Why is Matrix selling the CD version for more then NWS?

[TheWombat_matrixforum]

Some interesting insights into the marketing model, though I would suggest that this business (boutique wargames) can't really be compared to mass-market stuff like groceries or other consumer goods. I'm rather afraid the fallout from the price discrepancy and the overall high price of the game (which btw I have purchased, and from Matrix) might be that people don't buy it from either source. We're not talking about basic commodities or pantry staples here, after all.

I do agree that the major thing Matrix has going for it is the immediate gratification part of the equation. I'm just not convinced that the market is big enough or vibrant enough to support such a clear difference in pricing over time. But then again, it's not my business, so I can only assume the people running it know what they're doing....

[Erik Rutins]

Just to chime in one more time, it is indeed true that if you purchase directly from us, your purchase is providing more total support for both Panther Games and Matrix Games than purchasing through a dealer like NWS, even at the same price.

However, we think that a few dealers like NWS (and there really aren't that many) are a help for us overall. First of all, they do expand the number of gamers we reach as they have their own set of customers that don't entirely overlap with ours and do their own promotional work to expand that base. Second, they are one of the dealers that really "evangelize" the products they carry and help gamers understand what a particular game is all about. We can always use help with word of mouth in that regard. Third, they do offer a little bit of a "pressure release valve" in terms of pricing, though usually their prices are pretty close to ours, which allows gamers that cannot afford to buy direct from us another option. Finally, there are some very rare customers who have had trouble in the past, for whatever reason, buying through our store. This gives them another option to get our games if they can't get through our shopping cart process.

Overall, this is not an unusual arrangement at all within the world of wargame publishing, take a look at NWS' total catalog to see all the games they have in stock from other publishers as well.

Regards,

- Erik

[Yogi the Great]

Matrix games I have usually gotten from Matrix as price has usually been the same, but as I posted a few days ago on this game NWS is less.

Not surprising, I use to buy direct from HPS until I discovered NWS. They are always $10 less for new releases and $20 less for those over 30 days old.

[jomni]

ORIGINAL: Sheytan

Question to Matrix. Why is this title bieng sold here for more then the NWS store? What am I missing?

Because NWS is a discount store. Owner of NWS is willing to earn little from the transactions.
They are also selling at a lesser price than HPS sims.