PHB2 Released early? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

PHB2 Released early?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
sozomai
Mar 14, 2009 20:35:11 About an hour ago in a local bookstore, I noticed Player's Handbook II on the shelves (I would have bought it, but I left my cash at home and the store was closing).

I thought PHB2 wasn't due to be out until Tuesday. Any thoughts?
#2
salla
Mar 14, 2009 20:41:51 Lots of people have gotten theirs early ... I think Amazon and the big bookstores like Barnes and Noble put it on the shelves ahead of street date.
#3
klaustheprince
Mar 14, 2009 20:51:34
I think Amazon and the big bookstores like Barnes and Noble put it on the shelves ahead of street date.

*rant* Amazon.co.uk didn't. *rant*
#4
sozomai
Mar 14, 2009 20:59:45 Cool beans. Looks like I'll be getting mine tomorrow.
#5
akodokoji
Mar 14, 2009 22:33:50
*rant* Amazon.co.uk didn't. *rant*

As far as I know it was just Amazon.co.jp
#6
doctorhook
Mar 14, 2009 23:11:37
About an hour ago in a local bookstore, I noticed Player's Handbook II on the shelves (I would have bought it, but I left my cash at home and the store was closing).

I thought PHB2 wasn't due to be out until Tuesday. Any thoughts?

This happens sometimes, when retailers ignore the release date and instead stock the material as soon as they receive it from the distributor. It's especially common with foreign retailers, who have less to fear in terms of legal reprisal for breaking release date. It could become a legal issue, hypothetically, although I don't think it actually does very often.

Basically, yes, Tuesday is the official release date, but a few retailers are unscrupulous enough to sell the books ahead of time for a few extra sales.
#7
captainswift
Mar 14, 2009 23:35:32 It's not about scruples, it's simply that WotC books don't have strict on-sale dates. They have expected on-sale dates. Nothing in the agreement with WotC requires anyone to wait to put it on sale. It goes out when the retailer gets it. The three core books had strict dates, and for some reason, some of the miniatures sets have come in with strict on-sales recently, but generally, it's an immediate release.
#8
doctorhook
Mar 14, 2009 23:37:57
It's not about scruples, it's simply that WotC books don't have strict on-sale dates. They have expected on-sale dates. Nothing in the agreement with WotC requires anyone to wait to put it on sale. It goes out when the retailer gets it. The three core books had strict dates, and for some reason, some of the miniatures sets have come in with strict on-sales recently, but generally, it's an immediate release.

I can't verify that you're wrong, but this definitely doesn't fit with my experience, where at least three local retailers have told me that they can't sell various 4E books prior to the release date.
#9
captainswift
Mar 14, 2009 23:51:31
I can't verify that you're wrong, but this definitely doesn't fit with my experience, where at least three local retailers have told me that they can't sell various 4E books prior to the release date.

I'm the manager a Books-a-Million store, and have previously worked for two other major chains. I have seen gaming products come in with strict on-sales very, very rarely (the 3.5 core, the 4e core, and, recently, some of the miniatures, notably. The strategy guide for one of the Grand Theft Auto games once, for some reason.)

If WotC intends their dates to be strict, I'll have to say, they don't communicate it well to retailers. Like Harry Potter and the $10,000/book fines.
#10
themindsdesire
Mar 15, 2009 0:16:15 I can't speak for all of the book stores but it could be an issue of just not being informed of the actual street date. I work at our local book store (a small chain based out of Wisconsin with stores mainly in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan) and we have recieved all of the 4th Edition books the week prior to their street date but recieve nothing telling us that the books are supposed to go on the shelf a certain day. We get a lot of books that we are supposed to keep in the back until their street date but we have never recieved a notice on the 4e books so they get put out right away. So as far as any one of my co-workers knows it is just another book that can be put on the shelf.

I guess my point is that the lack of anything giving a street date other than March 2009 (which is the only release date we have gotten for the phb2) leads me to believe that WoTC doesn't much care what day they actually go out on the shelf. They just give a formal street date so that they can have an actually day that it was released rather than just month / year. I don't think WoTC really cares when it gets put on shelves as long as they're making money off of it.
#11
Belorin
Mar 15, 2009 0:52:35 I pre-ordered from Buy.com and it shipped yesterday 3/13.

Bel
#12
Nyarlathotep
Mar 15, 2009 0:55:42
Lots of people have gotten theirs early ... I think Amazon and the big bookstores like Barnes and Noble put it on the shelves ahead of street date.

