Retail is for suckers....

[sullivan85]

Quick question for the Ifanboy faithful:

Is anyone out there actually paying full retail cover price for their comics or trades?

I'm not talking about someone who only picks up 2 books a year, I mean a regular reader of sequential art. I'm just curious if anyone actually forks out the full retail price PLUS tax. Personally, I'm enraged if I'm not paying at least 20% below cover price and I certainly don't want to pay tax (I order everything online).

How about you?

[euchre0]

Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. I get a discount at my store, but I often shop at other stores for fun and if I buy stuff there, I pay full price. I've thought about getting involved with an online service, but I like the freedom to decide on a book as I hold it in my hand.

When it comes to trades, I almost always try to find the cheapest used deal on amazon or half.com. If anyone knows of any other used book sites, please let me know. Most of the time, with shipping, I really only save a few bucks. So if it is one of those $9.95 vol. 1 trades that Vertigo does, I usually just get it at the store.

Also, I've started hitting the used book stores in Austin fairly often and that leads me to new series for cheap. For example, I recently bought issues 1-7 of The Spirit for a dollar each, leaving me to buy 8-12 at full price. I also found all four volumes of Alias for about 7 bucks each, as well as volumes 2-6 of the walking dead for half off as well.

[jon_samuelson]

I often struggle with the desire to by my comics online, but I think you vastly over-estimate the number of people who buy their stuff online. I'd love to save the money by buying at dcbs, or Heroes Corner, but I love the guys at my comic shop more. The main reason I struggle with it though, is because I only get a 10% discount at the shop I go to, and after tax it's basically like paying cover price. I priced my monthly order out on dcbs and H.C., and I could probably save on the order of $40 a month if I bought online, but frankly I LIKE going to my local shop. I like the people. I like the comraderie. I like that they'll occasionally suggest something to me based on the stuff they know I like. If I weren't a broke ass grad-student, and had a little money to throw around, I don't think I'd realistically consider shopping online at all.

All that said, if my local shop were crappy, I'd drop it in a heartbeat to buy my stuff online. The thing is if all the Brick and Mortar shops disappeared, I really think the monthly format would go with it. I think we'd see a major shift to collected editions. Maybe a lot more like I think of the Japanese market being. I don't know if I'm right about that though. And if the monthly market went, I think a lot of the fun of reading comics might go with it.

[jon_samuelson]

Euchre, try out InStockTrades.com, for buying your TPB's. Their prices are very comparable to Amazon. The only difference being that at instocktrades the threshhold for free shipping is $50, rather than the $25 at Amazon.

Also instocktrades has a sister-site, dcbservice.com, that is probably the most popular comic subscription site that I know of. If you order the trades there before they've been released, i.e. when they're published in Previews, you can sometimes get as much as a 50% discount on them.

[sullivan85]

Euchre, try out InStockTrades.com, for buying your TPB's. Their prices are very comparable to Amazon. The only difference being that at instocktrades the threshhold for free shipping is $50, rather than the $25 at Amazon.

Also instocktrades has a sister-site, dcbservice.com, that is probably the most popular comic subscription site that I know of. If you order the trades there before they've been released, i.e. when they're published in Previews, you can sometimes get as much as a 50% discount on them.

Both sites are awesome, and sometimes have better prices than amazon. But I think what Euchre is saying is that he's fine with paying more for his books because he simply enjoys hanging out at the LCBS. I guess I can understand someone being willing to pay a premium for that.

[euchre0]

While I chat with the guys at the store, I really don't value the experience. What I do value is the freedom to pick up the latest issue of Detective Comics, see that Paul Dini didn't write it and that the art sucks and then put it back. Or, say I've decided not to jump on a title, but after it is several issues in, like fell, I can pick up an issue on a whim at the register.

Out of curiosity, what is the site you use, Sullivan?

