Ads appearing on the site at Donor Levels

[Blue Atoll]

So I'm a donor to this site so I don't get all the ads that the free users get. What do I see now that I am accessing the Units section? An ad, this one to be specific:

Buy Superman from TCGPlayer!

When did the policy change to put ads onto the units section? What exactly am I now paying for as a donor?

[lestiff416]

I noticed this today as well...was wondering how to get a link to my trade/sale thread from the Units section...seems TCGPlayer is basically just a middle man for StrikeZone???

[Thrumble Funk]

Eh, doesn't bother me at all.

[Blue Atoll]

Eh, doesn't bother me at all.

I would probably just ignore it but they dropped the ad between the dial and the special powers explanation. It is freakin' annoying. Put it after those two pieces of information or before so that I can ignore it.

[hail_eris]

There are a number of reasons why that ad is kind of terrible. First of all, the ad doesn't actually link to the figure in question. It just dumps you onto a page that lists StrikeZoneOnline's entire HeroClix inventory, sorted in descending order of price. So, from there, if you presumably wanted to "Buy Superman from TCGPlayer!" you're in for some searching. That's just sloppy and inefficient coding. Secondly, it doesn't spawn a new window or tab - it directs the browser *away* from HCRealms. Sure, you can just push the back button, but "stickiness" is something coveted by all Web designers, and pushing users away from your site is totally contrary to that. As for sticking ads in the middle of content (separating the dial from the special power text) - well, that's pretty much standard for ad placement all over the Interwebz.

[Norym]

Hmm, never noticed this before I saw this thread.

Not a fan, and hail eris hit all the high points of why.

[GreenBertMan]

ah, when is donor week, i let it slip last time, now i get all these adds

[Typhon]

You guys just need to calm down. We've partnered with TCGPlayer to provide pricing data for figures. I am in the middle of integrating right now. When it's all done, you will see prices for every figure, and trends for every figure, and total prices of all inventory and teams (once stored). So yes, if you consider that "advertising", you can opt out of all the cool things that we'll be added to this partnership.

[Miraclo]

I spotted it, didn't care for it but didn't feel it immediately rise to the point of starting a thread about it. I'll be interested in seeing what comes of this and how it's ultimately presented. Generally I trust Typhon to go for moves that are good for the site and its users.

However, if the trends and pricing are going to be based on what I'm seeing in the Strike Zone pricing, well... have we gone back to the early '90s? Is this the second coming of Wizard's Price Guide for Suckers?

[robedestroyer]

I spotted it, didn't care for it but didn't feel it immediately rise to the point of starting a thread about it. I'll be interested in seeing what comes of this and how it's ultimately presented. Generally I trust Typhon to go for moves that are good for the site and its users.

However, if the trends and pricing are going to be based on what I'm seeing in the Strike Zone pricing, well... have we gone back to the early '90s? Is this the second coming of Wizard's Price Guide for Suckers?

Couldn't agree more. I looked at their pricing then I looked at the REAL prices that are selling on Ebay and on here. I think strikezone is out to lunch on this one. I'd call it a rip-off, but people willingly pay for those figures when they know they can get them cheaper elsewhere.

[Miraclo]

Couldn't agree more. I looked at their pricing then I looked at the REAL prices that are selling on Ebay and on here. I think strikezone is out to lunch on this one. I'd call it a rip-off, but people willingly pay for those figures when they know they can get them cheaper elsewhere.

Right. I don't begrudge anyone doing business, but I worry that HCRealms' reputation as the premier site for Heroclix news, information and resources will lend a false authority to one company's pricing strategy. It will lead at least casual visitors to think that's the "official" pricing for the clix in their collection.

[fredagar]

You guys just need to calm down. We've partnered with TCGPlayer to provide pricing data for figures. I am in the middle of integrating right now. When it's all done, you will see prices for every figure, and trends for every figure, and total prices of all inventory and teams (once stored). So yes, if you consider that "advertising", you can opt out of all the cool things that we'll be added to this partnership.

I kinda guessed this too, some sort of partnership.

[csi]

You guys just need to calm down. We've partnered with TCGPlayer to provide pricing data for figures. I am in the middle of integrating right now. When it's all done, you will see prices for every figure, and trends for every figure, and total prices of all inventory and teams (once stored). So yes, if you consider that "advertising", you can opt out of all the cool things that we'll be added to this partnership.

thats an eloquent way to put it :rolleyes:

How are the prices going to be determined, because the prices listed are definitely above the average market value. Are you partnering with anyone other then TCGPlayer, or is this "tool" going to be nothing more then advertising for them? It will be interesting to see how this effects the trade/sales portion of the realms.

[Puuka]

I saw it earlier today too.

[ChiRocker]

One positive I see is the possible tracking tool as well as relative pricing (if all the prices are inflated by a similar percentage, then you should at least be able to have a good gauge on trading figures).

I do agree that ebay completed listings, or having more than one site's data would be a better way to go, but considering we did not have any info before (and we can simply ignore it if we choose), I do not see this as a big deal at all.

[TCGplayer]

Just an aside, there will be more vendors listed shortly. An example of the possibilities are: http://store.tcgplayer.com/product.aspx?id=35557

Lots of vendors being shown together forces competition and thus better prices for you, the buyer. Also, shortly only the Low-Mid-Hi will be shown on the pages and those prices will link through to TCGplayer if you wish, but the actual pricing data will be located here for your use.

