Need clarification on "No Retailer Links" rule

[Morrus]

Not all my press releases have every store it's available in because some can take days after I release it at one to post the product, but when they are on the ball I like to make sure my press releases have all a customer's options available, regardless of where I post it. That's just smart marketing. Cutting off customer options is not smart marketing.

I disagree with the assertion that more options is better as an absolute. ENP (until now) has released simulatenously on DTRPG and RPGNow. However, we pointed people to RPGNow not DTRPG because the royalty rate is better there. We'd rather they bought from RPGNow. However, we still sell at DTRPG because there are people who will happen to buy our stuff there because they found it while browsing, and wouldn't have bought at RPGNow anyway.

 

[Morrus]

You're essentially noting most of my key points if not some of the finer ones. I don't consider it a certainty, as no one can tell the future, but it's something I've seen often enough in non-rpg contexts to worry about happening here. Brass tacks: people like options, especially if they're going to be shelling out cash. Anytime you make things more difficult for customers, and that's what taking away options is, you risk pissing them off and driving them elsewhere.

Ah, but what comes next in the chain? OK, the publishers have all left. What now?

 

[Steve Conan Trustrum]

Ah, but what comes next in the chain? OK, the publishers have all left. What now?

A large part of what made EnWorld grow to begin with was the access to publishers both in the publisher forum and in the general boards. If the publishers go elsewhere a lot of that draw goes with it. Sure, you'll still have a solid foundation of users who enjoy the community and offerings aside from the publishers, but there's no telling what the loss of such benefits will do to EnWorld's infrastructure over time. It is, after all, one of the major points that seperates EnWorld from just about every other d20 site out there.

I honestly don't see any sort of mass exodus on the part of the publishers or customers. That's more than just a bit too dramatic. I do, however, believe you'll find publishers looking a lot harder at their time spent versus returns relationship at EnWorld.

 

[HalWhitewyrm]

Gosh, I go away for a couple days due to the High Holy Days and come back to big news and big changes! I need to read through everything, which will take some time as there are more Holy Days next week. I'll try to fix the sig before then, and consider all the changes for the future. We'll see how the ENWorld PDF store does, but I like the idea and have signed up (though it'll take me a few days to upload any product).

 

[BSF]

Very interesting overall. I have been pretty overwhelmed with work laqtely so I am even further out of the loop than usual.

I am interested that EN World is doing a PDF storefront. Already looked over it and I don't see anything compelling to me to buy from EN World's storefront than RPGNow. But I have mentioned how fickle I am as a consumer. I need to give it more thought before I can post any relevant feedback.

I am somewhat disappointed in the change in policy though. There is nothing wrong with it, of course. I just like to have the links to click on. It also makes me feel a little uneasy about posting links when people are asking for products that fit their needs. I know that consumers aren't supposed to be affected by the policy change, but that just feels kind of weird to me. Probably fatigue putting an irrational spin on things right now.

I do hope that folks continue to post press releases though! The publishers forum is the 2nd or 3rd forum I hit almost every single time I visit. I am quite serious. General is a hit, the publishers forum is usually a hit, the story hour forum is usually a hit and meta is often a hit. As well, my hosted forum gets a lot of views from me, I might hit the front page news a few times a month. So from my perspective, I want your press releases here. I am specifically looking.

I do wonder if the long term effect of this change might be for the better though. Since many of you link directly to a storefront, I am less likely to check out your individual web sites. Maybe that is an error on my part? It could be that forcing me to go to your web sites might make me more aware of your product offerings. So I will withhold judgment on whether this is a good move in the long term or not.

I hope it is.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Yep. I was on the fence on this one. I can be convinced either way on it.

Okay, let me try, then.

Having three stars gives customers the impression that the product has already been reviewed, and that the reviewer found it average. There are some customers who, given the plethora of options, will not buy a product that has received a review of less than favorable.

Even if the "No reviews available" means they decide to wait until a review comes in, that's still a potential future sale, whereas someone who disdains a product because it's "merely" average may well never look at it again.

I'd submit to you that it's better--for publisher and storefront both--to be quite up-front about the fact that a procuct has not been reviewed, vs. a "default" rating that may cause confusion and/or false impressions.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Okay, let me try, then.

Having three stars gives customers the impression that the product has already been reviewed, and that the reviewer found it average. There are some customers who, given the plethora of options, will not buy a product that has received a review of less than favorable.

Even if the "No reviews available" means they decide to wait until a review comes in, that's still a potential future sale, whereas someone who disdains a product because it's "merely" average may well never look at it again.

I'd submit to you that it's better--for publisher and storefront both--to be quite up-front about the fact that a procuct has not been reviewed, vs. a "default" rating that may cause confusion and/or false impressions.

I'm convinced

 

[carpedavid]

Okay, let me try, then.

Having three stars gives customers the impression that the product has already been reviewed, and that the reviewer found it average. There are some customers who, given the plethora of options, will not buy a product that has received a review of less than favorable.

Even if the "No reviews available" means they decide to wait until a review comes in, that's still a potential future sale, whereas someone who disdains a product because it's "merely" average may well never look at it again.

I'd submit to you that it's better--for publisher and storefront both--to be quite up-front about the fact that a procuct has not been reviewed, vs. a "default" rating that may cause confusion and/or false impressions.

I'm convinced, too - as both a potential customer and a potential vendor. All data appearing with a product should have a real meaning - not simply be a placeholder.

 

[thalmin]

Giving a product a rating it doesn't deserve seems less than ethical.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I don't think it does. If you have an option, it is only polite to direct people to the ENWorld store when you can. It will help keep the whole operation afloat.

Hrrrrm, I didn't know what was in the works when I wrote that. Things are a lot clearer to me now.

For the record-- keeping in mind I'm behind the success of the venture-- the storefront seems to have stepped into the shoes that RPG Now just outgrew.

1) The storefront is ugly. I won't elaborate much on this-- compare it to DTRPG, to Paizo, to the new RPGnow-- or to the old RPGnow.

2) Good luck with Pick and Mix, but my impression (publisher hat off, customer hat on) is that the PnM offerings are going to be filled with a whole lot of chaff.

For the sake of argument let's agree that Ronin Arts is the most successful, professional, and reliable producer of PDF content.

I wouldn't pay 50 cents for a bit of orphaned crunch, not even from Phil Reed.

You know? If it's a good idea, give me "A Dozen..." of them for a buck or two-- even if it means you have to put a little more time and effort into gathering those thoughts together. That's actually less risky to me, as a customer, than paying 50 cents for a single item.

By making the price so low, and especially by making the publisher's "barrier to entry" so low, I think you pretty much guarantee a whole lot of low quality offerings. I'm not saying that's true of ENP, Ronin Arts, The Le, etc.

But it seems to be a format that's easily abused.

3) Please get rid of the automatic 3-star average rating.

Anyhow... Here's to a successful launch!