[sullivan85]

While I chat with the guys at the store, I really don't value the experience. What I do value is the freedom to pick up the latest issue of Detective Comics, see that Paul Dini didn't write it and that the art sucks and then put it back. Or, say I've decided not to jump on a title, but after it is several issues in, like fell, I can pick up an issue on a whim at the register.

Out of curiosity, what is the site you use, Sullivan?

I only buy trades, so I usually buy from amazon or instocktrades.com. And then from amazon, if the price is better I'll buy used.

I also go to Borders during lunch and read the loose issues in the store and order the trades of stuff I like! But since I'm only into the trades it means I'm behind the times on what's good 'cause I'm not reading it until months later. However, if I buy a trade and don't like it, it's much easier to sell a trade than it is to sell the issues (or so I've found).

[itsbecca]

While I chat with the guys at the store, I really don't value the experience. What I do value is the freedom to pick up the latest issue of Detective Comics, see that Paul Dini didn't write it and that the art sucks and then put it back. Or, say I've decided not to jump on a title, but after it is several issues in, like fell, I can pick up an issue on a whim at the register.

Out of curiosity, what is the site you use, Sullivan?

Exactly. I like the browsing. I also like having my comics on Wednesday. Are these things worth the money I would save every month from buying online? Probably not if I actually think about it. But I try not to think about it.

I also have thrown around the whole "Support your local comic store" thing, but I don't know if I actually beleive that. 1) I support technology and if there exists a way to do something cheaper and more efficiently, then the consumer wins. So technically I support the online comic movement. 2)There's a lot of dicks who work at comic shops. I find no need to support their livelyhood.

Really what I'm saying is I'm a completley logicless douche and it probably boils down to me paying an extra 40 bucks a month just so I can discuss my comics Wednesday ON THE DOT!

[smokmnky]

So I'm new here, so this post and wanted to chime in. I buy at a local shop and get no discounts but never felt like I was owed anything either. I guess I just like going on Wednesday, buying my books and reading them over my lunch break. I also like being able to deciede on the spot whether I like something and not picking up that issue. However I do generally only get maybe 3-4 books a week so I don't think that a discount would really be that big of an issue or not in my case.

[thefreakytiki]

I absolutely LOVE my LCS. There is a face to face customer service I can't find online so I doubt I'll ever switch. It's funny that this thread was started because I was just a guest on a podcast and I was the LCS person of "Crossfire-like" debate.

The conversation started out as LCS vs. LCS and then turned into LCS vs Online and lastly switched to Online vs. Online. If you want to hear my full thoughts you can either download it here:

http://www.speakgeekspeak.com/comictiming/?p=118

or you can find it on iTunes, look for a show called Comic Timing it's episode 56.

I am not the host of the podcast but just a guest (The hosts/moderators were very professional in handling this delicate debate). Deep discounts have hurt many industries, don't fool yourself into thinking comics won't be affected the same way.


the Tiki http://www.pixeljoint.com/files/icons/tiki_torches.gif

[esophagus]

I do at one store, not the other. Even the store that charges me cover, doesn't always charge me cover. The guy runs it all cash, and is just generally friendly. I spend $40, and he doesn't think I should be spending $40, I'll probably only spend $30.

[jimski]

I have been using MailOrderComics with increasing frequency, so I pay about $1.90 per comic I get from them. There are some comics, though, not on my MOC subscription list precisely because I want them; I would not be able to wait knowing Astonishing X-Men was out there on shelves and I wouldn't see it for two weeks. The Wednesday Thing is integral to the enjoyment for me (it's like a little Christmas every week) but none of my local shops give a discount, even if I've been a customer for years.

[jon_samuelson]

Yeah, I'm kind of constantly surprised when people tell me about their local shop that offers them 20%+ discounts. I would imagine that they practically have to be losing money on comics, maybe they're selling cocaine out the back door. I dunno.

I wonder how stores that have tried a different business model have fared. I mean, what if a comic shop treated comics like gas stations treat gasoline. As I understand is gas stations pretty much break even on the gas, and all of their profit comes from selling peripherals (soda, Snickers, lotto tickets, etc...) What if a comic shop kinda treated comics like that, and purposely tried to make the money making portion of their shop selling something else, like video games or something. I dunno, I'm going to shut up.

