Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/03/13 07:26I was comparing the cost of buying a box of Boosters locally to buying it through the WW or EVE-O online stores. Strangely after adding freight, customs duty & tax to the online purchase, I came back to the same number as the local seller, ok so he's selling them at "RRP".
However the box price is 20% cheaper than the single booster price, but the online store the box price and booster price are the same, so I'm paying 20% over the online price for a single booster.
This got me thinking, so I did a bit of comparison to that other "Benchmark" CCG and found the results surprising.
(Prices $AU)
EVE Booster: $6 Eve Box 'o Boosters: ~$122 = $5.10 per booster
Benchmark Booster: $6.50 (for the latest release, $6 earlier releases) Benchmark Box 'o Boosters: $150 = $4.20 per booster
So while EVE is cheaper by the booster, it is significantly more expensive by the box.
Do these comparison's hold up elsewhere out there? or is it a local market oddity?
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AgentZero
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Posts: 410
Re:Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/03/13 16:53Well, you should also take into consideration not only the number of boosters in a box, but the number of cards in a booster. I'm not saying it's impossible Second Genesis is more expensive than someone else, but I'd like to see a cost-per-card comparison before I dubbed it more expensive than average.Zack Walters EVE: The Second Genesis Organized Play Coordinator White Wolf | CCP North America
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Ryuteki
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Re:Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/03/13 21:06Without any reason to substantiate it... i blame customs. -Ryuteki, Owner of the Rules! We're playing Monday evenings in IL, see www.games-plus.com for the address or email me at ryuteki AT gmail DOT com.
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Brootal
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Re:Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/03/13 22:34Well, with number of cards per booster being equal, then number of boosters is a valid comparison.
But I'm not blaming CCP/WW here, a bit of searching around the net I'm sure I saw some online store selling EVE boxes at $45US, so I'm sure there's plenty of margin there for the retailers. They just aren't discounting as heavily as they do for other games, I expect this is probably a local phenomenon.
Besides price isn't everything to me, I like EVE, I'll be getting it.
Perhaps I should start an online store and get them some competition
I know the rate of customs, CCGs have a customs duty of 5% here, then add the 10% tax
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Brootal
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Re:Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/03/16 04:44add on top of that that I ordered a box, and 10 days later they still haven't managed to ship it from their warehouse to the store (and they do apparently have 2 boxes at the warehouse) I could have bought it from overseas and probably received it already
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Smeelbo
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Re:Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/03/23 04:05 I'm sure I saw some online store selling EVE boxes at $45US, so I'm sure there's plenty of margin there for the retailers.
No, $45 is pretty close to cost, I can tell you.
I sell at $65.00 a booster display usually, and they sell pretty fast.
Smeelbo
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nfw1072
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Re:Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/03/23 04:30I can pick up booster boxes for $45(US) a box and I can get both starters for a combined price of $27(US)...of course you have to add shipping to that because I am currently in Germany and those are coming from the States...but, the shipping for 3 boosters to me is only $10.50(US) and for the 2 starters it is $5(US).
I am not saying that we should pay more, but I think CCP/WW should do something to "protect their profit". I mean, if no one buys them online at the EVE CCG Store, the profits are greatly reduced, right? Which could mean an end to the game, since, let's face it, every game's fate is driven by profit margin in the long run.
Maybe...hehehe, CCP/WW can offer something "exclusive" when you purchase the cards from the online store that can NOT be obtained anywhere else. Maybe some special foil cards for every such amount you buy at the store. The amount can be tracked and cumulative so that you can spend it for the special items.
Or like in the sports collective market, the have “hobby” and “retail” versions of the cards…they are the same cards, but the “inserts” in the packs are different. Maybe CCP/WW can have “extras” randomly inserted in packs and boxes that you can buy only from the website, no discounts on these boxes for dealers/stores, they will pay the same price any player would pay and their would be a limit to the number of boxes a person can buy.
