Okay, some of you have the new Dark Sun 4e books and some of you don't. Doesn't anyone else think this is messed up!? Seriously, why are we being segregated? I’m reading in these forums that many of you already HAVE the books, some have had them for at least a week now and then there are some who haven’t a clue what is going on! I’ve looked online and the only place that offers the books is Amazon and those jokers aren’t releasing the books until the 19th and to put insult to injury, the Creature Catalog isn’t being released until September 2nd!!!
Wizards… WTF? I’ve gone to my local Barnes and Noble, Borders and they said that they don’t have a release date yet… my local gaming store doesn’t have a clue and Amazon is laughing! In short of moving to a new state… what the heck does one do to get these books!?
I would think that if Wizard’s wanted to making any scratch then they would have disturbed these products to a wider retail venue… but I am left thinking I am going to miss it. Of course that is silly… I am sure I will get a copy of each book… but how long does someone in little ‘ol Vermont have to wait?
In my opinion it’s bad marketing/distribution to me. Oh well… here’s to waiting, enjoy your books to the many who have them!
(EDIT 8/13/2010: I was way off on how early they can be sold)
jeff0 you've saved my sanity mate! Heh heh thanks for the heads up... I will keep that in mind next time... least when it's time for Ravenloft to be released! *crosses fingers* please, don't let the vampires sparkle... please don't let the vampires sparkle!
Darn it... now I have to get them through Amazon... argh!
I get what you're saying... but in no way is this rewarding the players. This is rewarding the business that pushes their product plain and simple... if you JUST so happen to live in the area... POWER to you! As for me... just left to collect the Amazon bill next month.
Nah... no biggie guys, it's cool... felt like complaining about something I have NO control over...
Lol well that isn't any of my fault... so you're saying I should look into FLGS rated stores next time I move anywhere? You know just in case I don't want to get left out? Heh heh blah...
I get what you're saying... but in no way is this rewarding the players. This is rewarding the business that pushes their product plain and simple... if you JUST so happen to live in the area... POWER to you! As for me... just left to collect the Amazon bill next month.
Nah... no biggie guys, it's cool... felt like complaining about something I have NO control over...
No, it's more than that. This is rewarding brick and mortar stores who directly support the player base by allowing said base to play in their store...and here is the important part...in lieu of the previous situation, where the single most rewarded group of retailers, hands down, were online retailers, and big box stores.
Not only do online retailers sell for dramatically less, they, like the big box stores, VERY often break the release date. That is to say, while a brick and mortar FLGS has limited distribution networks they rely on, which send the product out such that they arrive extremely close to or on the release date, with strict instructions not to sell until said release date mind you, the big box stores have huge internal distribution networks. Those networks are often all in-house, and many if not most of the stores get their product early. Often significantly early. Moreover, for said stores, the street date is a suggestion, not a "we'll cancel your contract and prevent you from selling our product" hard rule like huge novel releases, such as the newest Harry Potter, et al, contractually require.
Ergo, the big box stores and online retailers were dramatically hurting FLGSs. Thus, the change, to give the FLGSs a decent chance at picking up business they otherwise would not have, from customers who would utilize their space even when not acquiring their products from that very FLGS...and would (and do) often brag about it or drive business away from the very FLGS they play at by suggesting to new players that they get their product for cheaper, and/or earlier, elsewhere.
... still, why should I be "punished" just because my stores here don't want to join the "super-fun-wizard-club"?
Not getting a reward is not the same as being punished. You can either:
- Get your product early, support your brick 'n' mortar stores, pay full price.
- Get your product at release, from an online retailer, at a discount.
Darn it... now I have to get them through Amazon... argh!
Here's where you punish your store for not joining the "super-fun-wizard-club."
I get what you're saying... but in no way is this rewarding the players. This is rewarding the business that pushes their product plain and simple...
Yes, that's exactly what it is. This is actually the opposite of horrible marketing, FYI. It also supports local stores, who can't possibly match the discounts of online retailers.
Also, FLGS means "friendly local gaming store" -- it's not referring to any sort of club.
Well, my brick 'n' mortar store is some 60 miles away so I hardly ever go there and so I rely on online stores. So I am being punished for not having a store near me? I guess I would say yes.
No, you're not. Not getting a reward is not the same as being punished. As it is, you're probably paying substantially less than MSRP.
It is horrible for Wizards to do this to those of us who live in the remote areas.
