Why is the game cheaper at an actual store?

from GalCiv2 Forums
Just out of curiosity, why is the game cheaper at the physical store? My EB (electronic botique) has it for like $42.99 and at Wal Mart it's $38.99

I got it through stardock because every store in my entire city was OUT OF STOCK!

Hey, how about a coupon towards my next Stardock purchase? Come on give me something for nothing! hahahaha I spent $10 in gas trying to save $5!

I clean houses for a living and all the time people expect something for nothing.

They say to me, "Oh, brush the fringes on my rugs and dust the baseboards. Oh, you want extra? Well forget it, I'll hire somebody else who can do extras for me everytime they come for no extra money."

You should at least try to make people *feel* like they are getting something for nothing. Your sales will double.

So, how about two coupons? One for my inconvenience driving all over town, and another for giving you a great idea on how to double your sales. How about 1% of future sales, since all future sales can now be attributed to me?

Yes! I am a genius! You should hire me. Make me president.

10,738 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well as far as the price goes it's been mentioned before here. Store can cut MSRP at the expense of their own profit, while if Stardock cut their price store would see it as competition and possibly not carry it on the shelf. Something like that.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Why is the game cheaper at an actual store?


Retailers don't take kindly to a product's creator selling the product themselves at a price that competes with their own. As such, we charge MSRP, and stores are free to charge less (but they do so voluntarily).
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

So, how about two coupons? One for my inconvenience driving all over town, and another for giving you a great idea on how to double your sales. How about 1% of future sales, since all future sales can now be attributed to me?

Well, take a look here http://totalgaming.stardock.com/  for other pricings . And if you look to the various release notes (from 1.0D to 1.4), you will see that Stardock is already doing the following

You should at least try to make people *feel* like they are getting something for nothing.

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Here is a study in economics:

1) Consider the time you spent to "find" the best price on an item.

2) What hourly rate do you value your own free time?

3) If your (free time hourly rate) x (time taken to find the best price) > (increased cost of buying it online), then

4) buy it on line and "buy" back some free time.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There's also the gasoline you used to drive to the store and get it. That can add up pretty quick these days.

Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sales tax is also a consideration, as well as by cutting out the middleman, you give an honest company like Stardock more of the profit, instead of giving it to unethical companies like Wally World or Gamestapo.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I purchased through stardock and I feel I underpaid.
GCII is worth twice as much.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Being able to download GCII immediately instead of trundling to a brick and mortar store in meatspace is like Homer Simpson wanting to buy a gun and finding out there's a cooloff waiting period: "But I'm angry NOW!" heh.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I purchased through stardock and I feel I underpaid.
GCII is worth twice as much.


Shh! I feel the same way, but don't tell THEM that!