Who knows? Maybe if WotC sees if this was super successful, then they'll be inclined to partner with D&D Beyond in a similar fashion for future products! :)
If I recall correctly, @BadEye (D&D Beyond staff) mentioned on the last Dev Update that they were really looking forward having more deals with physical products, and that they are going to measure the number of Essential Kits sold as well as the number of codes redeemed at D&D Beyond -- so a good way to increase the chance this happens is simply making this product pretty popular :-)
Also keep in mind that Dungeons and Dragons is a department of Wizards of the Coast that is under Hasbro, as well as D&D Beyond is now under Fandom (formerly Wikia) -- and until a year ago they were under Curse, in turn under Twitch, in turn under Amazon. So not only they have to come up with good ideas, products and partnerships, they have to convince their parent companies those are goods ideas. That all said, they have being doing a great job so far.
Also, the boxed items like the Essential Kit and the Beade and Grimm Dragon Heist Platinum Edition are sealed products and so it is easier to protect the code from getting ripped off.
A lot of merchants don't like shrink wrapped TTRPG products because they prevent people from leafing through them, something that encourages purchases. People will often want to flip through, get an idea of the art, the layout etc. The whole 'have a store copy' is also not a solution because that's $X down the hole on a copy they not only can't sell, but have to either a) waste shelf space on or b) have a member of staff go and get out each time someone wants to have a look. It's especially futile when you only have 1 or 2 copies of a book on a shelf. You've got to ask yourself, if shrink wrapping had any beneficial effect on sales, why do you almost never see shrink wrapped TTPRG books in LGS?
I also have to say that I really dislike the idea of bundling redeem codes with books because it decreases the resale value in the secondary market. I often sell books I am no longer interested. It works with the essentials kit as it's not a book.
That said it would be nice to see in all D&D books a page advertising DDB with a small promo code (like the 10% coupons codes we keep seeing). But that's all.
I've no insider information on the matter, but I would speculate that if D&D Beyond redemption codes were included with physical book purchases, one could expect to see a price increase on the product vs. physical books without the code. I wouldn't be one to assume that the physical/digital bundle would remain the same price of current physical-only offerings.
The effort the staff put forth here on D&D Beyond will always remain a service offering, requiring human-hours on data entry, management, and development. Hard to envision a product offering which doesn't compensate the costs associated to provide it.
A lot of merchants don't like shrink wrapped TTRPG products because they prevent people from leafing through them, something that encourages purchases. People will often want to flip through, get an idea of the art, the layout etc. The whole 'have a store copy' is also not a solution because that's $X down the hole on a copy they not only can't sell, but have to either a) waste shelf space on or b) have a member of staff go and get out each time someone wants to have a look. It's especially futile when you only have 1 or 2 copies of a book on a shelf. You've got to ask yourself, if shrink wrapping had any beneficial effect on sales, why do you almost never see shrink wrapped TTPRG books in LGS?
Yeah, I bet people would be fine with shrink wrapped books knowing it meant they get the physical and digital version. So just have one book always unwrapped, they keep the code (which is printed on a paper insert) in the register, someone can still buy it and get both - why you think they can’t sell it is beyond me. Wrapping is only a benefit in the case of content you want to protect, such as a code.
I also have to say that I really dislike the idea of bundling redeem codes with books because it decreases the resale value in the secondary market. I often sell books I am no longer interested. It works with the essentials kit as it's not a book.
That said it would be nice to see in all D&D books a page advertising DDB with a small promo code (like the 10% coupons codes we keep seeing). But that's all.
It would only decrease the resell value if consumers really like getting the code, which I think they would, and you know who doesn’t give a crap about the secondary market - every publisher ever. Incentivizing people to buy new instead of used is always something a content creator wants.
I've no insider information on the matter, but I would speculate that if D&D Beyond redemption codes were included with physical book purchases, one could expect to see a price increase on the product vs. physical books without the code. I wouldn't be one to assume that the physical/digital bundle would remain the same price of current physical-only offerings.
The effort the staff put forth here on D&D Beyond will always remain a service offering, requiring human-hours on data entry, management, and development. Hard to envision a product offering which doesn't compensate the costs associated to provide it.
Sure, you could sell it for more, say $5-$15, anymore then that and you don’t really save anything over buying them separately.
Oh yes, certainly. Folks mistake digital as "free", completely ignoring cost of development, wages, risk taken, server maintenance and etc.
You don't see people nowadays complaining they should get a free book on Kindle every time they buy the physical book on Amazon.
