Consumed with Christmas

[Kevin]

Consumed with Christmas

Wow, there are a lot of last minute and Second and Third Surprise Package people placing orders for Christmas Surprise Packages this year. That’s awesome, because a lot of these first time purchasers are so delighted with what they got they are ordering one for a friend or spouse, or an additional one or two for themselves. Cool.

Many people have left comments saying they loved their first Surprise Package so much they are order another, as well as Private Messages telling us thank you. One delighted fan even called the office last night to say thank you. Unfortunately, I could talk to him because I was in the middle of 20 different things, but Julius talked to him for a while.

You are all very welcome. We are very pleased to make so many Palladium fans happy with their 2009 Christmas Surprise Packages.

Online sales have been phenomenal.

Most are, of course, Christmas Surprise Packages, but about a third of the sales were purchases other than Christmas Surprise Packages or Surprise Packages that included additional purchases. That’s always nice to see, because Palladium gets full retail on non-Grab Bag orders and that means bigger profit. We pray the rest of the week and the weekend sales remain high.

Weekend sales were down 8% from the previous week

Tuesday sales were up an incredible 25% from the previous week!

Wednesday sales were up 22% from the previous week.

And last week sales were already up 60% or more from the previous week! Wow. Keep ‘em coming!

At this rate, 2009 Christmas sales may surpass 2008 Christmas sales by 6-18%. Heck, there’s a slim possibility 2009 Christmas surprise Packages could be our biggest year ever! Which is good to see since our overall sales for the year are down from last year by 20%, maybe more; total sales are not calculated yet. I also hope this is a sign of an improving economy, although I think it is a reflection of the poor economy and gamers scooping up a good deal. Many of the comments that come with the Surprise Packages talk about hard times and how much the purchaser appreciates all the Surprise Package has to offer, including a way to get autographs. Like I said at the beginning of this season, I’m thrilled the Palladium Christmas Surprise Packages help to make Christmas happier and brighter for many gamers, especially those struggling through hard times.

Half of you still have till Monday to order for Christmas

Although time is running out, most of you living East of the Mississippi can place orders via UPS Ground as late as Sunday night and “should” still get your Surprise Package by Christmas Eve. It is 3 day deliver to most places, but while the odds are in your favor, we can not guarantee delivery by Christmas. Those of you West of the Mississippi MUST ship via 3-Day or 2-Day UPS to “guarantee” delivery by Christmas Eve. Note: We are packing and shipping all day long to try to get your orders out as fast as possible.

By Monday, December 21, if you want it by Christmas, even those of you in the East will need to ship UPS 2nd Day to guarantee delivery. (Remember it takes a us a day to process, pack and ship your order).

Keep ‘em coming.

Another record smashed. Btw, this is already my 130th Murmur of the year, another record. I did something like 105 in 2008, which at the time, was the most I had every done. However, I did fewer live podcasts this year than last.

Saw my Dad yesterday. He and Arlene have something going on today, so I met my Dad for breakfast and a visit on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. He was in great spirits again, and we had a nice visit. My Dad turned 79 on Monday. Both he and Arlene appear to be doing well and holding their own.

Wayne and Alex are working on The Rifter #49, while the rest of us are consumed with getting those Christmas orders out of the warehouse and into your hands. Game on!

Sincerely,
Kevin Siembieda
Publisher, Writer, Game Designer, and Surrogate Santa
Palladium Books®, Inc. – 28 years of RPG Publishing

© Copyright December 16, 2009 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.

Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Heroes Unlimited™, Beyond the Supernatural, Dead Reign, Warpath, Shemarrian Nation, Dimensional Outbreak, Fleets of the Three Galaxies, Mysteries of Magic, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.

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