Outrage at prices

[JoeGKushner]

So why do some people get so excited about prices of products?

Is it because you want the products but not for what their charging?

Is it because you want the products, but not in that format, and hence not that price?

Is it just general outrage that companies are making a "cash grab"?

Is it because you feel that you've invested in the game and these companies owe you something?

Is it because you're comparing the prices to similiar products and find them unreasonable?

Is it because on the internet, no one knows you're a dog?

 

[Turanil]

It's so good to feel outraged by the wrongdoings of shameless abusers, and be able to scream our righteous anger all over the world...

 

[fusangite]

I think there are two issues at play here:
(a) The third-party orientation of OGL means that there is a larger diversity of books with smaller print runs. Thus, the unit cost of books is higher. While I think open gaming has done a lot to make things more vibrant, my hope is that as the marketplace evolves, there will be fewer third party publishers with more market credibility, thereby enabling larger print runs and reduced or at least static prices.
(b) Short, highly modular rules improvements or additions, the things I am most typically looking for, tend not to be published as stand-alone products but end up like the first section of Frostburn: twenty pages of rules before the ubiquitous new spells, feats and prestige classes that fill up 80% of the book. So, I do feel kind of ripped-off in that I pay about 2-3 times as much as I can usually justify because the thing I want is one section in a larger product the rest of which does not interest me.

I think that, over time, these structural problems will be addressed in the market. But we haven't got there yet; so I don't buy many gaming books. Of course, there are exceptions; Green Ronin's Shaman's Handbook, while a little too into prestige classes, came close to the right length and the right balance of contents for me. Needless to say, I was happy to pay the list price.

 

[diaglo]

i don't want to pay more for something then i feel it is worth.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I have no clue and it is beyond me. :\ I buy a book and I use it over and over again, month and years after I pick it up, I like it, it gives me joy and entertains, you can't put a price on that. A video game, maybe three plays but really over and done with in 50 to 60 hours: I don't hear issue there. A music CD maybe one song, two if you are lucky but again have not heard too many issues with price. A DVD movie: nothing. Why books?

 

[Kanegrundar]

The only time I get pissed about the price of a book is when the book isn't very good (either mechanically or by flavor). That's not really a complaint about the price, just that I bought a crappy book. Other than that, I get a LOT of use for my $20 plus dollars that I spend on each book. It's well worth it in the end.

Kane

 

[Aus_Snow]

So why do some people get so excited about prices of products?

I don't, for one. But regarding "some people", I have no idea. On the other hand, there are times when the price of a product or service, of just about any kind, puts me off paying for it.

Is it because you want the products but not for what their charging?

Usually, yes. That's it.

Is it because you want the products, but not in that format, and hence not that price?

Not often, no. Sometimes though.

Is it just general outrage that companies are making a "cash grab"?

Hardly ever. But if they are, I'll certainly thumb my nose at them.

Is it because you feel that you've invested in the game and these companies owe you something?

Not once. I don't invest in games; I either buy what I want, or I don't. There are no issues involved.* But then, I am also completely lacking in company loyalty of any colour, and glad of it.

Is it because you're comparing the prices to similiar products and find them unreasonable?

At times, yes.


* As a rule of thumb, I just won't pay more than say, $40 (USD) for a roleplaying book. For example. So... bah humbug!

 

[Arnwyn]

you can't put a price on that.

But some people do... and it's perfectly valid to do so.

A video game, maybe three plays but really over and done with in 50 to 60 hours: I don't hear issue there. A DVD movie: nothing. Why books?

It's all about how people value a particular experience.

Some people (many, if your post is true) consider the experience of a video game or DVD movie to be much higher than a (game) book. And that's a legitimate feeling.

(About the complaining of price, though, I'm just too apathetic to formulate an answer. Really, people just complain. It's what they do.)

 

[WayneLigon]

So why do some people get so excited about prices of products?

It's because I'm 43 and I remember major hardback releases at $15.00 or less. Irrational yes, but it's still there. If it's something I know I will like and will use a lot, I'll pay for it and I'll rarely complain but at the same time I'll probably always think of any game book more than $20.00 as 'overpriced'.

 

[reveal]

i don't want to pay more for something then i feel it is worth.

What he said. It's that simple for me.