Bethsoft's Customer "Service"...

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 12:39 pm

In response to my request for a new map, I received the following email:

Hello,

Additional maps of can be purchased from Bethesda Softworks directly.

Each additional map may be purchased at the price of $10 for each. We only accept certified checks or Money Orders (No personal checks or cash). Payment must be made payable to "ZeniMax Media". Please make sure to mention which map you would like to receive:
Original Morrowind map: Vvardenfell
Tribunal map: Mournhold
Bloodmoon map: Solstheim

Additionally, a dated receipt (or copy thereof) must also be included with the payment. Send check, product, and proof of ownership to:

Bethesda Softworks Support
10720 Gilroy Road
Suite 2
Hunt Valley, MD 21031

Okay, I have not had much experience in asking game companies for things like new maps.. But I am wondering if anybody else finds $10 USD for a cheap paper map a bit over the top? Even with shipping and handling this seems a little high. I mean, this is 25% of what I paid for the GOTY edition itself...

And I can't help but wonder how many people actually keep receipts for things like games. Sure, I hang onto them for a little while, but I don't have the storage space for masses of files and envelopes so I need to be judicious in what I keep around...

Also, in my original note to them, I specified that I had the GOTY map, which includes *all* locations, and is one map rather than three.. *sigh*

I think I'm just going to buy some non-shiny clear tape, because there is no way I am going to buy 3 maps for $10 apiece (even if I still had my receipt). I know you can get maps on the net but I like being able to consult the map while playing, and when you try printing the maps out you have to reduce them, which compromises the detail.

Coot · Post by **Coot** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 12:42 pm

I'm curious... d'you think there's people out there who would actually pay ten dollars for those maps??

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 12:43 pm

[QUOTE=Coot]I'm curious... d'you think there's people out there who would actually pay ten dollars for those maps??

[/QUOTE] I would be highly surprised were it the case. But apparently Bethsoft is labouring under that very delusion

Monolith · Post by **Monolith** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 3:01 pm

euhm...I got the Vvardenfell map with Morrowind, the Tribunal map with Tribunal and the Bloodmoon map with Bloodmoon. And now they are selling each for 10 Dollars? Very convincing marketing strategy.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 4:00 pm

Whoa. $10 a map? It's a nice map, but it's not that nice. Oh, wait a minute. This is the map edged in gold leaf, and signed by Frank Frazetta, right? Sheesh.

Anybody needing maps should try here, where with a decent printer you can at least get something reasonable for free.

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 4:01 pm

I think I got a map I'll dsee ya for $9

Wrath-Of-Egg · Post by **Wrath-Of-Egg** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:31 am

WEll... 10$... How much that would be in euro's.. 8-9e...

(8x6) - (9x6) would be 48-54 marks..

WEll... it aint that expensive if i would have need for map.. but then all you have maps and no need for new one(except Dragonwench) so it is quite expensive.. Yes i would buy it.. but if i have survived all these years without one.. then i will be just fine...

But main thing why those things are so expensive is becuse there realy aint much of demand for those maps.. so to make profit you need to have high price on those..

Oh well.. Time to stop and leave...

Asher · Post by **Asher** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 7:46 pm

oh well aint thais just lovly I HAVE to order a new map and they think that there gonna charge me $10 for a map when I paid only like $20 for the game. thanks for the warnig now I can have my counter offer all ready when the give me that line of **** I would be willing to pay $5 and that is a bit much but there is no way in any layer of hell that I'm going to give them $10 for a 15 cent piece of paper.

Mad Loco · Post by **Mad Loco** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 1:40 pm

lol..for $10 i'd want it in chrome with the letter "From Bethesda with love" at the bottom just so they could show what happened to that $10 which probably went on the KFC for the duration of the printing of the map.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 1:57 pm

lol! Well I am glad it was not just me who thinks $10 for a cheap paper map is excessive. I just bought some Scotch "magic tape," and secured the torn and worn bits on front and back.

I don't need a new map quite that desperately, and there is no way I'm going to pay those bandits for one.

@Egg,
Even if there is little demand for new maps, it really is not smart marketing strategy on the part of Besthesda to price a map 25 to 50 % of the original cost of the game(s) itself. As I said, I paid about $40 for the GOTY set.
It is not that I can't afford $10 for a map, I just refuse to pay it. Especially given that the company pays some of lowest wages in the North American gaming industry..... I really doubt their profit margins are hurting

Wrath-Of-Egg · Post by **Wrath-Of-Egg** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 11:49 pm

Yes... Yes... But still.. i doubt that they want to give you free map...

robot flux · Post by **robot flux** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 1:13 am

In addition, my friend has two (2) maps now. One which he got from Morrowind and the second one which he got grom the GOTY edition i.e. the map with both Bloodmoon and Mournhold maps in that MW map.

but 10$...seems a bit high. I have to say thou, those map have a great "emotional" value, at least to me.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 2:43 pm

[QUOTE=Wrath-Of-Egg]Yes... Yes... But still.. i doubt that they want to give you free map...[/QUOTE] Hey, I never said I wanted a free map, I merely stated that $10 USD for a single paper map was excessive. If it were cloth (like the one you get with NWN), I could see it.

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 4:55 pm

Guys, I don't know that this thread is really accomplishing anything further. Except to provide repetitive condemnation of Bethsoft's policy. As we all know where we stand, I'm going to close it. DW, sorry to hear about it; I just don't know at this point what any of us can do.