Topic: Vaginas are...Merch!
So I happily backed VAM because I love the idea of promoting gaming (especially if it encourages new gamers), and Jim's products are outstanding. I was especially keen to a part of something that set the bar higher with the hardback book and that promised to be edgy to boot. I haven't seen my copy yet (my stuff likely arrived after I left for a thing in Norway that will keep me from my home mail for a month) but I skimmed the PDF and it looks great. I am proud to have contributed to the campaign to keep these free for others.
You know where this is going...
So, a few days after Free RPG day folks are selling copies of VAM on ebay for over $20! Clearly some morally flexible folks only hit the gaming stores in order to grab & resell. Some apparently hit more than one store to get multiple copies. Ok, I guess the re-sellers of VAM on ebay might simply be VAM backers selling extra copies they ordered to recoup their overall investment....but that seems like a hell of a lot effort and barely covers the investment per book.
Regardless, this riles me as a backer.
To be honest, I have bought previously released Free RPG day stuff on line (always a few years after it was released). I also once sold a spare copy Doom-Cave of the Crystal-Headed Children that I got for free mixed in with another order. (That was a good day.) But especially now....as a VAM backer....I feel pretty pissed off at the profiteering going on out there.
Yes, backing assures that I get a copy - but is there no work around to discourage re-sellers? Further, does the improved product (hardback) encourage more reselling? Obviously this isn't a new issue, but coupled with a glut of on-going on line sales for all sorts of "free" products from previous years, is this free rpg game day thing really worth it for anybody? Wouldn't it make more sense (especially if the item is going to be crowd sourced) to make a "teaser" item for the game store's Free RPG Day crates AND a ridiculously affordable copy of the complete item for sale from the store - in addition to an expanded or special edition made available to backers (who subsidize both the teaser and budget copies). I guess the logic is that perhaps nobody would be able to sell their "free" copies for $20 if there was a decent volume of the same books available for nearly free (like $5) from the webstore. I know...shipping. Perhaps shipping could also subsidized by backers?
As a backer, I know that I would pay even more next time if there was some kind of effort to help keep free product FREE, or to make a budget copy available for nearly free....especially if I knew I was getting something special in return as a backer.
Just the nature of the beast I guess.
Does it burn anyone else to see these free products making profits? What about you Jim? That could be money in YOUR pocket!...no?
Rant done.
CP
Last edited by Cheesepaws (2017-06-26 14:04:39)