House of Mouse - Castle pre-order survey

[Sydcomebak]

OK everyone, here's the deal: House of Mouse needs a count of how many castle sets you are planning to buy through them.

Sandra has mentioned that the price per castle set will be set at $24.99 each.

Please indicate how many sets that you are planning to buy through her.

[K/H_Addict]

i said 1, cuz i know for a fact that i will pre-order a minimum of one. i want about 3 in total though, and i'm lovin the 24.99 price....

[Su_Nan]

2 sets for me. In fact im going to preorder right now.

[Sydcomebak]

2 sets for me. In fact im going to preorder right now.

Is the pre-order form up on House of Mouse?

[HouseMouseGames]

Thanks for all the support but you can't order just yet!

Thora's Vengeance should arrive before the CASTLE and I don't want both items available for pre-order at the same time because you'll want to take delivery of Thora immediately and not wait for the castle.

Thora will be available for pre-order in early June and the Castle in early July. So just bide your time and we'll handle Thora first, the Castle second.

[TomTheUnimaginative]

I answered "5" on the survey as that's my minimum planned order (some for me, some for nephews), all other things being equal. If the $150/free shipping deal is being offered at the time, then it'd be the greater of either "5" or as many needed to reach that threshold.

[ninthdoc]

Yeah, Sandra, that's me, 6 or more. I'm a regular Heroscape red-light district!

[yanks114kd]

I NEED 5, plus the free shipping if you spend $150 is nice!!!!

[stay_golden_PONYBOY]

Thanks for all the support but you can't order just yet!

Thora's Vengeance should arrive before the CASTLE and I don't want both items available for pre-order at the same time because you'll want to take delivery of Thora immediately and not wait for the castle.

Thora will be available for pre-order in early June and the Castle in early July. So just bide your time and we'll handle Thora first, the Castle second.

You are correct. Put me down for 2 sets of Thora's also.

Finally, I will have my Vengeance! The robot rats will feast on the non-believers!

[HouseMouseGames]

Sorry, but the free shipping offer will expire as soon as the next pre-release offer (Thora's Vengeance) becomes active.

(Give me a break, guys! With these reduced prices, there's hardly any gross margin left! )

[stay_golden_PONYBOY]

I don't care about the shipping. I just don't want to wait around for Hasbro or WAL*MART to stock this stuff.

[LilNewbie]

How does this new information affect already paid pre-orders of the castle and Wave 5?

Newb.

[jcb231]

I'm only saying one for now, but that will likely change once I actually start seeing more info and close up pics of esactly what is in the set. I'll surely want between 2 and 4 when all is said and done.

Your prices will also influence my decision....if I discover they can be purchased direct from Hasbro for cheaper, I'll have to go there, sorry.

[HouseMouseGames]

The MSRP on these sets is $29.00. That's why I was shocked to see Amazon offering these for $24.99!

[HouseMouseGames]

How does this new information affect already paid pre-orders of the castle and Wave 5?

Newb.

Oh nuts! Here we go again with all those manual adjustments. I'll reduce all the pre-orders to reflect the reduced prices.

[Hex_Enduction_Hour]

How does this new information affect already paid pre-orders of the castle and Wave 5?

Newb.

Oh nuts! Here we go again with all those manual adjustments. I'll reduce all the pre-orders to reflect the reduced prices.

'Oh nuts!' is a sure sign you're going nutzo...

[jcb231]

The MSRP on these sets is $29.00. That's why I was shocked to see Amazon offering these for $24.99!

Most HS stuff can be gotten for cheaper than the MSRP if you know where to look....for example I buy boosters for no more than 9.99, which I believe is a full three bucks below MSRP.

I love that you're willing to drop down and match Amazon.....that's service!

Once I get a real look at these Castles, I'll plan out how many I will want based on how much land I have at that time....hopefully info will come out soon that gives us a real nice wealth of facts and photos.

[bluekitsune13]

I'm sure to be getting around 4 or so of the castles for sure. We really do appreciate all you're doing Sandra, heck I'd gladly pay the MSRP if I had to for them.

