my frustration with paizo


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Liberty's Edge

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Today I spent searching, pretty much everywere for pathfinder books, not a single store had them. I live in rhode island, its not too big of a place so I figured I could easily find some, right? Dead wrong, I didn't find a single one, I searched pretty much all of the local gaming stores, I found nothing but a copy of blood for blood. I ended up finding out game on! is now stocking pathfinder books, but only the core rulebook. This is just plain dumb, why are these books so hard to find? Why aren't they more widely sold? Why is paizo being so stingy with distributing these? Im sure they like making a profit, but why limit the supply so much? Its near impossible for me to get these books unless off the internet! I just feel that I can't enjoy pathfinder as much, forget reccomending it to people.

Contributor

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snickersimba wrote:
Today I spent searching, pretty much everywere for pathfinder books, not a single store had them. I live in rhode island, its not too big of a place so I figured I could easily find some, right? Dead wrong, I didn't find a single one, I searched pretty much all of the local gaming stores, I found nothing but a copy of blood for blood. I ended up finding out game on! is now stocking pathfinder books, but only the core rulebook. This is just plain dumb, why are these books so hard to find? Why aren't they more widely sold? Why is paizo being so stingy with distributing these? Im sure they like making a profit, but why limit the supply so much? Its near impossible for me to get these books unless off the internet! I just feel that I can't enjoy pathfinder as much, forget reccomending it to people.

Paizo isn't stingy about distributing anything. Stores, not publishers, choose what they carry. It sounds like the stores in your area are choosing not to keep a stock of Pathfinder products available.


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EDIT: Ninja'd.
Have you asked them why they haven't stocked them? It might be something to do with lack of interest in your area.

Sovereign Court

Not my experience in the Twin Cities. Can pretty much find whatever you want locally. Not sure this is Paizo's fault. Maybe your local shops are not ordering much product?

Liberty's Edge

I asked them, they say its there suppliers. Meaning that its somewere farther back. RI has a pathfinder issue already, this is why I suspect paizo mostly.


You know that you can have booked delivered to your home, right?

Liberty's Edge

Yes, I know that. But I don't have a credit card. Nor do I have paypal. I am sixteen. My grandparents are the ones who I live with, they do not understand ordering things off the internet.

Sovereign Court

Hmm that's curious because we are swimming in product locally here. Maybe you could talk your family into getting you one of those visa gift cards so you can spend your cash online like a credit card.


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Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Go to a book shop. Pretty much any large retail chain.

Obtain ISBN from the product page on this website.

Ask them if they will order books for you.

Place order from someone who says "yes".

Wait.

???

Profit.

Liberty's Edge

chem, this is the smallest state in the USA. We have jack s$~$. I think there is maybe one barnes and nobles SOMEWHERE in the state? Otherwise, I would. I went there once and the cashier was a straight up hipster, I am not kidding. He also was extremely snobby.

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Maps Subscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Paizo publishes the games, but third party companies distribute the games to game stores, like Alliance Games. It is far easier to have a third party company act between a handful of gaming companies and the thousands of game shops spread throughout North America.

Likely all you have to do is ask the nearest game store if they can order the books you want.

I preorder Pathfinder books through my game shop every month. I get them quicker then if I waited for Amazon to get them, I don't get charged the shipping as if I had ordered them from Paizo directly. And he gives me a discount (for preordering) since the books won't be taking up shelf space.

I know of another store near by but way out of my area, since its a smaller shop they don't keep a lot of stuff like Pathfinder on hand, but they can order anything you need and give a discount if you pay in advance, cause then it won't be something that lingers on the shelf for ages.


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You have options.

Comic book stores usually stock RPG books.

Most Barnes & Noble bookstores I've been to have a selection of Pathfinder books in stock. They would be with the other RPG titles (usually between the sci-fi and graphic novels section). I wonder if there are any B&N stores in RI?

You can buy Amazon gift cards with cash at most big-box stores (like Target or Wal-Mart), and then use the card to buy things on Amazon. (That's what my 14-year-old kid does.)

You could walk into any local bookstore and ask to special-order a specific title. Very few bookstores charge extra for placing a special order, and some offer a discount. (Although some might ask you to pay in advance...especially if you're a teenager, and the store doesn't usually stock RPG titles.)

You could ask an Internet-savvy grown-up you know and trust to order titles online for you. (You then pay that person cash.)

