possible. I’m a game flipper with some big ideas.
My email is in the description :)
Hey Alex, this was so interesting and engaging, thanks for the honesty. Totally too far on the outside of your detailed situation even after this video to really be able to add more than the decision you've taken. But, it feels so right for the reasons you have given here but also from my following you and the channel over the last year. I think the extra focus you'll have on your own life and towards the channel should more than make up for it and I hope sooner than later. Wishing you all the best!
Thank you Alex!
It's a business and sometimes you just have to walk away from the business if it isn't profitable.
Wow, Alex, way to give us a scare!
Hard decision, tough to work through I'm sure. We wish you and your employees the best
I think this just makes sense for you. If it was making that little for that amount of time you are better off using that time for the channel or something else part time as a money maker.
It’s weird to see your store go I did a few trades years ago and thought it was a great option for people to do a mass trade never understood the hate. Oddly enough your RUclips channel was part of what helped me get in to trading via Facebook and local groups.
Thank you Beorn.
I didn’t know BoardGameCo closed, I was looking to trade today and end up here on this video😢😢
Sorry :(
@@BoardGameCo oh no don’t be sorry, after watching the video I completely understand and support your decision 😊
even thought you made the decision it was probably a tough one and tough video to make, not a fun topic. you'd kind of think that a youtube channel with 10,000s of followers would have boosted it but like you said you haven't promoted it in a very long time. many of your subs probably didn't know it existed. when you started you said you started the company with about 1500 games, if you care to share do you have any idea about how many are in inventory now?
Around 15k+
It sounds to me you are making the smart business decision, and taking steps such as this video, to let the stakeholders know what’s going on and why. Releasing the employees is the hardest part too me. If your partner choses to close also rather than buy you out, you have no choice. Still, telling someone their job is over is tough, especially in a situation like this. In the end it comes to was it worth your time? No, it was not, it didn’t pan out. You have a wife and kids and need to dedicate your time to what works for you and them. Sounds to me you’re doing the right thing and thanks for telling us.
Alex though decisions are sometimes the best decisions to make. I think it hold back your future but also those of your employees and partner. Hope is a dangerous thing. I did always hope that the concept would lift off. We had a local non profit concept for trading. Amazing how much crowd were there during game cons.
Thank you Andrew.
I went to the website to order 3 games and saw they were closed. My heart sank with disbelief.. This was my go to game site. But, I understand. Much luck 2 u.
As a former Half Price Books employee, I can honestly tell you that the transparency of your trading tool was the greatest thing ever! As they say, all good things must come to an end! Was great trading with y'all, thanks for the opportunity to help build my collection, good luck whatever may come! And if you can go back and rate our past trades (for the positive) moving forward, all the better! Kol toov!
Does this mean that your RUclips channel name will be changing since you're not going to be associated with the business end?
Likely not, there's more recognition on the RUclips side than the business side at this point.
I've traded with Boardgameco several times and I will miss that company for sure. Understand your decision though.
Thank you David.
You always paid shipping when we sold you used games. I can imagine that the rising costs associated with that must have been hard to balance. Good luck to you.
Yes indeed, costs have gone up a lot.
I had a great experience with Boardgameco trading. Thanks for everything, Alex! ❤️
Given your college degree, I suspect the satisfaction of starting and growing a business is something you’ll always have
Perhaps :) right now I appreciate RUclips :)
You missed the biggest click bait title you may ever could've done! But I'm glad you did.
Yep, it felt a bit too much to not be clear.