Which PDF Publishers sell direct from their Websites?

[HinterWelt]

I've updated the list in the first post with e-store "coming soon" publishers.

Let me know if you want to be added as "coming soon".

Oh, it's coming soon baby! Oh yeah!

www.hinterwelt.com - HinterWelt Enterprises

Thanks,
Bill

 

[HinterWelt]

I have to admit, using Fantastico and both OSCommerce and Virtuemart, I've had very smooth setups. I ran a test sale through each first and validated they both worked (or figured out what was broken when it didn't)... I didn't find it too difficult, but I am a computer programmer by trade, so I suppose that has something to do with it.

The only problem I encountered was putting the download file in the wrong spot and VirtueMart not supporting 0 for expiration (in OSCommerce, 0 = never expire).

Oh, and I noticed PaleHorse say he had a 13% paypal fee - as your sale prices are higher, that % should drop - there's a .30 built-in fee for normal Business Accounts. On higher dollar amounts, it'll drop to 10% or lower, to about 2-3%.

For example, on our $5.00 PDFs, the paypal fee is 10% (.50), but when two are bought in the same slae, the fee drops to around 7-8%.

Really? I have found OSCommerce to be far less intuitive than Zen Cart but I am not using any installer software. I run my own servers so...yeah, I get all the headaches associated with it.

I messed with Virtumart but not in depth. It seemed like a very good version/mod for OSCommerce.

I know Joomla was mentioned by someone earlier in the thread. How does that stack up? I need to go through and reinstall it and take a closer look. Initial impressions were that it had some nice interface and admin tools but I did not see the download functions right off the bat.

I want to say again how great this thread is.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Bacris]

Virtuemart is a component for Joomla, so, for me, it was a pretty simple set-up - Install Component -> point to the Virtuemart file -> customize as needed. The download option is built-in - there's a tab for it where you tell it if downloading is enabled and what path houses the files.

And the REALLY nice function, IMO, of Virtuemart is that it's an integrated part of your CMS system. On our site, this means our Shopping Cart / Product listing is housed in the same place as all our news / press releases / forums (using JoomlaBoard) - so everything is built off Joomla and is a pretty seamless interface.

 

[HinterWelt]

Virtuemart is a component for Joomla, so, for me, it was a pretty simple set-up - Install Component -> point to the Virtuemart file -> customize as needed. The download option is built-in - there's a tab for it where you tell it if downloading is enabled and what path houses the files.

And the REALLY nice function, IMO, of Virtuemart is that it's an integrated part of your CMS system. On our site, this means our Shopping Cart / Product listing is housed in the same place as all our news / press releases / forums (using JoomlaBoard) - so everything is built off Joomla and is a pretty seamless interface.

Your right. My bad. Man, I have been looking at too many options and installing too much software.

Thanks for the info. I am off to install Joomla.

Bill

 

[Bacris]

Happy to help!

Joomlaboard did require a fair bit of customization to look nice, so if you're looking to do add forums and aren't great at that, it might be a bit of a hassle and normal PHPBB might be a better option... there's tons of themes for PHPBB Your customers / users will have 2 logins (one for Joomla, one for PHPBB), but that's how we operated for the first 2 months and it seemed to go ok. The single interface is nicer, IMO, and was worth the time invested on getting JoomlaBoard pretty

Oh, another component I'd recommend for Joomla - JoomlaXplorer - it helps you navigate your joomla components.

 

[Ghostwind]

Would Bill or anyone else who understands Zen Cart drop me an email at creech@dragonwing.net? I've hit a snag that I can't decipher and could use some help.

Thanks.

 

[HinterWelt]

Happy to help!

Joomlaboard did require a fair bit of customization to look nice, so if you're looking to do add forums and aren't great at that, it might be a bit of a hassle and normal PHPBB might be a better option... there's tons of themes for PHPBB Your customers / users will have 2 logins (one for Joomla, one for PHPBB), but that's how we operated for the first 2 months and it seemed to go ok. The single interface is nicer, IMO, and was worth the time invested on getting JoomlaBoard pretty

Oh, another component I'd recommend for Joomla - JoomlaXplorer - it helps you navigate your joomla components.

See, and that is what I like about Zen Cart, integration from their cart account to PHPBB.

I just reinstalled virtuecart and I remember why I liked it the first time, a very nice interface and it does not resemble other PDF sites out of the box. I will post more as I paw through it.

Thanks for the info.

Bill

 

[Jason Anderson]

Phew - well I've finally set up the online store for Polgarus Games. Hopefully everything is working correctly (testing never seems to catch every bug ). So please add us to the list of online stores.

http://www.polgarusgames.com/store/

Cheers,
Jason

 

[Arven]

While slightly out of topic I'd like to point out that there still remain options for those hesitant on the OBS merger.

We at www.fantasy-download.eu use a heavily modified version of osCommerce (with some custom programming including watermarking of pdfs). If I were a publisher of a single digit line of RPG pdfs I would never recoup on the kind of investment we have done .

Please also take note of our press release going out officially tomorrow:

Dear Partners (and potential partners)!

The merger of RPGNow and DTRPG to us is a clear attempt to monopolize a growing market. As an economist I know that any monopoly leads to a disadvantageous imbalance in the market - in the end leading to one party dictating prices and reducing rents (royalties in this case) for everybody but the monopolist himself.

We believe that there should be more than "OneBookShelf" and that there should be choice - for both customers and publishers alike.

While we do understand that some publishers feel a need to go exclusive with the newly dominant market leader in order to preserve their much needed cash flow, we feel obliged to offer an alternative:

As of December 1st we offer any existing and future partner offering his (or her for that matter ;-)) high quality pdf RPG products on www.fantasy-download.eu a royalty of the original 70% of net sales PLUS the 7% European VAT on top of that.

In other words: We claim 23% of sales, while you as the publisher get to keep 77% after reduction of VAT.

This of course is without you going exclusive with us: While we offer a five-language shop and European payment systems, we strongly believe that you should also be listed at quality US platforms like e23 or Paizo.

This offer stands for any partner joining us until December 1st - please contact me directly at shop[-at-]phoenix-interactive[-dot-]de.

Arne Reuter
Owner and Managing Director

PHOENIX Interactive GmbH is an Internet Consultancy and Service Company based in Muenster, Germany. Apart from small and medium-sized business clients in a diverse range of industries, the company has in the past organized and conducted events for gaming companies like Alderac Entertainment Group, Fantasy Flight Games and others.

 

[HalWhitewyrm]

You know, if I were on the fence about what to do about OBS' exclusivity and I received your above press release it would make my mind about one thing: not using you.

As a word of advice, focus your press release on positive aspects of your store, what you can do for us vendors, what you have in plans for publicity, etc.

This (emphasis mine)

The merger of RPGNow and DTRPG to us is a clear attempt to monopolize a growing market. As an economist I know that any monopoly leads to a disadvantageous imbalance in the market - in the end leading to one party dictating prices and reducing rents (royalties in this case) for everybody but the monopolist himself.

And this

While we do understand that some publishers feel a need to go exclusive with the newly dominant market leader in order to preserve their much needed cash flow, we feel obliged to offer an alternative:

Are frankly low attempts at sensationalism horribly reminiscent of the political ads I am sick of seeing on TV. They add nothing, tell me nothing and frankly annoy and offend me.

You offer a service in a potentially big market with some nice rates. Focus on that, and leave the mudslinging aside. I look forward to a real press release that allows me to consider your store as a new vending partner for my company.