Liberty's Edge

Comic book stores that sell RPG books? In rhode island? Preposterous! Thats what I thought untill I literally went to every last one of them.
Imma just start using my local library to see if they stock them. I may of accidentally found a loophole in PFS..... Well, Imma just tell my gran to go into game on with a list and tell them to order my books


snickersimba wrote:

Comic book stores that sell RPG books? In rhode island? Preposterous! Thats what I thought untill I literally went to every last one of them.

Imma just start using my local library to see if they stock them. I may of accidentally found a loophole in PFS..... Well, Imma just tell my gran to go into game on with a list and tell them to order my books

Count to 10.

Reread what Haladir wrote.

Ordering off Amazon will make your money go farther anyway.


Scholars in Bridgewater, MA or Battleground in Abington, MA should be close to you. I used to live around there, those aren't too far from you. Not in RI but not that far either, I believe they both have websites with phone numbers, if you want to check before you make the trip.

Liberty's Edge

Thanks greg, just a massive amount of fustration today.


I think both of those stores have PFS if you need to find other people to game with, but I haven't been to either of them in a few years. I have some friends who live in RI and I believe they go to scholars or order online. (508) 279-1712 is the phone number for scholars, the place has been in the rpg business for at least 20 years, it is connected to the gaming club at BSU, I really liked it when I was there.

Liberty's Edge

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I know for a fact that Diamond, the distributor that pretty much all comic shops order through, also carries Paizo's products in their catalog. Ordering a Paizo product through a comic shop should be no more difficult than ordering a comic. Granted, most comic stores probably won't have them in stock ready for you to walk in, but they should have no trouble whatsoever ordering that stuff for you.


Haladir wrote:
You can buy Amazon gift cards with cash at most big-box stores (like Target or Wal-Mart), and then use the card to buy things on Amazon. (That's what my 14-year-old kid does.)

I know I can walk into my local drug store and pick up a prepaid debit card it use anyplace that takes mastercard OR visa. You don't have to limit yourself to JUST a giftcard unless you're sure you'll spend the entire amount there. The debit card route will let you order and then use any remaining amount to grab a soda at the convenience store. ;)


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snickersimba wrote:

Comic book stores that sell RPG books? In Rhode Island? Preposterous! That's what I thought until I literally went to every last one of them.

I'm going to just start using my local library to see if they stock them. I may have accidentally found a loophole in PFS..... Well, I'm going to just tell my grandmother to go into Game On with a list and ask them to order my books.

Fixed a few things because... reasons.

That said, fact is that Paizo sells their products to the largest RPG/book distributors in (at least) North America. You can walk into normal brick & mortar book stores here in Canada and find at least the essentials (Core, Bestiaries) on the shelves. The only reason the complete line isn't present is because mainline bookstores only devote a certain amount of shelf-space to gaming books. They could stock whatever they want.

If you're being told by a small store owner that they can't order Paizo products because their distributor's don't carry them, one of two things is happening:

1} The store doesn't deal with major distributors. They can't get a LOT of things because of this. It's their choice, not Paizo's.

2} The store owner is deflecting the discussion, because they'd don't want to carry Paizo's products. There's some friction because Paizo does sell direct, and small stores know that. They see Paizo as a competitor, and some of them may choose to not carry Paizo product because they don't want to encourage the company. This was a bigger issue years ago, when Pathfinder and it setting were new, and not as clearly dominant. Some stores hoped they could just ignore Pathfinder and it might go away. These days this is less common.

Point is that Paizo isn't really at fault here. Yes, they could sell to Joe's Lame Distribution Of Two Products And One Of Them Is Sold Out so that the books end up on the shelves in RI, but there's a flip side to that coin: JLDOTPAOOTISO has to actually ask to buy from Paizo.


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Every comic shop and gaming store where I live will order books they don't normally supply on the shelf. I can just go in, ask them to order one for me, and pay for it when it arrives. Your local comic shops should be able to do the same.

I have found one local shop who blamed their lack of books on the distributors. I find it odd that no other shop nearby had that issue, so I suspect they're lying through their teeth.


