As almost everyone on here should know, I run the GOAT Store, LLC Web site (at http://www.goatstore.com/ ) and sell "Games Of All Types" there ranging from the 2600 to the Dreamcast. We also do Dreamcast production, as you'll see another thread about.
Basically, Gary and I are always looking for new ideas for our Web site to make it appeal to everyone more. Today, a pretty significant thing with our business occurred -- I have put in an offer on a house that was accepted, and both the GOAT Store stock (which my parents had been nice enough to let me store at their house) as well as me (who was living with my wife at an apartment) will be moving into a new space. This means that there are a ton of different directions we can go in the future, and since we try to cater toward collectors, I thought this would be one of the best places to get some input.
Some of the things that we are considering doing are as follows:
- Getting more items in stock for the systems we already carry. We currently have approximately 2000 unique items in stock, but would focus on getting more items for everything we currently carry.
- Starting to carry new systems. We have kicked around the Action Max, Vectrex, Game.Com, GameBoy, Neo Geo Pocket and original Playstation within the last six months.
- Adding label variations further than what we have to items. Specifically, Atari 2600 games. (we have started this a little with gray / Tengen carts for NES, Lunar CD variations for Sega CD and Atari vs. Sears variations for 2600.)
- Adding screenshots of each game to show what it looks like.
- Improving wish list features so that you can have the system email you when we add something that was out of stock.
So what do you think? What would you want to see in the "ultimate collectors online gaming store"? With the moving of everything, we have quite the opportunity to decide which way we want to move forward... especially since we'll be building some specialized storage and moving things all around. What do you think we should look at doing first? What do you think isn't that important? What would you like to see in a gaming store?
And, just as a reminder... there are only two of us and we do this for a hobby. We don't make money at it. Try to keep that in mind when you reply -- if you say that you want to see us carry hundreds more titles for each system, that just wouldn't be feasible. Doing the screenshots for each title would probably take years upon years to do too. Basically, I want to know what you think, but please do keep it realistic.
Thanks!