Price Madness at my LGS

[Nonlethal Force]

Well, to be honest I live in the states and still order through the internet. Once a year I buy a membership to Books A Million for about $10. From that point on I can buy any WotC product marked $29.95 (US) for either $18.95 or $21.95. I only need to buy one book a year on average to recoup the cost of membership. In the states, shipping is free if you buy over $25. I realize they won't ship to Australia for free, but don't you have something like that over there? If not, I'd find out what Books A Million would cost to ship the slow way to Australia. Because I've not found many places that across the board offer free shipping and carry as many D&D products online as Books A Million. At least not here in the states. Their prices often beat or match Amazon.

 

[MerricB]

I've explained it to the new owners, several times. They say they've got the right price. I'm just not going to go back there.

With the ability to buy from either MilSims or Mind Games Melbourne for much cheaper, it's not hard to find an alternative supply. I just regret that I now have the inconvenience of no longer having a good FLGS.

I'm not really quite sure how MilSims and Mind Games get the prices they do (they're often much lower than I'd expect), but I'd have been happy to pay $25 for this product. That seems reasonable given shipping fees. $32? No - and it's a similar mark-up, about 50% over Melbourne on their other products as well. That's way too much.

Cheers!

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Well, to be honest I live in the states and still order through the internet. Once a year I buy a membership to Books A Million for about $10. From that point on I can buy any WotC product marked $29.95 (US) for either $18.95 or $21.95. I only need to buy one book a year on average to recoup the cost of membership. In the states, shipping is free if you buy over $25. I realize they won't ship to Australia for free, but don't you have something like that over there? If not, I'd find out what Books A Million would cost to ship the slow way to Australia. Because I've not found many places that across the board offer free shipping and carry as many D&D products online as Books A Million. At least not here in the states. Their prices often beat or match Amazon.

What do they carry in regards to 3rd party publishers? I quite often order products from Mongoose (Paranoia), Green Ronin, Expeditious Retreat Press, Necromancer Games and Goodman Games. Do they stock these companies products too?

Olaf the Stout

 

[TheAuldGrump]

If you ask me, we don't have to worry about chain stores (like Wal-Mart) killing local businesses. It's the online stores that are killing local businesses.

Or all too often the local businesses killing themselves. (A late, unlamented, not so friendly local gamestore comes to mind... 'twere not murther red, but suicide.)

The Auld Grump

 

[Patrick O'Duffy]

I have friends who travel to Melbourne fairly frequently, so it should be no problem to pick things up at Mind Games (it has prices similar to MilSims).

If they're coming here, it's no problem to pick it up from MilSims either. They're not in the CBD, but they're not so far away that it costs much to get out and buy direct either.

Not that I've done so; I like Mind Games, and it's more convenient for me to shop in the CBD. But if your friend is making any kind of large-scale shopping trip, he may as well target MilSims to get the most for the money.

 

[Patrick O'Duffy]

I'm not really quite sure how MilSims and Mind Games get the prices they do (they're often much lower than I'd expect), but I'd have been happy to pay $25 for this product. That seems reasonable given shipping fees. $32? No - and it's a similar mark-up, about 50% over Melbourne on their other products as well. That's way too much.

The two factors I'd guess at:

- They're passing along shipping, handling and customs expediting costs, which any import operation has to deal with on a regular basis. The former owners may have absorbed more of those costs.

- The distributor they buy the books from charges a higher price point, and they're again passing that along to the customer. Which implies they're buying from a third party, rather than directly from Wizards - which would make sense if they're importing their stock from the US, rather than through Wizard's Australian distribution offices.

All guesswork on my part, based on several years in comic/game retail (now thankfully far behind me), and I could be completely wrong. They may just suck. Either way, it's a shame.

 

[Nyaricus]

Sorry to go off topic here...

I went to Value Village last night and found some D&D books, a mix of 3.0 and 3.5 FR books, the XPH, and Eberron Campaign Setting. They were all mint condition, and all $15 canadian. I'm tempted to go back down, buy them, and flip them on eBay.

-sav

Lucky bum. The VV's in Winnipeg almost never have D&D books. No idea why.

Speaking of buying D&D books in Winnipeg:

My LGS in Canada:

Scourge of the Howling Horde: US price $15. Canadian LGS: CDN$16.85 (US$14.68).

Arnwyn, where do you shop for D&D books? I'd love to know!

cheers,
--N

 

[Arnwyn]

Speaking of buying D&D books in Winnipeg:

Arnwyn, where do you shop for D&D books? I'd love to know!

Pendragon - downtown location (not the Main St. location out in the boonies). Pretty much exclusively.

I am often shocked at their consistently "low" pricing (at least, for all the things that I purchase, which is WotC stuff and Necro Games adventures). They get their WotC stuff in day-and-date of release and same with the WW stuff, as well. Not so good with the rest of the 3rd party material - for example, I always have to order through them the Kenzer-released Necro Game modules since they're never in stock). They are usually reasonably consistent with ordering, too, and the US-CDN price stays low even on the ordered items. (Though I do know that a large number of people really hate the owner - but since I'm an in-and-out kind of person, I don't stop to converse when there.)

I long since dumped Campaign Outfitters (which I used to go to many years ago), since they stopped meeting my needs a while back...

 

[devilbat]

Pendragon...(Though I do know that a large number of people really hate the owner - but since I'm an in-and-out kind of person, I don't stop to converse when there.)

I long since dumped Campaign Outfitters (which I used to go to many years ago), since they stopped meeting my needs a while back...

Thats where I shop, I can't stand the owner, and I dumped Campaign a few years ago, since they don't stock anything I need.

Are you and I related Arnwyn?