Not really the same thing, but sure, you could increase a bundle cost, but as stated to another poster, only $5-$15 depending on the type of book. The increase could be paid 100% to DDB as opposed to how I am guessing they have a deal where they only get a % of the sale on the site
Shrink wrap isn't the worst idea, but a better idea would be a scratch off code affixed to the inside back cover. There are security precautions which would have to be taken, but people could still flip through the book and when they purchase it, scratch off to get their code for the site.
Scratch off codes don't prevent code theft, they just let you know it's happened. In fact, scratch off codes are easier to bypass; it's more obvious when someone is unwrapping a sealed book on your shop floor, than maybe scratching off a code under the pretence of leafing through the book.
And retailer code thing can be problematic too, pocketing code cards is a known problem in retail environments. It's why subway got rid of their physical stamps system (I was working for them during the cancellation of the program).
Basically there's no way to reliably distribute codes that meets the following conditions:
Allows consumers to flip through books
Actively prevents theft
Can be physically tied to a purchase
Other than WotC setting books through their own marketplace and validating them that end, sending a code in your confirmation email (something that Paizo does)
Basically it's a very convoluted issue to resolve. Also it doesn't solve the key demand which is people who already possess the books and feel entitled to convert those purchases to a discount up to the full amount of the book.
Basically there's no way to reliably distribute codes that meets the following conditions:
Allows consumers to flip through books
Actively prevents theft
Can be physically tied to a purchase
1. just have one book always unwrapped, they keep the code (which is printed on a paper insert) in the register, someone can still buy it and get both, I know, you say but "pocketing code cards is a known problem in retail environments" - not if you have employees you trust.
2. I can argue that nothing in retail actively prevents theft of the entire book either, so that isn't a valid argument against it
3. You keep them in a shrinkwrapped book, that pretty much guarantees they either bought or stole the book, and it helps curtail the secondary market for people who want both. Why buy used for half the price if you are going to spend twice as much to get it in physical and digital.
A few comments up I pointed out that a 'store copy' isn't a viable solution; it's dead merch that can be up to 50% of stock if a store only gets in two copies (which happens with many small TTRPGs).
Every form of theft prevention attempts to prevent theft. It's not always successful, but it still aims to prevent rather than detect theft. Scratch codes don't do that, they only show off a theft has occurred.
Shrink wrapped book products across the board in lgs' are generally sales deterrents.
Box sets for the modules that include the book, the Dice/Maps & Miscellany Set, and an unlock code for DDB Like the Essentials Kit but with a hardcover adventure(s) book instead of the softcover adventure and rules books
Box sets for the modules that include the book, the Dice/Maps & Miscellany Set, and an unlock code for DDB Like the Essentials Kit but with a hardcover adventure(s) book instead of the softcover adventure and rules books
That sounds awesome. I'd totally be down for this.
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I loved that the Essential Kit included a code to unlock the adventure book on Beyond. Is this a feature we can look forward to with future books?
Who knows? Maybe if WotC sees if this was super successful, then they'll be inclined to partner with D&D Beyond in a similar fashion for future products! :)
If I recall correctly, @BadEye (D&D Beyond staff) mentioned on the last Dev Update that they were really looking forward having more deals with physical products, and that they are going to measure the number of Essential Kits sold as well as the number of codes redeemed at D&D Beyond -- so a good way to increase the chance this happens is simply making this product pretty popular :-)
Also keep in mind that Dungeons and Dragons is a department of Wizards of the Coast that is under Hasbro, as well as D&D Beyond is now under Fandom (formerly Wikia) -- and until a year ago they were under Curse, in turn under Twitch, in turn under Amazon. So not only they have to come up with good ideas, products and partnerships, they have to convince their parent companies those are goods ideas. That all said, they have being doing a great job so far.
Also, the boxed items like the Essential Kit and the Beade and Grimm Dragon Heist Platinum Edition are sealed products and so it is easier to protect the code from getting ripped off.
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So start shrink wrapping the books
A lot of merchants don't like shrink wrapped TTRPG products because they prevent people from leafing through them, something that encourages purchases. People will often want to flip through, get an idea of the art, the layout etc. The whole 'have a store copy' is also not a solution because that's $X down the hole on a copy they not only can't sell, but have to either a) waste shelf space on or b) have a member of staff go and get out each time someone wants to have a look. It's especially futile when you only have 1 or 2 copies of a book on a shelf. You've got to ask yourself, if shrink wrapping had any beneficial effect on sales, why do you almost never see shrink wrapped TTPRG books in LGS?
