This is the same system we had with Galactic Civilizations II.  So we already know this system works.

In addition, I think most gamers will be happy with either $44.95 or $39.95 given that most PC games these days cost $50+.  So I don't think many people (certainly no reasonable person) is going to say "$45? The greedy bastards!"

And lastly, people who are ordering directly are getting the Collector's Edition which has extra stuff.

You can read about what the differences are here:

https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/?forumid=402&aid=174282

 

 

@Frogboy

The fact is that you are charging $5 more for less. I can understand the reasons why you charge $5 extra (to make publishers more happy, since you are having major problems with europe which i assume is a major market), and i am not bitter or anything.

But take this scenario: Potential customer goes to store and sees the game for $39.99. He/she then goes back home to look up reviews (which is what i always do) and finds the game can be downloaded with no hassle with a CD. So Potential customer visits site and realizes you are charging $5 extra and can not see any reason for this. Potential customer leaves thinking SD is greedy and decides to buy Warhammer game pack instead (example of misolanius game).

And if you think $5 extra dollars won't matter, your own forums say otherwise. I believe one person said something along the lines of "It left a bad taste in my mouth" (do not know who/if he changed his position), which i think sums it up pretty well.


I will not even guess how many sales (if any) will be lost to this, but as i said before it's not my problem. I will not further this topic in any future threads as i have stated my position and you are aware of it. It is up to you.


Personally, i have chosen to order the CE tonight because I wish to play the game before i leave for work and possibly months before i have access to my gaming computer again (and i want the stuff in it), the Feb 4th release date could still be too late but when the stores in my area get Sins on the 8th it most certainly will be.

I went with the digital download because I'm impatient and don't want to pay sales tax. In the past year, I've started to get taxed(Texas 8.25%) from more online retailers. Steam and Stardock getting my business now.

IMO the way to fix this would be to either give a $5 rebate to digital downloaders only or waive the $5 requirement to upgrade to the box and just require S&H. If both versions are "Collector's Edition", then there shouldn't be another $5 required, right?

Digital download is necessary for people not able to acquire the retail version, but people that don't know better are getting confused.'



You are required to put down online purchases on your income tax form, not doing so is viewed by the IRS as tax evasion. The reason that you won't get sales tax on online purchases out of your state is usually because of this. They may not go after you for doing it but it's technically illegal.

yeah, you have to put it on your income tax so they can add in the sales tax for that city. I didnt know this until a few months ago actually

I was under the impression that Steam does force you to pay tax, since every purchase I've made includes the British VAT standard...

And as for 8.25%... How I laugh! Try 17.5% over here, and that's just for starters. Actually, I'm going into the corner to cry instead, cheers!

(If this was Gal Civ 2, there'd be anarchy!)

I don’t understand how the on-line consumers are getting less for more? The special edition has far more content. Additionally there is the consumer tax aspect to also consider. I think it works out well in favor of the on-line consumer.

Additionally, I don’t think there is a single prior SD customer alive that would argue SD shafted them after the fact. The support SD gives to it products is legendary. Why just the direct access to the devs is worth a token $5 at a minimum. Moreover you are not talking to a CSR or worse and paying $1.00 per minute or more for questions to maybe be answered or sending an email knowing that the chance of it really getting a response are near nil. You are directly communicating with the president of the company (think about that for a minute) and the engineers that did the work. Furthermore this is on a near seven day basis for the vast majority of the day. Just try to get that kind of access from the rest of the industry.

Sorry if I sound like a fan boy but I get sick of companies fucking over consumers and when a company like SD comes along and provides near never ending support above and beyond what would be considered exceptional by any metric for all its titles at no additional change to be accused of profiteering at the consumers expense is extremely unwarranted and patently unjustified.

$5 rebate, shafting, screwed - please....

ZZZ: Please re-read what I wrote. You're not paying $5 for less. The collector's edition has additional stuff.

Texas Use Tax

Dang. This explains why more online retailers are taxing me. Well, I guess the free ride technically ended years ago... Now I'm just down to buying online because I'm impatient.

The point is that rationalizing it after the fact is not cool, not that it's not worth it. We can all figure out things to point out about the game, Stardock, or whatever to say "oh five bucks that's nothing", but the fact is that that should have been made clear waaaay earlier than now.

Then why isn't it anywhere on the tax *forms*?

I assume your comment was directed at my post. So I'll briefly respond...

For the record it [the price] was made clear and talked about is several threads prior to this one. The price change was a result of misinformation given to SD about the shipping cost and the required contractual price obligations via the retail venue. This coupled with unique distributor contracts and the total product asset plan makes things a rather complex endeavor. There is also the value added aspect for offering the CE version that had to be factored into the equation after the fact with regards to all distribution channels. There is more but I think I made my point. However for clarity purposes let me put it this way, all SD is guilty of here is trying to add value of goods to those of us that chose the on-line purchase option without cutting its throat regarding retail distribution means and not taking a big loss on its own shipping like it did in the past due to a rush to finalize pricing long before the product is on the market.

Call me crazy but that is something that should be commended not bitched about.


Note: @SD - if I'm wrong with my understanding of how you do business with this post please feel free to correct me. I wont be offended since I'm assuming you do business based off of industry best practices and not actually involved with your operations.

It is. Some states require you to use separate forms, such as Florida, but most are on regular income tax forms.

Oh great, you have to fill out *state* forms as well as the federal ones?

I hate taxes...

You didn't know this? Oops, I hope this is your first tax year

Thats why you get people.

H & R Block, providing weird commercials since 2003.

How much coffee did you have tonight, TGE? You're posting weirder than usual

What? You did not know you had to file State taxes? How did you think the State operated? Just wait till you meet the other tax system you have yet to discover.

You mean the letter from the IRS informing him he's being audited?

I've had quite a lot.

You see, my school district is being hit by a storm, so I have napped or watched TV all day, ignoring the pile of homework on my desk.

But as I start to relise that my school district will probably pay quadrople the price to keep the snow plows out at night I am begging to wonder whether my slacking was justrified.

So I have decided to drown my sadness with caffiene and start on my homework.

Now wasn't that just a great story.

Actually, it kind of was. It inspired many feelings of pity I thought were long buried!

Pansy! Be a man and bury those girly emotions again. TGE needs no sympathy he needs a special hug.

Remember....

This is SINS!!!!

Sympathy is quite different from pity

And now its 11:30, and I'm still here.

Oh work ethic, why did I lose you

Ha! it's 12:50am here and I'm at work