Because Wizards plans the location and enrollment of stores in your area? The concept of premier stores getting benefits over non-premier stores is not something new or unique to the roleplaying games industry. This is how the business world works.
Amazon has in the past delivered my books on time so the question is why are the DS books all messed up.
Um. Other than the Creature Catalog, all of the Dark Sun books have the correct release date, estimated shipping dates, and for me, estimated arrival date based on my selected shipping method. Not to mention that Amazon routinely outdoes its own estimates by a substantial margin.
Well, my brick 'n' mortar store is some 60 miles away so I hardly ever go there and so I rely on online stores. So I am being punished for not having a store near me? I guess I would say yes. It is horrible for Wizards to do this to those of us who live in the remote areas. Amazon has in the past delivered my books on time so the question is why are the DS books all messed up.
Not everyone got their books from a retail store. I got mine from Gencon, Wizards were selling them there. I personally would support my local store, if I had one in my town, regardless of when the book comes out.
Well, my brick 'n' mortar store is some 60 miles away so I hardly ever go there and so I rely on online stores. So I am being punished for not having a store near me? I guess I would say yes.
No, you're not. Not getting a reward is not the same as being punished. As it is, you're probably paying substantially less than MSRP.
So my not getting the creature catalog until September is simply not getting a reward?
Sorry but if Wizards has restrictions on various vendors then we are being punished as opposed to not being rewarded.
I'd love to support a local store but it is simply impractical.
Please know I mean no offense to any person.
So my not getting the creature catalog until September is simply not getting a reward?
Succinctly: yes. There are no such artificial restrictions applied to specific retailers. Release dates are changed by online retailers for a variety of reasons.
You're trying to imagine a personal affront where there is none.
Joe
So my not getting the creature catalog until September is simply not getting a reward?
Succinctly: yes. There are no such artificial restrictions applied to specific retailers. Release dates are changed by online retailers for a variety of reasons.
You're trying to imagine a personal affront where there is none.
If indeed there is a system setup by Wizards so that certain stores get some sort of priority in new releases then I do take it as a personal affront and I feel I am being penalized for not living close to one of those privileged stores.
I am done ranting as this is getting nowhere. Good gaming to all those who were lucky enough to get their books early...I wish I could join you.
So my not getting the creature catalog until September is simply not getting a reward?
Blame Amazon or, more likely, the popularity of the setting. It is more likely that stock of the game books was given to the premier stores first to make sure they all had them. In all likelihood the reason its running late is that more books were needed and it was determined that all the orders were not going to be filled. More books were ordered but will not arrive in time. The release date is still the same, they just don't have the stock to fill the orders. Maybe those ordering through Amazon should enquire with them as to why the delay is there.
Well, my brick 'n' mortar store is some 60 miles away so I hardly ever go there and so I rely on online stores.
I would be shocked to find out that nearest store that has inventory 3-weeks-earlier than online retailers would refuse to mail product to you.
Then you too can get your stuff as early as everyone else. Unless you are complaining that you can't get your sub-MSRP prices and earlybird availability together . . .
You're trying to imagine a personal affront where there is none.
If indeed there is a system setup by Wizards so that certain stores get some sort of priority in new releases then I do take it as a personal affront and I feel I am being penalized for not living close to one of those privileged stores.
Sorry to say this, but, is it really a reward or a punishment to any purchaser of the material? If you are working for a company, and the guy or gal in the next office gets to sell some product to his or her clients three weeks early, is the company rewarding the clients? No, the company is rewarding the sellers.
The same thing is happening here. Brick and Mortar stores that sell only RPGs (probably comics of all sorts and toys and cards too, but still, a gaming shop) are probably not doing too well in this economy. On top of that, these FGLS or whatever are using up floor space, possibly staff, and other captial to keep their stores open and to provide a space for the game to be played in. Not only played in, but given life by connecting people and players who might have never seen each other. I've moved so much since college (when it was easy to find players) that I couldn't play a game if I wanted to. These stores provide a place where I can meet people I might not know and wouldn't feel safe just showing up to their house or having them over mine.
Sorry for the tangent, but the truth of the matter is that stores are being rewarded, but no one is being punished. At the end of the day, its the same thing as not being able to go to a midnight showing of the next highly anticipated movie because no theater is showing it. The movie will still come out, you just have to wait a day. This is no different.
Not being rewarded is vastly different than being punished.
