Mega Campaigns as ESDs?

Scorpion_sk · Post by **Scorpion_sk** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 1:11 am

Well, I found out about the Mega Campaign 2 and immediately headed into the store to pre-order it....19,95$ I thought, not bad.....but surprise surprise, the shipping costs are 27$.

Now, while I don´t mind supporting Matrix Games, I couldn´t care less about the U.S. postal service.

Additionally, the finnish customs would charge me for 25 or so % of the combined value PLUS I´d have to go and pick it up at the customs (another 10$ for bus fares)

Looking at my occupation you can guess whether it´s a good option for me to submit and pay it up....

So I am asking from the Matrix staff whether it could be at all possible to offer the Mega Campaigns as ESDs (like Firefight)... I don´t care if it´s hundreds of megs.... I think a lot of people that have broadband connections would buy the campaigns that way...

What do you at Matrix and the forumites think?

Shall I be forced remain indefinitely without the campaigns, or....?

Regards
Sami

Larry Holt · Post by **Larry Holt** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 1:34 am

This has been asked about before. Matrix replied that chargebacks on downloads, redownloads (What if you pay for a download but its corrupted?), etc. were headaches that they could not or did not want to overcome.

Mikimoto · Post by **Mikimoto** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 1:48 am

Hello Sami.

I understand you. Shipping costs for Spain are 26.50$... a lot more expensive than the CD (20$). Sometimes I think Matrix only wants US market for his products.
But some weeks ago someone posted about a store in UK willing to import Matrix products for europeans. But no news about this.

Hey Matrix, what about this, please?

David Heath · Post by **David Heath** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 2:13 am

Hi Everyone

I did post a notice few weeks ago. Look in the store and on our main page for dealers. We are looking and will post them there as we make agreements.

kao16 · Post by **kao16** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 6:02 am

Had a quick look at the dealer sites.

One of them had MCNA for 375 F (~$51.00) - compared with 25 + 27 = $52 to late order and get it priority post (I assume that is what you get for $27).

A better bet would be to try and get a group together to group order, dividing the $27 between more people (a problem with this is that it increases the size of the the package, and thus its decared value which may put it into mport taxable zone).

Another option is to arrange for someone in US to buy you a copy and mail it to you regular post (something like $3.75 USA to New Zealand) - you lose the ability to track delivery, and it takes an extra 7-11 days from when your contact posts it.

RichardTheFirst · Post by **RichardTheFirst** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 8:42 am

This all seems like is happening in the XIX century. HEY MATRIX wake up please!

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 9:57 am

Originally posted by RichardTheFirst:
This all seems like is happening in the XIX century. HEY MATRIX wake up please!

If it wasn't for Matrix giving you a FREE game of SPWaW, you wouldn't be here posting your little funny. A little more gratitude and a lot less sarcasm would be polite. Matrix is a gang of VOLUNTEERS, not some big-ass company with mega profits. How about cutting them some slack?

Mikimoto · Post by **Mikimoto** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 12:47 pm

Hello.

Only one thouht: I must wait for months since I preorder a MC until it is available. It dont matters to me to wait some weeks more when it begins shipping. Not urgent at all. Not need tracking or air service. If I am waiting for months, It is not so important to send so speedy the cd... sorry for my english.

If you can make it a litte less expensive for overseas buyers... Another solution for me is to wait until you have finished some games of my interest, and order them in one package. But it can take months to complete more games and/or megacampaigns... and it goes against you. It is important for me to support Matrix, not some postal sevices.

Thanks.

[ November 07, 2001: Message edited by: Mikimoto ]</p>

David Heath · Post by **David Heath** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 1:00 pm

Hi Guys

First the dealers have been given discounts and should be selling games a little cheaper. We can not control how much the CD are going to be sold for. If you know of a dealer overseas that might be interested in sell our products please let them and us know.