[skyknight]

4for me probably

[yanks114kd]

No free shipping that is ok still want 5 sets and knowing that i have my castle before sept. 14 2006 PRICELESS

[Rodriquez]

24.99? I'll take 4-6 sets of them depending on my money situation than

at least 4 sets...

cheers
Rod

[Joah]

Thora will be available for pre-order in early June and the Castle in early July. So just bide your time and we'll handle Thora first, the Castle second. Sorry, I'm a little unclear here Sandra, I thoght I've already Pre-ordered Thora. The pre-order I placed in late March is still good right? I'm pretty sure it is, but you saying it won't be available for pre-order now until June makes me ask.

[Jandars_Hope]

I'm from the Uk and am definitely getting one at least and two at most...will i have to go through ebay still to buy them or can i order them straight from your site?

[RichardD]

Sandra will process orders to the UK from the site :)

And she's nicer to deal with than some other US-based online retailers too. Definately my first choice for castel and wave 5 later this summer.

[GaryLASQ]

i will probably order 4 sets online through HouseMouse. the delay of Raknar and Thaelenk to retail stores has taught me a lesson.

[Jandars_Hope]

I'll definitely get them from HouseMouse cos thats where i got all of my sets (apart from the master set and wave 1) from! Sandra Rules!!!

[Sydcomebak]

As of today, this post, there are 93 sets spoken for.

[RichardD]

After looking more closely at the pictures from the NY Toy Fair, I'm *definately* getting two, but *might* get 4. It rather depends just how much I can build with the two, and whether there's enough use to be got out of building bigger.

I think I'm going to stick with the decision to pre-order two, but perhaps get some more later. It's hard to tell just how much will be needed - one box will only make a small castle, and I'm guessing that a castle made from 2 boxes won't be THAT much bigger (just like a second Master Set doesn't necessarily mean that your maps will be twice as large as they were with just the one). I know that I haven't got the same resources as Hasbro has when it comes to putting together the really big castles for their Toy Fair stand.

[tt4JC]

I want to say here that the service from "mouse" is awesome. I just ordered the Ice and Wave 4 heros and they were here in 2 days. I will preorder 2 castles. Are they coming with scenarios and any figures? This will be sooo much fun. :shock:

[HouseMouseGames]

This announcement doesn't exactly belong in the CASTLE thread, but here it is anyway:

THORA'S VENGEANCE WILL BE AVAILABLE JULY 9!!!!

I'll offer Thora for pre-release ordering within a few days.

I haven't totally thought through the whole pricing issue...whether to keep free shipping and have a slightly higher price, or a lower price but no free shipping.

I'm leaning towards a slightly higher price with free shipping so that those of you who have not yet ordered your Raknar and Thaelenk sets can get all of this at one time. And those of you who consolidate your orders with other 'scapers will get a really good deal.

What are your thoughts?

[SlikkRikk]

Awesome Sandra.

[yanks114kd]

It all work out in the end Sandra. As long as I can keep gettign my new HS earlier then the "BIG BOYS" I don't care.

[P_J_Keller]

I will be ordering 6 castles and also 6 sets of Thora's.

I had pre-ordered these a while ago so I don't know how this affects Sandra's count on this thread

[CupidsArt]

Sorry, but the free shipping offer will expire as soon as the next pre-release offer (Thora's Vengeance) becomes active.

(Give me a break, guys! With these reduced prices, there's hardly any gross margin left! )

Hey, I'll pay shipping, duddint bug me at all, :) Just so long as I'm helping out a small business.

HMBG-S, I'll be pre-ordering 3. 2 sets for me and 1 for the winner of my Custom Contest, ;)

Click on me if you want to live. 8) (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=40&start=90)

[Joah]

I had pre-ordered these a while ago so I don't know how this affects Sandra's count on this thread That's what I'm unclear about too. Sandra, is my current order still active?

[HouseMouseGames]

Don't fret! Your pre-orders are all safe and sound. This "interest list" is just a way to make sure I bring in enough product for everyone.

Currently I have lots of castles on orders. I'm just trying to judge if Ishould be content with lots of castles... or lots and lots of castles...or lots and lots and lots of castles.

I'm sure that clarified everything, right? :?

[Joah]

I'm sure that clarified everything, right? :? Clarified like butter. Even so, I want to pay for three day select.

[P_J_Keller]

Actually I'm up to 7 of each now. I got another guy into the game last month so he wants to piggyback on my order.

