I'm totally puzzled with the pricing of AOO as it sets a precedent.
Core Modules are now inched up to $80 as was the case with FKaC and $60 or $65 for earlier core modules. In contrast the minor half box modules costs between $35 to $40. Since AOO comes with four maps than it is logical that the pricing should be in the range of $80. Since this is not that case and the cost realities of printing map boards has escalated, does this mean that when the other core modules are exhausted and need to be reprinted that these will now reflect the higher cost model? :roll:
Quite honestly if this is the case, why waste time? Why not bump the other core modules to $112 dollars now? Cynicism aside, I do agree that there is a crisis with the cost of future modules. I think the only rationale thing to do after AOO stock and other stock gets exhausted is to reprint them with paper maps. This should drive the price back down to more realistic prices I suppose $50 for core and $30 for minor modules?
Perhaps the highest priority is to maintain stock of at least the rulebook and the 1st core modules at all times. What puzzles me is the speed that the 2nd edition rulebook sold out. This demonstrates that there are limits to the preordering system as I suppose that at least 1000 copies were preordered and an additional 300 copies were printed for stores and subsequent orders. The speed that these remaining 300 (hypothetical) disappeared demonstrates that the demand for product was dramatically underestimated. This was probably the same situation with BV as well.
Unfortunately, what I am proposing is expensive and requires even more investment in stocking inventory at least for the core module and rulebook. With the rulebook, there are some half pint solutions such as print on demand systems that major bookstores use. Surprisingly inexpensive compared to the traditional printing methods currently used. The downside is that the printouts are likely limited to b&w. But, do we really need color as this option drives the cost down to a fraction of the nicer color presentation? That’s debatable, however the option to order the RB this way should be a valid option for those who cannot wait for the nice color reprint. 8)
With regards to reprinting the modules cheaply, I truly puzzled by what can be done to lower costs short of printing with only paper maps. Is it not possible to leverage the relationship with Hasbro to use their economies of scale to print out these modules more cheaply just as they do with thousands of copies of Monopoly? Granted they do have huge economies of scale and print large quantities of product, certainly way beyond the market for ASL products, but unless these avenues have been tried at least from a cost analysis there is no way to determine if it is practical. I am sure that Hasbro does invest on limited production runs on new products, the volumes are likely relatively small to determine if the demand for the product is viable for a larger rollout. This is part of their test marketing strategy; perhaps MMP can leverage this avenue to seek out cheaper production options?
I don’t pretend to understand the MMP / Hasbro relationship but, I sure there must be leveraging opportunities with the parent company that allows the smaller divisions to leverage higher efficiencies. :idea:
Regards
John