[thefreakytiki]

As I understand is gas stations pretty much break even on the gas, and all of their profit comes from selling peripherals (soda, Snickers, lotto tickets, etc...) What if a comic shop kinda treated comics like that, and purposely tried to make the money making portion of their shop selling something else, like video games or something. I dunno, I'm going to shut up.


It's already happening. It is well documented that many Brick and Mortar store's profits come from items like trades.


the Tiki http://www.pixeljoint.com/files/icons/tiki_torches.gif

[zombox]

Yea. I pay pretty much retail every time. I live in a small area with only one comic shop for 100 miles in one direction and 50 in the other. None of them have customer bases to sustain themselves if they offer discounts. I don't blame them, there isn't a huge profit in comics.

I could order them online and whatnot, but them I'd pay shipping. I don't buy 50+ or 75+ dollars in books every week to get free shipping. So its a wash for me.


Quick question for the Ifanboy faithful:

Is anyone out there actually paying full retail cover price for their comics or trades?

I'm not talking about someone who only picks up 2 books a year, I mean a regular reader of sequential art. I'm just curious if anyone actually forks out the full retail price PLUS tax. Personally, I'm enraged if I'm not paying at least 20% below cover price and I certainly don't want to pay tax (I order everything online).

How about you?

[mattk]

It seems to be more dependent on if you buy weekly or not. If your just buying trades (as i am currently doing) then there really is no point to go into a store as the savings online are just to substantial. But if you are picking them up weekly - then yeah, i would understand why you would want to go in and pick them up the day they come out.

[cormano]

I pay full price for my singles at the LCS but I usually order trades online for big discounts. I wish my LCS gave discounts, but I don't want to give up the comic shop experience for the discounts. They do have a lot of promotions, I recently got two New Avengers variants from the Sentry story arc for free.

[moneytime]

There is something about being able to browse and physically hold or flip through whatever comics I'm looking at, that is definitely part of the experience for me.
There are a few comic book stores in my town, but the one I buy from most often and that I've been frequenting since I was 14, the guy just barely started giving me a 15 percent discount! :eek:

I do however by most of my trades online. No reason not to.

[xyzzy]

There are a couple awesome shops in the area, and they offer up to a 20% discount for subscribers. But I just don't like having to schlep myself over there once a week, so I do most of my purchases through DCBS.

[acomicbookgirl]

If I don't have to pay full price for a TPB, Absolute or Omnibus sweet!

But yet I want to support my LCS because my CBG is cool like that. So I do a little bit of both.. My CBG doesn't like that I use DCBS but he accepted it.

For example, I forgot to order Diana Prince Wonder Woman vol. 1 when it was in Previews a couple months ago or so.. Its coming out tomorrow but who set one aside for me without asking? CBG.. Why? Because he knows my love for Wonder Woman and knows to cover his ass... ;)

Bottom line, I do a little bit of both.. Major DC and Marvel stuff go to CBG. Trades, mini-series and stuff I want to try out go to DCBS.. I support the LCS yet get some stuff cheaper.. ;)

[neb]

Anyone who knows me at work or in my personal life can tell you that Wednesdays are always good days because no matter what happens, it's comic shop day. Say what you will about prices, I love going to store. It's my little vacation every week, and I love grabbing my stack and just browsing. When I hit the trade section, I may stare at the same stuff from last week, but I'll be damned if I still don't do it. And I buy enough issues weekly that I don't think I could handle waiting for them to come in.

That said, I buy like 95% of my trades off of Instocktrades.com. I usually order in big chunks to get the free shipping. And this may not make sense mathematically, but I tell my brain that I'm saving more money that way.

I usually only buy trades at the store if I can't find them online or it's something I need that day. Like last week, I bought the new Checkmate trade because I had to have it that day to read it. And it was awesome.

