Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Do you sell to the public?

No, but your Friendly Local Gaming Store can get anything we offer for you.

Do you sell to clubs?

No, but your Friendly Local Gaming Store can get anything we offer for you.

How do I open an account?

You can request an account application via the Application Request page. We will send you an application to fill out, it usually takes 1 to 2 days to set up a new account if everything is in order.

Do you accept credit cards?

Yes, Visa and MasterCard.

Ordering and Returns

How do I place an order?

Current customers can order by phone, fax, email or via this web site.

How long does it take for my order to ship?

Under normal circumstances if your order is placed before 3 PM it will ship the same day. Since prime retail selling time is on the weekend, we will occasionally prioritize the shipping schedule to be sure everyone receives their shipments for Friday.

Freight.

Orders are shipped via Purolator, UPS, or Canada Post.

I need to return something to Lion Rampant. What is the procedure?

Since we distribute for over 100 publishers it is difficult to have one policy. Please call your sales representative for complete instructions. Generally however, all returns must be pre-authorized, and all returns must have an RMA number clearly marked on the outside of the parcel.

I don't see any prices. What's going on?

The cost of a product only appears when you are logged into your account. Use the Login page to log in, then view the product again to obtain your pricing.

Do you have a shop in quebec, and want to learn more about office québécois de la langue française (oqlf) language regulations?

When is it ok for a Canadian distributor to sell English games to a Quebec retailer?

In the province of Quebec, the sale of games in a language other than French is only permitted when a French version is also available under fair conditions*.

What is the difference between the sale of an English-only item by a Quebec distributor or by a distributor outside of Quebec (i.e., in Ontario)?

For games, there is no difference. Distributors both in Quebec and in other provinces are required to comply with the ban in Quebec on games in any language other than French, unless a French version is also available under fair conditions*.

What is the distributor’s responsibility toward a retailer who purchased a product in a language other than French, if he had no right to sell it?

A distributor who sells a Quebec retailer a banned game, could face a claim for the cancellation of the sale by the retailer on the basis that it violates the provisions of the Charter of the French Language.
The OQLF also has the power to issue an order against the distributor to cease distribution of the game in Quebec. Failure to comply could result in the distributor facing criminal proceedings leading to fines. These proceedings may also target the distributor’s directors.
The OQLF may also choose to apply to the Superior Court of Quebec for an injunction to stop the distribution of the game in Quebec.
Finally, the Minister of the French language may revoke any permit issued to the distributor by the Government of Quebec in the event of repeated violations of the Charter.

Under what conditions can a Quebec retailer sell English games (to consumers in Quebec and also in the rest of Canada)?

The sale of English-language games to Quebec consumers is permitted only when a French-language version is also available to those consumers under fair conditions*.
A Quebec retailer can sell a game in a language other than French to a customer who is not located in Quebec, without having to worry about the availability of a French version on the Quebec market.

Could online access to a game’s French-language rulebook be a way to make the product available to the Quebec market?

An online rule book is not sufficient. Any physical game offered to Quebec consumers must be either bilingual, multilingual, or also be available in a French-only version.

The French product is currently out of stock but will eventually come back in stock. Can we continue to distribute a version in another language (English, for example)?

In this case, distribution in Quebec of the English version must stop until the French version is again available to Quebec consumers.

Do retailers have to remove the English version of a product from their shelves or websites if the French version is out of stock?

In this case, in-store sales of the English version must stop within Quebec until the French version is again available. The online sale of the English version can continue, but to non-Quebec-residents only. All sales can resume, both in-store and online, once the French or bilingual version is once again available.

Can a distributor sell a board game in a language other than French if the French version of the game is sold by a competing distributor?

If the distributor of the non-French-language version is satisfied that the French version of the game is available in Quebec through a competitor, under fair conditions*, the sale of the non-French-language version is permitted.

What happens if the French version is really more expensive (up to double the price); is this considered unfair conditions*?

This is considered unfair conditions*. To be sold in Quebec, the price of the French version must not be higher than versions in other languages sold to residents in the province. As an alternative, for the Quebec market, the prices of non-French-language versions can be increased to match the price of the French version.

If the product is available online (in France, for example), is it considered “available”? Would that condition allow for the distribution of the English version in Quebec?

The Quebec consumer must be able to obtain the French version under conditions that are fair* in comparison to the English version. In this case, certain factors (currency conversion rates and fees, possible customs charges, longer shipping times…) would likely make it impossible to meet conditions that are fair*.

Can we sell a new product if the French version will only be released at a later date?

The sale of a version in a language other than French is only permitted once the French version is available on the Quebec market.

Is there a distinction between online and in-store sales for the pan-Canadian market?

No. For the Quebec market specifically, the ban on selling a game in a language other than French, when a French version is not available applies both to sales made in-store, and online, no matter where the retailer is located in Canada.

Can an English-only game be featured on the English version of an e-commerce website?

If a game is available for sale to Quebec residents, the French and English versions of the site must be equivalent. Therefore, it would not be permitted to display a product only on the English version of the site.

Is it possible to only display the English version of a game on the French webpage of an e-commerce site for residents outside of Quebec? For example, if a French-speaking consumer who does not live in Quebec would like to purchase a copy of a product, does the description have to be in French?

In this case it is possible, as the consumer does not live in Quebec. The description must be in French when the site in question generally accepts orders from Quebec residents. If a French version of the game is not available on the Quebec market, the game must not be sold to Quebec residents.

*Overview of the Term “Fair Conditions”

In this page, the term “fair conditions” refers specifically to the following term expressed in C-11—Charter of the French Language: “conditions that are at least as favourable.” While there is no jurisprudential interpretation of this concept, the following principles may apply:

1. The French version must be available on the Quebec market. This does not imply that the French version must be available at every retailer offering the game in Quebec.
2. The French version must be available on the Quebec market within the same time frame as a version in another language.
3. The French version must be offered on the Quebec market at the same price, or lower than the version in another language that is offered in Quebec.
4. The French version of the game offered in Quebec must be equivalent to the versions offered in other languages in the province.

Would you like more information?

Please consult C-11—Charter of the French Language or contact your sales representative.