[Jandars_Hope]

How are people pre-ordering these...because i can't find a 'buy' section for the castle on HouseMouse site?

[HouseMouseGames]

How are people pre-ordering these...because i can't find a 'buy' section for the castle on HouseMouse site?

No one is pre-ordering yet. Right now, the only item available for pre-order is Thora's Vengeance. The Castles will be make available for pre-order once Thora's Vengeance is in stock. You should have at least one month's notice to pre-order the Castles before they are released.

[Venom]

has there been any new info on Thora's Vengeance yet? as in is it realy "The Shelf", and maybe some new pics or cards for them?

[ultradoug]

adding all the numbers up on the poll she will have to order 119 sets of castles.

and order 11 no castles.

[Buddy Lee]

I'm just trying to judge if Ishould be content with lots of castles... or lots and lots of castles...or lots and lots and lots of castles.

Umm, LOTS and LOTS and LOTS and LOTS and LOTS etc.

Geez, I'da thought you would have a better understanding of your customers by now. :? :roll: :wink:

By the way, after my first (and last, but that will change) experiance I will now be making HMG one of my primary sources for all things HeroScape. I ordered last Tuesday and it got here today. Pretty good given a holiday weekend and the fact that it had to travel all the way across the country.

Buddy Lee

[Hex_Enduction_Hour]

Don't fret! Your pre-orders are all safe and sound. This "interest list" is just a way to make sure I bring in enough product for everyone.

Currently I have lots of castles on orders. I'm just trying to judge if Ishould be content with lots of castles... or lots and lots of castles...or lots and lots and lots of castles.

I'm sure that clarified everything, right? :?

I'll pre-order Thora's with you as soon as I know how many uniques to commons ratio there is for the set.

and I want four castles.

Thanks! 8)

[boom]

Put me down for 2.

[reapersaurus]

Call me naive, but I'd think that >119 Castle sets is big enough money being made for one smart store that it would convince other game stores to get a tiny bit of knowledge about this "crazy Heroscape product" :roll:

Sandra, I'm sure my friend would love to talk to you about gamestore business economics - you seem to be one of the few smart gamestores that realize it is THEIR responsibility to court business, instead of having the manufacturers plop customer orders in their lap.

I'm sure that any gamestore would be happier than punch to get over 100 items shipped of any game. I doubt if the biggest single gamestore anyone knows of ships that many units. :!:
It seems like Sandra's courting of HS customers has already proven to be a big success.... :?:
Great job if so, Sandra - you deserve it, for being smart enough to hook up customers with product where there is a disconnect in the system to get the product to the customer.

P.S. Can you realistically obtain over 120 castle sets in a quick amount of time?
Doesn;t that represent like a whole state's worth of orders?
How can you get that shipped to you? Will it happen in the first week, or take months to be trickled to you, do you think?

[markwars]

I believe Sandra just has to wait for the product to clear customs in LA and then it is shipped right to her. 120+ sets is still pretty small potatoes so I see no reason why it wouldn't arrive at her place very quickly.

[reapersaurus]

120+ sets is still pretty small potatoes so I see no reason why it wouldn't arrive at her place very quickly.Here's where it wouldbe great to have ANY sales info on this product.
Because I am positive that no gamestore in the entire metropolitan Sacramento area sells 120 units of ANY boardgame in a 2 week period.

I would call that a VERY significant sale, and applaud that salesman in being able to score SO much sales from one line. Obviously a super-salesman that knows the product line and the customer base. :thumbsup:

Funny how that is absolutely a singularity in this world, in regards to Heroscape. :roll: :mad:

[markwars]

I agree with you reaper, that it would be interesting to see any sort of sales figures for HS. I also agree that no specialty game store or comic shop or whatever sells 120 of any game anywhere outside of NYC or Tokyo. They certainly don't here in the DFW area.

I think Sandra holds her own in terms of volume against online retailers such as Funagain and Entertainment Earth, but again we have no idea how many units places like that sell. And the sheer variety of online sites that sell them is crazy. Sears sells Heroscape online for crying out loud. :) Then you have Amazon. Theoretically they have as many units on hand as all of the TRUs in the country. Who knows how many they sell. And what about Walmart's online site? But in my estimation all of these combined pale in comarison to the number of units that move through large brick and mortar retail outlets ala Walmart, Target, and TRU. If I had to guess less that 1% are actually sold in a stand alone brick and mortar game store.