By the way this system was in place for PHB3 as I remember walking in and being like "I thought this book came out in two weeks or so?" and found out they send books early to brick-and-mortar retailers. I love this system as I know some hobbies can cause FLGS to get hosed because people prefer to get their stuff cheaper from online retailers. I think more game companies should do this if they don't do it already.
...Amazon and those jokers aren’t releasing the books until the 19th and to put insult to injury, the Creature Catalog isn’t being released until September 2nd!!!
M Darksun book and the Psionic powers was released today and I expect it on 19th, even though I was told it would not be released until the 17th. The creature catolog is posted to arrive at my house AUg. 31.
HOLY smokes!!! *cough*
Ummmm okay... everyone take a seat... *ahem* okay... thank you very much for all the "insight" about this subject. I have learned a great deal here and I have left all the wiser. It IS a shame that my local gaming store doesn't support WoTC enough to get perks, but maybe if my friends and I push they could.
I totally agree that buying online HURTS our local gaming stores and in fact IS hurting our hobby. I would rather support the local store than give my money to Amazon. That being said... this fight goes both ways... as a hobbiest and costumer my local store needs to help itself too!
Either way... this rant needs to be buried. Thanks all for your wisdom and insight. Thanks for taking the time out to help me understand. I am glad Dark Sun is back out and I look forward to playing when I can! Good luck to you all in your games and have a AWESOME week!!!
that and pre-orders. i pre-ordered my books via amazon out of sheer excitement AND because when i ordered them i actually had the money to burn. so suddenly i get a notice saying the release dates have changed and THEN suddenly people are like "oh i got my awesome DS book it's so awesome!" and i'm like...how did i not get the memo on the local gaming stores getting it early? i'd head out to pasadena to grab these books right now if it wasn't for the fact that i've already paid for them. ultimately i plan on going and getting them early if i can...i'll just give my second copies to my gaming buddies so they won't be borrowing mine all the time. but i'm sure there are others in the same situation who don't have the cash to pick up a second set of rulebooks. if anything the early release for FLGS could've been more prominently displayed for blind people and/or the clueless or something cuz i'm a moron and somehow completely missed it.
The books always come in 11 days early at the store (or something like that), and are put in a prominent display right next to the cash register in addition to in the new book area and the regular 4E shelves. What didn't happen this time around was they didn't email everyone (I didn't see one either or I missed it too) to let them know right away (something I will talk to the owner about... because by the time I got there, all the copies of the psionics book were gone).
Also, unless Amazon has actually shipped your order, you haven't been charged anything and could cancel.
Here are a couple of things to consider...
1. Stores can gain and lose premiere status. From my understanding, it is simply a position earned by the number of attendees at game events. My local store (Haven Comics in Madison, AL) was not a premiere store until just a few months ago. (Basically due to Encounters being such a hit here.) If you don't live near a premiere store, you can try supporting events at your local store and maybe it will become one.
2. The premiere store map may not be accurate. Haven Comics is not listed as a premiere store, yet I've been able to buy both Monster Manual 3 and Dark Sun books there before the release dates. I suggest calling any local stores and verifying that they are not premiere stores.
3. I feel for those of you not located near a premiere store (or any hobby shop). I grew up on a farm in the middle of no-where in TN so I can relate. (Not that Huntsville, AL is a major metropolis.) Have you considered calling the closest premiere store and simply ordering the Dark Sun books from them? If it is within a few hundred miles, you should be able to receive the books between 1-3 days, and I think most stores will be willing to do business over the phone. Of course, you will have to pay retail price + shipping, but if you wanted it cheap, you could order it online and simply wait.
Kerry
Before Wizard's Of the Coast issued 3rd Edition I would never get my D&D books at the same time as those in the contiguous 48 states. I had to wait usually 2 weeks before they arrived in Anchorage after the release date. And this was from the Local Gaming store.
WoTC brought their ability to deliver products on time into D&D, and that has made a difference with the ability to keep people interested in D&D in my local area.
The local gaming store can do "bush" orders and have done so for several people outside of Anchorage,Alaska. With this new 11 days for a premier head start, i imagine that, it affords people at remote locations the opportunity to have the product at a reasonable time. It enables them to be better contributers to the online community.
The owner of my FLGS told me that distributors are allowed to distribute books earlier than actual release dates and for stores to sell them earlier to help them compete with companies like Amazon. Considering Amazon has heavily discounted items, this isn't so bad.