PDF Stores

[pawsplay]

So were's the best place to sell these days? RPGNow is obviously the 800-pound gorilla, but I've learned that their percentage may be higher than I was originally imagining. 40%, seriously?

I am aware of yourgamesnow.com, also e23.sjgames.com. Then there's Paizo... I have about zero experience on which to base my expectations for dealing with them.

Selling PDFs on my own web site... sounds like a pain for probably much lower sales, probably below the radar. Thoughts?

 

[FireLance]

So were's the best place to sell these days? RPGNow is obviously the 800-pound gorilla, but I've learned that their percentage may be higher than I was originally imagining. 40%, seriously?

If you do an exclusive deal (i.e. you don't release through any other channels), they take a 30% cut. Does that sound more palatable to you?

 

[pawsplay]

If you do an exclusive deal (i.e. you don't release through any other channels), they take a 30% cut. Does that sound more palatable to you?

Definitely. However, I am a little leery of entering into a exclusive deal. Apart from possibly interfering with some projects, I am not sure I want to feed the big monster. How does that affect print options, also?

 

[FireLance]

Definitely. However, I am a little leery of entering into a exclusive deal. Apart from possibly interfering with some projects, I am not sure I want to feed the big monster. How does that affect print options, also?

Print wasn't an issue I considered since I didn't see myself going into print in the near future. I did just sign up for a year, though, so if I found that the relationship wasn't working out, or if my plans changed, I'm not tying myself down for too long a period of time.

 

[pawsplay]

That makes sense. In terms of print I was thinking mainly of small vanity runs.

 

[Starglim]

Indie Press Revolution sells some PDFs, as does Lulu, better known for Print on Demand.

If you don't take the RPGNow/DriveThru exclusive route, you might get another 10% of RPGNow sales from all others combined, or you might get much more if your work becomes popular with a particular community. You could think about, for example, what systems you're planning to support and which lists you'd frequent to announce and discuss your releases.

Selling PDFs on my own web site... sounds like a pain for probably much lower sales, probably below the radar. Thoughts?

I'd pretty much agree. It's a hassle and an issue of trust for a customer to sign up with yet another small site.

 

[ephealy]

It really depends on what you're going to sell. Most publishers do well to focus solely on OBS, but Pathfinder publishers sell just as many copies at Paizo as on OBS, even with the lower number of customers, because of the 'fit'. Likewise, I've seen some publishers do just as well at e23 - typically those that sell deck plans for science-fiction games (Ki Ryn Studios, for instance).

 

[pawsplay]

So what's involved in setting up an account with one of these stores? I haven't fired off the emails yet, but I think my product may be ready pretty soon.

 

[ephealy]

So what's involved in setting up an account with one of these stores? I haven't fired off the emails yet, but I think my product may be ready pretty soon.

Your best bet is to fire off those emails.

 

[Brekkil]

RPGNow has given me most of my customers. In that regards, Paizo has actually disappointed me slightly. Maybe its just me, and how I sell my products

K. Axel Carlsson
Founder of Headless Hydra Games
Headless Hydra Games
Mor Aldenn – City of Mages
Unknown Stars