Chief Technical Officer
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Paizo is now offering month-to-month subscriptions in addition to the standard prepaid fixed-length subscriptions.
Instead of paying for a year up front, your credit card is charged as we ship each issue. US month-to-month subscribers get 35% off of the cover price of each issue; Canadian month-to-month subs are 24% off of cover price (offer currently unavailable elsewhere).
Read the press release for more information.
-Vic.
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Wow...that's really cool. I always drag my feet on renewing my subscriptions, and it's awfully nice not to have to deal with that anymore.
One question - will you have the option to skip an issue w/o cancelling the month-to-month subscription and then resubscribing a month later?
Are other magazines doing this, or are you guys (yet again) blazing a new trail? Brilliant sales method.
Sweeeeeeeeeet! *runs off to subscribe*
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Chief Technical Officer
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One question - will you have the option to skip an issue w/o cancelling the month-to-month subscription and then resubscribing a month later?
Nope—the goal here is, after all, to get subscriptions, not pre-back-issue sales.
Are other magazines doing this, or are you guys (yet again) blazing a new trail? Brilliant sales method.
We don't know of anybody doing it, but we would not be too surprised if somebody has, somewhere.
-Vic.
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I'd still suggest you all subscribe on an annual basis. The month-to-month nets you a nice 35% discount, but the annual subscription comes in at a 45%+ discount. Something to consider.
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Thanks Vic. A few more comments and questions for you if you don't mind.
I was surprised to see that the discount for the month to month is the same as the discount for year long subscriptions. Then, when I looked deeper, I discovered that the discount for multi-year subscriptions is the same as well. This seems to be at odds w/most subscription systems I've come across, where the longer you lock in, the lower your price.
Why isn't there a bigger discount for multi-year subscriptions?
Do many subscribers opt for the multi-year subscription?
What is the advantage of that option? The only thing that I can think of is that you don't have to worry about an increase in the cover price being passed on.
I know your WotC license restricts your ability to provide electronic content, but do you think a per article plan is far off? That's probably a theoretical conversation at this point, but I'd be curious about your thoughts (to the extent you are willing and able to share them).
When are you going to start adding in free football phones with subscriptions? Or better yet, free dragon phones?
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Chief Technical Officer
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I was surprised to see that the discount for the month to month is the same as the discount for year long subscriptions.
Recheck your math—as you'd expect, the discount does get better as the term increases.
...do you think a per article plan is far off?
I wouldn't hold my breath.
-Vic.
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How about better mailing options? I would pay substantially more for my subscription if I could get the issue faster and more reliably. I've seen other magazines where you can get priority mail instead of bulk.
I might also pay more for different mailing options.
I'm also interested in more mailing options - the company I work for does mail-order coffee and you'd be surprised how many want their two pounds of organic Sumatra PDQ.
Just be sure that if you do, please let us know of any postage increases ahead of time (USPS, UPS and FedEx generally increase their rates at the beginning of the year) and how much it will be.
Actually I can see us going for the idea of paying slightly more for shipping varients too. Currently because of the way our gets ship they always get bent in our PO Box, so specail shipping or one day service means we could pick it up faster and from the counter, before the mail man bends it up.
Plus the bragging rights, as it is we get it a day sooner then our friends on average because we have a PO box.
Would it be feasible to add an option to receive said magazine in a stiff cardboard envelope? They should fit in those letter envelopes that you can get from USPS/UPS/FedEx. I like my mags all pristine n' shiny...so I can narf them up. :-P
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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I was surprised to see that the discount for the month to month is the same as the discount for year long subscriptions.Recheck your math—as you'd expect, the discount does get better as the term increases.
Grumble grumble...math...bah!
I suppose I'll give it a try...
Dungeon is $7.00 per issue.
