Supporting the industry!

[myskaros]

Link to the video game sales thread: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5077&start=380

EDIT: Unless there are other sale threads that exist, I plan on posting anime/manga sales here.

First 5 pages are mostly discussion.
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With my newfound income, I have some random questions about purchasing localized "stuff," as it were. Forewarning, I live in the USA.

For NISA's released products, it's pretty easy since they have their own online store and the prices are very competitive with the next best alternative (usually Amazon, which, for pretty much everything, costs more than NISA's store).

However, for video games, anime, and manga, when another company releases it, I usually opt to purchase from online dealers since the prices are cheaper and shipping tends to be free. This is as opposed to going to, say, Barnes & Noble or Best Buy.

My question is: if I'm looking to throw my money at a place where someone actually sees "Hey, money is being thrown at us, maybe this industry is worth it after all!," is there a "best"/"optimal" place aside from the company's own online store? A good example would be Seven Seas Entertainment, who localizes the To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (A Certain Scientific Railgun) and Toradora manga. They don't have an online store, so I've just been buying on Amazon.

Does it matter where I buy stuff once it hits a mediating distributor? Does buying from B&N/Best Buy result in some sort of positive industry feedback that's worth the retail-ness and the sales tax, or is it all the same and going with the discounted retail price + free shipping (since I don't mind the wait) of online shopping is just fine?

My favorite part about being an adult is being able to support what I think is worth supporting. When growing up, kids just have to deal with whatever they have, in terms of money and access (i.e. GameStop), but now that I have knowledge and ability, I'd like to do it right

[SaturnineTenshi]

Straight from the publisher/developer is usually best.

Wrt retail outlets, it really depends on the store, the type of distribution and the distribution/royalty percentage. These things can vary widely. Hopefully someone around here has a more detailed analysis of profit in different channels, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't.

I can tell you that electronic generally has a greater profit margin than something physical that needs to be manufactured, shipped, stocked and sold through brick and mortar stores. The gap isn't as large when dealing with online retailers (there's a reason prices are often cheaper online), but it's still there.

Edit: I'll throw up an example with book pricing.

Physical profit
Amazon: 26%
Direct: 46%
Independent Presses: 7%

E-book profit: 50-75%

Again, these things change depending on a number of factors, but there's generally less overhead when dealing with digital platforms.

Good luck with the support.

[myskaros]

What do you mean exactly by "independent presses"? Physical bookstores? And, to clarify, those percentages are profit going back to the publisher/developer, right?

I agree that direct is best, but, as in my example, some localization companies don't seem to have a direct (online) store, so I'd have to settle for next best. If "independent presses" = local bookstores, then Amazon would net the most money back to the localizers, right?

[SaturnineTenshi]

There probably isn't an independent press option for the video game industry. I'm not certain when it comes to localized anime. Independent presses are anyone with the authority to print a book but don't typically carry it. Usually print-on-demand sources are for smaller bookstores—not Barnes & Noble. Though there are books that are only available as print-on-demand, even at Barnes & Noble.

And the percentages are what's going back to the publisher. I only used the book industry as an example because I have the numbers. The parallel I'm certain of is: the less hands it touches, the less work it requires, the more savings can (potentially) come to the customer and the more revenue to the creator.

^ Which I know doesn't really give you any particular source for anything. >_>

Edit: Not going to go about a search myself, but Gamasutra is a good place to start.

[stealth20k]

send the developers a donation check

[vampko]

Well, buying at a retailer probably gives about the same profits as buying online, but buying locally helps stimulate your economy as well.

Digital sales are mostly from the source anyway (though there are royalties that go to the service holder). But when you want phsyical, I think retail/locally's probably your best bet. Just make sure to ALWAYS buy new.

[stealth20k]

buy new=support the dev

buy used and you support yourself in the end.


both arent bad

[myskaros]

I tend not to buy used. I've had some bad experiences with used stuff before, and I'm financially stable enough to afford the extra few bucks (or more) that goes into the security of a new, unopened product.

Video games don't tend to vary in price too much online vs. retail (plus many of the games I buy aren't wide audience, so it's hard enough to find them retail e.g. NISA games), but that's different with anime and manga.

For manga, not only does Barnes & Noble not have a wide selection, retail price seems high compared to, say, a generic paperback fantasy novel. Obviously you can't really compare them, since they are completely different pieces of media, but I also cannot stop myself from looking at the retail price and thinking "Hrm, that's a bit much." Most of the manga I've bought off Amazon is part of the 4-for-3 promotion (25% off, for the math-impaired), and almost always automatically qualifies for free shipping, so that has been my go-to choice. Also, since local bookstores are magnets for casual browsing, a lot of times the copies have various physical defects, which turns me off (since I'm anal about that kind of stuff).

Anime is much harder to get retail, mostly just because I'm unfamiliar with where it would be carried, but also the places I know (pretty much just Best Buy) have a piss-poor selection at a price that seems way too high to be justifiable. $25 for a 4-5 episode DVD just doesn't seem like a good investment, especially when I can find BD box sets for $30-40 on (again) Amazon, or I'll be looking for a BD but can only find DVD (Baccano!).

If the money making it back to the publishers is more or less the same in online vs. retail, I'll probably just continue to do my manga/anime shopping online. I'll definitely check if there's a direct online store first, but for all else I'll just seek out the cheapest (new) price.

[stealth20k]

barnes and noble isnt the place to go too for new manga............


amazon has a better selection

[raspberrylicious]

Barnes and Noble, while I love its atmosphere, is a complete rip-off. They charge at least $10 more for DVDs than any other store, and their books never go under MSRP unless you use coupons and memberships.

[stealth20k]

amazon is better for physical books, more so than barnes

[SaturnineTenshi]

Barnes & Noble books do go on sale quite often—especially the new releases or bestsellers. Manga and DVDs are an exception, though. Though if you're looking for a deal, buying new books from a retailer as large as Barnes & Noble is a bad idea. The reason why I didn't suggest alternatives is because he's looking to contribute, not necessarily for the best price.

Edit: I take that back. Barnes & Noble often do a Buy 2 get the 3rd free on DVDs.

[stealth20k]

barnes and noble is doing well though

[SaturnineTenshi]

No, they aren't. Not at all. They're basically clinging to the Nook for some sort of redemption in a plummeting market.

[stealth20k]

No, they aren't. Not at all. They're basically clinging to the Nook for some sort of redemption in a plummeting market.

They are doing well. There physical and dd sales were up.Physical book sales had one of the best quarters in history last quarter.