I know of 2 places in Connecticut not too far from the rhode island border that carry pathfinder products. Citadel Game Cellar in Groton carries just about every product from them and is in stock at the store. Sarges comics in New London also carries some pathfinder products as well.


snickersimba wrote:
chem, this is the smallest state in the USA. We have jack s$#@. I think there is maybe one barnes and nobles SOMEWHERE in the state? Otherwise, I would. I went there once and the cashier was a straight up hipster, I am not kidding. He also was extremely snobby.

Dude, I live in alaska, before that a very remote part of Idaho, two hours from anything…in two hours to could drive into completely different states (multiples of them)

All you have to do is walk into a place and ask them to order you a product, and then pay for it in advance. Make sure you keep the receipt.

It's simple. I have to do it all the time, and have had to do it for years… even on simple things LIKE CLOTHES.

around here, and where I lived before, it was common, so stores simply offered to order stuff.

In Rhode Island. Big people just drive to another state 20 minutes south or west to get what they want. It's the Rhode Island thing, not the Paizo thing.


If you have a BAM!(Books a Million) in your area you could check there they sell Pathfinder Hardcovers(along with the Player Companion, Campaign Setting, Modules, Pawns, and decks) B&N also sell many of the Hardcovers and some APs, I'm also lucky to have a local game shop that keeps of very good stock of Pathfinder material along with other RPGs as well.


The OP isn't wrong, many of the gaming stores in our state have closed in the last three years, and options are few.

I recommend Rivendell Games, it's closer than Bridgewater by a lot.


Snickersimba-- I'm not sure why I'm doing your homework for you, but I just did 5 minutes worth of Googling, and found about a dozen stores that sell tabletop RPGs in Rhode Island. Mana Core in Providence. Untapped Games in Pawtucket. The Temple Games in Pawtucket. Any of the three Barnes & Noble locations. And several more shops that I will leave as an exercise to the Googler to find.

I don't know if they sell Pathfinder books in particular, but you could call them up and ask before heading over.

Of course, even the stores that do stock Pathfinder books probably aren't going to carry more than a handful of the PFRPG hardcover rulebooks. (e.g. On the shelf, there's two copies of CRB, and maybe one each of Bestiary 2, Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition, and Ultimate Magic.) I've never found a shop that stocks the softcovers at all. You will have to order those regardless.


Haladir wrote:

Snickersimba-- I'm not sure why I'm doing your homework for you, but I just did 5 minutes worth of Googling, and found about a dozen stores that sell tabletop RPGs in Rhode Island. Mana Core in Providence. Untapped Games in Pawtucket. The Temple Games in Pawtucket. Any of the three Barnes & Noble locations. And several more shops that I will leave as an exercise to the Googler to find.

I don't know if they sell Pathfinder books in particular, but you could call them up and ask before heading over.

And if they don't have any on hand, 10 to 1 they'll be happy to order it for you and gain your trust as a repeat customer.


Haladir wrote:
I've never found a shop that stocks the softcovers at all. You will have to order those regardless.

I live in Ogden Utah (about 40 minutes North of SLC).

We have 4 comic and game shops that carry Parthfinder, 1 carries most recent softcovers.
We have a couple of local bookstores, including a Hastings that have a pretty good collection.

You mentioned remote Idaho and I immediately felt sympathy - not that I am that far from stuff.


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Lord Mhoram wrote:
Haladir wrote:
I've never found a shop that stocks the softcovers at all. You will have to order those regardless.

I live in Ogden Utah (about 40 minutes North of SLC).

We have 4 comic and game shops that carry Parthfinder, 1 carries most recent softcovers.
We have a couple of local bookstores, including a Hastings that have a pretty good collection.

You mentioned remote Idaho and I immediately felt sympathy - not that I am that far from stuff.

40 minutes north of SLC? You need to get a car with more than 40 horse power!

hah!

Ogden is not that remote, it's not like living in Green River, or Monticello.

I kind of like that area, over there by Tip-of-my noses… (I could never spell that)


snickersimba wrote:
I asked them, they say its there suppliers. Meaning that its somewere farther back. RI has a pathfinder issue already, this is why I suspect paizo mostly.

I live in a small town and we have Paizo products. Your stores need new suppliers. You might be able to get one of those prepaid debit cards from Walmart to order from Paizo or Amazon. That way you wont need a credit card.


It's cheaper to buy off Amazon. Don't buy directly from Paizo, don't buy from a local store. I got the Core book for $50, which was less than ⅔ what the local store wanted and less than ½ what Paizo wanted.