12 issues = $84.00
24 issues = $168.00
36 issues = $252.00
Subscriptions are
12 issues = $38.95 = (approx) 53.6%
24 issues = $74.95 = (approx) 55.4%
36 issues = $109.95 = (approx) 56.4%
You're friend math supports your conclusion this time Vic...
I didn't actually do math the first time - I assumed with the way the subscription section reads that you received 35% off the cover price for all subscription levels. It's really my reading comprehension that caused me problems.
The other thing I did was quickly add together the prices as a double check. For example, two one year subscriptions are $77.9 and three one year subscriptions are 116.85. Those didn't seem like big enough differences to me to create a large percentage difference. When the wall street journal calls me to renew, their bump up from one year to two (or even to three) tends to be a much bigger jump percentage wise, so that was my basis for comparison.
I'm still curious though - is the multi-year subscription a popular choice?
...do you think a per article plan is far off?I wouldn't hold my breath.
-Vic.
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Because of the difficulties with electronic publishing, the lack of demand, the license issues, or some other reason?
Ah, unfortunately I live "elsewhere"... ;)
Too bad!!! But great idea anyway!!!
Yep. I live in the same "elsewhere" as you do and cancelled my last yearly subscription because I was really getting frustated with the delays to receive the magazine. I would get it two to three weeks after my FLGS got it, which meant something like 8 or 9 weeks after the publication date.
Now my FLGS gets it much faster than they used to (usually two weeks after it ships to subscriber), but I have not dared trying a subscribtion again. Maybe they're faster now?
I am maybe paying a bit more to get it from Dragonworld (compared to a subscription), but at least I am sure of when it ships and arrives.
Bocklin
Not sure how long ago you were having trouble but for the most part (80%) I get my magazine around 7-10 days after Paizo's shipment date. I certainly don't live in a central shipment area. (West Montana)
Not sure how long ago you were having trouble but for the most part (80%) I get my magazine around 7-10 days after Paizo's shipment date. I certainly don't live in a central shipment area. (West Montana)
Your post is a perfect illustration to the lack or rhyme or reason with media mail shipping. You get it in 7-10 days in Montana. I'm in Central California (on the same coast as Paizo) and it took 20 days for the current issue to arrive.... which is standard. The could THROW it and it would get here faster.
First Class mail would put in here in about 4 days. And I would be more than happy to tag on $10-20 to my annual subscription for a First Class option.
The cardboard folder suggestion would be something I would consider as well... not because of protection as my magazine is usually in good condition but as added security to it not getting lost. More than once, I've had it arrive with the plastic cover sliced open. As the shipping label is on the plastic, I was just very lucky that the magazine didn't slip out somewhere along the way. (Can picture myself falling to my knees in the post office... crying, "Nooooooo!" as I clutch an empty plastic sleeve in my hands. ;) )
Not sure how long ago you were having trouble but for the most part (80%) I get my magazine around 7-10 days after Paizo's shipment date. I certainly don't live in a central shipment area. (West Montana)
I live in Germany. Two years ago it took between 8 to 9 weeks to get an issue via subscription.
Actually, after the first one it was okay: there would be a 4-5 weeks space between each of them so it's not like I had to wait 8 weeks every time, but I was receiving the "old" issue as the new one was coming out at my local store (i.e. also in Germany, obviously they benefited from some faster form of shipping).
Bocklin
I'm also interested in more mailing options - the company I work for does mail-order coffee and you'd be surprised how many want their two pounds of organic Sumatra PDQ.Coffee?!? Where, where?!? Can I get it with my subscription?!?
I don't think Boss-Man has any plans to package up organic coffee with a Paizo label on it...though I think it'd be damn funny to see an "Orcus Blend."
I feel lucky in the fact that I'm a good 10-15 hour drive from Paizo and have usually gotten my orders in no more than two business days. :-D
Another thing that would be worth the additional postage if you sent things out via USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground - TRACKABILITY. It is...your friend!!
