Will this be on sale at Gen Con? If so, will there be enough copies that it won't be sold out by the weekend?
I can only go on Saturday and this is on my must-have list.
Creative Director
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Will this be on sale at Gen Con? If so, will there be enough copies that it won't be sold out by the weekend?
I can only go on Saturday and this is on my must-have list.
If all goes according to plan, yes, it will be on sale at Gen Con. We're bringing a LOT of copies, so hopefully they'll last till Saturday. If they don't, there'll probably be fireworks shooting off above the Paizo booth for the rest of the con.
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$9.99 price. I'm saddened by this news.
Background: I'm a strict deadtree-buying guy. I only buy pdfs if the product is not available in print form. Thus, while I admit the $40 difference between the PRPG HC and the pdf is eye-opening, it's not enough to change my buying habits. (I purchased the PRPG beta print version even after downloading the pdf. And I'm glad I did: the print copies seem to be in demand.)
FLGSs, apparently, won't be seeing it that way. The thread, Paizo sets price of Pathfinder RPG PDF at $9.99!!!!! over at enworld basically uses the PRPG pdf to bash FLGSs and LGSs to get "competitive" with pdf prices (as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc). I contacted one of my FLGS's owners to discuss the pdf price, and the drop in room temperature was noticeable. Apparently many companies offer a $10-$15 price difference between their print and pdf siblings, not $40. Even he, an avid buy print version buyer, admitted he'd reconsider his stance as such a deep discount.
I'm now torn. On the one hand, I can understand why Paizo's offering such an incredible price. On the other hand, I like my FLGS which supports my hobby in many ways (e.g., game space, discounts, first dibs, special orders, players, hangout, etc.) We're planning to run a PFS intro game at the store in September to promote the new book (similar to what WotC did with 4th Edition).
Now I'm not sure. The FLGS got good sales when we ran a V:tR one-shot and I hoped to do the same with PRPG. That won't happen, though, if we tell the newbies they can buy the pdf directly from Paizo.
Advice?
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CEO
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$9.99 price. I'm saddened by this news.
Background: I'm a strict deadtree-buying guy. I only buy pdfs if the product is not available in print form. Thus, while I admit the $40 difference between the PRPG HC and the pdf is eye-opening, it's not enough to change my buying habits. (I purchased the PRPG beta print version even after downloading the pdf. And I'm glad I did: the print copies seem to be in demand.)
FLGSs, apparently, won't be seeing it that way. The thread, Paizo sets price of Pathfinder RPG PDF at $9.99!!!!! over at enworld basically uses the PRPG pdf to bash FLGSs and LGSs to get "competitive" with pdf prices (as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc). I contacted one of my FLGS's owners to discuss the pdf price, and the drop in room temperature was noticeable. Apparently many companies offer a $10-$15 price difference between their print and pdf siblings, not $40. Even he, an avid buy print version buyer, admitted he'd reconsider his stance as such a deep discount.
I'm now torn. On the one hand, I can understand why Paizo's offering such an incredible price. On the other hand, I like my FLGS which supports my hobby in many ways (e.g., game space, discounts, first dibs, special orders, players, hangout, etc.) We're planning to run a PFS intro game at the store in September to promote the new book (similar to what WotC did with 4th Edition).
Now I'm not sure. The FLGS got good sales when we ran a V:tR one-shot and I hoped to do the same with PRPG. That won't happen, though, if we tell the newbies they can buy the pdf directly from Paizo.
Advice?
Joella:
It took me a while to understand the necessity of pricing the PDF at the lower price. And I firmly believe that this won't harm a brick and mortar retailer one iota. Why? Because gamers fall into two camps: those like you and I who love to have dead-tree versions of our games and those who are strictly in the digital realm. Sure, there are folks who like the ability to have both versions (and our subscription practices are aimed at them), but they are mainly dead-tree lovers. Folks who will only buy a PDF were never a customer of the dead-tree version. Many of those folks would have downloaded a free digital version from one of the many pirate websites. Some of them probably still will. But by keeping the PDF price low, it encourages people to check out the PDF legally and because the price is low enough, they are more likely to go the legal route than pirating the digital copy. Also, it is a great way for a customer to preview the game and see if they like it. If they do, I bet that they will end up buying a print copy somewhere, whether it is at a FLGS or online. Without the inexpensive PDF, we probably never would have had the chance to sell a print copy to that person.