I was sooooooo hoping you were right, in my case, but I just checked my Amazon account and it hasn't even shipped yet. My guess, if previous experience is any guide, is that they will ship it on Tuesday and I will see it on Thursday, maybe even Wednesday. I live very close to one of their warehouses so I often get 'next day' even if I don't pay for it.
#13
arkus_of_landra
Mar 15, 2009 0:59:47
It's not about scruples, it's simply that WotC books don't have strict on-sale dates. They have expected on-sale dates. Nothing in the agreement with WotC requires anyone to wait to put it on sale. It goes out when the retailer gets it. The three core books had strict dates, and for some reason, some of the miniatures sets have come in with strict on-sales recently, but generally, it's an immediate release.
I work for borders, this = truth. If it's not on the street date list, it goes out.
#14
SuichimoTheDragoon
Mar 15, 2009 1:07:48 I picked mine up today from a book store not that far from me.
#15
Chiba_Monkey
Mar 15, 2009 1:19:18 I picked mine up yesterday. One of my players had picked it up Thursday, I sw it, and as DM suspended gaming until we went to the store to pick it up.
#16
Aryxbez
Mar 15, 2009 1:47:44 Funnily enough, this had happened to me too. A friend of mine and I, was told the Players Handbook 2 was out at our hobby store already. So we went and bought the PHBII the same day the store got it, which was friday 3/13/08, twas pretty funny yes. Also, we got the store's only two copies they had at the time, so it was pretty funny if you ask me.
#17
Undrhil
Mar 15, 2009 2:44:43 This doesn't change the fact that nothing in the PHB2 is legal for LFR play until March 18, unless WotC has released a revised LFR character guide saying so.

Just saying.

I picked up my copy from Books a Million yesterday (well, Friday.)
#18
_Mithreinmaethor_
Mar 15, 2009 3:57:53
This doesn't change the fact that nothing in the PHB2 is legal for LFR play until March 18, unless WotC has released a revised LFR character guide saying so.

Just saying.

I picked up my copy from Books a Million yesterday (well, Friday.)

Actually its legal on March 17th by the CCG v1.8. But I get where you are coming from.
#19
TheLoneCleric
Mar 15, 2009 7:57:21 WOTC's parent company Hasbro has the money to pursue all those court cases, but WOTC doesn't...especially if they want to remain profitable.
#20
Joseph_Silver
Mar 15, 2009 10:19:28 I'm an alternate in my group's LFR game this Tuesday. I'm hoping that some of the players have "accidents" so I can play (I swear I did not sabotage their brakes or anything like that) my sorcerer then.
#21
dazmiuth
Mar 15, 2009 13:19:17 Just picked up a copy at my local Waldenbooks. They didn't have it on the shelves at my local game store or Barnes and Noble. Gonna go get comfortable and have a read!
#22
alien270
Mar 15, 2009 15:04:07 Grrr...went to Barnes and Noble and Borders and neither were selling it yet...
#23
squarecircle
Mar 15, 2009 20:29:34
Grrr...went to Barnes and Noble and Borders and neither were selling it yet...

