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<blockquote data-quote="jdrakeh" data-source="post: 3487195" data-attributes="member: 13892">Read my posts again. I'm not citing data that ignores retail chains. In fact, I've twice specifically stated that the weakness of using Amazon numbers is that Amazon does this (ignores sales data generated by all sources other than Amazon), while C&amp;GR and other report issuers specific to the hobby do not. Again, Amazon ignores retail reports originating anywhere other than Amazon. C&amp;GR (as well as other reporting agencies that deal speifically with game products) tries to include it. C&amp;GR is, specifically, a Diamond/Alliance house organ that solicits reports from all retail outlets that it provides stock to. . . including several retail chains. So, to recap. . .Amazon gives you figures for Amazon sales only, which includes sales of OOP books, used books, etc. This is worthless for charting current hobby industry health based on sales data. It tells you what sells well at Amazon, but totally ignores all outside sales, while simultaneously lumping in old or used games with current releases for the purposes of tabulating product popularity at Amazon. C&amp;GR, as well as other hobby-specific data collectors, give you a broad sampling of sales figures as they pertain to the whole hobby industry (specifically including the retailers who sell games). These figures, while not wholly accurate, are far more useful than any Amazon sales report as they take into consideration sales figures from retailers worldwide and pertain only to current releases. I honestly have no idea how to state it more clearly than I have here. Checking Amazon sales figures to get a look at how outside agencies are performing is like checking somebody else's bank account to figure your own net worth.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="jdrakeh, post: 3487195, member: 13892"] Read my posts again. I'm not citing data that ignores retail chains. In fact, I've twice specifically stated that the weakness of using Amazon numbers is that Amazon does this (ignores sales data generated by all sources other than Amazon), while C&GR and other report issuers specific to the hobby do [i]not[/i]. Again, Amazon ignores retail reports originating anywhere other than Amazon. C&GR (as well as other reporting agencies that deal speifically with game products) tries to include it. C&GR is, specifically, a Diamond/Alliance house organ that solicits reports from all retail outlets that it provides stock to. . . including several retail chains. So, to recap. . . Amazon gives you figures for [i]Amazon sales only[/i], which includes sales of OOP books, used books, etc. This is worthless for charting current hobby industry health based on sales data. It tells you what sells well at Amazon, but totally ignores [i]all[/i] outside sales, while simultaneously lumping in old or used games with current releases for the purposes of tabulating product popularity at Amazon. C&GR, as well as other hobby-specific data collectors, give you a broad sampling of sales figures as they pertain to the [i]whole[/i] hobby industry (specifically including the retailers who sell games). These figures, while not wholly accurate, are far more useful than any Amazon sales report as they take into consideration sales figures from retailers worldwide and pertain only to current releases. I honestly have no idea how to state it more clearly than I have here. Checking Amazon sales figures to get a look at how outside agencies are performing is like checking somebody else's bank account to figure your own net worth. [/QUOTE]

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