Another thing to think about is that the game is open content. Within a very short amount of time of release, I expect the Pathfinder RPG rules to be available for free on various wiki pages. So you can basically play the PFRPG and never pay a penny. With the inexpensive PDF, you might just decide to get the much prettier version instead of just using the wiki. That makes the Pathfinder Core Rulebook a weird duck in regards to the PDFs and pricing and such. There is definitely a big value to the print verson of the core rulebook. Unless you own your own printing facility or can run off high-def copies at work, it is cheaper to buy the print book than to buy the PDF and print it off yourself. Trust me, we needed some early copies of the book ourselves and the B&W printings were more expensive than the core rulebook MSRP.
I have to admit that this whole low-pricing scheme for the core rulebook is a bit of an experiment. My feeling is that it will feed the base of people who play the PFRPG and drive many of them to buy the print version somewhere. Also, I think we will see less pirated copies when the PDF is reasonably priced. Only time will tell whether this was a good move or not, but my gut tells me that it is.
Whew, that was a lot of typing. :) Thoughts?
-Lisa
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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If all goes according to plan, yes, it will be on sale at Gen Con. We're bringing a LOT of copies, so hopefully they'll last till Saturday. If they don't, there'll probably be fireworks shooting off above the Paizo booth for the rest of the con.
I'd bring some, but I have to clear airport screening.
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Well, I can say that by pricing your PDF at $10, you've made an extra sale from me. Instead of subscribing, I decided I would buy the RPG products at my FLGS to support them (and I already have an AP sub). So I thought I would be forgoing the PDF, which I was fine with. Priced at $10 (or, more accurately, $8.50 for me), there's no question that I'll be getting the PDF as well.
And I wouldn't be surprised if I'm the only one to do this.
Lisa, I find your reasoning sound.
I think the low price will actually spread the wealth around, with more people who decide to buy the pdf (whether before in most cases or in a few perhaps after) from Paizo and then buy the book through other venues.
Interesting. I think it will work. And definately a good chance to bring lots of new people to the game.
I'm a dead tree guy myself, and my books are already on preorder through the subscription. This changes nothing for me.
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Phenomenal news. £5 odd for the PDF? So bought.
I was going to buy the hardback at my FLGS, mainly due to the shipping, so it's good to see that I can get the PDF for cheap, to check over the rules and for reference.
As for the FLGS question, if the PDF's sell well, then people will want hardbacks. Which are best to get from Amazon, Paizo or the FLGS. FLGS's should aim for that market, rather then worrying about PDF's that will drive business to them.
Thoughts?
Lisa:
I haven't been shy about disagreeing with you before, but you're spot on with this move. It will pay off big time, and stands in stark contrast to the WotC PDF debacle.
Condensed version of what I said upthread:
- PDFs and hardcopy are complementary goods, not substitute goods
- Lost sales will be more than offset by new customers
- Huge marketshare and mindshare divideneds
A bold, savvy decision.
You may continue as CEO for the time being. ;-)
Exactly. The main competitor my LGS has is online. My desires, they are great, my purse, she is small.
Another thing to think about is that the game is open content. Within a very short amount of time of release, I expect the Pathfinder RPG rules to be available for free on various wiki pages. So you can basically play the PFRPG and never pay a penny. With the inexpensive PDF, you might just decide to get the much prettier version instead of just using the wiki.
100% right on the money.
I'm going to use my hardcover version for reading, enjoying the art etc. and a (free, I hope) hyperlinked web version for using with my computer. With those two wonderful options at my disposal, the PDF is a distant third. But for $10? To quote Geddy Lee: "Ten bucks is ten bucks, eh!"
$9.99 price. I'm saddened by this news.
Background: I'm a strict deadtree-buying guy. I only buy pdfs if the product is not available in print form. Thus, while I admit the $40 difference between the PRPG HC and the pdf is eye-opening, it's not enough to change my buying habits. (I purchased the PRPG beta print version even after downloading the pdf. And I'm glad I did: the print copies seem to be in demand.)
