Curse

flclisgreat · Feb 24, 2008, 09:37 PM // 21:37

well i fairly recently got into GW, so the CE's where never an option for me. but for second/third accounts i would like to be able to get direct from the in game store. just cant bring myself to spend more for less

Martin Alvito · Feb 24, 2008, 10:10 PM // 22:10

The OP is right on target.

ANet can easily sell product online for the same price as a retail store and make more money per online unit sold than they do off units sold through bricks-and-mortar, or through e-tailers such as Newegg.

The cost savings are straightforward:
1) No packaging. That costs a couple bucks.
2) No middleman. The manufacturer sells the game to the retailer for considerably less than the retailer sells it to you.
3) No shipping. Related to #2; either the manufacturer or the retailer has to pay this cost in some way, shape or form.

The purpose of the online store (in theory) is to sell the game directly to you in order to capture the full surplus. You buy from the online store because it's more convenient than driving to the retailer to pay the same price.

Charging more than retailers charge for the game in the online store is just misguided greed, in my judgment. However, this isn't the only software/hardware manufacturer to do so.

pamelf · Feb 24, 2008, 10:10 PM // 22:10

Not to mention that Australians pay almost 4 times as much because we're ridiculously charged in British Pounds which makes our currency worth next to nothing...Any price in the IGS, multiply it by three, and that's what Australian's are expected to pay. It's an absolutely disgusting ripoff.

Thorondor Port · Feb 24, 2008, 10:22 PM // 22:22

I agree with OP
I have purchased 4 slots from it, and eye of the north though.

Solas · Feb 24, 2008, 11:03 PM // 23:03

if sms was brought in i'd get a few char slots, mbp and milenium edtion

Scary Raebbit · Feb 25, 2008, 12:19 AM // 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo Nugget

I don't use it anymore because there really isn't anything for me to buy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kusandaa

I use it to buy character slots, bought EotN via it too (wanted the BMP), but the fair lack of CONTENT is the reason why I don't use it. And even there, if they added new content I didn't want, I wouldn't use it anyways.

I bought EotN (for the BMP), a character slot, and that Prohpecies GotY upgrade. Nothing much else to get since I bought the three campaigns from a real store.

Terra Xin · Feb 25, 2008, 12:56 AM // 00:56

I used the online store to buy the game of the year edition. Not sure how you can make the claim that it isn't being used. It's not like Anet are suffering because people would rather buy from a retailer, they still make profits from them. I doubt that there would be higher campaign sales, I like buying the booklet and the other little things that come with the box - that's personal preference. Other people have the same thing.

Stockholm · Feb 25, 2008, 01:08 AM // 01:08

A-Net (NC-Soft) have to sell at the Recomended Retail Price (set by A-Net at time of release) they can not undersell the retailers or they open them selfs up for lawsuits from retailers. It is all covernd by trade laws.

The stores can sell for what ever price they want, (it's their loss) but they sell for less than wholesale after a certain time because storage cost money and goods have to be moved (sold).

arsie · Feb 25, 2008, 02:18 AM // 02:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by flclisgreat

Anet wonders why people don't use the store? well it MIGHT have something to do with the fact that almost everything in the in game store cost MORE than at a real store. NF is $50 in store. $40 at real stores. proph+eye is $60 in game, $50 in real store. if you want people to use the in game store make the items cost AT LEAST the same as in a real store. i can order from newegg.com, with ~$5 shipping and still save ~$5 and don't even have to leave the house. figure you trade the box+random crap for bandwidth, it should at the very least cost the same amount, and in my opinion cost less than in a real store

They cannot, for a simple reason. They put out an MSRP for the games, while retailers have a tendency to offer a discount on that and sell their products cheaper, especially if the game is old. However, the MSRP is set, and in theory stores can sell at that price.

If NCSoft reduces the MSRP or the online store price, it might be seen as undercutting and screwing over the retailers, who, on top of selling the games, also serve an intangible marketing role by displaying the game in their stores. Brick and mortar stores are more valuable to the manufacturer than online stores for this reason. Their greater overheads compared to online stores is also a reason that they should be more protected.

If NCSoft sells their online products at the same price or undercutting retailers, they'll not find any retailers to pick up their stuff ever again. The manufacturer's online store is usually a last resort retailer, for people who would otherwise have trouble buying the game, or like the Australians have complained, pay a ridiculous premium because of their importers.

NCSoft is simply not biting the hand that feeds them, and rightly so.

flclisgreat · Feb 25, 2008, 02:30 AM // 02:30

good point. but then why the BMP? all the BMP was for was to promote online store use was it not? well lower the prices to match regular stores and i would glady buy from the in game store

pumpkin pie · Feb 25, 2008, 02:55 AM // 02:55

because I've already have everything on the ingame store list...

Zehnchu · Feb 25, 2008, 03:01 AM // 03:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cacheelma

People don't use it?

I wonder how they got the character slots...

Prophecies 4 + Add Factions 6 + Add Night Fall = 8 + Add NightFall Bonus Pack free character slot = 9 total character slots. Thats just one way

Cacheelma · Feb 25, 2008, 03:16 AM // 03:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zehnchu

Prophecies 4 + Add Factions 6 + Add Night Fall = 8 + Add NightFall Bonus Pack free character slot = 9 total character slots. Thats just one way

Yeah, I know.

placebo overdose · Feb 25, 2008, 03:22 AM // 03:22

the thing i dont get isnt this more money for anet anyway isnt the retailer taking a larger chunk of there pay

HayesA · Feb 25, 2008, 04:51 AM // 04:51

I'll put it like this:

I would use the online store if there were either a Paypal, or Google Checkout button.

Pleikki · Feb 25, 2008, 05:18 AM // 05:18

Too expensive and no package ;D

Winterclaw · Feb 25, 2008, 05:47 AM // 05:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cacheelma

People don't use it?

I wonder how they got the character slots...

Character slots got nerfed with the HoM coming out.

Shanaeri Rynale · Feb 25, 2008, 09:27 AM // 09:27

I have all the char slots I need.
As for buying products, well to put bluntly off the prices are a rip off. They do not apply the exchange rate from dollars to Pounds/Euros etc resulting in the price being even higher

There really is no excuse no to use the exchange rate used by the card issuer rather than either none at all or a one that is four years out of date.

Iuris · Feb 25, 2008, 09:30 AM // 09:30

Well, the reason I don't use the store is that I have already bought everything I want from the store...

Come Guild Wars 2, I fully expect to use the store. Except if some really good stuff arrives with the box (additional vides, soundtracks,...)

Longasc · Feb 25, 2008, 09:38 AM // 09:38

What can you buy from the store besides char slots anyways. Most people have the games already, and there is not much more for sale. And some poor kids do not have a credit card.