in game store, and why its not used.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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

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.

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

I'll put it like this:

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

Too expensive and no package ;D

Character slots got nerfed with the HoM coming out.

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.

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,...)

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.