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Post by okumarts on Nov 19, 2012 14:45:06 GMT -9
Very disheartening news from One Book Self,
Paypal has changed their policy for non-US publishers. I may have to reconsider how I run my business in the future. It may become too steep to use RPG Now, etc. It's really too bad. I am NOT a business person in any way shape or form and if it's up to me to run the business end of things I think I will have to bow out of the paper mini publishing biz.
It's too bad really because this has become something fun and exciting and ultimately self-sustaining (it's paying for my other hobby purchases).
I will have to see how much this affects me and if it is worth my while to continue.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2012 15:24:45 GMT -9
Very disheartening news from One Book Self, Paypal has changed their policy for non-US publishers. I may have to reconsider how I run my business in the future. It may become too steep to use RPG Now, etc. It's really too bad. I am NOT a business person in any way shape or form and if it's up to me to run the business end of things I think I will have to bow out of the paper mini publishing biz. It's too bad really because this has become something fun and exciting and ultimately self-sustaining (it's paying for my other hobby purchases). I will have to see how much this affects me and if it is worth my while to continue. Pretty much... same for me EDIT: Actually it's OneBookShelf rather... PP changed policy ca year ago and OBS got at least couple of ways how to deal with it but despite their quite substantial margin obviously they choose an easiest way...
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Post by Brave Adventures on Nov 19, 2012 15:59:08 GMT -9
What was the policy change? We're Canadian based, but I didn't hear anything about this.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2012 16:44:18 GMT -9
What was the policy change? We're Canadian based, but I didn't hear anything about this. Please read the email from OBS... (I'm not sure if it's legit to quote... Anyway, they got many options other than just shift the full cost to publishers, some win-win solutions perhaps? (remember that, despite their substantial(!) margin, they got publishers net income for a full month(!), so they for sure are investing these money /kinda overnights/ etc
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Post by paladin on Nov 19, 2012 17:15:39 GMT -9
... just shift the full cost to publishers, ... Interesting. What does this mean exactly? Any (legal) way to get more specific on this info, mesper and @okum!? I have googled alot, but found nothing ... . I know, that PayPal is a Band of Banksters out of a very bad Gotham episode - you can read (truthful) 'stories' of systematically ripped off people all over the world. Any alternatives to PayPal? Other forms of publication? ... .
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2012 18:08:00 GMT -9
paladinTo be honest I can't say even one bad word against OBS or Paypal... these companies so far proved to be both trustworthy and reliable - at least for me. My concern is the future (which - theoretically - seemed to be not decided yet...) well yeah, obviously I'd not expect any sound changes till the end of Xmas season... According to the Monthy's "Always look at the bright side of life" the good news is that ultimately there will be probably less "competition" for US/domestic publishers...
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Post by Vermin King on Nov 19, 2012 18:23:27 GMT -9
I think Chris Gutzmer over at Ecardmodels has designers outside the US. It might be worthwhile to contact him. I'm not sure what other outlets might be available.
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Post by Brave Adventures on Nov 19, 2012 18:28:47 GMT -9
Hmm, I just checked my spam folder and read the email. It seems to me that the potential increase in cost is minimal. It simply changes from a fixed fee to a small variable fee when you cash out. That said, One Book Shelf does take a big cut. If anyone is interested in an alternative, we might be able to form a partnership where your products are offered on www.braveadventures.com/ instead of or in addition to OBS's sites. Our site is new and small and obviously doesn't get nearly as much traffic as RPGNow.com but the fees are lower since we deal with PayPal directly. That's why we can offer better sales on our website than on RPGNow. The Payment system we use also has a commission feature that works similar to OBS for paying out multiple authors etc. Or I might be able to help you set up your own website with a similar payment system. The fee per normal PayPal transaction is basically 3%+0.30 cents. So the cost per sale of an item selling for $3 would be about 13% meaning your take would be about 87%. But it would go up or down depending on the cost of the item. If anyone is interested, let me know. -Ryan
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Post by Rhannon on Nov 19, 2012 20:54:50 GMT -9
I don't understand everything about this topic, but as a buyer ( as well as friend, fan and collector ) I start to scare me and be sad because of your discomfort. I understand that PP and PRGNow increase their costs, leaving less margin to the authors. Is it right? If thus it is there may still be other solutions. You can slightly increase the costs of your products ( they have really good prices, so that you can ), so that the increase covering the major fees. You can make your own paypalshop as did Revgunn ( reverendgunn.blogspot.it/ ) the Braveadventures' offer. Or something like that. A group of independent authors. ( but RGNow is still a great showcase imho ) What you can't do: You can not become discouraged, lose your enjoyment and stop producing paper figures ( I hope )
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Post by hackbarth on Nov 20, 2012 3:29:36 GMT -9
I'm sad.