FLGSs, apparently, won't be seeing it that way. The thread, Paizo sets price of Pathfinder RPG PDF at $9.99!!!!! over at enworld basically uses the PRPG pdf to bash FLGSs and LGSs to get "competitive" with pdf prices (as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc). I contacted one of my FLGS's owners to discuss the pdf price, and the drop in room temperature was noticeable. Apparently many companies offer a $10-$15 price difference between their print and pdf siblings, not $40. Even he, an avid buy print version buyer, admitted he'd reconsider his stance as such a deep discount.
I'm now torn. On the one hand, I can understand why Paizo's offering such an incredible price. On the other hand, I like my FLGS which supports my hobby in many ways (e.g., game space, discounts, first dibs, special orders, players, hangout, etc.) We're planning to run a PFS intro game at the store in September to promote the new book (similar to what WotC did with 4th Edition).
Now I'm not sure. The FLGS got good sales when we ran a V:tR one-shot and I hoped to do the same with PRPG. That won't happen, though, if we tell the newbies they can buy the pdf directly from Paizo.
Advice?
Joella:
It took me a while to understand the necessity of pricing the PDF at the lower price. And I firmly believe that this won't harm a brick and mortar retailer one iota. Why? Because gamers fall into two camps: those like you and I who love to have dead-tree versions of our games and those...
Thoughts? I think I will copy and paste this rather than try and explain these things in my own words. Plus your as high an authority as anyone could hope to have on this topic, so if they wish to argue afterwards, well, its their problem.
I would like to know if you are willing to back up WOTC and even Goodman, they have both said that PDF sales are pretty much meaningless in comparison to sales of the print versions. So this to me means that free PDF copies, or very cheap versions, won't in any measurable way hurt print sales. If anything it should do what your saying in this post, that it will likely help boost those sales.
So is that true? Is my LGS' claims, and Titan Games claims, and a few other LGS blog claims, that free/cheap PDF sales hurting them are very equivelant to crying that "The Sky is Falling!"
I know in my LGS situation his claim si completely false, since he doesn't even carry Paizo. He claims your practices lose him sales. Nope, I owuld have bought your modules from him, if he carried them. Since he didn't, I bought them from you. Others I bought from Amazon. So with me he cost himself sales, Paizo's practices had nothing to do with it.
The only thing your PDF offers have done is kept me from buying via Amazon instead. Where I would have saved myself a LOT of money if I didn't value the PDF copies enough to effectively pay an extra 5 or 6 dollars per product, due to shipping costs with you guys.
Plus I do like the fact that you guys get ALL of my money when I buy direct from you.
I am not one of those people who feel my LGS keeps my gaming alive. The internet has done far more for me and my gaming than any of my LGS' have over the last 10 years.
See, it's things like this that make me want to give Paizo all of my money. I'm still buying the hardcover version, but I will be telling all of my fence-sitting friends about the $10 pdf version. Plus, I may ALSO buy the pdf version for electronic searching, depending upon how useful the index is.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Personally, I feel pretty confident that our products are high enough quality that many of the people being exposed to them via inexpensively priced PDFs will eventually choose to pick up a print copy, often at a local retailer. That's borne out by the fact that we gave out a FREE PDF of our Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beta to everyone who wanted one, yet we still sold out the entire print run in just a couple of months.
Cheap PDFs do not trump the desire for printed books by a significant portion of the audience.
I did a more in-depth analysis of some of the reasons behind this here in response to some retailers' reactions to our "PDF Love" sale a while back (so that analysis is specifically focused on discounted PDF, but most of it still applies to PDFs that are just plain inexpensive to start with).
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If all goes according to plan, yes, it will be on sale at Gen Con. We're bringing a LOT of copies, so hopefully they'll last till Saturday. If they don't, there'll probably be fireworks shooting off above the Paizo booth for the rest of the con.
If airport security detains me for bringing a fireworks care package I hope Pazio sends me a copy in jail.
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I'd like to go on record saying that I think the low-price point PDF will actually INCREASE sales of the PFRPG and associated products at local game stores. A few observations:
1. We gave away the Beta playtest PDF FOR FREE to anyone who wanted it. The in-print BETA Playtest Edition of the PFRPG was the fastest-selling Paizo product to date, with the large majority (i.e. "almost all") of the sales going through the hobby game channel.