The shipping is high because we only use FedEx to make sure your products get to you Yes in 2001 <g>. We could charge $40.00 bucks for Mega campaign and the shipping would not look so bad.

We should be release SPWAW v7.0 very shortly and two new Mega Campaigns. Its will soon be time for a new round of the best SP ever.

Mikimoto · Post by **Mikimoto** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 2:57 pm

Originally posted by David Heath:

The shipping is high because we only use FedEx to make sure your products get to you Yes in 2001 <g>. We could charge $40.00 bucks for Mega campaign and the shipping would not look so bad.

What?

If I understand, you are saying we must close our mouth or it will be more expensive? <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

Resisti · Post by **Resisti** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 6:03 pm

Originally posted by Mikimoto:

What?

If I understand, you are saying we must close our mouth or it will be more expensive? <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

No,I think what David means is that they could have decided to include part of the shipping costs DIRECTLY in the cd price in order to make the shipping costs BY THEMSELVES appearing lower, but they preferred to keep the CD cost low, instead.

RichardTheFirst · Post by **RichardTheFirst** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 10:49 pm

Originally posted by Warrior:

If it wasn't for Matrix giving you a FREE game of SPWaW, you wouldn't be here posting your little funny. A little more gratitude and a lot less sarcasm would be polite. Matrix is a gang of VOLUNTEERS, not some big-ass company with mega profits. How about cutting them some slack?

My intention wasn't to offend anyone, but I agree it could be interpreted as sarcastic and for that I present my appologies.

I have my reserves about everybody in Matrix being a volunteer, but never mind.

Anyway my prime intention with that comment was to alert Matrix that if they depend on the sales of the Mega Campaigns as sorce of revenue than they should do business better. Like having a download page for example or have another sending system. For us, non USA residents, to pay 52 USD for a CD versus the 24 you pay it's excessive. Why not an alternative shipping system cheaper even if it takes more time?

My commentary was due also to the fact you have to ask Matrix to e-mail you patches. Why not have it available for download? (see related topic Mega Campaign 1 patch)

In conclusion: maybe Matrix can do more money if they do businesses better. And having sales systems that very few companies even very small ones have abandoned is not good in marketing terms.

This was a constructive critic. If Matrix don't see it that way: well... their problem. And our problem too because in short term Matrix could stop to support this game.

So: it is all very pretty all this thing of the volunteer contributions (and I mean it) but in the end the cold bucks are very important, aren't they?

Mikimoto · Post by **Mikimoto** » Thu Nov 08, 2001 12:44 am

Hey Richard.

Fully agree with you.

scimitar · Post by **scimitar** » Thu Nov 08, 2001 1:36 am

A little precision concerning costs for Europeans: let's assume I order from Duchet. 375 French francs = approx. 2250 Belgian francs. 52 US Dollars = approx. 2340 Belgian francs. But oredering from Duchet signifies for all members of the European Community NO CUSTOM COSTS!!! As those can be very high (in the example above, you can estimate the custom costs for an order placed in the USA to approx. 800 Belgian franks.
So, I admit that for a New Zealander it's not interrestive to order in Europe; but for Europeans it's REALLY cheaper! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

SkyVon · Post by **SkyVon** » Thu Nov 08, 2001 3:49 am

The release date says 10/31 yet here we are a week later and no delivery. Did the game go out on time or is there a delay?

Les_the_Sarge_9_1 · Post by **Les_the_Sarge_9_1** » Thu Nov 08, 2001 4:07 am

I still say the best way to get a Mega Campaign to some place like Europe has to be locating a reliable friend in the US

step two mail them the money (yes just mail the the dang money)

step three the friend buys the cd for nothing more than it really should cost anyone in the civilised world.

step four he merely puts it in ordinary mail, yes ordinary mail, nothing fancy, a bubble envelope and a piece of card board shipped airmail.

With conversion to US funds, Matrix shipping costs to friend, friends cost to mail to person wanting cd, I refuse to believe this will exceed half the cost it appears to be for fans in Europe. Its insane to do it otherwise.