[mastap]

I get a 10% discount on issues in store, and 25% if I preorder them. Also for the last few months, my store reduced all the in store trades to U.S. cover price, so I've been going at them like mad

[itsbecca]

When I hit the trade section, I may stare at the same stuff from last week, but I'll be damned if I still don't do it. And I buy enough issues weekly that I don't think I could handle waiting for them to come in.

Ohhh I do the same thing. Except my store puts new release trades on the shelf with the floppies... so it's even weirder for me to do this.

[euchre0]

Anyone who knows me at work or in my personal life can tell you that Wednesdays are always good days because no matter what happens, it's comic shop day. Say what you will about prices, I love going to store. It's my little vacation every week, and I love grabbing my stack and just browsing. When I hit the trade section, I may stare at the same stuff from last week, but I'll be damned if I still don't do it. And I buy enough issues weekly that I don't think I could handle waiting for them to come in.

I usually only buy trades at the store if I can't find them online or it's something I need that day.

This sounds just like me.

[diabhol]

I wish my store gave a discount, but it doesn't. Instead, for full retail price, I get a very cool, small shop in my neighborhood that's within walking distance (if I were the type to walk anywhere) and has an awesome website that lets me manage my pull list.

I've been tempted to go online, but I like my neighborhood shop.

[spock-tm]

I do and always will pay full price. Period.



I happily pay this because of a few reasons, I like my LCS and want them to stay in business, I know shaving a few dollars off each book I buy isn't going to help much, but in business every penny counts. I also want to help support the creators, so by continuing to pay the full NZ price (between 8 and 16 dollars per book), I ensure my shop will keep getting them in.


I also work in Retail, and am at my wits end with people asking for "Cash" Deals, for my sharpest price or asking if I can Price Match. FFS, There is no such thing as customer loyalty these days so the "I buy all my stuff from you" lines are Bull, and you know it, you only 'buy it all from us' because you bitch about the price to the weakest Sales Person.


Too be completely honest, I have occasionally received discounts if I buy a lot at once, but I don't keep coming back for them, and am not fussed if they aren't offered, as long as I get my books I'm happy to fork out my pay.




THE PRICE ON THE ITEM IS THE F******! PRICE! Pay it or get the F*** Out!

Know and understand that. Not everything has infinite margin in it (especially in comics), most times the advertised price is the cheapest it can be, don't be a prick, pay the price, asking for a discount is usually the only way to get it, and it's a sure fire way that next time I see you I'll walk the other way and not serve you, cause as much as I want the sale, YOUR money is worth nothing.

[jon_samuelson]

Salty much? Capitalism dictates a certain amount of customer service perks. I keep shopping at my local shop because I LIKE THEM. They're good guys, I want to help them stay in business. Like many other people here have mentioned, I like to be able to pick up a book and flip through it, and then decide yay or nay. But that said, the second they treated me in a fashion that I need them more than they need me? The second they said or exhibited the attitude "THE PRICE ON THE ITEM IS THE FUCKING PRICE! Pay it or get the Fuck Out!" I would spit on the floor, tell them to go fuck themselves and start shopping online. As I said, capitalism neccesitates a certain amount of customer service. Retailers don't get to act like assholes and expect that people will keep coming back.

[six-gun]

DCBService.com gives me an average of $40 off cover price. Major awesomz

[xyzzy]

THE PRICE ON THE ITEM IS THE F******! PRICE! Pay it or get the F*** Out!

Know and understand that. Not everything has infinite margin in it (especially in comics), most times the advertised price is the cheapest it can be, don't be a prick, pay the price, asking for a discount is usually the only way to get it, and it's a sure fire way that next time I see you I'll walk the other way and not serve you, cause as much as I want the sale, YOUR money is worth nothing.

This is the reason I do most of my shopping online. The only thing that a physical store has to offer, really, is service. If you act like you're doing me a favor by taking my money? Sorry, I can get these products cheaper online and without the attitude.

