Petrie's Family Games — Local services in Colorado Springs

I was very disappointed with my interaction with Petrie's Family Games. My wife and I made the long drive there after hearing of their rent-a-game system. The owner himself explained to me that you can rent a game for either $5 or $10 for three days, and then apply the rental cost if you'd like to buy the game. The value of the game is printed on the box, and if you keep it so the consecutive 3 day rentals arrive at the cost, your credit card is charged and it's yours.

My wife and I rented games on two occasions, the second time renting a small two player game with the value of $39.99 (rental cost $5). We liked it so much we decided it was worth the extra $34.99. Wanting to support a small game store, we stopped by to pay the difference in cash and save them the credit card charges.

When we arrived, we were told by an employee that we couldn't keep the game, because it was a good renter and they "wanted it back". We protested that the owner himself explained the rental process to us - and we were basically accused of lying. After calling the owner twice the employee insisted we needed to bring back the game the next day (when we were set to go home from our vacation), or pay her $150! We explained that this was bait-and-switch, and we would never have rented if some games were not-for-sale or the price could be suddenly increased $110.

After a third long phone call the employee angrily demanded $40, and refused the $5 rental cost discount that was part of the program. That was the last straw. She got her extra $5 but forever lost a customer.

If my friendly local board game store makes a pricing or policy decision that they regret, they apologize, stand by their word and the customer benefits. At Petrie`s they tried to go back on their word with snide remarks and accusations, attempting to make the customer pay when the store changed its mind.

I gave 2 stars instead of one because the owner eventually did the right thing (even if the employee still scammed her extra $5), but given all the friendly game stores in Colorado Springs, I dont think Ill be going to...

Love Petrie's and the staff! Surprised at the 2 negative reviews. People must have been having an off day. They have a great selection of games and are one of the few places were you can buy used games. I love coming in and being able to just play one of the games they have in there play area. They do some great game nights. Loved going on Halloween and playing Werewolf and playing Secret Life of Gingerbread Men around Christmas! The owner and the staff are very friendly and knows the business. I love coming and hanging out with my friends and meeting new people. Great family friendly place!

I asked the owner to order in a game for me. He told me that this game he could get but it takes time because the vendor has a minimum, which I understand since I worked in retail. Went in the next day and he excitedly game up to me. Someone had sold them a used version with the exact expansion I was also ordering. He asked me if I wanted that or the new one. I took the used one, which was in great condition! Saved me so much time and money!

I was looking for a specific expansion pack that hadn't gone on sale yet, so when he ordered it and it came in, he set one aside for me. I was looking for a version of Fluxx they didn't have. He ordered it in and he didn't even make me pay for it in advance!

It's things like that which keep me coming back. The owner is a good, honest guy. He cares about his customers and that is what drives...

It's not just a store, it's a vibe, right? You walk in, and it's like stepping into your best friend's basement, but, you know, a really organized basement. The kind where all the cool stuff is neatly stacked and ready to be explored. You get that whiff of cardboard and plastic, the kind that just screams "adventure awaits!" And the people! Never judged us for asking a million questions, just genuinely stoked to share their passion. That's Petrie's, man. They’re not just selling games; they're selling experiences, like a good bartender slings drinks with a side of wisdom. They've got everything, from the classics your grandma would play to the latest sensation that you saw on that YouTube channel you're obsessed with. And if they don't have it? They’ll hunt it down for you like a pack of determined squirrels after a nut. And let's be real, the tournaments? The game nights? Pure, unadulterated fun. Even when you're getting absolutely demolished in a round of Magic, Lorcana, SWU, or Flesh and blood, you're still laughing. It's that kind of place. Honestly, it's the kind of spot you want to support. It's real, it's genuine, and it's filled with people who love games as much as we do. So, next time you're itching for a new board game, or just want to hang out and roll some dice, skip the big box stores and head to Petrie's. You won't regret it. And hey, maybe we'll run into each other there, and I can finally show you my killer deck....