And I am a bit puzzled how Amazon manages to sell 34% cheaper (or is it that the shops sell 34% more expensive?). If amazon can act as a gauge and indicate to people that the product is 34% cheaper in amazon, doesn't the SMRP act as a gauge too, indicating that the Shop is selling 34% higher than the suggested price, and that perhaps someplace else the price is indeed lower?

In the end, online shops always competed with brick and mortar shops. Online shops offered lower prices, however Brick and Mortar shops offer a place where you can demo your product, find other people to play it with, participate in tournaments etc, which can outweight the price for some people. And this is where Mayfair comes in. This board game manufacturer enforced a 'floor price' policy, whereas sellers cannot go below that price without entering the 'black list' and therefore being denied to order from Mayfair. As a result, Online shops cannot offer such a low price anymore, or so it seems so far. There are ways around it I guess, such as free shipping etc. It's still a bit early to say so.

Because Amazon for a long time didn't turn a profit... in other words Amazon didn't make any money above their costs for a lot of years..  If a B&M business doesn't make money, it goes out of business.

doesn't the SMRP act as a gauge too, indicating that the Shop is selling 34% higher than the suggested price

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price almost always includes a profit margin for the retailer.  The retailers typically (and EndGame or one of the other retailers on here can correct me) pay a lower price, but they use that percentage between what they pay and the end-user cost as their income (i.e. to keep their stores open and feed their families). The retailers (like Amazon, or one of my local B&M stores, which usually sells BT stuff at 10% lower than MSRP) that sell it for less are cutting into that profit margin.  Likely Amazon sells it at close to cost.

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price almost always includes a profit margin for the retailer.  The retailers typically (and EndGame or one of the other retailers on here can correct me) pay a lower price, but they use that percentage between what they pay and the end-user cost as their income (i.e. to keep their stores open and feed their families). The retailers (like Amazon, or one of my local B&M stores, which usually sells BT stuff at 10% lower than MSRP) that sell it for less are cutting into that profit margin.  Likely Amazon sells it at close to cost.

Of course with their size, Amazon might have negotiated a better cost in the first place and their discount isn't as step a cut into the margin as it might appear.

At this time Catalyst Game Labs has chosen not to list with Amazon.com while we focus on strengthening our commitment to local retail establishments.

The strange reality of the beast is, that while Amazon.com is a widely looked at resource for Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun books, they on average sell as much as two good sized game stores. That's it. However, their impact is much more far reaching than that. We hear many reports of people claiming that the Amazon.com price is the manufacturers suggested retail price of our books. This stems from the fact that while they may not sell a lot of books directly, they are a constant referral point for what a book is "worth".

Now at the end of the day, somewhere close to 90% of our product is sold through your local retail stores. I know that some people don't buy that way, but both Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun are large properties and large amounts of books (thousands of each title) go through brick and mortar stores. And these stores try and stay competitive by monitoring prices, including those of places like Amazon.com. They frequently run into people quoting the online price and saying "why can't I get it at 34% off?". This makes retailers feel like they're actually competing against Amazon. If the person buys the book, the retailer is worried that they won't buy more because they'll go to Amazon, and if they don't buy it that day, then in the retailer's mind its easy to imagine that they've gone home and ordered it online. And without full knowledge of how little Amazon really does in business, they tend to feel put out and less likely to try new products from us.

As a business person, I honestly can't blame them. There are MANY different game companies out there today, and its easy to change to a product from a company like Games WorkShop in which you know there's little online competition. Game store owners have thousands of SKUs (individual listings) to manage and try and sell, in many cases, more than your average CostCo even! They need to constantly look at the market and choose those items that will sell, either through approved play, or through policies at the game company level that help them sell those products.

I know this won't make some of you happy. That's why we have the BC store, to fulfill those of your needs who don't have a local store to shop from. We intentionally sell at MSRP there as well. As we enter into 2008, we will begin more and more B&M friendly practices beginning with our retailer locator. Never the less, thank you for your passion for all of our games. It's that passion that gets you posting and we appreciate it.

I know this won't make some of you happy. That's why we have the BC store, to fulfill those of your needs who don't have a local store to shop from. We intentionally sell at MSRP there as well. As we enter into 2008, we will begin more and more B&M friendly practices beginning with our retailer locator.

  Soo, no good prices and razonable delivery dates for CBTers overseas for the time to come?

the BattleShop has the same price as your FLGS, or even cheaper when you're in europe, because the Euro is so strong. And it delivers fast.

the BattleShop has the same price as your FLGS, or even cheaper when you're in europe, because the Euro is so strong. And it delivers fast.

Amazon.com doesn't have a shop to run out of they have one shipping center in a Industrial estate some where where rent per square meter in much less than Suburban Retail. 

But all this is offset by the shipping costs, whereas Amazon.co.uk has a lot cheaper shipping. Also, I can combine my shipment with books/dvds that I buy from Amazon.

I am not complaining for the current situation, I am just stating the pros that a EU buyer has from amazon.

indeed, basicly amazon does a lotta damage to the gaming industry, guys, buy your your local store if at all possiable, if not, order from an actual games shop, I know some game shops out there do online orders so those of you who lack a local score aren't screwed by any means,

  How exactly does Amazon do a lot of damage to the gaming industry? If it basically boils down to Amazon giving others some competition, then that's a good thing

-Andrew

This being said, and out of Amazon, when can we hope to see B&M stores in Europe stock the new CGL products?