[euchre0]

THE PRICE ON THE ITEM IS THE F******! PRICE! Pay it or get the F*** Out!

Know and understand that. Not everything has infinite margin in it (especially in comics), most times the advertised price is the cheapest it can be, don't be a prick, pay the price, asking for a discount is usually the only way to get it, and it's a sure fire way that next time I see you I'll walk the other way and not serve you, cause as much as I want the sale, YOUR money is worth nothing.

Crazy talk. Pure crazy talk. So how can any store ever, from a Mom and Pop to Wal-mart EVER give discounts? One day a CD is $15.99, the next it is knocked down to $9.99. What's the harm in saying, on day one, "Hey can I buy this CD for $9.99?" At worst the retailer will say, "Nope, sorry!"

What you say is especially ludicrous when it comes to comics. Many comic stores will get an issue that says $2.99 on it, but because they know it will be a hot issue (take Captain America #25 for example) they put a $10 price tag on it the very day it comes out. They have the right to do that, but you are telling me I don't have the right to say "Um, can I buy this for the cover price?" They'll probably say "No." but what's the harm. On the other hand, many comic stores will knock a buck or two or more off of issues that they have too many of after a year or so simply because they need to get rid of the books piling up. What's wrong with this? Nothing, but it does violate your " the price is the price!" rule.

Honestly, everyone wants to save money or get a deal, so what is the harm in asking about one? As a retailer, all you have to do is say "No." You don't even have to smile when you say it. But to get mad and say you don't want their money? Crazy talk.

[euchre0]

DCBService.com gives me an average of $40 off cover price. Major awesomz

So if you buy a $3 book they pay you $37 to take it off their hands? That's the best deal ever!;)

[spock-tm]

Crazy talk. Pure crazy talk. So how can any store ever, from a Mom and Pop to Wal-mart EVER give discounts? One day a CD is $15.99, the next it is knocked down to $9.99. What's the harm in saying, on day one, "Hey can I buy this CD for $9.99?" At worst the retailer will say, "Nope, sorry!"

What you say is especially ludicrous when it comes to comics. Many comic stores will get an issue that says $2.99 on it, but because they know it will be a hot issue (take Captain America #25 for example) they put a $10 price tag on it the very day it comes out. They have the right to do that, but you are telling me I don't have the right to say "Um, can I buy this for the cover price?" They'll probably say "No." but what's the harm. On the other hand, many comic stores will knock a buck or two or more off of issues that they have too many of after a year or so simply because they need to get rid of the books piling up. What's wrong with this? Nothing, but it does violate your " the price is the price!" rule.

Honestly, everyone wants to save money or get a deal, so what is the harm in asking about one? As a retailer, all you have to do is say "No." You don't even have to smile when you say it. But to get mad and say you don't want their money? Crazy talk.

lol, no sales person would ever actually say that capatilised sentence, and technically there is no 'harm' in asking for a discount, I mean, if you don't ask you won't recieve.

But remember, Sales is a two way thing, in order to purchase the item you don't want to piss the Sales person off, if something is offered at a discounted price, take it, but I'm of a mind that you should never ask for it. Kinda hard to buy something when your not welcome/ no sales person wants to talk to you. And as for the guy who would spit at the Sales Person or at the floor, take heed of the last few words I wrote, to the person you do that too, your Money is worth Nothing, why? because in giving you your 'discount' he more than likely sold it to you for cheaper than he purchased it, which is never a good thing.

What your saying about with the 'cover' price and the price that's on the sticker, that's all well and good in America, even Canada, as most people here are from one of them, but it's not necessarily the case for places overseas in the UK, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, etc as we have shipping and freight charges added on, and if it's an especially rare book, or one that isn't ordered much, the cost goes up quite substantially especially if it isn't ordered at the same time as everything else and arrives by itself.