Honestly, in many games that I have played in the past, many stores have SOLD special cards that were supposed to be given away when you buy so much $$ or some many boosters and it dilutes the worth or the meaning of the card.
I think my ideas will help the company keep their profits up and it will excite the gamers (at least me). I would be willing to pay a bit extra for COOL, LIMITED cards.
Am I off base? Would this appeal to anyone else (except maybe the store owners)? And I do apologize to store owners, I am not targeting you…stores ARE essential to the survival of the game as well…holding tournaments, having cards on hand that I need IMMEDIATELY…but I just feel that buying from the online store should be SOMETHING SPECIAL.
Last topic in my dissertation, hahahaha, is that of FLOODING the market…I have also seen in the past with many games that the company SELLS SO MANY cards in the hopes of turning a profit that they make them almost worthless…I mean, collecting is important too, that is why they are called COLLECTIBLE CARD GAMES…if the rares are everywhere due to over-production, they become a “dime a dozen”…keep the number of cards printed down, not “non-existent”, but manageable…sets can be printed later with the “most popular” cards in them from past sets with a redesigned look or alternate images so the new players can get them too.
Wait, I lied, one more idea hit me…are you still reading this?? My last idea is about selling single cards from the online store…maybe special versions of the cards, alternate images, numbered sets, autographed cards, etc…
OK…now it is your turn to speak…let me have it, no hold barred…well, actually, please be nice, I am fragile…Neil
"Speed and Violence of Action is Victory"
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I sell at $65.00 a booster display usually, and they sell pretty fast. Yea, that was only one online store I saw with a $45 price tag, I'm sure it was close to cost.
Don't get me wrong here, I don't begrudge a retailer their margin, I will buy the cards still as long as the price is reasonable.
The strange thing to me was that the price per booster was cheaper for EVE, but the price box was the complete opposite.
And also that ALL local resellers sell at the same price as I can buy the cards from WW/CCP online stores, including all duties, postage, etc. And I would expect their postage to be cheaper (in bulk) and the Customs Duty to be cheaper (at Wholsale rather than retail price) than those I used to calculate.
What really has me @#$!ed is that now I have had a box of cards on order (which they have at THEIR warehouse only about 30km away) 17 days later they have not managed to deliver the cards to the store.
So not only can I buy the cards from CCP direct, at no additional cost, they probably would be here in no worse time than I'm getting at the moment anyway.
Sorry, it's as much a rant about the retailer's warehouse (the guys in the store are great) Kind of why I droped it down here in the Off topic forum
@nfw1072 That's not typically how it works, WW/CCP has their profit built in to the cost they sell to the retailers. Their online stores are as much there to ensure the product is available, and set a benchmark for the price. You should always be able to get cards through their online store at that price even if your retailer doesn't stock them.
If you start trying to sell stuff exclusively, or deny retailers a decent margin, they won't stock your product. If your product isn't on the shelves at the store, you're not going to get anywhere near as many sales, and the game will probably die.
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nfw1072
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Re:Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/03/23 06:09My ignorance of that "marketing/economics" process is exactly why I am a "consumer" and not a "provider", hahahahahaNeil
"Speed and Violence of Action is Victory"
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TANK
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Re:Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/05/07 23:30Dont know if this is strictly within this topic, but does anyone know how well genesis has done within the ccg market?. I only ask as I have only just started collecting and just want to be assured of its longevity.
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stevetheone
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Re:Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/05/08 10:24TANK wrote: Dont know if this is strictly within this topic, but does anyone know how well genesis has done within the ccg market?. I only ask as I have only just started collecting and just want to be assured of its longevity.