2. Players who balked at the $50 price point necessary to defray the costs of printing and putting together a 576-page book now have an option to get into the game at a significantly lower cost. Many of these "experimenters" will in turn decide to pick up a hard copy, and the most likely place they will do so is at their local game store.
3. Because the book is so heavy, shipping (especially internationally) is cost-prohibitive for a number of gamers. Those gamers _could_ subscribe and get a free PDF, but the smarter option is to get the PDF for $9.99 and buy the book at the local game store, thus saving money on shipping. These customers are actually _disincentivized_ to purchase the hard copy book directly from Paizo or set up a Pathfinder RPG subscription. That ought to _directly_ benefit local game stores.
4. More Pathfinder players means more Pathfinder products sold in all channels. The FLGS is the best-stocked and most convenient place for customers to buy Pathfinder products, so more players ought to mean more money for the local game store.
5. Paizo spends tens of thousands of dollars annually on hobby-exclusive products like the Pathfinder Beta Print Edition, Free RPG Day, the Combat Pad, promotional posters, etc. Our Pathfinder Society Organized Play program is designed to facilitate in-store play, and has been used to good effect by several savvy store owners and managers. We do a lot to support the local game store, and we will do even more in the future.
Well, I can say that by pricing your PDF at $10, you've made an extra sale from me. Instead of subscribing, I decided I would buy the RPG products at my FLGS to support them (and I already have an AP sub). So I thought I would be forgoing the PDF, which I was fine with. Priced at $10 (or, more accurately, $8.50 for me), there's no question that I'll be getting the PDF as well.
And I wouldn't be surprised if I'm the only one to do this.
Consider yourself unsurprised.
I'm Subscribing, *and* buying a second hard copy at my FLGS, *and* will probably pay for my sig. other to purchase the PDF separately.
If all goes according to plan, yes, it will be on sale at Gen Con. We're bringing a LOT of copies, so hopefully they'll last till Saturday. If they don't, there'll probably be fireworks shooting off above the Paizo booth for the rest of the con.
Lol..
This is off topic, but I was at Gencon last year, talking to you and Wes, when one of my friends and players bought the last single copy of the Campaign Book hardback you brought. It was Saturday afternoon and you two autographed it for him.
It was a fun moment, wish I had a chance to be there this year.
I'd like to go on record saying that I think the low-price point PDF will actually INCREASE sales of the PFRPG and associated products at local game stores. A few observations:
3. Because the book is so heavy, shipping (especially internationally) is cost-prohibitive for a number of gamers. Those gamers _could_ subscribe and get a free PDF, but the smarter option is to get the PDF for $9.99 and buy the book at the local game store, thus saving money on shipping. These customers are actually _disincentivized_ to purchase the hard copy book directly from Paizo or set up a Pathfinder RPG subscription. That ought to _directly_ benefit local game stores.
I don't know if this has been asked before but will the Hard Cover be available internationally at the same time as the release in the US or will we have to wait until the books arrive after the US release date.
This may confirm point 3. because I will get the PDF for $13ish Australian dollars because "I WANT IT NOW NOW NOW!!!!" Then purchase the Hard copy at a FLGS.
I not sure about shipping and Amazon I will have to have a look into it.
As the mark-up on price at a FLGS in Australia can be jaw dropping I wouldn't be surprised if the book hits at least the $100 Australian mark.
In fairness to the store you are looking at import taxes, goods and services taxes, shipping and staff costs so yeh about $100... or more.
I am also guessing that at that price it will fly off the shelves as most of the smaller RPG books are around that price anyway.
I hope store owners think through the points in this thread before they start complaining.
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Director of Brand Strategy
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I don't know if this has been asked before but will the Hard Cover be available internationally at the same time as the release in the US or will we have to wait until the books arrive after the US release date.
This may confirm point 3. because I will get the PDF for $13ish Australian dollars because "I WANT IT NOW NOW NOW!!!!" Then purchase the Hard copy at a FLGS.
I not sure about shipping and Amazon I will have to have a look into it.
I don't know about the intl shipping from Paizo, but when I checked Amazon today to compare the price of getting the hardcopy from Paizo with the sub to the price of getting the pdf from paizo and the hardcover from Amazon, they have the release date listed for September 2. So while it might have free shipping and a lower price point, it doesn't look like they'll even start shipping them out until over two weeks after GenCon.
