WOTC switch to watermarking, finally...

[CharlesRyan]

I won't fault them -- I just won't buy them.

Fair enough!

 

[CharlesRyan]

Okay, so if I accept that a $20 hardbound book and a $20 PDF each have different value, over and above the value of the content ... why do I have to pay full value for the content again, if I already own one or the other?

A completely legitimate point. Add my voice to the chorus of people who think it's reasonable and fair to get a substantial discount if you buy both.

I think the problem, as dcas pointed out, is structural--the principal channels of distribution for hardcovers don't have the capacity to provide proof of purchase, or to pass the cost of coupons or similar mechanisms from PDFs back to the manufacturer. Given that the core hobby channel is mostly independent stores, even if a system could be devised, channel compliance would be a nightmare. These problems are surmountable, but only with levels of effort and expense that I'm sure dramatically outweigh the profit advantage.

Personally, I'd love to see it happen--I really like both formats, but not enough to pay for the content twice.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

The difficulty with that approach is determining who already owns a book and who doesn't.

Ah, but once one accepts that customers aren't thieves, it's not a difficulty at all. Those who don't own the book simply add a different SKU to their Checkout Cart than those who do own the book.

 

[Ghendar]

I love some of the attitude I'm seeing in this thread.

"Some prices are high but I'll buy some anyway"
wtf???

To each his own. I'm not trying to start a fight here but that's just nuts. I'll take a book I can hold in my hands and flip through, but that's just me. ymmv

 

[sckeener]

This has been a long time coming, and is, pretty much hands down, the best thing that's happened to the pdf side of the market in a very, very long time. Particularly if one reads between the lines of the announcement and figures that WotC finally has some faith in the medium. Price, number of titles, etc... these are all just more steps that need to be taken, but I think it's pretty clear that this was the big step.

Agreed. The only issue I see is this isn't their first 'step' into the waters of PDF sales. The first time they released some books in PDF, it made Slashdot. When they started to release more, it made Slashdot again.....Now with watermarking and lower prices (temporarily), it hasn't made any such splash. I worry that they might have burned some bridges with DRM and high prices. This is a big deal and I don't see the marketing hype I'd like to see.

I consider it akin to how few people know that paizo sells pdfs. If the geeky gamer in the group doesn't hear about this, I think the initial sales are going to be slow.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Considering the limited time offer aspect, that was my impression.

I certainly intend to do my part to help encourage them.

Now see, I'm not buying because I'm hoping to encourage them

1. Incorporate errata (especially already existing errata for products YEARS old and for an older system)

2. charge prices more in line with some online vendors for an electronic file.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I love some of the attitude I'm seeing in this thread.

"Some prices are high but I'll buy some anyway"
wtf???

To each his own. I'm not trying to start a fight here but that's just nuts. I'll take a book I can hold in my hands and flip through, but that's just me. ymmv

You value a physical book, other people see the value in PDF's, I don't see what the problem is. Youre basically crapping all over what someone else values because you don't see the value in it. Which makes no sense since it's not your money that's being spent.

Not trying to start a fight here or anything.

 

[Bacris]

I love some of the attitude I'm seeing in this thread.

"Some prices are high but I'll buy some anyway"
wtf???

To each his own. I'm not trying to start a fight here but that's just nuts. I'll take a book I can hold in my hands and flip through, but that's just me. ymmv

For me, PDFs are great because I do have a laptop and a thumb drive that can handle the docs, so I can have my entire library at any game I play - if I want. Or I just print out the parts of the book I actually use. And considering my laptop weighs about the same as two hardbound books, it's lighter for transportation.

For some books, I'll buy the printed book to sit down and read through as more casual reading, but that's far more rare for me anymore.

 

[Ghendar]

Youre basically crapping all over what someone else values because you don't see the value in it.

You're right I don't see the value in it, but that's not the issue to which I am speaking. When I hear someone say something like, "I don't like the price but I'll buy it anyway" I question that. Why would you buy something if you think the price is too high? That makes little sense to me. If more people didn't buy then perhaps they would get the message and reduce the prices a bit thereby benefitting even more people.

 

[Mercule]

A completely legitimate point. Add my voice to the chorus of people who think it's reasonable and fair to get a substantial discount if you buy both.

...

Personally, I'd love to see it happen--I really like both formats, but not enough to pay for the content twice.

Add me to this list, too. I prefer my hardbounds, but I do see some advantage to PDFs. If I could get the PDF of any book I own for, say, $10 a pop, I'd probably do it. Either that, or I'd stop doing the discount thing at Amazon and visit my FLGS for full price, if you catch my drift.