Yes, this sounds harsh, and why should YOU, the customer have to worry about it, this lends a really good reason for why you should do all your shopping online, unfortunately, then you miss out of the great customer service that's out there, you miss out on discovering an amazing new title because your clerk picked it up themselves and can't say enough good things about it, that sort of experience doesn't happen online, unless your doing e-mail orders and the person is personally e-mailing you back.... this is why I go to my LCS, for their knowledge and service, because if I ask them a question they will either have the answer or can usually find it out for me; because of this type of service, I will always buy from an LCS and not haggle over the price, I would actually feel quite rude.


If your LCS is not like that. Shop elsewhere, your missing out... or you've pissed them off about the discounts ;)

[decepticon]

I sometimes pay full price (if I order online), or buy from a large-chain book store. At my local shop however, I have a 20% discount on monthly books, and they have Trade cards that are "Buy 9 Get the 10th Free". Personally, I liked it better when I got 25% off issues AND trades at my shop, but they've since changed the policy to a max discount of 20% on issues and the trade card program. Boo.

[esophagus]

I sometimes pay full price (if I order online), or buy from a large-chain book store. At my local shop however, I have a 20% discount on monthly books, and they have Trade cards that are "Buy 9 Get the 10th Free". Personally, I liked it better when I got 25% off issues AND trades at my shop, but they've since changed the policy to a max discount of 20% on issues and the trade card program. Boo.
You pay full price online? Where do you shop?

[jaflanagan]

To be honest, I'd never heard of a shop giving a discount, until I started going to a specific shop, where he gave all subscription customers 20% off. And it made him wildly successful and popular as a shop. He has a big ass house, and loves retailing comics.

So to infer that customers who want a better deal are assholes, well, that's a little strong.

Spock, we like to keep it a little more friendly here, so feel free to have a different opinion, but you're coming off a little brusque. I work in sales, and I would disagree with what you say about customer loyalty entirely, especially in regards to comic shops, where I've certainly been loyal. Discounts can help create loyalty.

[euchre0]

I don't think anyone was ever talking about haggling for ever item one buys. I was simply stunned at how angry you seemed for someone to ever ask for something cheaper. It shouldn't be a big deal. At electronic stores, it is worth asking if they can match a price of Best Buy or something because often they will. Often, though, they won't and will just tell you they can't do that. There is no reason, even in their own mind for them to get upset that someone would have the audacity to inquire about it.

But remember, Sales is a two way thing, in order to purchase the item you don't want to piss the Sales person off, if something is offered at a discounted price, take it, but I'm of a mind that you should never ask for it. Kinda hard to buy something when your not welcome/ no sales person wants to talk to you.
Again, there is no reason for the salesman to be angered over this. At this point it occurs to me, are you solely talking about a self employed sales person who owns the store? I can understand some annoyance. But if you are just a sales person who works at the store, why should there be such a hateful attitude. I can't think of a time where I've asked for a discount, but if I did, they shouldn't be bothered by that.
And as for the guy who would spit at the Sales Person or at the floor, take heed of the last few words I wrote, to the person you do that too, your Money is worth Nothing, why? because in giving you your 'discount' he more than likely sold it to you for cheaper than he purchased it, which is never a good thing.
Well, then obviously the retailer shouldn't sell something for less than they bought it unless they are losing money buy hanging on to it. All they have to do is say, "Sorry, this is the price."

[spock-tm]

I don't think anyone was ever talking about haggling for ever item one buys. I was simply stunned at how angry you seemed for someone to ever ask for something cheaper. It shouldn't be a big deal. At electronic stores, it is worth asking if they can match a price of Best Buy or something because often they will. Often, though, they won't and will just tell you they can't do that. There is no reason, even in their own mind for them to get upset that someone would have the audacity to inquire about it.