[Double Oak]

Much to my wife's chagrin, put me down for 2 (already noted in the poll)!

[KeeperOfPeace]

I still haven't decided how many I will buy. I want 2-3, but it depends on income.

[HouseMouseGames]

Call me naive, but I'd think that >119 Castle sets is big enough money being made for one smart store that it would convince other game stores to get a tiny bit of knowledge about this "crazy Heroscape product" :roll:

P.S. Can you realistically obtain over 120 castle sets in a quick amount of time?
Doesn;t that represent like a whole state's worth of orders?
How can you get that shipped to you? Will it happen in the first week, or take months to be trickled to you, do you think?

Well, you would think that >119 Castle sets would be big enough money to convince other game stores to carry HeroScape, but there are some serious downsides to HeroScape.

1) The minimum Hasbro order is $5000. Very few game stores could come up with that kind of money. Most game manufacturers have a minimum order of just one case.
2) The product is shipped by the truckload on pallets. Not many game stores have that much room to store inventory.
3) The margins on HeroScape are painfully low...about one-fourth the mark-up on other "game store" games.

So don't get angry at your local game store; the investment is too big and the return too small for them to devote valuable display space to HeroScape products.

[reapersaurus]

Well, you would think that >119 Castle sets would be big enough money to convince other game stores to carry HeroScape, but there are some serious downsides to HeroScape.

1) The minimum Hasbro order is $5000. Very few game stores could come up with that kind of money. Most game manufacturers have a minimum order of just one case.
2) The product is shipped by the truckload on pallets. Not many game stores have that much room to store inventory.
3) The margins on HeroScape are painfully low...about one-fourth the mark-up on other "game store" games.

So don't get angry at your local game store; the investment is too big and the return too small for them to devote valuable display space to HeroScape products.Thank you thank you for this information!
It may partially answer my question in the other thread - the $5000 order alone axes out most.
However, I know my local gameshops are not ordering that much, so HS must be able to be purchased other places that don't have a $5000 order requirement...... :shrug:

And correct me if I'm offbase on this, please, but the 1/4 mark-up is just a starting point when selling, no?
From what I've seen gamestores do is simply crank up the price they sell it at to make up for the little mark-up that is available thru Hasbro.

For example, if a gamestore wanted to sell Tundra, they'd just price it at $30. As long as they have the product (cause they're knowledgable about the product and the demand for new sets), they can charge and get that easily.

As long as the sets aren't available at the nearest Walmart, than they can make up for low Hasbro mark-up by simply charging what the market will bear. And with HS becoming harder and harder to find at big chainstores, this shuoold suggest there is more opportunity for local gamestores to make some $$ selling HS.
And since the cost of HS is considered affordable to begin with, there is more of a opportunity for above-retail mark up in this than compared to already-expensive/unaffordable games, I'd guess. :shrug:

[Nightmare]

None. Its easier for me to pay for it without shipping.
I'll just wait for it to come out at Target.

[HouseMouseGames]

Thank you thank you for this information!
It may partially answer my question in the other thread - the $5000 order alone axes out most.
However, I know my local gameshops are not ordering that much, so HS must be able to be purchased other places that don't have a $5000 order requirement...... :shrug:

And correct me if I'm offbase on this, please, but the 1/4 mark-up is just a starting point when selling, no?
From what I've seen gamestores do is simply crank up the price they sell it at to make up for the little mark-up that is available thru Hasbro.

For example, if a gamestore wanted to sell Tundra, they'd just price it at $30. As long as they have the product (cause they're knowledgable about the product and the demand for new sets), they can charge and get that easily.

As long as the sets aren't available at the nearest Walmart, than they can make up for low Hasbro mark-up by simply charging what the market will bear. And with HS becoming harder and harder to find at big chainstores, this shuoold suggest there is more opportunity for local gamestores to make some $$ selling HS.



So many questions!

