My product is outlawed... What next? • Hacker News Board

Re: My product is outlawed... What next?

#21

Post by wx77 » Thu, Dec 08, 2011, 6:30 AM UTC

chris_dcosta wrote: post #14

TheFman wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi Chris, Not sure if you had the opportunity to see the cards...Just wanted to clarify. this is just a drinking card game with a lot of F

Yes I saw the game, and yes I get it. I just don't think there is a massive market for this because attitudes have changed. My point was that this is what the rejections are telling you too.

It is immature it is dumb but I can tell you this there are plenty of college kids that would live for games like this.

Drinking is immensely popular in many colleges and drinking games are one of the most common forms of college drinking (see beer pong and others).

The real problem is that their really isn't a shop that wants to carry a game like this I would think if there were a novelty shop it might be the best bet (maybe spencer's gifts style) it is just there are so few of these kind of shops that the market reach for this kind of game is limited.

Re: My product is outlawed... What next?

#22

Post by mjs00 » Thu, Dec 08, 2011, 7:40 AM UTC

I think part of the retail push back is hesitation to to display a product that has multiple obscenities on the cover. So short of an adult shop where you must be 21 to enter, most US retailers simply can't display this since folks of any age can be in the store, just as they can't openly display adult magazines. And its not reluctance to have a drinking game, I've seen many convenience stores sell 'beer pong' drinking game 'kits' (cups and ping pong balls).

Here's a thought for you to test for another try at retail - make a generic looking package or sleeve for the game, that simple says boldly 'The Drinking Card Game', put a "M" rating bottom corner saying you should be 17 or older to buy due to strong language, then on the back put the "*This card game comes with a ton of attitude." and maybe more about the content like you have on the website. This would potentially fix your retail display problem.

Then give a few retailers a few of these free to display to 'test' if there is demand. If they sell them, there you go ... (I presume there is at least 50% margin for them normally)

Re: My product is outlawed... What next?

#23

Post by scottyallen » Fri, Dec 09, 2011, 6:13 AM UTC

TheFman wrote: post #15

scottyallen wrote: post #9

Go find alternative distribution channels. Have you tried walking into local head shops and asking them if they'd stock it? If so, find out who their main distributors are, and go talk to them. How about running banner ads on 4chan ( http://www.4chan.org/advertise )? Are there other websites with similar audiences and lack of censorship?

Advertising on 4chan is a good idea that i never thought about, I have always posted to their boards... I will ad that to my list. Thanks

Glad that was helpful. 4chan is just an example. Go find the other 20 websites like them that have good traffic volumes that you can advertise on.

Re: My product is outlawed... What next?

#24

Post by TheFman » Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 1:52 PM UTC

mjs00 wrote: post #22

I think part of the retail push back is hesitation to to display a product that has multiple obscenities on the cover. So short of an adult shop where you must be 21 to enter, most US retailers simply can't display this since folks of any age can be in the store, just as they can't openly display adult magazines. And its not reluctance to have a drinking game, I've seen many convenience stores sell 'beer pong' drinki…

I never thought about that. Most resistence has been the graphic on the package. I am going to try that. Good idea. Thanks.

Re: My product is outlawed... What next?

#25

Post by mjs00 » Wed, Dec 14, 2011, 10:22 AM UTC

TheFman wrote: post #24

mjs00 wrote: post #22

I think part of the retail push back is hesitation to to display a product that has multiple obscenities on the cover. So short of an adult shop where you must be 21 to enter, most US retailers simply can't display this since folks of any age can be in the store, just as they can't openly display adult magazines. And its not reluctance to have a drinking game, I've seen many convenience stores sell 'beer pong' drinki…

I never thought about that. Most resistence has been the graphic on the package. I am going to try that. Good idea. Thanks.

Yes, I'm considering the graphic an obscenity, as well as the words -- I just don't think you can display that at retail in the U.S without potentially getting the retailer in trouble in most communities. I think a simple brown craft paper wrapper or sleeve with 'drinking party card game' in simple/bold letters might do the trick.