As a consumer, it's much more practical to me to have all the products that I want on one store. It is user friendly, it suggests me what related set I might enjoy, and it houses a wishlist of things that I constantly update, putting more items on it or taking they out.
I understand that the costs of this environment must be payed, but I see as a step backwards that international sellers must be put at a disadvantageous place, with steeper rates and less of a deal compared with US sellers. The purpose of market of virtual goods should be to make them available across the globe, without being limited by the customer or seller nationality.
I understand also the position of the sellers (inclusive US sellers, like Mel Ebbles, Sanity Studios and Worldworks) that opt out of the OBS for better margins. But they make life a little less easier to customers, that now will need to visit a dozen sites instead of only one (or two, or five).
This is my take as a consumer, of course.
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Post by paladin on Nov 20, 2012 5:25:20 GMT -9
paladinTo be honest I can't say even one bad word against OBS or Paypal... these companies so far proved to be both trustworthy and reliable - at least for me. Ah, ok, mesper, this sounds at least encouraging ... . The number of people claiming to be blocked off their own money by PayPal - or even ripped off - (problem for Ebay sellers especially), and PayPal's 'Customer Protection Clause' (full refunding of customers by demand - at the expense of the seller) made me worry ... . Thanks for all the hints and tips, guys - and your specific info and overall offer of help, @ryan. So, OBS would take about 35% of the sale, right? Plus 13% to PayPal on average for low-cost items, right? That's nearly 50%.
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Post by Brave Adventures on Nov 20, 2012 5:42:12 GMT -9
Hi Paladin, sorry, I meant that is the cost if you set up your own e-store. Paypal charges normal e-merchants 2.99% +$0.30 per transaction.
OBS only takes 35% per transaction including PayPal's per transaction fees etc. but there are additional fees associated with cashing out. OBS's new policy just makes cashing out cost a little more, basically an extra 2% to a maximum of $20. I personally don't think it is unreasonable. OBS offers a very useful service.
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Post by gilius on Nov 20, 2012 9:02:17 GMT -9
It's interesting to learn a little more about how these services work. It's just sad that such information comes due to a bad reason. I'm with Rhannon in the suggestion to consider a price adjustment to offset these increasing costs.
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Post by paladin on Nov 20, 2012 9:26:13 GMT -9
Thanks, @ryan. Now I got it. Well, someone would put about 20% MORE into his own pockets, if he/she could handle a webshop ownership - with bureaucratic and legal consequences in most countries, I guess. E.g. Terms of Service etc. BUT ... ... OBS offers a very useful service. ... Seems so. Could be, that there is no alternative regarding the scope of their target audience and site performance. Maybe the Big Cats like WWG could afford not being 'present'. But even WotC are suffering in sales after PDF withdrawals (on Paizo?) ... .
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Post by Sirrob01 on Nov 28, 2012 3:22:55 GMT -9
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Post by Parduz on Nov 28, 2012 6:22:04 GMT -9
Enlighting... also for one that have nothing to sell I'd be curious, though, to know if the numbers shown for the various cases are near to the reality of our sellers.... but this would be like asking "how much money have in your pocket?" and i don't want to be so intrusive.
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