Knowing that you're interested in owning a full-service game store, let me just say that stores may purchase smaller quantities through a distributor who adds a mark-up for their services. I already have some of these arrangements with smaller retailers, and I'd like to expand this aspect of my business. If anyone's interested in having me work as their distributor, I'm sure we could work out an arrangement.

[Faartknocker]

ODE TO SANDRA

Sandra owns an online store,
House Mouse is its name,
She'll get you all that's Heroscape,
Units-trees-ice-bridges-lava and terrain,

Her prices are down to earth,
Her service is top-notch,
Deal with her, you can be sure,
your order won't be botched,

If you've got questions,
Sandra will always reply,
With a friendly (virtual) smile,
and 9 ways for you to buy,

Whether Sandra is a babe,
We don't know or care,
All that I can tell you is,
We know she's always there!

WE LOVE YOU SANDRA!!!



I first ordered from you a few weeks back and was impressed with your customer service. Well done!

Laudemar

[HouseMouseGames]

ODE TO SANDRA


WE LOVE YOU SANDRA!!!

Laudemar

Wow, I'm an object of poetry. What a surprise! Thank you for your thoughts. :oops:

I was having"warm feelings" about you until I saw your signature. Uhhhh...perhaps I'm grateful we have an 'online only' relationship.

[Faartknocker]

You're very welcome. You've earned our praise. By the way, the signature and handle are just meant to make me memorable. I don't really engage in that kind of behaviour.

Laudemar

[Jandars_Hope]

I agree! Sandra your great and i can't wait to buy from you again!!!
(Got a Wave 5 Set in the bag)

[ultradoug]

I like Sandra so much I made a movie out of her once. ;)

[Faartknocker]

That must be an inside joke. At any rate, I was the first to immortalize her in poetic form ala "Shall I Compare Thee" by Shakespeare. However, if someone DOES have a pic of Sandra I wouldn't mind having a look at it. I'm curious, I must admit. Women who play/enjoy/deal with board games are very few.........and............far........................between.

Laudemar

[ultradoug]

the percentage of girls that have shown there pictures on scape pages is ... like 2 girls or so.
thats not a precent.. but well. Yeah..
3000 bucks?! geez. how much heroscape is that?!

[Mana]

ty Sandra

my sons birthday is in late August...do you think the castles I order from you will arrive by then?
I am thinking and betting so.

As a retail manager I really want to thank you for your customer service and information you send here.....you have earned my business as well as others I know

[Sydcomebak]

179+ sets on the survey right now.

-Dave

[bunjee]

Well, you would think that >119 Castle sets would be big enough money to convince other game stores to carry HeroScape, but there are some serious downsides to HeroScape.

1) The minimum Hasbro order is $5000. Very few game stores could come up with that kind of money. Most game manufacturers have a minimum order of just one case.
2) The product is shipped by the truckload on pallets. Not many game stores have that much room to store inventory.
3) The margins on HeroScape are painfully low...about one-fourth the mark-up on other "game store" games.

So don't get angry at your local game store; the investment is too big and the return too small for them to devote valuable display space to HeroScape products.Thank you thank you for this information!
It may partially answer my question in the other thread - the $5000 order alone axes out most.
However, I know my local gameshops are not ordering that much, so HS must be able to be purchased other places that don't have a $5000 order requirement...... :shrug:

And correct me if I'm offbase on this, please, but the 1/4 mark-up is just a starting point when selling, no?
From what I've seen gamestores do is simply crank up the price they sell it at to make up for the little mark-up that is available thru Hasbro.

For example, if a gamestore wanted to sell Tundra, they'd just price it at $30. As long as they have the product (cause they're knowledgable about the product and the demand for new sets), they can charge and get that easily.

As long as the sets aren't available at the nearest Walmart, than they can make up for low Hasbro mark-up by simply charging what the market will bear. And with HS becoming harder and harder to find at big chainstores, this shuoold suggest there is more opportunity for local gamestores to make some $$ selling HS.
And since the cost of HS is considered affordable to begin with, there is more of a opportunity for above-retail mark up in this than compared to already-expensive/unaffordable games, I'd guess. :shrug:

Of the few game stores I've talked to in Seattle (not Cardhaus) some actually picked up product at the TRU BOGO to resell in their store. One has only ever carried the master set because of the $5000 order requirement, they were able to get the Master set on some sort of promo order that waved the $5000 minimum. This was mentioned ages ago on .net but I think people have mostly forgotten or didn't see it.