No problems on the asking. It has been brought up before. As an experienced and long term CCG player all I can say is that EVE looks like it is going to be a long lasting game. There are new players turning up on the boards all the time and even though the first expansion has been delayed until July (great for you new guys starting but a pain for those of us who expected it in April)there has been no signs of people dropping out of the game. The tournament scene is strong by all accounts and all the people who have played the game has stated that they have liked the way it plays. Add in that that CCP has invested both time and effort in supporting players, retailers and tournament organisers as well the actual product I would say EVE has a great future in front of it. If CCP keep handling the game as well as they have EVE has the ability to become one of the top games as it grows and attracts more new players while retaining it's established customer base.We shall seed the stars with our scions and reap that harvest.
No expect the Spam, spam, spam, spam...
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I'm from outer from Moscow region of Russia, and I'm official TO and 1lvl judge of World of Warcraft TCG. Price of one WoW TCG booster is 5.6$ (14 play cards and 1 hero card). One booster box contains 24 booster packs and costs 134$. It's RRP. I pay less. UDE decided to encrease amount of cards for booster (to 18 play cards and 1 hero card) without encrease price per booster pack. So, more cards, less costs. That's, what about a comparison.
There are three released sets, and fourth set would be released 4 WoW TCG soon. It's a more, than thousand cards, card pool 4 constructed. And it's bother me and my friends. We are small group of TCG-fans (attendance of tournaments is 4-6 persons per tournament; maximum is 8). Less peoples, less local card pool, harder 2 gather needed cards. EVE:TSG is outvalued, but 1-2 set per year is my favourite tempo of game's development, because less speed, more time to build deck before it will crack up.
I respect 2 designers of the EVE:TSG. And I'm disappointed, why this cool game is absent in Russia. I'm contacted with "Fantasy World" (official distributor of MtG, WoW TCG, etc. in Russia), but have not answer yet.
P.S. I'm sorry 4 my bad English.Say what you think. Think what you say.
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I think a great many of us isolated players are experiencing the same problems as you and your friends - although EVE-CCG is an amazing game, it is a lot less well-known than other CCGs (like MtG and WoW). This means that retailers will be more cautious in ordering in a new game when they are not sure if is is popular, or if it will sell. The best thing to do is let the local store owners know that there IS an interest, and you and your friends could even offer to demonstrate the game in their store to prospective players. This in turn will generate even more interest in EVE-CCG, and will create a demand that the retailers and suppliers will have to address (hopefully!!)
By the way, I too like the pace of the expansions, as it gives time to get used to / collect the new cards before even more new cards are released.
Good luck in your quest to bring EVE to Russia. I'm still struggling to bring it to Northern Ireland but i havent given up hope !!
PS>> I think your English is fantastic... Better than my Russian!!============================ "There is always Hope...." - Elessar Telcontar ============================
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Bulgakov
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Posts: 39
Re:Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/10/24 06:15There are no local stores in my city. 1 million of population and only several tens of potential players. Everything - promo and organisation of tournaments - is a heart and hand of me and few other enthusiasts.
But I decided to promote (hm, headline) this game in Russia. Somebody must break fresh ground. Why not me? So I want to ask a question: can I use articles (for example, to translate) from this site?
All materials about would be published here: www.cg.ohobby.ru (young, but budding site about TCG and other card games). I writing a WoW TCG topic there. One topic more, one topic less, what's the odds 4 me? Say what you think. Think what you say.
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AgentZero
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Re:Pirce Comparison to That other CCG - 2007/10/29 16:34You may certainly translate anything published on this website, so long as you notify me before you repost it to your site. I can be reached at zack@ccpgames.com.Zack Walters EVE: The Second Genesis Organized Play Coordinator White Wolf | CCP North America
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and I'm official TO and 1lvl judge of World of Warcraft TCG. Price of one WoW TCG booster is 5.6$ (14 play cards and 1 hero card). One booster box contains 24 booster packs and costs 134$. It's RRP. I pay less. UDE decided to encrease amount of cards for booster (to 18 play cards and 1 hero card) without encrease price per booster pack. So, more cards, less costs. That's, what about a comparison. 