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Barathos wrote:
It's cheaper to buy off Amazon. Don't buy directly from Paizo, don't buy from a local store. I got the Core book for $50, which was less than ⅔ what the local store wanted and less than ½ what Paizo wanted.

ummm the CRB is was and always has been $49.99….how is $50 half of what paizo wants for it?


Pendagast wrote:
Barathos wrote:
It's cheaper to buy off Amazon. Don't buy directly from Paizo, don't buy from a local store. I got the Core book for $50, which was less than ⅔ what the local store wanted and less than ½ what Paizo wanted.
ummm the CRB is was and always has been $49.99….how is $50 half of what paizo wants for it?

"What's delivery and why does it cost money?" -Pendagast


Barathos wrote:
Pendagast wrote:
Barathos wrote:
It's cheaper to buy off Amazon. Don't buy directly from Paizo, don't buy from a local store. I got the Core book for $50, which was less than ⅔ what the local store wanted and less than ½ what Paizo wanted.
ummm the CRB is was and always has been $49.99….how is $50 half of what paizo wants for it?
"What's delivery and why does it cost money?" -Pendagast

it doesn't cost double the product, don't be a smart ass.


Pendagast wrote:
Barathos wrote:
Pendagast wrote:
Barathos wrote:
It's cheaper to buy off Amazon. Don't buy directly from Paizo, don't buy from a local store. I got the Core book for $50, which was less than ⅔ what the local store wanted and less than ½ what Paizo wanted.
ummm the CRB is was and always has been $49.99….how is $50 half of what paizo wants for it?
"What's delivery and why does it cost money?" -Pendagast
it doesn't cost double the product, don't be a smart ass.

Paizo wanted $70 extra to ship here, Amazon wanted $5. You were saying?


Barathos wrote:
Pendagast wrote:
Barathos wrote:
Pendagast wrote:
Barathos wrote:
It's cheaper to buy off Amazon. Don't buy directly from Paizo, don't buy from a local store. I got the Core book for $50, which was less than ⅔ what the local store wanted and less than ½ what Paizo wanted.
ummm the CRB is was and always has been $49.99….how is $50 half of what paizo wants for it?
"What's delivery and why does it cost money?" -Pendagast
it doesn't cost double the product, don't be a smart ass.
Paizo wanted $70 extra to ship here, Amazon wanted $5. You were saying?

Im saying you can't do math.

$50 plus $70 is $120… HALF of $120 is $60 not fifty.

Either way you want to tell your story, you're own posts don't match up with each other.


Pendagast wrote:
Barathos wrote:
Pendagast wrote:
Barathos wrote:
Pendagast wrote:
Barathos wrote:
It's cheaper to buy off Amazon. Don't buy directly from Paizo, don't buy from a local store. I got the Core book for $50, which was less than ⅔ what the local store wanted and less than ½ what Paizo wanted.
ummm the CRB is was and always has been $49.99….how is $50 half of what paizo wants for it?
"What's delivery and why does it cost money?" -Pendagast
it doesn't cost double the product, don't be a smart ass.
Paizo wanted $70 extra to ship here, Amazon wanted $5. You were saying?

Im saying you can't do math.

$50 plus $70 is $120… HALF of $120 is $60 not fifty.

Either way you want to tell your story, you're own posts don't match up with each other.

"... less than ½ what Paizo wanted."

Half what Paizo wanted was $60. $50 < $60.
You need to learn some reading comprehension.


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What's fustration?

Is it the process of being fus-ro-dah?

Whatever, it's past midnight in America everywhere but Hawaii. Nearly 3 o'clock here. I can taste my brain plunkle.

Silver Crusade

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Whatever has happened to the good old 'badger your parents until they buy you a motorcycle/shotgun/patfhinder rulebook'?


Here, where I live, you do not need a credit card for amazon just a bank account. That's why I buy from them, not directly from Paizo.
Sure, from time to time I'd like to buy a pdf but you can't have everything.


Just going to chip in here to agree with those that have stated this is more of a store issue than a publisher one. If the store doesn't order the product to put on the shelves, it's not going to be there.

It's extremely rare (although not totally unknown) for a Pathfinder hardcover to be unavailable from the distributor, but even then it's only going to affect one or two of the products - pretty much the entire hardcover range is always available from Paizo's distributors, *if* a given store wishes to stock it.


Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Barathos wrote:
Paizo wanted $70 extra to ship here, Amazon wanted $5. You were saying?

Where do you live? That is more than it costs to ship a hardcover book AND an Adventure Card Game Base Set Box to Germany?


Zaister wrote:
Barathos wrote:
Paizo wanted $70 extra to ship here, Amazon wanted $5. You were saying?
Where do you live? That is more than it costs to ship a hardcover book AND an Adventure Card Game Base Set Box to Germany?

I was about to ask that because even using express(1 or 2 day) shipping I have never had to pay 70 dollars for one book, and I dont know of Amazon shipping overseas for 5 dollars. Maybe if he has the prime membership, but I dont know if even that would help.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
snickersimba wrote:
Today I spent searching, pretty much everywere for pathfinder books, not a single store had them. I live in rhode island, its not too big of a place so I figured I could easily find some, right? Dead wrong, I didn't find a single one, I searched pretty much all of the local gaming stores, I found nothing but a copy of blood for blood. I ended up finding out game on! is now stocking pathfinder books, but only the core rulebook. This is just plain dumb, why are these books so hard to find? Why aren't they more widely sold? Why is paizo being so stingy with distributing these? Im sure they like making a profit, but why limit the supply so much? Its near impossible for me to get these books unless off the internet! I just feel that I can't enjoy pathfinder as much, forget reccomending it to people.

Are those "gaming stores" focused on anything besides card and board gaming? You CAN order them from Paizo or Amazon, you know.


I live in RI too. As Anonymous up there said, you want to go to Rivendell. That's my favorite local shop. In my experience, the local nerd shops don't really cater to all types at once. Comic book shops tend to try to stick with comics and a bit of manga, not gaming. Card shops tend to do cards but add in collectible miniatures as well. Video game shops are just video games (and sadly all the mom & pop ones died along with Babbages, FUNCOLAND, and the rest as GameStop took over).

If you want basic Pathfinder books, go to Barnes and Noble in Warwick. They have the core books and stock random other books, probably what the distributor has told them will sell the best. You may have trouble collecting entire adventure paths there, but if you're just looking to increase your collection, it's not a bad option. Plus, if you or your parents have a card, I'm pretty sure gaming books count for the member discount. Go to Rivendell if you can though; they're great people and a great store and will order whatever you need in my experience.

If you can wait and make it to PAX East in Boston, you'll find all Pathfinder products. And the more we make Pathfinder a big deal at PAX East, the more likely Paizo will send some folks there.

Lastly, while especially when we are young, it seems like RI being the smallest state is totally lame and a hindrance to fun, it really isn't. The population density means we have a ton of stuff here. If you go to places like Alaska or Maine, then you see real frustration from the scarcity. Plus, even if you are somehow bored of everything RI offers, you're 1.5 hours from Boston and 3 hours from New York City.


Zaister wrote:
Barathos wrote:
Paizo wanted $70 extra to ship here, Amazon wanted $5. You were saying?
Where do you live? That is more than it costs to ship a hardcover book AND an Adventure Card Game Base Set Box to Germany?

It costs me $62 to ship a CRB on its own to Australia. :(

Having said that, I can add about three or four AP-sized softcovers without increasing that (and usually getting a ten dollar discount on shipping for orders over a hundred dollars). So that gets the shipping down to $12-$15 per book.


If you have a bank account you can get a debit card with a Visa or Mastercard logo on it and use it like a credit card. You're 16. You can open your own bank account. I opened mine when I was 16 with my first paycheck.

The various comic book and game stores around me don't always have what I'm looking for. Several will check their suppliers and if they can't get it they will find other means.

When I was 16 (in the mid 80's) I was able to get almost every game I wanted without any problems. I was in a southern NJ and the nearest stores was a 20 minute bike ride away. It's doable.


Pathfinder Maps Subscriber
snickersimba wrote:
I asked them, they say its there suppliers.

Sometimes retailer will blame the wholesaler to "pacify" the customer or they are dealing with a wholesaler who demands to be a shop's exclusive supplier and then falls down on the job.

Liberty's Edge

Im starting to see that it is more or less the store. I happen to have an extra box of the character add on deck for the card game, I brought it in and asked how much they would pay for it. They told me five dollars. Hmmm, Who else sees an issue here?

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