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)

Re: Vaginas are...Merch!

I'm cheerfully waiting for my signed copy. See, as backers we are still special.

That which does not kill us makes us linger.

Re: Vaginas are...Merch!

it's not keeping me up at night.

Re: Vaginas are...Merch!

I'm sure you are not alone. 

Greed gets me down.

Re: Vaginas are...Merch!

I know this is an obvious statement, but things only have value if someone is willing to pay for it. Even though it was attained for free, if someone is willing to pay $20 for it, then the buyer is happy that someone has made this previously free product, which is now more or less "unattainable," available to them again.

The seller went through the effort to get the book. I got mine, but I went to two different stores.

So, would I do it? No, not unless I ended up with something and then later decided I didn't want it.

Does it bother me when others do? Not really.

I'm thankful that I was able to secure a copy through LotFP before RPG day, so I didn't have to stress about getting my own copy. Luckily, this year it was easy and I was able to get an extra copy for my players to share, so I can keep Cheeto fingers off my signed copy. wink

Re: Vaginas are...Merch!

ahh, I've been out of things awhile. Getting back on track...

Cheesepaws wrote:

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.

What do you suggest? Even when I did 10000 copies of a Free RPG Day book a few years back and you'd think that would just flood the market with extra copies, people were still selling them and some places are still selling them for exorbitant amounts. Even when the Pay What You Want PDF is promptly uploaded a couple weeks after the event, people are still selling them.

(Selling my spare copies of VAM! for 5€ when backers originally paid 20€+ doesn't seem right either. I am bringing copies to conventions, where I will be selling them for 25€ by themselves, or free with 100€ purchase. pprroofffitteerriinnggg)

Re: Vaginas are...Merch!

JimLotFP wrote:

What do you suggest? Even when I did 10000 copies of a Free RPG Day book a few years back and you'd think that would just flood the market with extra copies, people were still selling them and some places are still selling them for exorbitant amounts. Even when the Pay What You Want PDF is promptly uploaded a couple weeks after the event, people are still selling them.

I got nuthing.  My original post was a bit of a knee jerk response to reading multiple posts by folks (not here) on or just after Free RPG day bragging about how they hit multiple stores or recruited friend to get extra copies of VAM knowing that it was quick money.  No disclaimer in the book (such as "Not for Resale" or some variation) will deter people from min/maxing and my overly romantic notion of some kid crying himself to sleep because he didn't get a copy of VAM due to a moustache-twirling resell hoarder in line before him on the day....is a clearly bonkers.

JimLotFP wrote:

(Selling my spare copies of VAM! for 5€ when backers originally paid 20€+ doesn't seem right either. I am bringing copies to conventions, where I will be selling them for 25€ by themselves, or free with 100€ purchase. pprroofffitteerriinnggg)

If anyone should profit off the product it should be you.  $25 seems like the going price.  Tidy.  Love the free copy with $100 purchase idea too.  More than fair.

Hey - since this is related - do you know roughly how many copies of the signed/bookmark ribboned versions of VAM ended up getting printed?

Re: Vaginas are...Merch!

I would like it if after free RPG day, you could buy physical copies of it and past years's books.
Please, do a second printing of Better than Any Man in Hardback. Please!

Re: Vaginas are...Merch!

I only recently got back into rpgs after a 30 year hiatus.   I had gone to a game store on free Rpg day to meet a few people and play a game that I was interested in..    You could only get one free item/per person at this particular store.  I chose VAM.  Since then I have purchased 11 hardcover lotfp books and 5 softcover.  So,  if the purpose was to attract new players, then at least in my case, it worked exactly as planned.   On a side note.. Yes, scalpers suck.

Last edited by Scott Edward Nash (2017-10-12 00:09:11)

Re: Vaginas are...Merch!

Still looking for the Eldrich Cock kickstarter. I thought it was supposed to be this week