Good reason to order actually.
Not as fun as to buy it at GenCon, but safer.
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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If the Core Rulebook is sold out, will there be reprints? Just wondering if I'll still be able to get a hold of the book when/if it sells out within the first few days.
We will keep this book in print as long as we are selling Pathfinder products.
That said, there MAY be delays between printings depending on demand, but that will only happen if demand FAR outpaces supply VERY early in the cycle.
Here's hoping... :)
I've already got two pre ordered through my FLGS, so a cheap PDF definitely doesn't hurt sales any on my account. I have a few players that probably won't want to swing the amount of the full rules, so I'm getting another reference copy for the table.
Ironically, even though they probably won't pick up the hardcover, now its likely that Paizo will still get their PDF money. So, really, this seems like a win all the way around.
I think it's a reasonable expectation that all of my players will make sure to get the PDF. I myself plan on buying a second physical copy but I'm probably going to get it through my FLGS or a local book store. You know. Do my part for the local economy :P
Cheap PDFs do not trump the desire for printed books by a significant portion of the audience.
I know I'm just a single voice but I concur. As handy as PDF's have been (i.e. updating a play by post away from home or doing some on the spot gaming out of town) they are as nothing unto print copies. Well, save for that find feature. Still, I have a harder time reading PDF's than I do print copies and find it more aggravating.
Perhaps if a special pdf/online book reader were to come out that was actually within my price range, color, didn't lag, and operated smoothly. (which to my knowledge doesn't exist yet, anyone mentioning Kindle will get hot cyber oil thrown on them, that is no where near 'reasonably priced' for my pocket book). Until then, PDF's will be a minor convenience rather than a replacement. Which means this customers buying him some print copies no matter what.
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3. Because the book is so heavy, shipping (especially internationally) is cost-prohibitive for a number of gamers. Those gamers _could_ subscribe and get a free PDF, but the smarter option is to get the PDF for $9.99 and buy the book at the local game store, thus saving money on shipping. These customers are actually _disincentivized_ to purchase the hard copy book directly from Paizo or set up a Pathfinder RPG subscription. That ought to _directly_ benefit local game stores.
That's pretty much my plan (BTW, the print copy is already on preorder at my FLGS).
Oh, and the 10 dollars PDF has already netted Paizo two new customers, as yesterday night I did some pimping for PFRPG with my gaming pals. And tomorrow there's the AD&D 2e gaming evening, I'll try to sway some old-schoolers to a new sparkling ruleset.
I'd like to echo KEJR's thinking: My players are notoriously reticent to shell out for expensive (above US$25) books, and this leads to them using my books at the table, as well as borrowing them for character advancement, etc. Now that my table is going full-bore PFRPG, I will be insisting that they each purchase a PDF, and for $9.99, i can't imagine any of them balking. This is in addition to the hardcopy I have pre-ordered and the PDF I will be buying for myself for search purposes.
To wit, that's 5 PDFs sold to people that would NEVER have bought a $40+ book, plus a PDF sold to a gamer (me) that was gonna buy the dead-tree product regardless- that's 6 extra copies to 1 gaming group, and I'd bet there will be a lot of that going around.
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There will be a lot of "Pathfinder ? 3.5 for 50 bucks ? Never ! Oh, wait, the PDF is 10$, might as well give it a shot..." people.
If 10% of them will stick around after purchasing the PDF and go on with other Paizo products, even if for art/fluff only, it will be already a marketing victory. And I can bet that there will more than 10% of such "converts".
Really, WotC played it right into hands of Paizo with that anal PDF debacle. Makes me think that Lisa has some "mole" in the WotC marketing department...
One of the few folks on ENWorld that I pay attention to is PirateCat and here is his post about the $9.99(US) pdf.
Completely agree with his observation.
==============================
Quote:
Originally Posted by alleynbard
At $9.99 I could see buying a copy. I can't imagine going back to 3e but at that price point I can at least take a look. Who knows? If it really "wows" me, I might pick up the hardcover.
EndQuote:
And this - right here - is why I think this move is brilliant, and will end up helping both Paizo and game stores. Assuming the quality is what I expect it to be, Pathfinder's biggest challenge is that 4e players normally wouldn't even consider it. Anonymity is the enemy. The pdf price will cause a large amount of people to check it out who wouldn't have otherwise, and some of those people will buy the print copy. By doing this, Paizo isn't cannibalizing their sales... they're expanding their potential market size. Game stores will benefit from the additional print sales this produces.
