Online Pocket PC Stores

[Dan East]

I'm considering pursuing additional means of selling software online. My current PayPal method causes additional problems for customers outside the US. Also, it is a bit confusing and intimidating for those not familiar with what PayPal is.<br><br>So, I would greatly appreciate responses providing the names of all these various stores, like Handago, PocketGear, etc. Further, if you are a developer that actually sells software through one of these outlets, I would appreciate your comments, particularly any problems you may have had with a retailer.<br><br>My thoughts are that if I go with a retailer in addition to my current PayPal sales system, then I might as well list with every retailer I can find (to increase exposure of course). Do any of the retailers force you to exclusively list with them? It can be difficult to understand the lengthy legal documents they make you agree to.<br><br>I would like to state yet again that I feel the 20% online Pocket PC retailers keep from product sales is very high, and contributes to the high prices of Pocket PC software. It only costs them a few percent to actually process the credit card transaction, and beyond that, they just list software like dozens of other web sites (like PocketGamer) that don't sell software online.<br><br>Thanks for all feedback!<br><br>Dan East

[Moose or Chuck]

http://www.ccnow.com<br>Uhm, I know they ship products and take care of money transactions for web businesses, I'm not sure about downloadable software, but you can check.

[randall]

yeah, 20% is just plain ridiculous. I can't believe they actually get away with it. Anything above 5% is just plain ripping of the public and the developer, regardless how much exposure they think they are providing.<br><br>Imagine if ebay had followed that model. I doubt they would have been as successful as they are.

[Luciano U. Werner]

Speaking from the over-sees consumer point of view, these online shops are easy and safe to use.

[Paul]

i know what you mean, i was trying to sell pocketquake on there a few weeks ago and damn was i getting ripped off...

[Jaybot]

something jacco said earlier about handangos gold program:<br><br>Handango's Gold program doesn't mean you can't sell through other publishers. They do require however that a demo version solely points to Handango. Since Handango is currently my best selling publisher, that's fine with me. <br><br>Other aspects of the Gold program: <br>- They take 40% instead of 30% <br>- You get listed on better positions than other software <br>- You get mentioned in their newsletter <br>- They place banners and other stuff, primarily on Microsoft affiliated sites. <br><br>.....<br><br>so while youre doing that, youre grabbing your ankles, but youre getting much more exposure than what youre getting now.  And you can continue to sell, and have your game posted, on all of the other sites at the same time.  you may be getting raped on the 20-40% on each site, if you do list your software; but thats a good 60-80% more money than what you are making right now, by not having it listed there and making zero sales.<br>

[Dan East]

"They do require however that a demo version solely points to Handango."<br><br>What does that mean? Also, does that only pertain to the Gold Program?<br><br>Dan East

[Jaybot]

yes, that only pertains to the handango gold program, which i only mentioned, as it seems to be he best way to get exposure (as long as you are already getting robbed).<br><br>I believe that you can sell the full version on the other sites, but the link for the demo version on the other sites, has to be linked to the handango product page.  <br><br>Anyway, I think you should fire off an email over to Jacoo, as he has gained quite a bit of knowledge on this subject and he can help you out more than anyone else.

[simonjacobs]

I think it applies anyway even without the gold program, but I may be wrong. It just means the demo ON HANDANGO should point to them.<br><br>What I do is make slightly different versions for each site, just changing the 'please register at whatever.com' text. This makes it really easy to track sales too, you know that a product registered at a site was probably downloaded from that site so you know how well each is doing for you.

[Jaybot]

Thats actually a good idea, Simon. <br><br>So..... who is doing the best for you so far?<br><br>and how many different sites are you selling on?  <br><br>and namely, which ones?

[simonjacobs]

Using:<br><br>Handango<br>PocketGear<br>GameLoftPocket<br><br>and sales are best on Handango and second is PocketGear.<br><br>Obviously its worth listing on all the free listing sites possible, and getting all the news coverage you can, but I would advise sticking to the 'big' reseller sites to avoid hassle. For instance, getting sales reports in different formats.

[x]

Randall - if "yeah, 20% is just plain ridiculous. I can't believe they actually get away with it. " how come GameLoftPocket is not there anymore? Did they make enough money to retire? If yes how come they have not sold their succesfull business just closed the doors?

[HughNano]

I don't know if the online retailers would allow you to do this, but why not just add on 20% to the Handango price? You could still sell the software at your regular price on your web-site via PayPal, and maybe also post a note there explaining the reason for the difference in price. The average consumer (like myself) is probably not aware that there such a rediculously high markup for selling through online retailers--and it certainly wouldn't hurt to bring that to their attention!

BTW, still waiting for the next update...