Well if I can't purchase FFG games through MM to get a better price because I'm not rich and have money to burn. I will stop buying games from anything related to Asmodee. Since GW paints cost in the neighbor hood of 4.25 to 4.99 at the FLGS in my area. I purchase Vallejo for 2.45 and Reaper for 2.47 from MM. Plus the size is bigger 17ml instead of 12ml. So I need to make my money stretch. If others have the money to support the cost at FLGS by all means do that. A FLGS in my area can order KR Multicase stuff. I priced the double aluminum case and it cost more than if I ordered it from KR itself. So purchasing stuff from FLGS is just not in the cards for me. I try to support stores of any kind but when the online price is cheaper I go that way. One time at a local store. I inquired as to why they sell the product I was looking at more in the store and less online. Their response was "They have to pay for shipping." I responded with "I have to pay tax?" The employee was dazed and confused because they did not answer anything back to that. I always look online even when I am in a store to see how much I can get it online. It depends on how close the store price is to online. If it is within 5 to 10 dollars I will buy local. If it is not or I can wait for the delivery time I go online. I just hope that Asmodee does not do what I am scared they are going to do. I will miss guying FFG products.

FFG wave releases were already outpacing my ability to keep up - there are just a ton of ships (and large bases at that that are more expensive)

The discounts have been the only thing keeping me able to barely keep pace anyway - for me (a non FLGS customer even though there are lots around me - I just don't care to play in a store or tournament but have introduced several people to the game), they need to slow down the release cycle. I've not touched Armada because I wanted to keep pace with X-Wing and dabble in Imperial Assault. Seems I won't be able to keep up with X-Wing at all now. Oh well...I can find other hobbies to spend my money on FFG / Asmodee (shrug)

This thread has been very interesting. I've been hanging out in the Armada forum for a while now, and have forgotten how amusingly turbulent the X-Wing forum can be.

It's really fascinating how people create cliques and identities and hurl accusations of greed back and forth.

The reality is that the world is changing. You have to innovate or die. The stronger FFG tries to hold onto the old entrenched models, the worse of they will be for it in the long run. Rather than helping to lead the industry in innovating, FFG uses monopolistic practices to try and keep us in the dark ages. Good luck with that.

The world is changing. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost; for none now live who remember it.

The world is indeed changing, but in this complex adaptive system we call the economy, who can tell where any given company can find its particular niche. I'll have to ask my FLGSs if they're getting that 3-5% price hike you're talking about, or if its the distributor that's being squeezed on that.

Look guys, of course ANA is set to make money out of this change.

[...]

The reality is that companies like FFG, and Wizkids recognize that the lion's share of their sales (normally a figure of about 90%) is from hobby stores. They simply cannot afford to have hobby stores stop supporting their lines due to a large devaluation of the product through online sources.

That 90% is telling, but do you have data (or a credible source) to back that up?

I agree that ANA is trying to make money here. People hurl accusations of greed, but - it's a business! The only question we should really be asking is if they are going to be long-term greedy or short-term greedy. As things are opaque, it's hard to tell if this is a reaping or a sowing.

The main problem here is one of lack of control of distribution. This is something that happens in all industries. And usually it is a sign that the manufacturer is unable to correct it due to a lack of solvency.

The counter arguement to the Asmodee reining in on massive online discounting that a few online retailers is this:

1) A small handful of greedy retailers are creating a price war with the rest of the FFG's retailers because they have a large amount of capital and can purchase in large volumes to get better volume discounts from FFG.

2) By selling at such a discounted price below the MSRP openly, the value of FFG's product drops, as well as the value of the brand. This hurts FFG directly.

3) The best way to handle this is simple - just stop supplying the problem.

FFG on it's own might not have been able perform 3) simply because the revenue that comes from said online retailers is necessary to continue staying solvent. Basically the client is holding the manufacturer hostage as they know that without their volume payments, the manufacturer cannot continue operations. Where Asmodee comes in is as a cash rich investor, who has the cash to ride out step 3) to allow normal distribution to resume.

I've been in the games distribution industry in my country before, quite honestly if any of our retailers did this we would have cut supply to them immediately on all product lines. A lot of games manufacturers have gone belly up due to this issue - its unexpected and sudden from the outside looking at the situation - but basically continous deep discounting by retailers and distributors is a sign of rot in the games manufactuer.

You get upset because FFG wants to maintain the value of its products, keep its doors open and earn some profit? Perhaps help maintain the community that is its bread and butter?

Games are FFG's bread and butter. The FLGS "community" helps them sell certain types of games to certain types of people.

FFG's decision may well be a good business decision, but I just can't see it offering anything positive for the consumer, especially those outside the "community".

period3, on 31 Dec 2015 - 10:38 AM, said:

n815e, on 22 Dec 2015 - 07:50 AM, said:

You get upset because FFG wants to maintain the value of its products, keep its doors open and earn some profit? Perhaps help maintain the community that is its bread and butter?

Games are FFG's bread and butter. The FLGS "community" helps them sell certain types of games to certain types of people.

FFG's decision may well be a good business decision, but I just can't see it offering anything positive for the consumer, especially those outside the "community".

Its not offering anything positive to consumers. Only Asmodee benefits.

period3, on 31 Dec 2015 - 10:38 AM, said:

n815e, on 22 Dec 2015 - 07:50 AM, said:

You get upset because FFG wants to maintain the value of its products, keep its doors open and earn some profit? Perhaps help maintain the community that is its bread and butter?

Games are FFG's bread and butter. The FLGS "community" helps them sell certain types of games to certain types of people.

FFG's decision may well be a good business decision, but I just can't see it offering anything positive for the consumer, especially those outside the "community".

Its not offering anything positive to consumers. Only Asmodee benefits.

It's not?

When local shops are not able to compete with online shops, local shops go out of business.

The value of the products go down.

The amount of public visual presence of the products goes down.

The number of people playing games goes down. Playing games is a social activity. Social interaction is the bread and butter of game companies.

If sales drop, manufacturers stop producing.

The products you like, which are vehicles for the social activity you enjoy, are no longer available.

Everything I know about x-wing comes from online sources I don't have a flgs close by I've never once been influenced by a bricks and mortar store and I don't see why I should pay more for a service I've not and never have gotten.

That's funny, I seem to pay more as it is than you who live in the almighty states of America, and more for going to my FLGS. Under the new agreements it seems you'll still get your discount but not as much as your old discount. However I am still paying more than you...I think cosmic balance is about to be restored. Besides, it's very selfish to think of only your POV, I am saddened that people who buy online will still get a discount while I get none, but I have a store and local community that will keep growing and I will keep my FLGS due to more business being shunned their way in the future.

I think that everyone wins...but there are degrees of winning. Ultimately though, no one loses.