Kudos, you guys. Great decision.
__________________
- Piratecat, EN World Admin
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I'm now torn. On the one hand, I can understand why Paizo's offering such an incredible price. On the other hand, I like my FLGS which supports my hobby in many ways (e.g., game space, discounts, first dibs, special orders, players, hangout, etc.) We're planning to run a PFS intro game at the store in September to promote the new book (similar to what WotC did with 4th Edition).Now I'm not sure. The FLGS got good sales when we ran a V:tR one-shot and I hoped to do the same with PRPG. That won't happen, though, if we tell the newbies they can buy the pdf directly from Paizo.
Advice?
A legal .pdf version for $10 isn't competing against a $40+ book; it's competing against other electronic versions like an illegal .pdf version for $0 and a legal web site for $0.
Was there a similar uproar of game store owners when Jans Carton started d20srd.org? Presumably he was siphoning sales of the PHB, DMG and MM too, wasn't he? And I bet more people have visited d20srd.org over the years than will buy the PFRPG .pdf from Paizo!
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There will be a lot of "Pathfinder ? 3.5 for 50 bucks ? Never ! Oh, wait, the PDF is 10$, might as well give it a shot..." people.
I can tell you there'll be a hell of a lot more of that thinking here in Australia.
As has been mentioned up-thread, this book is going to cost us in excess of AU$100 - $49.99 product + $42.05 international shipping = US$92.04 before conversion to kangaroo dollars and hell only knows what markup the retail stores will give it? Certainly there are ways of reducing that cost (15% Pathfinder Advantage or spreading international shipping across multiple books), but there will be a lot of "Pathfinder ? 3.5 for over 100 bucks ? Never ! oh, wait, the PDF is 10$, and I don't get slugged for international shipping !" The PDF may be a 5:1 saving of $40 to Americans, but it's a 9:1 saving of over $80 to Australians!
I had been fearing for a while that the sheer weight of 576 pages was going to hit international sales hard. I would hate to have seen international gamers turn away from Pathfinder based solely on the price of the Core Rulebook.
I gifted all my Runelord and Crimson Throne players and nieces and nephews the Beta last Christmas (took care of most of my Christmas shopping with one Paizo order last August, how smart was that?), but at $100 each I'm sorry to say I won't be following that up with the Core Rulebook this Christmas (sorry guys!).
I'm sure many of my players will be taking advantage of the $10 PDF, some will likely pick up the hardcover for birthday or Christmas, but at least they can all continue playing Pathfinder when the rules switch over in August.
My nieces/nephews, however are more likely to absorb a book than a PDF, and how do I gift a PDF to them on their birthdays anyway? Since they already have the Beta, I'll probably follow that up with the Bestiary instead. For this reason, I still think an entry-level Pathfinder Basic (levels 1-3) would be a wise product offering.
But otherwise, I echo everyone else's "Bravo Paizo!" on their PDF pricing. I suspect more players will be tempted to give a $10 PDF a try, and thus create even greater demand for Paizo's quality adventure paths and other products. Well done guys!
Wow. DarkMate, your mates there are lucky!
Wow. You guys really *do* get it.
So many companies freak out at the speed and ease with which information can be transmitted these days, but (IMHO) for those ready to accept change and adapt, the opportunities offered by (near) zero cost, infinitely scaling distribution, will make them very, very successful.
I've seen several comments from people outside of the US, where lower incomes/exchange rates/shipping + tariffs combine to make a larger financial barrier for people thinking of getting into this hobby. This move is hands down a better scenario for this audience, but it also makes me wonder:
Will your translators/foreign language publishers also be offering similarly priced PDFs, or will that be up to each and every translator/publisher themselves? I don't know if you necessarily want to FORCE your partners to also take this step, but if your own combined sales numbers (dead tree + PDF) are compelling, that in itself will likely convince any doubters. Actually, ESPECIALLY for markets (say, Latin America or Russian) where US$50+ hardback prices might reduce the market, a lower price point PDF would probably have an EVEN LARGER net increase in sales $ than the traditional approach.
