FastChapter wrote:
avwolf wrote:
"Pre-order" is used in a different way here. The books will be run only as needed, and only if a certain "reserve" can be met; so when you "pre-order," you're not just ensuring that you'll get a copy -- you're making sure that it's clear that there is enough interest to actually print them. Tom has to pay up front for any books which need printed. Because he can't afford to do that on his own, your preorder is paying for your book. If he gets enough preorders that a run of books can be made, you get your book. If he doesn't get enough preorders, then you get your money back and nobody gets any books. This sort of system is very common for webcomics, which are generally more of a hobby for the artist than anything, so they can't afford to have a lot of books printed that they don't know if they'll be able to sell.
Soooo... are you paying an $X deposit by making the preorder? I wouldn't buy it anyway, but why would you pay money if you're not guaranteed the product? :P
No, you'd get all your money back, less only the Paypal handling fees, and the pre-order covers the whole cost, so there's really no "deposit" involved. If Tom didn't give you either the book or your money back, you could take him up on fraud charges. Assuming there's enough interest to justify printing the book, you'll get your product. And, in my opinion at least, it's worth the risk, especially with the added value that it's a so-call "sketch edition." But then again, I've been planning on ordering two, and I'm a bit of a collector. :P You're pre-paying to get a product that isn't made yet, but with a guarantee that if it's made, you'll get one.
Call it "venture capital," if you will. :)