Wild Things Games — Local services in Salem

Good in store service but lacking in online/phone customer service. I recently moved to the area and was looking for a good LGS. this is one of few in the area that I was able to locate. I visited and they have a great card games selection and a decent selection of other games. My main issue has been special ordering items and a general lack of customer service in this regard.

I ordered some items including a Collectors edition of a rule book. I understood that the special edition might be out of stock when they ordered. I get a call of the day before the items go on sale. I am told my items are there and ready for pick up first thing tomorrow, great! I get there to find out that the collectors edition was sold out and I was not ordered or had a basic edition set aside. Now the basic edition is also out of stock meaning I now have an incomplete set. A game with no rules.

I should have been contacted when part of my order was not available to see if I wanted to cancel. I should have been asked if a basic edition was an acceptable substitute. I should have been told when called to get my order part of it was unavailable.

Weeks later I see the basic edition of the rule book is available again. Call to see if a copy has arrived for me, nope. Ok i need some more items for the game. tell them I want to order the items so they can be ready to pick up with the rule book when it does arrive. They stop me mid list to go check the shelves for the items. They have some 90% of it, nice. I ask if they are going to be held for me as I had mentioned I wanted to pick everything together. They do not do unpaid holds. So what was the point of checking the shelves? Either way I buy the items over the phone and order the remaining items.

At current I would stop shopping there if I didn't have a large sum of store credit that I got from selling...

So after shopping here for a couple of months, I have formed an opinion of the ridiculous policies they have and how they do business.

First for a TCG store they don’t allow trading in store, if caught you will be dealt a hefty ban. Isn’t the whole point of having this kind of shop is being a safe place to do these kinds of things like Trading, the first word of TCG. (The owner isn’t very kind to this, he has been seen being passive aggressive when confronting people and dealing with the bans)

Second any new singles has to be viewed by the owner first in order to be in stock instead of delegating to his employees for a more smoother/faster transition, there are times where things takes months before something is in stock when you know they’ve had that specific card for a while now. (Staff have acknowledged this as well because they have to deal with people asking for weeks on end if the card they are waiting for is finally available)

Third a part of their staff are for the most part friendly, but some look like it’s pain to even be there helping anyone, Sometimes it has me wanting to apologize for even walking up.

Lastly I’ve heard a lot of good things about this place but also heard/seen a lot of bad things to the point where a lot of people are hoping a new shop opens up. Do...

I recently stumbled upon Wild Things Games in Salem, and honestly, it’s such a gem. If you're into board games or card games (or even tabletop RPGs), this place feels like home. The moment I walked in, I was greeted by super chill staff who are genuinely into what they do. They’re always happy to chat about games, help you find something new, or explain a game you’ve never heard of before. It’s that kind of vibe that makes you want to keep coming back.

The selection here is solid—everything from old-school favorites to cool new releases that I hadn’t seen anywhere else. Every time I visit, I end up discovering something I didn't even know I needed. Plus, they do regular game nights, so it’s a great way to meet other gamers or just have a good time with friends.

The store itself is cozy and easy to navigate, and it’s clear that they really care about the gaming community. Whether you’re new to the scene or a seasoned player, there’s always something fun to check out.

If you're in Salem and looking for a chill spot to grab a new game, or just want to hang out and meet some like-minded people, Wild Things Games is totally worth the visit. I’m already looking forward...