Pre-ordering 3.5?

[ced1106]

just a gentle reminder folks that buying from huge multinational corporations like walmart and amazon [even if they do offer big discounts] is one of the reasons why local gaming stores [and book stores, and record shops, etc.] are going out of business. support your local community, even if it means spending a few extra bucks [or quid, or yen, or what-have-you]!

It's a two-edged sword. By putting a core product on the mass market shelves, you're exposing it to a greater number of people. As they seek other gamers, they promote the overall industry. Mass market chains cannot support the roleplaying industry alone. Supplements just aren't worth the shelf space. So as new players become more aware of the game industry, they'll look for FLGS's for further d20 stuff.

Another note: You're assuming that if a product isn't available at a chain (at a discount), it'll be purchased at the FLGS (at full price). Supply and demand will tell you this isn't going to happen. You've read plenty of threads where someone says, "Books are too expensive!" or "No one but me in my gaming group buys the books".

IMO, More core books sold in chains now means more roleplaying books sold by everyone later.


Cedric.
aka. Washu! ^O^

 

[haiiro]

My inner sensible person suggests pre-ordering the new core books at a deep discount, but the rest of me knows I'll be buying them for full price at GenCon Indy. I can't wait.

 

[SemperJase]

I've been trying to think of the positive side to the 3.5...and for me the positive side of 3.5 coming out is the money this will provide to the FLGS's.

The positive side for me is an improved game system the will be widely played by other gamers.

I understand that I can buy from wal-mart, amazon or a few other places for less money. But I'm all about supporting the hobby and supporting the local stores.

I would love to support my FLGS as well. I just won't do it at almost twice the price of what I can buy somewhere else. That is just not a wise use of my limited resources. Every extra dollar I spend at the GS is one less dollar I can use to buy something else. So Instead of buying a PHB and DMG at the FLGS, I will buy 2 PHB's, a DMG, and a MM from buy.com.

If wotc is going to pull something like this to generate more money for themselves (and you are being unrealistic if you don't see that) at least make sure that a share of that money is going to the underappreciated local merchants that help make your gaming experience better.

Of course WotC is trying to make money. They would be irresponsible if they weren't. And if local merchant's are underappreciated, it would seem that would be rightly so if they are not providing a competitive value for the price they are charging.

For those of you without an FLGS, there are some that have web presences...and some, like TalonComics that post right here on the EN Boards.

That's as long as you would rather spend 23.95 instead of 18.67 per book. I would rather keep that extra $15 on the set of 3 for myself. Sorry Talon, you're a business not a charity. I'm going for the best value.

 

[Drakron]

However the entire world is not the US of A.

I buy my stuff from two stores, if I did start to order online the only thing it would happen is the local importer start to take less and less orders until it drop from acting as a middle men within it and the local shops (since they really dont need it, they are behind of a lot of comics imports).

In the US it might not matter much if its from a Amazon store, a WotC store or a local shop but in the rest of the world it does, I already seen one of those local shops close ...

 

[SemperJase]

In the US it might not matter much if its from a Amazon store, a WotC store or a local shop but in the rest of the world it does, I already seen one of those local shops close ...

Here it matters to the FLGS. They will close if people go to online sales or the larger stores (e.g. Wal~Mart).

That is the brutal nature of business though. If you can't be competitive, you don't stay in business.

I do support my FLGS when I can. The one closest to my house (a mall store called "It's Your Move") is smart enough to diversify. They offer more than just roleplaying games including board games that are difficult to find and a good supply of Cheapass games (some of my favorite).

Two weeks ago, I bought the Settlers of Catan card game there. That game is not widely available and their price was competitive. Yesterday, my wife bought the Cranium board game booster pack from Wal~Mart since the copy available at It's Your Move was $10.00 more. Now we have enough money to go out dinner tonight (that $10.00 is significant for us).

 

[Kryndal Levik]

I buy just about all of my gaming materials from my local shop (longtime customer), except for the horrendously expensive items (The Book of the Righteous, while fantastic, was pretty damned expensive at a shelf price of $40- got it on ebay for $20).

That being said- I'm going to check out- and most likely pick up- the new 3.5 books at GenCon.

 

[Seonaid]

Wal-Mart is evil. Ever wonder why their prices are so low? Ask any employee about benefits, unionization, and general nice-ness of the corporation.

 

[tburdett]

Wal-Mart is evil. Ever wonder why their prices are so low? Ask any employee about benefits, unionization, and general nice-ness of the corporation.

If the employees are unhappy they should find work elsewhere. Those working conditions exist because people are willing to accept them.

I lucked out on the Buy.Com Epic Level Handbook fiasco (2 copies!) and I'll probably go with them again for the revised Core books. I am not willing to buy hardcovers at full price from my FLGS, but I buy everything else there.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Sounds like walmart.com is the way to go!

Anybody got a link to the product pages? I can't seem to locate the 3.5e books with the search engine.

 

[boschdevil]

Sounds like walmart.com is the way to go!

Anybody got a link to the product pages? I can't seem to locate the 3.5e books with the search engine.

Try HERE.