Your post is a perfect illustration to the lack or rhyme or reason with media mail shipping. You get it in 7-10 days in Montana. I'm in Central California (on the same coast as Paizo) and it took 20 days for the current issue to arrive.... which is standard. The could THROW it and it would get here faster.
I am pretty sure they ship directly from the publisher, which if I remember correctly is in the Midwest. Kansas?
I imagine the publishers that offer different shipping options have print runs where the magazine is shipped with various mail runs depending on the options.
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Chief Technical Officer
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I'm still curious though - is the multi-year subscription a popular choice?
Certainly not as popular as the 12-issue sub, but we sell a fair number of 'em. And we usually sell more 36-issue subs than 24-issue subs. I don't think it's the extra couple of percent savings that's the motivating factor for most of these subscribers, though—I think it's mostly people who have plenty of cash on hand, and don't want to be bothered with renewal notices.
[re: "per article" sales] Because of the difficulties with electronic publishing, the lack of demand, the license issues, or some other reason?
I'm gonna go with a combination of all of the above, plus the cost issue; because of credit card fees, the cheaper a product is, the lower the profit margin is. (That's a big part of why the month-to-month is noticably more expensive on a per-issue basis than our other subscription options—there's a credit-card-processing fee for every issue, instead of just one spread out over a large number of issues.)
Maybe they're faster now?
We did some pretty big overhauls to European shipping since you last subscribed, I think, so there's a good chance it's faster; you might want to make a post asking current German subscribers how long it takes them to get their issues, though.
I'm in Central California (on the same coast as Paizo)
Subscription issues are sent from our printer in Mendota, IL. (Back issues, and other paizo.com orders, though, ship from Bellevue, WA.)
I would be more than happy to tag on $10-20 to my annual subscription for a First Class option.
What if it were, say, $30 more, and shipped USPS Priority in a cardboard envelope?(Note: I haven't done the costing—just a quick estimate.)
-Vic.
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What if it were, say, $30 more, and shipped USPS Priority in a cardboard envelope?(Note: I haven't done the costing—just a quick estimate.)
-Vic
Hey, Vic, I did some quick calculations for postage:
A sub would consist of:
* Magazine
* Cardboard envelope
* Labels
It weighs approximately 10 ounces (yes, I checked it out...:-p)
From ZIP Code 61342 (Mendota, IL) to ZIP Code 97701 (Bend, OR), here are the rates:
* Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelope - 2 Day(s) - $4.05
* First-Class Mail® more info about First-Class Mail - 3 Day(s) - $2.55
That's the consumer rate - we get a significant discount on our shipping costs because of our volume and our priority mail envelopes and boxes are usually free (it's part of our contract :-D ).
For Priority Mail, I imagine it would be about an additional $30-40 a year, but you'd get it in three to five business days (USPS's quote, not mine!).
For First Class Mail, it would be about an additional $20-30 a year, with 7-10 business days being the normal delivery time.
The prices are probably overpriced - it would depend on how much of a discount on postage you get and what the profit margin is.
Anyway, my initial edjamikated guesstimates. :-D
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Chief Technical Officer
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Lilith,
Your numbers probably aren't far off... except that we would most likely have to do any special shipping ourselves, which means that, after printing, we'd have to have copies overnighted (or 2-dayed) to our office, and ship them from here. So it would be neither as fast nor as cheap as shipping them out of the printer.
But, assuming you're *close*... how many people would go for that?
-Vic.
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Lilith,
Your numbers probably aren't far off... except that we would most likely have to do any special shipping ourselves, which means that, after printing, we'd have to have copies overnighted (or 2-dayed) to our office, and ship them from here. So it would be neither as fast nor as cheap as shipping them out of the printer.
But, assuming you're *close*... how many people would go for that?
-Vic.
Seems like your printer ought to be able to handle it. At any rate, I probably would NOT pay any extra for priority shipping. I look forward to my Dragon subscription coming in the mail, but I don't mind waiting an extra day or two. Interestingly enough, I live in Lombard, IL, less than 80 miles from Mendota, and I usually don't receive my subscription until 6-7 days after the publish date. Distance is not the only factor. But to answer your question, no, thank you.
