Just giving folks a heads up on this.
Barnes and Noble is currently not selling it.
We have gamedays every Tuesday. As such, it's really obvious how much the big stores are hurting sales by breaking the street date. Lots of players who would normally buy from the FLGS are picking it up at Chapters the week before. The ability to pour over it for the weekend is too big a draw.
WotC needs to get on top of this or in a couple years they will be wondering where all the little stores that generate communities and keep people playing have gone.
Sorry.
I am getting really mad at all the big book stores breaking street date on WotC releases. It's killing the local game stores. There are a couple local FLGS owners who have been quietly told to stop making noise about the big book stores because nothing will be done. WotC isn't interested in losing any of their businesses. They have also been told in no uncertain terms that if they are found to be breaking street date they will lose access to all future WotC product launches, D&D as well as Magic.
We have gamedays every Tuesday. As such, it's really obvious how much the big stores are hurting sales by breaking the street date. Lots of players who would normally buy from the FLGS are picking it up at Chapters the week before. The ability to pour over it for the weekend is too big a draw.
WotC needs to get on top of this or in a couple years they will be wondering where all the little stores that generate communities and keep people playing have gone.
I tottaly agree with you. They should be a little strickter with those stores, its hurting their long term base.
There are so many stupid complaint about the company its good to see someone have positive criticism (as in something for them to positively fix rather negative criticism which is just a bunch of annoying ranting about whats wrong)
I am getting really mad at all the big book stores breaking street date on WotC releases. It's killing the local game stores. There are a couple local FLGS owners who have been quietly told to stop making noise about the big book stores because nothing will be done. WotC isn't interested in losing any of their businesses. They have also been told in no uncertain terms that if they are found to be breaking street date they will lose access to all future WotC product launches, D&D as well as Magic.
We have gamedays every Tuesday. As such, it's really obvious how much the big stores are hurting sales by breaking the street date. Lots of players who would normally buy from the FLGS are picking it up at Chapters the week before. The ability to pour over it for the weekend is too big a draw.
WotC needs to get on top of this or in a couple years they will be wondering where all the little stores that generate communities and keep people playing have gone.
The thing is, these stores aren't breaking street dates, because WotC products come without any indication of any street date.
New John Grisham book? Comes with the date and strict "Do Not Sell" notices. New Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Same thing.
WotC product does not come with a street date attached. There is no way the average, non-gaming bookstore employee would even suspect a street date. If WotC intends these to be strict street dates, rather than just general expected dates, they do a very, very poor job of getting this information to the retailers.
I picked mine up today at a local Waldenbooks. Didn't even realize it had been released early 'til I saw this thread. The editorial calendar I've been looking at is outdated. Release was given as 4/14; I see it's been updated to 4/21.
Only had a chance to skim as I write this. So far, I'm enjoying the idea of familiars the most. The 'Get Familiar' article in Dragon #374 this month just got a whole lot more interesting ;)-- really expands some already interesting options.
It's not just big chains like Books-A-Million. Sherman's Bookstore is a really small chain (if you can call it a chain) that only has three shops, all along the Maine coast. And they got the book in early too, so don't say that this is ruining the smaller businesses totally, because if Sherman's can release it five days early, I'm sure the others can too.
Also, I inquired into why they got it early, and they said that they were never told a definite date for when it comes in, just "sometime around then," with then being the release date on the Editorial Calendar (which they don't follow). I also note that I think I've gotten most of my preordered copies from this local bookstore on the 17th of the month, regardless of the day of the week. That may be the actual release date, at least for them.
Borders, B&N, and others are all closer for me, so I'll just wait until they've got it. I'm a patient man, and I've got bigger fish to fry.
PtM
I like the idea of supporting your FLGS...
It does sound good, doesn't it? Unfortunately, doing so requires paying higher prices, probably getting the product later, and possibly dealing with horrible customer service. All three of these factors combined to put my "F"LGS out of business.
I like going to regular bookstores for game books anyhow, as I can browse other sections and interact with other non-gamer customers. You'd be surprised how many people comment on the D&D book in your arms, either out of curiosity or commendation. A far cry from the elitist geeks in the LGS who sort of sneer at you for playing such a "mainstream" RPG.
Still, Wizards needs to stop the practice. They can be hurt by early placement when someone with an online advance order sees the book isn't what was expected and cancels the order.
Sure, it's a noble idea to support the game stores, but sorry, it's too expensive as it is.
I liek the idea of supporting your FLGS... for life of me I can't bring myself to do it. Gettig my books at 30% or more off through Amazon is too good...
