What's the Deal with GriefCom?

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Yet another reason to support your FLGS?

Deep discounts rock! I just got the 3.5 core set for 58 bucks vs 90 at the LGS.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

How about because Wizards is also paying copy editors, proof readers, illustrators, warehouse employees, truck drivers, office support staff, marketing people, sales people, and dozens of others.

Nice story. But I think that if they're willing to sell it for, say 15 bucks to this seller instead of 20 for that seller, they can probably pay off all those people with those 15 dollars. If they couldn't get by with the 15, they would take 20 in the first place.

And let's not forget that the book sellers have clerks and staff that need to get paid. And oh, there is the overhead involved in leasing the building, paying electricity, licenses, taxes....

I doubt that this will eat up all the extra some of those shops charge.

A lot of those shops have problems because they either seem to have no understanding of business economy, or they're turning their customers upside down and shake them for nickels.

I know for a fact that local stores can have decent prices. I get my D&D Minis at a store, and not only because I do want to support decent stores (and that's a very decent store), but also because he gives me a better price than even the good online shops around here.

And that good online shop is also a brick and mortar store, sporting great prices and great service.

What I want to say: Why should I pay more than I have to? Because the poor guy has 10 children to feed? Okay, but my charity only goes so far before it would mean me not being able to get what I want. If they want my money, they should not cry about those evil online sellers, they should fight back. They may not always be able to draw even with those online shops, but I'm sure they can make do with less than 50% extra. And I don't care about your rent: If you want more money, give me more in return. Give me service. If you don't want to do that, you can go to hell.

Unless, of course, everyone should work for free...

Oh, please. Every time someone says that he won't pay whatever someone wants, the "we can't work for free, you know" line comes around. It got stale years ago.

 

[Christoph the Magus]

It may not have the official banner, but between "Ravenoloft" and "Sword & Sorcery" are the words "Dungeons and Dragons Campaign Setting." They couldn't say that without either some kind of agreement or risking a lawsuit.QUOTE]

True, but it's obviously not the same agreement as Kenzerco has, since they do use the official banner.

 

[Bardsandsages]

duplicate post

 

[Bardsandsages]

Nice story. But I think that if they're willing to sell it for, say 15 bucks to this seller instead of 20 for that seller, they can probably pay off all those people with those 15 dollars. If they couldn't get by with the 15, they would take 20 in the first place.

Some vendors get better pricing than others based off of volume. This is a common and perfectly legitimate way of doing business. It encourages people to buy more. If a store knows they can get an additional 5% off by buying X quantity, they will do it. You make your money on the volume.

I know for a fact that local stores can have decent prices. I get my D&D Minis at a store, and not only because I do want to support decent stores (and that's a very decent store), but also because he gives me a better price than even the good online shops around here.

Then the owner does a good job keeping his overhead low. OR, he makes his money on other stuff. I happen to know one shop, for example, that sells its D&D stuff just over their cost. But they also sell soda and candy and other snack items at higher prices. Customers but the snacks and soda while there ("Hey! I can get my books AND my game nite snacks too!") He makes his money on the high volume, high mark-up items and uses the game books as a draw.

What I want to say: Why should I pay more than I have to?

You don't. But you are defining what you should pay based off of your very limited knowledge of the real costs behind running a business. How many business have you actually been involved in from a financial side? I have years of experience working with company finances. I see first hand the costs involved. Your assumptions are not including any real working knowledge of actual expenses.

Oh, please. Every time someone says that he won't pay whatever someone wants, the "we can't work for free, you know" line comes around. It got stale years ago.

It's only stale to those with no working knowledge of how much it actually costs to run a business.

 

[Barak]

You don't. But you are defining what you should pay based off of your very limited knowledge of the real costs behind running a business. How many business have you actually been involved in from a financial side? I have years of experience working with company finances. I see first hand the costs involved. Your assumptions are not including any real working knowledge of actual expenses.

Actually he (and I) are basing what I should pay based on the price I can get at Amazon.com.

It's only stale to those with no working knowledge of how much it actually costs to run a business.

Fine, but people working for on-line vendors have kids to feed too.

 

[WizarDru]

How about because Wizards is also paying copy editors, proof readers, illustrators, warehouse employees, truck drivers, office support staff, marketing people, sales people, and dozens of others. And let's not forget that the book sellers have clerks and staff that need to get paid.

Well, everything except proof readers, anyhow.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Why is it that only those that advocate Brick and Mortar stores seem to want to insult me? I think I'll buy some rpg books in an online store just out of spite.

 

[Bardsandsages]

Well, everything except proof readers, anyhow.

I didn't specify how good of a proof reader they were paying!

 

[Bardsandsages]

Why is it that only those that advocate Brick and Mortar stores seem to want to insult me? I think I'll buy some rpg books in an online store just out of spite.

I wasn't trying to insult you. I was responding to your implication that Wizards must be screwing over authors based solely on the amount of percentage mark-ups involved in the sale of a product. The reality is, regardless of where you buy your product, the author gets the exact same royalty. So it doesn't matter if you buy your book at full retail at a local shop or at 35% off at Amazon. It has zero affect on what the author will get paid.

Nor am I advocating one means of purchasing over another. I believe consumers should buy products based on where they can get the best price. My comments were simply to provide some clarity on why there is such a high mark-up over production costs to begin with.