For Magic, almost all products sold through TCGplayer are cheaper than their counterparts on eBay when factoring in shipping etc, and also a much more pleasant shopping experience as these are legit stores. So I am hoping for the same thing for HeroClix and thus more information available for you.

So this will all fall together shortly and provide what I believe is valuable pricing data for your use without any actual impact on the pages other than showing a Hi-Mid-Low price.

[csi]

Just an aside, there will be more vendors listed shortly. An example of the possibilities are: http://store.tcgplayer.com/product.aspx?id=35557

Lots of vendors being shown together forces competition and thus better prices for you, the buyer. Also, shortly only the Low-Mid-Hi will be shown on the pages and those prices will link through to TCGplayer if you wish, but the actual pricing data will be located here for your use.

For Magic, almost all products sold through TCGplayer are cheaper than their counterparts on eBay when factoring in shipping etc, and also a much more pleasant shopping experience as these are legit stores. So I am hoping for the same thing for HeroClix and thus more information available for you.

So this will all fall together shortly and provide what I believe is valuable pricing data for your use without any actual impact on the pages other than showing a Hi-Mid-Low price.

In theory I like the potential, however right now when I click on the link it takes me to TCGplayer listings which has prices way over market value:

Crisis Superman $155
Batman Chase $133
Kal-L Chase $127
Nekron $105
WL Flash $105
WL Hal Jordan $105

:eek:

I look forward to see what it turns into.

[Puuka]

In theory I like the potential, however right now when I click on the link it takes me to TCGplayer listings which has prices way over market value:

Crisis Superman $155
Batman Chase $133
Kal-L Chase $127
Nekron $105
WL Flash $105
WL Hal Jordan $105

:eek:

I look forward to see what it turns into.

Wow, I'm seeing those figs for half that on e-bay. If they don't get things more in line with reality, it's going to make trading here suck because people are going to have a false sense of value on figs.

[Wade Wilson]

So basically if someone gets their team stolen at an event, they can now see how much they just lost?

[Munchoboy]

So basically if someone gets their team stolen at an event, they can now see how much they just lost?

I actually LOL'ed at this. :laugh:

[Typhon]

I have fixed it so that it only shows links for figures that it directly links to. I will be integrating prices over the next couple days. As TCGPlayer mentioned; they are working on getting more stores added, and when the prices start being competitive, the prices will drop rapidly. I ask that everyone kind of be patient; the pricing data that we're going to get will be rediculous for the site. If things don't work out as planned, I'll just remove the link. I just don't view this as an "ad" ... it's more of a price feed.

[wintremute]

At first I was all, "grrrr".

The I was all, "hmmmm".

Now I'm all, "zzzzzz....damnit Wade and his Noble Roman Pizza HALO crap!".

[rorschachparadox]

You guys just need to calm down. We've partnered with TCGPlayer to provide pricing data for figures. I am in the middle of integrating right now. When it's all done, you will see prices for every figure, and trends for every figure, and total prices of all inventory and teams (once stored). So yes, if you consider that "advertising", you can opt out of all the cool things that we'll be added to this partnership.

Just an aside, there will be more vendors listed shortly. An example of the possibilities are: http://store.tcgplayer.com/product.aspx?id=35557

Lots of vendors being shown together forces competition and thus better prices for you, the buyer. Also, shortly only the Low-Mid-Hi will be shown on the pages and those prices will link through to TCGplayer if you wish, but the actual pricing data will be located here for your use.

For Magic, almost all products sold through TCGplayer are cheaper than their counterparts on eBay when factoring in shipping etc, and also a much more pleasant shopping experience as these are legit stores. So I am hoping for the same thing for HeroClix and thus more information available for you.

So this will all fall together shortly and provide what I believe is valuable pricing data for your use without any actual impact on the pages other than showing a Hi-Mid-Low price.

I have fixed it so that it only shows links for figures that it directly links to. I will be integrating prices over the next couple days. As TCGPlayer mentioned; they are working on getting more stores added, and when the prices start being competitive, the prices will drop rapidly. I ask that everyone kind of be patient; the pricing data that we're going to get will be rediculous for the site. If things don't work out as planned, I'll just remove the link. I just don't view this as an "ad" ... it's more of a price feed.

I can be patient and wait until things are up and running smoothly. At first glance it bothered me, as I do most of my realms browsing via phone browser, but it's not a big deal. With these explainations, I'm more than willing to give it a shot. Bring on more cool gadgets!

[lestiff416]

Just a suggestion - if you want to use anything from a site like Strikezone you should use the buy list price...that actually represents what someone on the site could actually value their figures at because that is cash value that you can get them for...

I really don't care for this myself, it really seems to undercut the sales forum and I think is going to lead to trade values being over estimated and inflated...

No offense to TCG Player...am sure they are chipping in some cash for the sponsorship...

[Typhon]

No offense to TCG Player...am sure they are chipping in some cash for the sponsorship...

It's a partnership; so they aren't paying us anything. Is there money involved? Yes, but it's more of a "You give me prices; I make it so that you get heroclix traffic". LOL! You can look at what we're doing on www.NetDeck.com so see the kind of stuff we're looking to do. :)

[unsung hero]

ah, when is donor week, i let it slip last time, now i get all these adds

Typhon Please answer this question.

[absolutvt69]

I don't mind the price feed/ad/whatever you want to call it but I do think it'd be a good idea to move it from in between the dial and the special power/trait description.

[Typhon]

Typhon Please answer this question.

Next week; we promised "once per quarter" ... and next week is our last chance this quarter.

[combatninja]

[Edit] Wow, beat me on the second page.