Might be time to start printing in places that aren't China and it may be time to start putting enough cards in your starters that people don't have to buy multiple copies of games in short supply. Or you can keep murdering your games like you did Destiny and you are L5R by not having product for people to buy when the game is new. 6 months from now all those customers you could have had now aren't going to care about the restock.
Aggressively worded post aside...
It is a concerning how FFG constantly comes out short on their supply. When they release a new game, it is a license to print money but it seems their projections always err on the side of conservative sales, at least when it comes to distribution in some areas. This needs to change, honestly. Moving printers is probably not the best idea, but move up their production schedule or rate.
Another batch of boxes really needs to hit the shelves before Christmas to propel the game. Don't you want money, FFG?
I'd like to think the defense of 1x playset in a core (rather than a 3x playset deluxe edition core) is a lousy one, but there are stores that won't carry games with a high price point without a good reason. Selling at box of cards for $100+ that doesn't say MAGIC is probably a risky venture for FFG.
Edited by HordeoverseerThere's been no shortage whatsoever in the U.S. Alliance is their sole distributor and they have had cores available since launch and still do. If you're in the U.S. then just ask your FLGS to order more. Maybe you're concern is in a specific country?
Plenty of uk stores are still stocked up though I vaguely recall the Spanish language version was sold out..
11 minutes ago, LuceLineGames said:There's been no shortage whatsoever in the U.S. Alliance is their sole distributor and they have had cores available since launch and still do. If you're in the U.S. then just ask your FLGS to order more. Maybe you're concern is in a specific country?
Not OP, but I imagine this might be the case. In Canada at least, Asmodee is the sole distributor for FFG products and they **** the bed like it's an artform. I've contacted 4 local gaming stores in town and they're all sold out of cores without any idea of when they'll get more.
Don't know if that's on FFG, or Asmodee, or both, but either way it's frustrating. I only have one core and am willing to purchase more, but can't until someone gets a restock. Not willing to buy online in USD and get nailed with shipping.
Worth noting that Asmodee and FFG merged a while back... so it's on both of them.
I will confirm that my area in Canada has no available copies of the game. There were at least 8 stores that carried the game in the area on release. We are looking at a Feb 2018 restock.
1 hour ago, Hordeoverseer said:I will confirm that my area in Canada has no available copies of the game. There were at least 8 stores that carried the game in the area on release. We are looking at a Feb 2018 restock.
I have received three wildly conflicting opinions on dates. One store said they'd have some new copies in this week, another said they placed an order with Asmodee last week but are awaiting confirmation, and the last store just said they had no idea. Not hopeful.
11 hours ago, Union said:Might be time to start printing in places that aren't China and it may be time to start putting enough cards in your starters that people don't have to buy multiple copies of games in short supply. Or you can keep murdering your games like you did Destiny and you are L5R by not having product for people to buy when the game is new. 6 months from now all those customers you could have had now aren't going to care about the restock.
This is so much better than SW: Destiny launch...The first 2 sets were a catastrophe EAW was flooded out, Legacies will be the same way. There are plenty of stores that have copies near me.
11 hours ago, Union said:
On 30/10/2017 at 4:56 PM, Matrim said:Plenty of uk stores are still stocked up though I vaguely recall the Spanish language version was sold out..
Oh, it was. In the FFG Spain website, it’s still listed as “In restock”. I had trouble finding enough cores for my playgroup. But some of the stores where I bought them are calling me these days to tell me that they’re getting new boxes next week.
I am pleased that situation was corrected fairly quickly for you..
A trend I have been seeing on this forum and Facebook is people saying FFG is making horrible business decisions because it is either not what you would have done or negatively affects you. I think this is a bad way to operate. If you don't like something FFG does, first try to gather ALL the facts. Then try to look at it from a pro decision stand point, and honestly step back and evaluate. If you still think it is bad, because FFG can make bad decisions, state the issue calmly and support it with facts. Also, because of the global customer base of FFG, what is true in one part of the world may not be true in all parts.
Thank god all these angry customers are not business owners. They'd have run their business into the ground already.
Logistics is a nightmare and always will be. I do believe FFG has an issue when it comes to releasing a new game though. I took a 'dip' in to Destiny at launch but the stock issues was atrocious and took a long time to get the stock in for it. They have since corrected that it seems but they clearly need to look at their products more closely and maybe try to be a bit more aggressive. There could be plenty of stock around for L5R and it's just in the wrong places because some areas may have a much higher interest base than another or the distributor was shorted the supply. So many variables involved.
14 minutes ago, kpsmith said:Thank god all these angry customers are not business owners. They'd have run their business into the ground already.
Thank god they have fanboys like you with wall street portfolios to back up your business models, ideas and predictions.
The trend is not new, FFg has problems with printing and production of their products, evidenced by their performance (sells good) and their production (very often lacks product). There is your evidence and everyone is ruging FFg to change for the better.
11 minutes ago, Dovla said:Thank god they have fanboys like you with wall street portfolios to back up your business models, ideas and predictions.
The trend is not new, FFg has problems with printing and production of their products, evidenced by their performance (sells good) and their production (very often lacks product). There is your evidence and everyone is ruging FFg to change for the better.
Point of note. ******* on the forum is perhaps the least helpful way to garner any change from FFG. It's just a place where people with complaints can say them and feel vindicated by them, without the bother of trying to actually be helpful.
So it seems like Alliance in the US has handled distribution pretty well, since as far as I can tell, if you used alliance, you kept stock in. Are they US only? I could easily see them not being in Europe, but do they cover Canada as well? Is it systemic in Canada that the Canadian distribution needs help, or is it that they are less likely to use Alliance?
I also know that if your store doesn't use Alliance in the US, you didn't get anything, and it sucks. I'm not pro-Alliance, just pointing out that there could be an obvious reason, at least for Canada.
Just now, Mirith said:So it seems like Alliance in the US has handled distribution pretty well, since as far as I can tell, if you used alliance, you kept stock in. Are they US only? I could easily see them not being in Europe, but do they cover Canada as well? Is it systemic in Canada that the Canadian distribution needs help, or is it that they are less likely to use Alliance?
I also know that if your store doesn't use Alliance in the US, you didn't get anything, and it sucks. I'm not pro-Alliance, just pointing out that there could be an obvious reason, at least for Canada.
Not a store owner but I had a lengthy conversation with my FLGS owner. Asmosdee exclusively does the distribution for Canada, formerly Lion Rampart was an option. I don't know how Lion Rampart did on distribution fulfillment but apparently communication and shipping was easier.