Move to Australia and that 30% discount will suddenly disappear :P
My FLGS charges an extra $5 more then anyone else (even Amazon once you count shipping and conversion rates). HOWEVER the owner is willing to sell me a box of minis at half price if I buy them when I get a book. So I'm saving a little bit of money once I add on the minis, I get it straight away instead of having to wait a month for Amazon to ship it and I'm also supporting my FLGS.
I liek the idea of supporting your FLGS... for life of me I can't bring myself to do it. Gettig my books at 30% or more off through Amazon is too good...
If there was an FLGS, I'd probably support it. Only bookstore under an hour's drive is a Border's Express. The FLGS I used to have had a standard 10 (or maybe it was 15) percent markdown on everything. I loved that place.
however i feel spoiled because I have many MANY bookstores around me. I live practically next door to my FLGS, and they're very open friendly people. I have another FLGS a couple blocks away. I just haven't had time to join a gaming night. The major chain bookstore is a brisk walk away.
I scored a 1974 hardcover of the Silmarillion at one of my local used book shops for 20 bucks. I highly suspect its a first edition - it may not. http://derhobbit-film.de/collect035.shtml?e
Unfortunately because of lack of cash and actually play - I havent purchased anything outside the core.
I am getting really mad at all the big book stores breaking street date on WotC releases. It's killing the local game stores. There are a couple local FLGS owners who have been quietly told to stop making noise about the big book stores because nothing will be done. WotC isn't interested in losing any of their businesses. They have also been told in no uncertain terms that if they are found to be breaking street date they will lose access to all future WotC product launches, D&D as well as Magic.
We have gamedays every Tuesday. As such, it's really obvious how much the big stores are hurting sales by breaking the street date. Lots of players who would normally buy from the FLGS are picking it up at Chapters the week before. The ability to pour over it for the weekend is too big a draw.
WotC needs to get on top of this or in a couple years they will be wondering where all the little stores that generate communities and keep people playing have gone.
Well, where I live, the FLGS is already gone. 3 of them closed between January and March and there are none left in this town of 600,000!
I also got the PH2 early from them.
WotC, if you want the D&D scene in the UK to die, you're going the right way about it. If you're actually serious about supporting the hobby here, then for God's sake get your finger out and actually send our retailers some damn books.
And, once again, us poor sods in the UK cannot get hold of it for love nor money. Amazon.co.uk have no copies in stock. Waterstones (both online and my local bricks-and-mortar store) have no copies in stock. Even IGUK (who had a few copies of the PHB2 when no-one else did) don't appear to have any.
WotC, if you want the D&D scene in the UK to die, you're going the right way about it. If you're actually serious about supporting the hobby here, then for God's sake get your finger out and actually send our retailers some damn books.
I agree I ordered mine in Jan mean't to be out today not even a dispatch notice. Why Wizards have we got no books? I ordered one where is it? Once again the UK is forgotten!!!
I pre-ordered months ago as well - and Amazon UK have just updated the estimated delivery date from today to May 11th
You have GOT to be kidding me.
EDIT: Orc's Nest in town apparently have "absolultely loads", so I shall head there after work. They also sell them online at orcsnest.com.
I pre-ordered months ago as well - and Amazon UK have just updated the estimated delivery date from today to May 11th
You have GOT to be kidding me.
EDIT: Orc's Nest in town apparently have "absolultely loads", so I shall head there after work. They also sell them online at orcsnest.com.
So this no-more-pdf thing....
Has wizards stopped pirating? Hell no.
Have they slowed it down? Yes, some. Of course it will just be a longer wait until someone actually buys a copy and scans it.
I wanna buy the book but I have 5 dollars, i'm OWED 20 and waiting to get paid, then i can go get it =D I seen enough previews to wanna see the hellbringer, V-lock build, and the bard PP's. The feats seem nice also from what I been told on these threads.
EDIT: Orc's Nest in town apparently have "absolultely loads", so I shall head there after work. They also sell them online at orcsnest.com.
Dude, you're supposed to buy or at least order your own copy before you tell the entire internet about the one and only place in the UK that has any! :P
You must have gotten away with it this time, though, since they still seem to have some in stock today. Or at least they did ten minutes ago when I placed my order.
Dude, you're supposed to buy or at least order your own copy before you tell the entire internet about the one and only place in the UK that has any! :P
You must have gotten away with it this time, though, since they still seem to have some in stock today. Or at least they did ten minutes ago when I placed my order.
Yeah, I got mine Tuesday night. Of course I paid £18.99 for it rather than the ~£12 Amazon would have charged me if they actually had it, so I'm still kinda annoyed.