How Does This PDF/PoD Combo Deal Work Anyway?

Last year, we started to offer the PDF versions of our books earlier than the physical printed books so that we could avail ourselves of all the detail-oriented eyes in our fantastic fan community. This has worked out really well, and we’ve been able to proceed to making the physical files with far less errata. The one hitch in the whole thing is that some of the folks who want to get the PDF when we first offer it and help us, also want to purchase the physical Print on Demand version and would purchase the PDF/PoD combo if we were offering that right then. So in order not to penalize our “early adopters”, Onyx Path worked out a plan with DriveThruRPG to send discount links to those PDF purchasers that will enable them to get the PoD version discounted as if they were purchasing the combo right then. Which they effectively are since they already paid full price for the PDF.

Using DTRPG’s tools, we can create a discount link and send a message containing the link to every purchaser of the PDF. All this takes place within DTRPG’s system, so who gets the message is pretty automatic. BUT, as we have noted before and in the latest PDF product descriptions, the purchaser must allow messages from White Wolf and DTRPG in order for the messages with the discount link to get to them.

Here is a link to the account options:
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/account_contact_options.php?site=dtrpg

And the thing is- you have to have your settings set to receive messages BEFORE we send out the discount link message. It’s a single, mass email occurrence that we manually trigger that uses the DTRPG database to send to the PDF purchasers. The link doesn’t then fire off every time somebody changes their settings to allow messaging. And we simply don’t have the bandwidth to individually hand out discounts to each purchaser- I’d love us to have that sort of Customer Service Department someday, but right now we just can’t do that. Of course, Onyx Path and DTRPG are more than willing to work with purchasers if there’s an actual glitch in the data- we want folks to feel confident in getting the PDFs whenever they want and then to get these discounts and pick up the PoD books too.

Purchasers must also be careful to check their Spam filters too- sometimes messages from publishers get caught in those.

And of course the reason I’m mentioning all this is because of our recent blockbuster success with Blood & Smoke made us aware of the couple of folks who bought the PDF and never made sure their settings allowed messages from us about the PoD discount. We don’t want that to happen to you.

Finally, please be aware that this deal is only for people who purchased the PDF before the PoD was available- once both are on sale we don’t send out the discount if you only purchase the PDF.

So that’s the deal with the way we’re currently rolling out pretty much all of our games- hope you find it helpful!

Thanks!

 


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17 responses to “How Does This PDF/PoD Combo Deal Work Anyway?”

  1. Monkey Avatar
    Monkey

    Very much appreciated that both standard and premium versions got the discount.

    Monkey will buy Premium now, some time in February when he’s not living off peanuts.

  2. Joâo Mariano Avatar

    Actually I have the contact settings turned on but haven’t received the PoD discount message. Should I contact DrivethruRPG service assistance?

    1. Phaolan Avatar
      Phaolan

      You may want to check your ‘spam’ filters and look into something like a ‘junk mail’ folder in your email system. Some of the various notices I get STILL wind up tagged as junk by my email, even after I’ve told it that I want to see those things…

  3. Joe B. Avatar
    Joe B.

    I got my coupons, thanks!! I was pleasantly surprised that you provided coupons for both standard and premium, so I ordered one of each. Hope this is the case for many future releases.

  4. etherial Avatar
    etherial

    I have set Onyx Path to be able to send me direct messages. I hope I do not regret this decision.

    1. IanW Avatar
      IanW

      Note that coupons for any WW products will come from White Wolf as a publisher, not Onyx Path.

  5. Jeff Palmer Avatar
    Jeff Palmer

    Sorry guys, I was one of these guys who got all screwed up! Got the settings fixed and, fingers crossed, it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out! Thanks for the assist.
    Jeff…

  6. Murder-of-Crows Avatar
    Murder-of-Crows

    That’s strange. I’ve set my account to receive emails from White Wolf, bought the B&S PDF the day it was released and still didn’t get a coupon…

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      Two things- did you check your Spam filters? Did you contact DTRPG customer service and if so, what did they say?

      1. Murder-of-Crows Avatar
        Murder-of-Crows

        I checked my spam filters. Nothing there. Customer support has been contacted today, still waiting for reply.

  7. ron Avatar
    ron

    what is the difference between the standard and premium hardcover editions, other then $20?

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      Premium= heavier paper stock that holds the ink on the surface better resulting in truer color and sharper text and images. Standard absorbs more ink resulting in less crispness. Either choice is better in color than when we first were publishing, and about the same in greyscale, so the process has come an amazing way in a few years.

  8. Thomas Schichtel Avatar
    Thomas Schichtel

    Changed my account settings on Drivethru to receive White Wolf notifications today. Was this too late for the B&S discount coupon?

    1. IanW Avatar
      IanW

      “And the thing is- you have to have your settings set to receive messages BEFORE we send out the discount link message.”

      We generally send out the coupons the same day that the product becomes available in print, which in the case of B&S, was nine days ago. So yes, you’ve missed the coupon mailing.

      1. Thomas Schichtel Avatar
        Thomas Schichtel

        Does that mean that I cannot get the discount any more?

        1. IanW Avatar
          IanW

          Contact DTRPG customer support with your order information.

          1. Thomas Schichtel Avatar
            Thomas Schichtel

            The usual great customer support from DT: Problem solved, standard hardcover already ordered.