I have thought about it. I have sent music to a girl I know in the US. I never ask for anything. I just like to be nice.
I can garantee you if I plan on buying Mega Campaign, and I likely will, I am not planning on letting any insanity ruin my purchase. I happen to know she can buy it for the civilised price of what it costs a US citizen and then no more than a couple of bucks for re routing through mail to me. And since I am nice she will likely not even ask for the mail cost to me. I might as well be living in the US effectively.

Why isnt anyone thinking of these sort of strategies (or is this why my friends routinely lose to me hehehe, I think outside of the box).

Mikimoto · Post by **Mikimoto** » Thu Nov 08, 2001 4:09 am

Hey Scimitar.

Firs MC shipping costs were 17$ for Spain. Second MC shipping costs are 26.50$. Total cost for MCLV in Spain are almost 47$. No Custom charges here. If I buy from Duchet I pay five dollars more...

One fantastic board wargames company, "the Gamers" send me every year a package with errata and mods counters, the last rules errata and news (for all his games, not only those I own). By air mail, and shipping costs are 5$(FIVE DOLLARS) more or less. And they pay all the shipping costs: Its free for me!!!

I can't understand so expensive shipping costs here in Matrix.

Scimitar, Really cheaper?

kao16 · Post by **kao16** » Thu Nov 08, 2001 4:19 am

Originally posted by Mikimoto:
Hey Scimitar.

Firs MC shipping costs were 17$ for Spain. Second MC shipping costs are 26.50$. Total cost for MCLV in Spain are almost 47$. No Custom charges here. If I buy from Duchet I pay five dollars more...

<SNIP>

I can't understand so expensive shipping costs here in Matrix.

Scimitar, Really cheaper?

Matrix Games sends the games by a postal method where they can track the article (to prove that it actually arrives).

The cost is greater for the second MC because they are no longer using USPS (because so many failed to arrive). FedEx works and is quick (2-3 days USA to NZ, then waiting until Monday because I wasn't home at 1425hr on a Friday <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> )

kao16 · Post by **kao16** » Thu Nov 08, 2001 4:27 am

Originally posted by Les the Sarge 9-1:
I still say the best way to get a Mega Campaign to some place like Europe has to be locating a reliable friend in the US

step two mail them the money (yes just mail the the dang money)

step three the friend buys the cd for nothing more than it really should cost anyone in the civilised world.

step four he merely puts it in ordinary mail, yes ordinary mail, nothing fancy, a bubble envelope and a piece of card board shipped airmail.

With conversion to US funds, Matrix shipping costs to friend, friends cost to mail to person wanting cd, I refuse to believe this will exceed half the cost it appears to be for fans in Europe. Its insane to do it otherwise.

Rather than sending money, another option is arranging to use something like PayPal - adds something like 2.5% + 30c to the cost. But compared with $5 to buy cash, or $20 to get a bank check in another currency....

Another possible advantage.... the article is posted by an individual and not a company... hopefully it will not attract import tax (as it cant be proven to be a purchase)

If I managed to gete someone in the US to send me a copy it would cost something like $20 for the MC CD (pre-order), a share of the postage to my contact (how much?), Postage to NZ ~$4, the cost of PayPal ~$1 ~=$26-27

Mikimoto · Post by **Mikimoto** » Thu Nov 08, 2001 4:44 am

Hi again.

The price for a game in Spain is more or less 40$ (Between 6500 and 7495 ptas): It includes original game, colour manual, box, voices and manual translated to spanish, etc..

MCLV costed to me exacty 46.99$ = 52.23€ = 8690Ptas. And the first CD (North Africa) was only the Cd (no box, no rules, no translated).

I know you will flame me (ingrate) but shipping costs make me get Hungry.

By the way, what are shipping costs for a US resident? Would to know how much MC sales could you make at 47$ in the US. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">