In a message dated 14.02.2001 8:52:55, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << If we sell 100 of something direct in a year, that's pretty extraordinary. >> It's not unusual for one of our board games to sell in the thousands by direct order, but the higher price points make a difference (what's five bucks for shipping/handling when you've just ordered two $45 games?) and the audience tends not to frequent game stores. Last Days of Constantinople, on the other hand, has sold a whopping total of 9 direct, which is fewer than the number of insane wargamers who've demanded we take their credit card info for a game not even designed or announced yet. There are game companies scratching by with direct-only sales, but pretty much uniformly they're selling items with a high enough MSRP to make each shipment worth the effort (software, large strategy games, mini sets etc.). The effort to pack and ship a single $9.95 book wipes out much of the margin on it. But John is exactly right regarding the inverse relationship between direct sales and overall health of your business. Mike Bennighof General Manager Avalanche Press