Lilith,
Your numbers probably aren't far off... except that we would most likely have to do any special shipping ourselves, which means that, after printing, we'd have to have copies overnighted (or 2-dayed) to our office, and ship them from here. So it would be neither as fast nor as cheap as shipping them out of the printer.
But, assuming you're *close*... how many people would go for that?
-Vic
I'd be interested in the first class option, myself - it would probably still be faster than when it arrives on newstands here. >:-(
Could you potentially contract out the special shipping to a mail house in/near Mendota? Meaning:
Printer prints! Yay!
Printer ships X mags to Orien Mailing Company, who receives said mailing list from Paizo.
Orien Mailing Company ships out magazines.
Happy Customer receives magazine!
You'd incur an additional cost for using said Mailing Company, but it may be something to look at - it would save you the overnight charges on magazines. Ouch!
I would be willing to pay up an extra $4 per issue or close to $50 per year for priority (3-5 day) mail.
I'd be willing to pay up to $20 extra for priority shipping to Toronto, Canada. Paying $30-$40 extra would almost double the price of the magazine, and that's a bit much.
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Director of Sales
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Another thing that would be worth the additional postage if you sent things out via USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground - TRACKABILITY. It is...your friend!!
Just a note: USPS does not offer tracking, but UPS does.
For Priority Mail, I imagine it would be about an additional $30-40 a year, but you'd get it in three to five business days (USPS's quote, not mine!).
From what I've seen, USPS is usually pretty... ahem... let's say generous... with themselves when it comes to those estimates.
~holds up my hand~ I would pay exta for faster shipping too!
~grins~ However, my local game store would be a bit upset with me for not using them for my Dragon and Dungeon subscription. I would also go for the 3 year subscription because I would not have to hassle with renewing for 3 years! YAY!!! ~does the math, rounding up to the nearest $10 for ease of caculation~ $120 for Dungeon plus $120 for Dragon plus another $100 for shipping for both equals $340. ~wistles~ Well, that would be doable, but only if I plan it.
I am still up for the expedited shipping!
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Ah, unfortunately I live "elsewhere"... ;)
Too bad!!! But great idea anyway!!!Yep. I live in the same "elsewhere" as you do and cancelled my last yearly subscription because I was really getting frustated with the delays to receive the magazine. I would get it two to three weeks after my FLGS got it, which meant something like 8 or 9 weeks after the publication date.
Now my FLGS gets it much faster than they used to (usually two weeks after it ships to subscriber), but I have not dared trying a subscribtion again. Maybe they're faster now?
I am maybe paying a bit more to get it from Dragonworld (compared to a subscription), but at least I am sure of when it ships and arrives.
Bocklin
Yes, DRAGONWORLD is the way to go! I sometimes have my actual issue way before some of the american posters here. And they send it in one day after the order - great!
BTW where do you live in germany?
Paizo is now offering month-to-month subscriptions in addition to the standard prepaid fixed-length subscriptions.
Nice move!
Another thing that would be worth the additional postage if you sent things out via USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground - TRACKABILITY. It is...your friend!!Just a note: USPS does not offer tracking, but UPS does.
For Priority Mail, I imagine it would be about an additional $30-40 a year, but you'd get it in three to five business days (USPS's quote, not mine!).From what I've seen, USPS is usually pretty... ahem... let's say generous... with themselves when it comes to those estimates.
That's odd - Priority Mail usually has a tracking number associated with it...?
And those "generous" estimates - that so made me laugh, Cosmo. So so so true. The Postmaster at our main office is a right friggin' bastard, but we have to deal with them, because, well, they're the Post Office. :-( FWIW, I've heard some horror stories about how some Post Offices deal with media/bulk mailings. :shudder:
~groans as I look at the time~ Don't you EVER sleep, Lilith? ~grumbles about working the 4 PM to midnight shift~ Go to sleep. And the same thing for you, Sharoth!!!