Bad day at work, lots of people asking for discounts, wrong topic to stumble across ;) Sorry if this is all coming across as I'm personally insulting you all, I'm not. I can completely see how discounts would create customer loyalty, particularly in the comics industry and in larger cities where there are more places to choose from. It still doesn't mean that it's right. The anger thats coming through is more like frustration at people expecting discounts, the way all this is being said.... think the way (and this sounds a little corny), but think the way Mr. Incredible is talking about being a super and during the interview at the start of the film, "The Incredibles" (for those who don't know, and huh, a quick search finds this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2DjNebn42c the intro interviews).

As I said in the initial post, I work in sales and after a time it beings to grind on you that every man, woman and child expect a discount. GRANTED, I personally, do not work in the comic distribution industry, and as such do not know the buy prices of the comics and therefore cannot see if them removing 20-40% of their prices is really effecting them, and really, it's not exactly my place to know, if they think they can discount all the better for them, the sales person in me always likes to know the margin on stuff.

While playing Mass Effect last night, the comic store clerk, a friend of mine, came online, I sent him a message asking if he ever gives discounts to any of the customers, anyone, even those with pull lists, his response kinda shocked me. He stated that not only does he not give discounts anymore (under new ownership now), but he is NEVER asked for one. So who knows, maybe comic people are just a different kind of breed at times. I still stand by my, I always will pay the price I see and don't ask for it, and only take it if offered, but hey, that's just me.

To back up a little, sometimes in retail, the only way for the Sales Person to make money is on the margin of the sale. Example, starting wage would be Base Rate + 3% of the Profit + x amount per Super Cover Sale (Warranty/ Peace of Mind/ yadda yadda), if the margin and SC sales don't take you over the minimum wage bracket you are topped up so that at least you can't say you don't get Minimum wage, generally you have to sell at least $10,000 is goods at about 18% margin or 5-10 SC's before you actually start making money. Then in order to keep ones job, one must have less than a certain amount of percentage discount rates, if it is over that, disciplinary actions are taken, same with the warranty stats, items per sale, MARGIN, etc; then if your stats are good enough after a certain time, you get a base pay rise. Kinda crap but yeh, that's life. (not sure how it works in America)

[hudsonphillips]

I think because of the friendly, conversational nature that some stores have, it creates an environment where it no longer feels like a consumer/retailer relationship.

I think it's great that comic book stores offer discounts... anything they can do to stay ahead... but I think it's really rude and assuming for someone to ask for a discount. You wouldn't do this at Borders or Target, why would you do it at a comic book store?

It sounds like price is a huge point in comic sales... I assume that most comic readers read a large number of books, and with an average $3 price, that gets rather expensive.

It's nice to hear though, that many prefer the comic book experience because of the customer service they receive. This should be a huge wake up call to any retailer... Service is king.

As far as how stores continue to make money even with discounts, the way I understand it is that the monthly books provide the cash flow and the trades provide the profit. And stores couldn't exist without both of them.

If you want to support creators, no matter what you pay for the books, they are making the same amount. Retailers are the only ones that suffer by offering discounts, but if they are willing to do so in order to get your business, then they are fully aware of how much money they are making.

As for the idea of comic book stores becoming like gas stations... what I like about that idea is what it could do for bringing in new readers.

What if you had a store in your local mall that was a "geek-culture" or a "pop-culture" store that sold comics, but also movies, video games, board games, ipods, music, art, books, etc...

[jon_samuelson]

As for the idea of comic book stores becoming like gas stations... what I like about that idea is what it could do for bringing in new readers.

What if you had a store in your local mall that was a "geek-culture" or a "pop-culture" store that sold comics, but also movies, video games, board games, ipods, music, art, books, etc...

That's kinda what I was getting at when I made the "gas station" comment. The only problem I foresee is that I feel like it might wind up more Sam Goody than Best Buy, and everything would be way over priced. I also wonder if it'd be possible for a more local shop to survive than a monster national chain. That said I think it would be good for the industry because like Hudson suggests I think this could definitely bring in new readers. Part of the reason comics have the social stigma that they do is because you have to go to some back-alley, basement store filled with nerds to get them. It seems like too much of an insiders club. But if you could buy them alongside DVD's of House M.D., and the newest HALO? I think people would be much more likely to say to themselves "Hey, that looks kinda cool."