...I think there IS a certain number of FLGS owners who currently DON'T "get it",
but I think you're going the right way, and rather than let one small, conservative channel dictate you abandoning another promising one, you should simply further "step up" the type of stuff you do to promote FLGS+Pathfinder tie in's, and even profile/interview (in your sales material) independent stores who have thrived with Pathfinder, as an example to 'doubting' FLGS owners.
(I think I saw it mentioned here that you guys were contemplating a softcover "PHB only" version (~50%-60% page count?) when you get to a point where a 2nd print run is needed, and I think that would also be a great move - combined with the PDF, you'd be offering product tailored to an even broader audience, and likely be making signifigant "upgrade" sells from people who first buy the PDF, then the "PHB", then the complete Rule Set. But you know how smart you are, you don't need to be told, I'm sure... ;-) )
Bravo.
Well, this is odd. Apparently, someone is selling a "used copy" of the Pathfinder RPG book on Amazon for $999.99. They must need the money to buy more uranium for their time machine...
Ditto for me. I was already seriously considering buying the dead tree version from my FLGS and the pdf from Piazo just so I could support both companies. Now I will definitely buy the dead-tree from the game store and the pdf from Piazo.
Plus .... PLUS... This type of gesture has built up tremendous good will in my mind towards Piazo. I will helpless buy many more of their products in the future. :)
Well, I can say that by pricing your PDF at $10, you've made an extra sale from me. Instead of subscribing, I decided I would buy the RPG products at my FLGS to support them (and I already have an AP sub). So I thought I would be forgoing the PDF, which I was fine with. Priced at $10 (or, more accurately, $8.50 for me), there's no question that I'll be getting the PDF as well.
And I wouldn't be surprised if I'm the only one to do this.
Question: Is there any way to sell a hard copy of your products with a PDF download code?
The main reason I subscribe to Paizo (and pay those extra shipping charges) is because I want both the dead tree version and the PDF. I am completely lost without my dead tree version, but since I game with my laptop, the PDF's have been an invaluable resource -- especially when I have left some of my books at home.
I would like to support my local retailer and I was wondering if Paizo could just print a download code inside the hard copies so that I could still get my all important PDF's.
Perhaps to justify this added cost you could charge $1 or $2 to register a download for the product with this method? This will still be significantly cheaper than the shipping costs I am now paying.
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Well, this is odd. Apparently, someone is selling a "used copy" of the Pathfinder RPG book on Amazon for $999.99. They must need the money to buy more uranium for their time machine...
Been that way for about a month now when I first started to look into possibly buying the RP book on there (and turned away when I saw a Sept 2nd release date. Oh SMURF no).
And they don't need uranium anyway, they just need to get a lightning bolt to hotwire their flux capacitor ^(~_^)>
Question: Is there any way to sell a hard copy of your products with a PDF download code?
They have not figured out a way to do this that will work properly yet.
Just about everything requires Game Stores to participate properly. And as this unrelated thread demonstrates, there is no real way to get stores to "do the right thing."
So, the short answer is: Not yet.
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I gifted all my Runelord and Crimson Throne players and nieces and nephews the Beta last Christmas (took care of most of my Christmas shopping with one Paizo order last August, how smart was that?), but at $100 each I'm sorry to say I won't be following that up with the Core Rulebook this Christmas (sorry guys!).What? I'm heart broken, how will I ever get swayed to join the dark side?
Don't feign innocence, Asmogirl ... we know which faction you swear allegiance to.
Question: Is there any way to sell a hard copy of your products with a PDF download code?
I think Paizo's answer to your question was to provide the PDF for the core rulebook at such an incredibly affordable price (instead of incurring large costs/problems to provide codes in the books).
If you mean for products after that - see Disenchanter's answer to your question for the issues involved.
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Director of Brand Strategy
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I would like to support my local retailer and I was wondering if Paizo could just print a download code inside the hard copies so that I could still get my all important PDF's.
Perhaps to justify this added cost you could charge $1 or $2 to register a download for the product with this method? This will still be significantly cheaper than the shipping costs I am now paying.
With the pdf for this book priced at only $9.99, you can get the hard copy book from Amazon or a local retailer and pay no shipping and then use the money you would have spent on shipping to pick up the pdf.