Small Publishers on RPGNow

[Suhyevi]

This should have never been posted. My apologies to the affected parties.

 

[D_Sinclair]

Wow. What a brilliantly horrible analogy that laughs in the face of renters' rights. Your situational brick & mortar storefront analogy isn't likely to be possible anywhere in the U.S.

As I understand the situation, a better analogy would be a typical situation in any retail store. A product is on shelves at the front of the store, but it isn't selling well. Some of it doesn't sell at all, in fact. It is only common sense that the retailer move that product to shelf space that gets less exposure so he can focus on the material that generates revenue.

On the bright side, at least your stuff can't be dumped into a bargain bin for liquidation.

On a side note, I also understand the issue is simply nothing but discussion at this point, and apparently is a discussion that occurs every 8-12 months.

 

[JimAde]

Well this is the first I've heard of it. Can you give us any more details on the plan? Will there be a link from the "main" RPGNow site to this "Indie" site? Will the search cover both sites? If so, I don't think there'll be much impact. If not...Sounds like a drag.

Of course, depending on who gets included in the "Indie" category, it might just mean I stop going to the main site.

 

[Suhyevi]

(edit)

 

[Roudi]

Even though the analogy is flawed, I think the point is valid. As a regular RPGNow customer and aspiring RPGNow vendor, I find this proposed segregation incredibly disturbing. I don't see how moving the lower-sales vendors to a separate site will be somehow better, more efficient, cost less, or impact sales (except in a negative amount for the small guys).

I get the sense that RPGNow wants to make some changes for the better. I agree that the site itself has room for improvement; the interface and organization could stand to be cleaned up, the search feature could use improvement, and so forth. I don't think that segrigating the lower-sales vendors on their own, separate site will be a positive change. If anything, it discourages me from wanting to become an RPGNow vendor myself. One of the benefits RPGNow provides vendors is that the small frys, hobbyists, no-names, and underdogs had almost equal footing and equal space as the big boys. Sure, the platinum vendors get all sorts of perks... but when the products themselves are displayed, I can find a Ronin Arts PDF right next to a PDF made by a virtual unknown. And how many of the higher sellers started out as unknowns themselves? How many high-quality, well-reviewed products are there out there that just don't scrape by enough sales to be considered "main-site worthy"? How many vendors have high-quality, well-reviewed, and good selling products, but just don't have enough total products for sale to make it? There are a few, and possibly more than I or anyone else knows.

As far as I know, the issue is only being discussed within the RPGNow publisher boards, which mere "customers" like myself aren't privy to. Anyone care to take the discussion here, or at least to a more public venue?

 

[Suhyevi]

(edit)

 

[D_Sinclair]

Obviously it wasn't meant literally. But each page on rpgnow is like a vendor's storefront. I wonder also why you're so hostile and unpleasant. Is it amusing to you that it might become more difficult for someone to make some money? If so, you're a real piece of work.



Sometimes rearranging items that have been overlooked can cause them to sell better. In a retail store, that is. I don't expect rpgnow to arrange anything for my benefit, but I certainly didn't expect them to make it more difficult for the small publisher to gain exposure.

Lastly, doesn't it say somewhere on these boards that folks are supposed to remain 'civil'? Again, I wonder why you're being so antagonistic and insulting about a matter that's going to affect a lot of publishers detrimentally.

It is uncivil to try to make it clear how broken your analogy was? I'm simply trying to present the situation as it really is, rather than the blown out of proportion scenario you presented. And I presented an example of how the situation could be worse. I don't think I was antagonistic, insulting, or uncivil at all.

 

[Cathix]

(removed)

 

[Vigilance]

Even though the analogy is flawed, I think the point is valid. As a regular RPGNow customer and aspiring RPGNow vendor, I find this proposed segregation incredibly disturbing. I don't see how moving the lower-sales vendors to a separate site will be somehow better, more efficient, cost less, or impact sales (except in a negative amount for the small guys).

Unfortunately, the situation as I understand (and I am far from one of the "decision makers" on this subject for whatever that's worth) is that there was a situation where the needs of the few outweighed the needs of the many.

Since "the few" in this case were the vendors who account for 90% of RPGNow's revenue, James decided to take action.

I can see the reasons for it, and my early self-published works are on the chopping block as well, so its not like I dont understand where folks are coming from.

Chuck

 

[JimAde]

That's funny; I do.

I'd still like to hear some more details. Deb, do you know what this is about? As I said, this is the first I've heard of it.