I also know that Cardhaus is the retail store front for Global Games so that is why they are a "gaming store" that is able to sell Heroscape product easily. But even they have had problems with Hasbro Distribution. I don't think they are getting raknar's and thalenks in at all, and I'm not sure about Thora's or the Castles. At this point, I'm ordering from Sandra, though it is nice to pick my product up at cardhaus instead of paying for shipping. (not to mention the occasional early arrival :twisted: )

[Hahnarama]

(not to mention the occasional early arrival :twisted: )

Curse you and your early RTTFF and Orm's! :twisted:

[DW13k]

can somebody sned me a link to the page where i can preorder the castle set?






Heroscape characters are like beer, the more you have the more people start to look at you.

[jcb231]

Well, you would think that >119 Castle sets would be big enough money to convince other game stores to carry HeroScape, but there are some serious downsides to HeroScape.

1) The minimum Hasbro order is $5000. Very few game stores could come up with that kind of money. Most game manufacturers have a minimum order of just one case.
2) The product is shipped by the truckload on pallets. Not many game stores have that much room to store inventory.
3) The margins on HeroScape are painfully low...about one-fourth the mark-up on other "game store" games.

So don't get angry at your local game store; the investment is too big and the return too small for them to devote valuable display space to HeroScape products.Thank you thank you for this information!
It may partially answer my question in the other thread - the $5000 order alone axes out most.
However, I know my local gameshops are not ordering that much, so HS must be able to be purchased other places that don't have a $5000 order requirement...... :shrug:

And correct me if I'm offbase on this, please, but the 1/4 mark-up is just a starting point when selling, no?
From what I've seen gamestores do is simply crank up the price they sell it at to make up for the little mark-up that is available thru Hasbro.

For example, if a gamestore wanted to sell Tundra, they'd just price it at $30. As long as they have the product (cause they're knowledgable about the product and the demand for new sets), they can charge and get that easily.

As long as the sets aren't available at the nearest Walmart, than they can make up for low Hasbro mark-up by simply charging what the market will bear. And with HS becoming harder and harder to find at big chainstores, this shuoold suggest there is more opportunity for local gamestores to make some $$ selling HS.
And since the cost of HS is considered affordable to begin with, there is more of a opportunity for above-retail mark up in this than compared to already-expensive/unaffordable games, I'd guess. :shrug:


The few local game stores I know that have carried HS got theirs from other retailers, not Hasbro. They simply bought it off the shelf.

One store owner cleared out tons of games from the shelves during TRU's twofer, and sold them for a tidy profit....45-50 for a MS, 25-30 for large heroes or RTFF, 20-25 for lava, 14-16 for small boosters depending on the rarity. Another buys boosters for 10 bucks at Wal-Mart and then sells them for 14-16 in his store. A small profit, but it's something....he seems to do alright with it, particularly when a twofer hits.

The last twofer was so good to him he was able to sell Master Sets "on sale" some time later for 25 bucks as an enticement during one of his promo days. He was still making money at that price.

[Yautjahunter]

price no matter my grandmother will buy me a few from hasbro

[Dragonslayer]

3 for me definately. Just got my Tundra sets today - yay!!! Thank you House Mouse!

[ORCSLAYER]

Will buy three castle sets, but i will pick them up from Hasbro. Very sorry house mouse. I wish I could buy from you all the time but the shipping cost and the higher price (compared to Hasbro and Wally world)I do not get as much bang for my buck.
Your service is awesome though.I liked my last order

[HyperactiveSloth]

My first time reading this thread. Got curious and did the math like Sydcomebak has done.

262+ is the current total!

Dang! That's a lot of 'scape!

Woohoo!

[MartinDWhite]

I Just ordered two castle sets and some gruts from house mouse. I can't wait for them to get here....


Martin D. White

[brel]

I want to order a set of Fortress of the Archkyrie but Philippines is not available in the country selection (shipping). Sandra, I hope you still accept orders from the Philippines.

[Xargon]

Thora will be available for pre-order in early June and the Castle in early July. So just bide your time and we'll handle Thora first, the Castle second.


HAHAHAHA SO WRONG