I feel ya... I dropped by Borders on my way to work and they didn't have it, either. So disappointing.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 sozomai Mar 14, 2009 20:35:11	About an hour ago in a local bookstore, I noticed Player's Handbook II on the shelves (I would have bought it, but I left my cash at home and the store was closing). I thought PHB2 wasn't due to be out until Tuesday. Any thoughts?
#2 salla Mar 14, 2009 20:41:51	Lots of people have gotten theirs early ... I think Amazon and the big bookstores like Barnes and Noble put it on the shelves ahead of street date.
#3 klaustheprince Mar 14, 2009 20:51:34	I think Amazon and the big bookstores like Barnes and Noble put it on the shelves ahead of street date. rant Amazon.co.uk didn't. rant
#4 sozomai Mar 14, 2009 20:59:45	Cool beans. Looks like I'll be getting mine tomorrow.
#5 akodokoji Mar 14, 2009 22:33:50	rant Amazon.co.uk didn't. rant As far as I know it was just Amazon.co.jp
#6 doctorhook Mar 14, 2009 23:11:37	About an hour ago in a local bookstore, I noticed Player's Handbook II on the shelves (I would have bought it, but I left my cash at home and the store was closing). I thought PHB2 wasn't due to be out until Tuesday. Any thoughts? This happens sometimes, when retailers ignore the release date and instead stock the material as soon as they receive it from the distributor. It's especially common with foreign retailers, who have less to fear in terms of legal reprisal for breaking release date. It could become a legal issue, hypothetically, although I don't think it actually does very often. Basically, yes, Tuesday is the official release date, but a few retailers are unscrupulous enough to sell the books ahead of time for a few extra sales.
#7 captainswift Mar 14, 2009 23:35:32	It's not about scruples, it's simply that WotC books don't have strict on-sale dates. They have expected on-sale dates. Nothing in the agreement with WotC requires anyone to wait to put it on sale. It goes out when the retailer gets it. The three core books had strict dates, and for some reason, some of the miniatures sets have come in with strict on-sales recently, but generally, it's an immediate release.
#8 doctorhook Mar 14, 2009 23:37:57	It's not about scruples, it's simply that WotC books don't have strict on-sale dates. They have expected on-sale dates. Nothing in the agreement with WotC requires anyone to wait to put it on sale. It goes out when the retailer gets it. The three core books had strict dates, and for some reason, some of the miniatures sets have come in with strict on-sales recently, but generally, it's an immediate release. I can't verify that you're wrong, but this definitely doesn't fit with my experience, where at least three local retailers have told me that they can't sell various 4E books prior to the release date.
#9 captainswift Mar 14, 2009 23:51:31	I can't verify that you're wrong, but this definitely doesn't fit with my experience, where at least three local retailers have told me that they can't sell various 4E books prior to the release date. I'm the manager a Books-a-Million store, and have previously worked for two other major chains. I have seen gaming products come in with strict on-sales very, very rarely (the 3.5 core, the 4e core, and, recently, some of the miniatures, notably. The strategy guide for one of the Grand Theft Auto games once, for some reason.) If WotC intends their dates to be strict, I'll have to say, they don't communicate it well to retailers. Like Harry Potter and the $10,000/book fines.
#10 themindsdesire Mar 15, 2009 0:16:15	I can't speak for all of the book stores but it could be an issue of just not being informed of the actual street date. I work at our local book store (a small chain based out of Wisconsin with stores mainly in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan) and we have recieved all of the 4th Edition books the week prior to their street date but recieve nothing telling us that the books are supposed to go on the shelf a certain day. We get a lot of books that we are supposed to keep in the back until their street date but we have never recieved a notice on the 4e books so they get put out right away. So as far as any one of my co-workers knows it is just another book that can be put on the shelf. I guess my point is that the lack of anything giving a street date other than March 2009 (which is the only release date we have gotten for the phb2) leads me to believe that WoTC doesn't much care what day they actually go out on the shelf. They just give a formal street date so that they can have an actually day that it was released rather than just month / year. I don't think WoTC really cares when it gets put on shelves as long as they're making money off of it.
#11 Belorin Mar 15, 2009 0:52:35	I pre-ordered from Buy.com and it shipped yesterday 3/13. Bel
#12 Nyarlathotep Mar 15, 2009 0:55:42	Lots of people have gotten theirs early ... I think Amazon and the big bookstores like Barnes and Noble put it on the shelves ahead of street date. I was sooooooo hoping you were right, in my case, but I just checked my Amazon account and it hasn't even shipped yet. My guess, if previous experience is any guide, is that they will ship it on Tuesday and I will see it on Thursday, maybe even Wednesday. I live very close to one of their warehouses so I often get 'next day' even if I don't pay for it.
#13 arkus_of_landra Mar 15, 2009 0:59:47	It's not about scruples, it's simply that WotC books don't have strict on-sale dates. They have expected on-sale dates. Nothing in the agreement with WotC requires anyone to wait to put it on sale. It goes out when the retailer gets it. The three core books had strict dates, and for some reason, some of the miniatures sets have come in with strict on-sales recently, but generally, it's an immediate release. I work for borders, this = truth. If it's not on the street date list, it goes out.
#14 SuichimoTheDragoon Mar 15, 2009 1:07:48	I picked mine up today from a book store not that far from me.
#15 Chiba_Monkey Mar 15, 2009 1:19:18	I picked mine up yesterday. One of my players had picked it up Thursday, I sw it, and as DM suspended gaming until we went to the store to pick it up.
#16 Aryxbez Mar 15, 2009 1:47:44	Funnily enough, this had happened to me too. A friend of mine and I, was told the Players Handbook 2 was out at our hobby store already. So we went and bought the PHBII the same day the store got it, which was friday 3/13/08, twas pretty funny yes. Also, we got the store's only two copies they had at the time, so it was pretty funny if you ask me.
#17 Undrhil Mar 15, 2009 2:44:43	This doesn't change the fact that nothing in the PHB2 is legal for LFR play until March 18, unless WotC has released a revised LFR character guide saying so. Just saying. I picked up my copy from Books a Million yesterday (well, Friday.)
#18 _Mithreinmaethor_ Mar 15, 2009 3:57:53	This doesn't change the fact that nothing in the PHB2 is legal for LFR play until March 18, unless WotC has released a revised LFR character guide saying so. Just saying. I picked up my copy from Books a Million yesterday (well, Friday.) Actually its legal on March 17th by the CCG v1.8. But I get where you are coming from.
#19 TheLoneCleric Mar 15, 2009 7:57:21	WOTC's parent company Hasbro has the money to pursue all those court cases, but WOTC doesn't...especially if they want to remain profitable.
#20 Joseph_Silver Mar 15, 2009 10:19:28	I'm an alternate in my group's LFR game this Tuesday. I'm hoping that some of the players have "accidents" so I can play (I swear I did not sabotage their brakes or anything like that) my sorcerer then.
#21 dazmiuth Mar 15, 2009 13:19:17	Just picked up a copy at my local Waldenbooks. They didn't have it on the shelves at my local game store or Barnes and Noble. Gonna go get comfortable and have a read!
#22 alien270 Mar 15, 2009 15:04:07	Grrr...went to Barnes and Noble and Borders and neither were selling it yet...
#23 squarecircle Mar 15, 2009 20:29:34	Grrr...went to Barnes and Noble and Borders and neither were selling it yet... I feel ya... I dropped by Borders on my way to work and they didn't have it, either. So disappointing.