Edition Bias and 4e Sales Perception

[Mistwell]

A fan, I voted other. Based on the wsj best seller list I figure its doing well, but I really don't know.

Hey I am not looking for what you know...just what you suspect is the case.

 

[Scribble]

Not to cut the term too fine, that really only shows a difference in store management and salesmanship, and not a direct proof of product sales. Specifically, the former seems to be* a 4E/new-gamer supporter, and the latter seems to be a 3E/grognard supporter.

*"Seems to be" being the term used to mark that this is the most accurate interpretation based on the information at hand. Further information will naturally upset this conclusion.

Which is pretty much why I said my comments were annecdotal.

But- the berkeley store didn't push the changeover, the players just decided they wanted to go with 4e.

I do agree with the management issue, but to a degree stores can drive sales. If the store manager's bias causes him to always badmouth a specific product, only stock the bare minimum of that product, and not realy make it apparent that he has that product at all... It's going to lower sales of said product at his place at least.

But then again he was in the end a bad salesman... He badmouthed 4e, but then didn't end up selling the person ANYTHING.

 

[Wormwood]

My anecdotal evidence leads me to believe that sales are doing well in my area. My FLGS has a pretty good sell-through rate, and my group(s) are buying the books as soon as they come out (6 DDI subscribers between them).

This, coupled with WotC's statements and stuff like Amazon lists, leads me to believe the game is doing all right.

I could very well be wrong, of course.

 

[Aus_Snow]

It looks like it's selling poorly. It certainly is, locally. I don't like 4e. Make of that what you will (not that some need the invitation, I know. )

 

[ProfessorCirno]

Just as anecdotal as the next, but all the chain book store (Borders and Barnes and Nobles) in my area seem to have it in stock (and it seems to be moving.)

The two game stores I ever frequent are a mixed bag.

The one in Berkeley seems to be selling 4e, and the in store game my friend is in has moved to 4e.

The other one in SF seems to be reccomending people not buy or play 4e. (Or at least the sales guy on shift the last time I was in there was.)

Sorry, I don't believe you. At all. I fully think you're outright lying to us, and I can't believe you expect us to believe this. I mean, a game store in San Francisco?!

...Unless like 90% of their stock is CARD GAMES. Then I understand.

PS: This is not intended to be serious and insulting. Oh god in before I'm attacked.

 

[darjr]

Hey I am not looking for what you know...just what you suspect is the case.

What? No comment for billd?

 

[El Mahdi]

I'm neutral about 4E - and I believe it's selling well.

I don't prefer 4E myself, but all that means is I'll DM in my houseruled 3.5E, but will play with friends in any system (including 4E - although I haven't had the opportunity yet, and haven't exactly searched a game out). So I voted neutral on that aspect.

I think it's been selling good, by my standards, but I don't think any of us can know for certain (but in light of recent events, who knows if sales will remain good). Whether the amount of books sold jives with WotC/Hasbro expectations is only known by them. Also, whether it's selling well in comparison to other editions is probably anybodies guess, since we don't seem to be able to get hard numbers.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Overall, I support 4E, and, while sales are probably not at the level WOTC would like, it is clear that their profits are not solely reliant on 4E, either. So, I am not worried they will go out of business or stop producing 4E,

 

[Dragon Snack]

I dislike 4.0, but I'm convinced it's selling good. How good is up for debate (especially with WotC's recent actions), but it's still a strong brand. Even though you don't need huge (100,000+) sales to make best seller lists, you still need to move a lot of product.

Anecdotally, it's selling poorly in my store* (which is the only metric that I truly care about). Another store in my area ran a sale on the PHB2 the day it was released (which could have beeen for any number of reasons, but was odd nonetheless).


*That's not to say that 3rd edition is selling better though, it's not. In fact, 2nd edition kicks both of their butts (when I actually have product for it).

 

[Scribble]

Sorry, I don't believe you. At all. I fully think you're outright lying to us, and I can't believe you expect us to believe this. I mean, a game store in San Francisco?!

...Unless like 90% of their stock is CARD GAMES. Then I understand.

PS: This is not intended to be serious and insulting. Oh god in before I'm attacked.

I'm actually amazed that they can afford the space myself. Must have been there a LONG time before prices in SF went haywire durring the dotcom era. (Or so I'm told.)

The store is like card games and "pocket" games at the sales desk area, lots of board games, and classic games, and puzzles and stuff towards the front, Game stuff towards the middle, and minis/painting stuff in the back with the tables for game play.

I prefer games of Berkeley because it's bigger, brighter, has a bigger selection, and they give you a 10% discount on al game stuff bought there. (Which at least covers the tax...)