[xyzzy]

I think because of the friendly, conversational nature that some stores have, it creates an environment where it no longer feels like a consumer/retailer relationship.

I think it's great that comic book stores offer discounts... anything they can do to stay ahead... but I think it's really rude and assuming for someone to ask for a discount. You wouldn't do this at Borders or Target, why would you do it at a comic book store?


While I might concede that it's rude to demand a discount. There's certainly nothing rude or assuming about asking for one.

Borders and Target are both big chain stores that are bound by corporate policy. 99% of comic book stores are individually owned and operated. Each store will have a different policy as to discounts. And the only way to find out is by asking. I don't see how that's rude.

That said, I certainly have no problem with asking Borders or Target or any big chain store to price match. They might say no. They might say yes. I seriously doubt that most sales clerks would feel offended that I asked them what their policy was.

[lucero]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I don't think I can make myself wait to read my favorite books, especially with today's online community of comic book readers. I'm thinking of trying an online service for everything except the 4 or 5 books that I just can't wait for and see how that works. The online discount is too much to pass up. Plus my lcs doesn't give me a discount and I have serious doubts if any of the employees even read comics. Anyways I get my comic book discussion at iFanboy! :D

[flakbait]

I'm a sucker who pays retail (though for trades I'll go to Half-Price Books or online).

It's mostly habit I guess. It would be far more economical to buy trades, and with money getting tight I might make that switch sometime soon.

I don't really hang out and chat that much with the shop owners, though I do consider the owner of my main shop a friend. I've been going there for over 10 years now, and it's really hard for me to leave. That's probably the biggest reason. At other shops, sometimes I chat with the employees, but it seems like I never agree with them and the conversation just kind of stops as soon as they say something like "Bendis sucks" or "Jim Lee is the greatest" or somebody starts complaining about the lack of a new Spawn comic or whatever.

[itsbecca]

You know I was thinking last night that even for trades it's probably less of a savings to buy online. For me personally that is.

Here's how I think about it. Average trade costs 15 bucks. You can generally get it for 10 online.

I don't buy a lot online, mainly because I don't buy a lot period... I'm a total miser. So I usually have to pay shipping. That's 2 dollars. Brings Online price up to $12.

My store extends it's 10% discount over trades as well. That's $1.50. Brings LCS price down to $13.50.

The other downside is I have a secure building so UPS will not leave packages while I'm away at work. So I either have to pick it up from the center 30 minutes away, or make sure it will be shipped on a Saturday.

So then I ask myself. Am I really willing to wait several days and possibly miss getting it without an annoying drive all for just a savings of $1.50? No not really.

And that's how I justified buying the Scalped trade from my LCS last night.

[jimski]

I just got an ad from Amazon. It said, roughly, "As someone who bought everything that's ever left Brian Bendis' house, including his garbage that time, we thought you'd like to know Ultimate Spider-Man's Death of a Goblin is coming out in two weeks. Want 33% off?"

This got me thinking 1) holy crap, Marvel gets its trades out before the body's even cold 2) I can buy trades at a discount everywhere on earth except my comic shop. In fact, I think I literally cannot pay full price anywhere but at the comicateria. Amazon? Borders? MailOrderComics? Wal-Mart? Garage sale? There's a percentage lopped off of the cover price every single place I might go for this book, except the place for which this book is the raison d'etre. What am I to make of that, other than "Man, the comic business is rough, it's hard out there for a pimp"?

[acomicbookgirl]

Its very rare that I pay full price for a trade... Til recently, I always have a Border coupon in my bag every weekend.. DCBS has them half off if they are in Previews that month.. Starman Omnibus for $24.99. I just got the Young Avengers HC in the mail and I got that for $14.99.. Who's gonna say no to that?

I will ocassionally buy a trade from my CBG but its because I missed it in DCBS, its not in Borders and want to read it now..