P.S. - On a side note, I looked at the artwork that you have on the web and all I can say is WOW!!! Perhaps I could have you do something for me? Perhaps for some green stuff? ~grins~
~groans as I look at the time~ Don't you EVER sleep, Lilith? ~grumbles about working the 4 PM to midnight shift~ Go to sleep. And the same thing for you, Sharoth!!!
P.S. - On a side note, I looked at the artwork that you have on the web and all I can say is WOW!!! Perhaps I could have you do something for me? Perhaps for some green stuff? ~grins~
All me contact information is on the website - send me an email and we can talk. :-D
And no, I don't really sleep. I simply revitalize myself by finding some fresh brains to munch on - *mwah-hah-hah*!
Seriously, some of my best work is done at night. Very much a night owl. Doesn't help that my other half works graveyard and I works days. :-(
Yes, DRAGONWORLD is the way to go! I sometimes have my actual issue way before some of the american posters here. And they send it in one day after the order - great!
BTW where do you live in germany?
Dragonworld is great, they're my pusher: I live by the rythm of their catalogue update! ;-)
Through them we got our #134 just three or four days after the official shipping date on Paizo's website. I was flabbergasted.
Bocklin
PS: I live in Berlin and am looking for a new group to join (a game every other week would be best). So if you know anyone, let me know!
That's odd - Priority Mail usually has a tracking number associated with it...?
Nope... just Express Mail.
-Vic.
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Well...damn that! House Orien should definitely be moving in on USPS's territory!
Oh, crap, this is the real world, isn't it? Damnable!
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(...)PS: I live in Berlin and am looking for a new group to join (a game every other week would be best). So if you know anyone, let me know!
I play every other week, unfortunately I live near Frankfurt, and more than 600km away from you - so that seems like a no-go... Sorry!
Berlin - and there's no gaminstore near you where you can get it easier than from Dragonworld?! Strange! Anyway, DW is cool, so you propably need no local gaminstore, don't you?! ;)How crazy is that - talking to you in english over here? :)
I know some would think it's bad of not supporting your FLGS, but I prefer the convenience of ordering online and have my Dungeon delivered to me. All good RPG shops in Berlin are a bit far away of where I live or work, so I support a FLGS... in Hamburg! ;-)
German is not my mother-tongue, so it might be even crazier if you were to hear me talk it! (it provides for some funny roleplaying with my German group sometimes...)
Bocklin
Quick question. If I subscribe month-to-month and decide to switch to an annual subscription, would the transition be automatic if I simply order the annual subscription, or would I have to cancel the month-to-month first?
If I cancel month-to-month and buy an annual subscription in the same day, should I expect to not miss any issues?
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Senior Software Developer
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Quick question. If I subscribe month-to-month and decide to switch to an annual subscription, would the transition be automatic if I simply order the annual subscription, or would I have to cancel the month-to-month first?
The month-to-month subscription is automatically cancelled when you buy an annual subscription.
If I cancel month-to-month and buy an annual subscription in the same day, should I expect to not miss any issues?
Yes, except you don't have to manually cancel the month-to-month.
Well, since Gary Teter is answering questions here....
What is the lag time between ordering a subscription online, and when you recieve the first issue?
I'm asking because I'm moving mid-June/July, and I want to time it so that I start getting the subscription at the new house instead of ordering now and then going through the hassle of changing the address just an issue into the subscription.
Just like to add that I'd spring for extra if it was shipped 1st class mail.
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Chief Technical Officer
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What is the lag time between ordering a subscription online, and when you recieve the first issue?
For US subscribers, we generally say six to eight weeks, though if your timing is perfect, and your issue is delivered promptly by the post office, it could be as little as three.
-Vic.
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