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I also have to say that I really dislike the idea of bundling redeem codes with books because it decreases the resale value in the secondary market. I often sell books I am no longer interested. It works with the essentials kit as it's not a book.
That said it would be nice to see in all D&D books a page advertising DDB with a small promo code (like the 10% coupons codes we keep seeing). But that's all.
I've no insider information on the matter, but I would speculate that if D&D Beyond redemption codes were included with physical book purchases, one could expect to see a price increase on the product vs. physical books without the code. I wouldn't be one to assume that the physical/digital bundle would remain the same price of current physical-only offerings.
The effort the staff put forth here on D&D Beyond will always remain a service offering, requiring human-hours on data entry, management, and development. Hard to envision a product offering which doesn't compensate the costs associated to provide it.
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Oh yes, certainly. Folks mistake digital as "free", completely ignoring cost of development, wages, risk taken, server maintenance and etc.
You don't see people nowadays complaining they should get a free book on Kindle every time they buy the physical book on Amazon.
Yeah, I bet people would be fine with shrink wrapped books knowing it meant they get the physical and digital version. So just have one book always unwrapped, they keep the code (which is printed on a paper insert) in the register, someone can still buy it and get both - why you think they can’t sell it is beyond me. Wrapping is only a benefit in the case of content you want to protect, such as a code.
It would only decrease the resell value if consumers really like getting the code, which I think they would, and you know who doesn’t give a crap about the secondary market - every publisher ever. Incentivizing people to buy new instead of used is always something a content creator wants.
Sure, you could sell it for more, say $5-$15, anymore then that and you don’t really save anything over buying them separately.
Not really the same thing, but sure, you could increase a bundle cost, but as stated to another poster, only $5-$15 depending on the type of book. The increase could be paid 100% to DDB as opposed to how I am guessing they have a deal where they only get a % of the sale on the site
Shrink wrap isn't the worst idea, but a better idea would be a scratch off code affixed to the inside back cover. There are security precautions which would have to be taken, but people could still flip through the book and when they purchase it, scratch off to get their code for the site.
Another idea would be to have a card given to the purchaser at the register--although that seems a bit onerous on the part of the retailer.
Scratch off codes don't prevent code theft, they just let you know it's happened. In fact, scratch off codes are easier to bypass; it's more obvious when someone is unwrapping a sealed book on your shop floor, than maybe scratching off a code under the pretence of leafing through the book.
And retailer code thing can be problematic too, pocketing code cards is a known problem in retail environments. It's why subway got rid of their physical stamps system (I was working for them during the cancellation of the program).
Basically there's no way to reliably distribute codes that meets the following conditions:
Other than WotC setting books through their own marketplace and validating them that end, sending a code in your confirmation email (something that Paizo does)
Basically it's a very convoluted issue to resolve. Also it doesn't solve the key demand which is people who already possess the books and feel entitled to convert those purchases to a discount up to the full amount of the book.
D&D Beyond moderator across forums, Discord, Twitch and YouTube. Always happy to help and willing to answer questions (or at least try). (he/him/his)
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat On - Mod Hat Off
Site Rules & Guidelines - Homebrew Rules - Looking for Players and Groups Rules
1. just have one book always unwrapped, they keep the code (which is printed on a paper insert) in the register, someone can still buy it and get both, I know, you say but "pocketing code cards is a known problem in retail environments" - not if you have employees you trust.
2. I can argue that nothing in retail actively prevents theft of the entire book either, so that isn't a valid argument against it
3. You keep them in a shrinkwrapped book, that pretty much guarantees they either bought or stole the book, and it helps curtail the secondary market for people who want both. Why buy used for half the price if you are going to spend twice as much to get it in physical and digital.
A few comments up I pointed out that a 'store copy' isn't a viable solution; it's dead merch that can be up to 50% of stock if a store only gets in two copies (which happens with many small TTRPGs).
Every form of theft prevention attempts to prevent theft. It's not always successful, but it still aims to prevent rather than detect theft. Scratch codes don't do that, they only show off a theft has occurred.
Shrink wrapped book products across the board in lgs' are generally sales deterrents.
D&D Beyond moderator across forums, Discord, Twitch and YouTube. Always happy to help and willing to answer questions (or at least try). (he/him/his)
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat On - Mod Hat Off
Site Rules & Guidelines - Homebrew Rules - Looking for Players and Groups Rules
Box sets for the modules that include the book, the Dice/Maps & Miscellany Set, and an unlock code for DDB
Like the Essentials Kit but with a hardcover adventure(s) book instead of the softcover adventure and rules books
That sounds awesome. I'd totally be down for this.
Beat my rolls. I dare you.