Each venue has advantages and disadvantages, and I think you've already outlined the major ones yourself. I, as an all-round gamer, always try and support my local gaming store first and foremost, because I like to see what I'm buying in the flesh (or the paper) pefore I pony up for it. I think that it's better for the scene in the long run to get into as many physical stores as possible and gain credibility as something more than a 'from your mom's basement' kind of business. However it is undenyably better for the individual publisher if you buy direct.

One thing I would definately like to see change is the horrible three-tier distribution system used in America, and some changes to the two-tier distribution system of the UK wouldn't hurt. There's precious little profit in this game to begin with, without having to pay not one but two middle men to get it onto the shelves for you.

In general, I think the best all-round solution would be for the gamers to buy from their local gaming stores, and the local gaming stores to buy direct from the publisher instead of jumping through hoops with distribution companies, fulfilment companies and goodness knows who else.

Ash

Not all games are distributed in the same way, so the answer is different depending on the game. Since you are in the UK, things are a bit more complex anyway.

If you're buying a game from a UK designer, then they will get far and away the most money if you buy it directly from them. Contested Ground run a shop online at their website for example, and I'm pretty sure Joe Prince does the same. I have to admit that I've mostly bought from guys at cons.

Some people (like Tim) sell their games through POD services like Lulu. I don't know if Tim does sales himself (of stock printed by Lulu), but as I understand it he wouldn't really make any more money that way, given Lulu's pricing structure. So getting his games (or Graham's book) through Lulu is probably the best option. Tim, please correct this if I have it wrong! Lulu print the books in the UK, so postage isn't horrible.

The other major option is IndiePressRevolution (IPR). IPR is a big American website who handle sales for indie RPGs. They're very good at it and charge publishers a % of the cover price, but being based in the US makes shipping to the UK somewhat pricey.

The other option is retailers like Leisure Games. The thing is that Leisure Games actually buy their books from IPR at a massive discount. Meaning that the publisher gets WAY LESS if you buy via LG. They are also usually not much (if any) cheaper than IPR once you've paid postage. The advantage for you though is that you get the books quicker and only have to deal with a UK company (rather than mucking about with Paypal or whatever, which some people don't like).

When you're buying from a US designer, you'll generally find that it's cheapest to buy from Lulu if their book is available that way, because the book will get printed in the UK and sent from there. Since they sorted the postage calculator, IPR isn't much more expensive if you're going to order 3 or so books at once. As I understand it, most publishers who have a book on Lulu and on IPR will probably earn very slightly more if you buy it from IPR, but really not much. And actually less if their book was printed at Lulu...

So in short:

1) Buy direct from the creator if you can.

2) If not buy from either Lulu or IPR.

3) Buy from a shop if you really want it fast.

Of course, other folks here might have totally different opinions or I might have something wrong here.

Yes, I do (but I let Lulu handle the process). I also sell in PDF through Your Games Now, RPGNow/Drivethru and (taking shape as we speak) IPR. If you want to put money in my pocket - and, by all the gods, you should! - then those are the routes to take.

"As I understand it, most publishers who have a book on Lulu and on IPR will probably earn very slightly more if you buy it from IPR, but really not much. And actually less if their book was printed at Lulu..."

Lulu takes a 20% cut. IPR takes 15% (plus a few odds and sods). If you get the books done at Lulu as the creator, though, you get them at cost. So actually books printed at Lulu and sent to IPR should be very slightly more profitable - hadn't thought of that. But of course for UK customers buying from Lulu is probbaly better for delivery as you'll get the books sent from the UK or Spain, depending on the phase of the moon and such.

Tim Gray
Silver Branch Games
www.silverbranch.co.uk

Sorry for the confusion Tim, by "does sales himself" I meant having the books printed (at cost by Lulu), shipped to you at home and then taking orderes yourself and shipping the books back out again.

It strikes me that the cost of getting the bought-at-cost books shipped to you, plus the hassle of posting them out would make Lulu's 20%-of-margin fees seem pretty much worth it. Bearing in mind that, if someone buys your book from Lulu, you pay them 20% of margin, but the buyer pays the postage (not you).

I haven't done the maths, but it seems not worth doing that yourself. Am I right in that?

I understand (and could be talking shite again) that Lulu's charge is 20% of margin (that is, the difference between the price Lulu charge for printing the book and what you charge), while the charge from IPR is 15% of cover price. Given my thumbnail calculations, that means IPR actually charge more (this is based on what I was doing with Umläut and might not be true for other book formats and pricing structures). On the other hand, if you get those books done somewhere other than Lulu, you'll pay less per book and thus make more via IPR than you would if you sold the book via Lulu. If that makes any sense?

I'm very happy to let Lulu handle the logistics, rather than having to have all the hassle and stationery here.

I *thought* Lulu's cut was on the cover price, but I could be wrong.

"On the other hand, if you get those books done somewhere other than Lulu, you'll pay less per book and thus make more via IPR than you would if you sold the book via Lulu. If that makes any sense?"

Yep. And if I'm ever looking at doing a single print run of at least 50-100 copies I'll consider it. BTW, Fred Hicks recently did a blog post about the different options there, and made a point about the convenience of Lulu making it not worth changing until the unit cost is really quite different.

Tim Gray
Silver Branch Games
www.silverbranch.co.uk

I mean that in a nice way.

Lulu's cut is, indeed, 20% of Cover Price - Printing Cost, i.e. they take 20% of what you get.

Graham