Change in WotC pricing structure?

[The Little Raven]

I was told that that the RPG industry does not see the overseas market as enough of a cost-effective exercise and because of that, it will always play second fiddle to the local (US) markets.

It's the same with video games, particularly MMOs. Oceanic players are forced to rely on other regions' servers, because it's not cost-effective to maintain Oceanic branches of a company.

 

[Mephistopheles]

I rang Mil Sims a little while ago about some books long overdue (WotC, Green Ronin, Paizo, Goodman Games, I am looking at you!). Apparently, the entirety of the Australian RPG market consists of less than 1% of the world's total. I then asked for plainer speech and I was told that that the RPG industry does not see the overseas market as enough of a cost-effective exercise and because of that, it will always play second fiddle to the local (US) markets.

I would dearly love to be proved wrong about this, I really would. Me personally: I am still completely unconvinced that a new edition is worth the money that Australians will have to pay for it. In this day and age, overseas customers need to be treated better and made to feel like part of the team. We try hard to keep up by listening to a lot of the carry-on here at ENWorld of late, but I feel that we get very little back lately.

I'd be curious to how many other Australians/other overseas customers are still fence-sitters because they feel they are still in the dark about 4th Edition, or perhaps are reacting similarly to myself and are 'a little cold' because all they see is salesmen peddling their wares (eg: It is, sir, the latest fashion in New York; all the gentlemen are wearing plaid cummerbunds....).

It's a shame because I would like to support local retailers. A lot of the cost is probably out of their control. Unfortunately it's just too expensive to do it. The last few years the only retail book store I've visited is Napoleon's (Sydney) for my monthly Dragon and Dungeon. Since those got cut...

Cost isn't something that would keep me away from a new edition. If I do end up liking 4E when I get a look at the final product (I'm still refusing to judge it based on snippets) the problem would be finding a group to play it with as my current group isn't interested in it regardless of how it turns out.

 

[Aus_Snow]

$72.79 USD (~$78 AUD) from Amazon, including international shipping for the three core book set (with slipcase).

Why shop anywhere else?

Holy crap.

Have they lowered their shipping in general? 'Cause last time I went through them it was more than $9.95 to Oz.

Indeed, why anywhere else. The wait, or lack of it, I suppose. That's the only thing I can think of. So, days rather than weeks. $40+ for getting it sooner. . . well, probably. Hm. . .

 

[Vradna]

The last few years the only retail book store I've visited is Napoleon's (Sydney) for my monthly Dragon and Dungeon. Since those got cut...

I breeze in and out of the 'three' in Sydney's CBD once every 3-4 weeks to see if Pathfinder #5 or later is in. I checked 2 weeks ago and still only number #4. I have since given up trying to collect it. Dungeon Crawl Classics from Goodman Games keep me going for the time being at least. Games Paradise seems to have the greatest collection.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I think they might have something wrong. WotC has the cover prizes in their own site too and for much less. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/217187400
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/217367200

35$ for phb
25$ for H1

Bear in mind Blackrat that we're talking in Australian dollars here. Considering that the Australian dollar is buying $0.90 US dollars at the moment it means that Australian gamers are getting screwed at that price.

I do wonder about the prices though. When the last mini set was released I spoke to the guys at my FLGS about it, asking if their price was going to be cheaper. According to the 2 brothers that run the store, WotC were still charging them the same amount in Australian dollars for each minis case, despite the fact that the US dollar had dropped quite a bit in value since the last minis release.

This meant that WotC were basically charging the gaming store more US dollars per case. If that is the case then that sucks. Of course, the owners could have been lying to me and just making a bigger margin off me, but I really don't think that was the case.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Holy crap.

Have they lowered their shipping in general? 'Cause last time I went through them it was more than $9.95 to Oz.

Indeed, why anywhere else. The wait, or lack of it, I suppose. That's the only thing I can think of. So, days rather than weeks. $40+ for getting it sooner. . . well, probably. Hm. . .

Bear in mind that there is a 5% discount by pre-ordering. In addition to that you can order the PHB, DMG and MM in the gift slipcase and only be charged shipping for 1 item shipping. That probably why the price seems so cheap. At the current exchange rate I work out it out to be around $80-$83 if you preorder the slipcase from Amazon. That's basically 2/3rds the price of ordering it from MilSims.

Olaf the Stout