I don’t typically do this, but IDW is planning a special edition of the first thirteen issues of “Fallen Angel” (slated for release in late May) and it’s a major enough undertaking that I thought I’d plug it here. If you’re interested in getting a copy, I very much suggest you inform your retailer now since I doubt many will order copies just to have on hand. I know the price is a little steep, but–as is always the case with this series–ain’t nobody on our end getting rich from it, and we’re doing everything we can to make this edition worth the price, including an original short story by yours truly.
Fallen Angel: The Premiere Collection
Peter David (w); JK Woodward (a)
Peter David’s critically acclaimed series, Fallen Angel, receives the Premiere treatment here, in this deluxe, oversize hardcover edition. Included here are the first 13 issues of the comic book, along with an all-new prose story written by series creator David, the initial Fallen Angel proposal, an extended cover gallery, an elaborate description of artist J.K. Woodward’s artistic process, never-before-seen sketches, and more, offered in this special oversize, hardcover-with-dustjacket collection.
HC w/ Dustjacket • FC • 320 pages • 12.5” x 8.125”• $75.00 • ISBN: 978-1-60010076-5
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Jerry Chandler:
Well, I can’t speak to anybody else’s subscription programs, but the only way we give a discount is if you’ve paid in advance. But, I understand your point. I think the issue is that he singled out A—– and gave a specific sales point. Had he singled out our store and pointed out that we will pay for a masseuse to come to your house and give you a back rub when you mail-order a copy from us*, and that anyone with backpain should buy it from Brave New World, I would expect Jerry Wall to be a little miffed.
Excellent question. And it goes to the heart of the matter in regards to discounting. Economies of scale are only one part of the problem. As Jerry Wall already said, the difference in wholesale rate isn’t that much. The reason A_____ can discount is because they don’t maintain retail locations and can pick anywhere in the country to locate. So, as opposed to the nearly $2 a square foot I pay every month, I imagine that they are paying somewhere in the neighborhood of $.15. Upthread, I think I hinted at the fact that Barnes and Noble was just recently reminded that its very hard to make the numbers work when you discount from a retail location and might have to restructure because of it. But real estate rates are only part of the problem.
Due to their high volume, A______ can negotiate deals with the publishers and distributors to do something called Drop Shipping. Essentially, they never own the book and don’t even pay to ship it. They merely collect the money, transfer the order and address to the publisher or distributor and pocket the small percentage difference. This may seem like a small issue, but if the copies of the FA HC that we ordered don’t sell, I’ve already paid for them and I get to carry them around until the end of my days. If A_____ doesn’t sell any, they delete the page.
Yes, we often pool our orders with other retailers for nearly everything that we carry (at one time or another). But, at the end of the day, we’re playing a different game than the discounters are.
As to where I draw the line, I think I’ve been pretty clear on this. Let me see how many examples of a sentence that Answers The Objection without Selling The Point for one source I can come up with off the top of my head:
“A quick search showed me several places on-line you could pay less for it.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but we really went all out on this book and its gonna be worth every penny.”
“Have you talked to your LCS owner about it? Maybe they could cut you a deal.”
“I know, I know, its a lot. Not as much as one of those Absolute editions though.”
“Hey, maybe you could look around and find it cheaper!”
I cut PAD plenty of slack. His work to promote the industry and his Direct Market Retail partners has been tireless. I can’t fault anybody who tattoos himself for the CBLDF anything. No threats were made (by me anyway). We were just reminding him that specifically promoting a discounting site over local retailers undermines the LCS in general. I know that at the end of the day, I feel no ill will towards PAD or anyone who buys products I sell elsewhere. I just have to work harder to earn their dollars next time.
In the meantime, though, friends tell each other the truth.
*Backrub offer only available with preorders placed before 4/7/07.
Thanks for the answers.
My background was in clothing rather then publishing and before the net (96-98) really took off and became the selling power that it is now. Just wondering and I had never before thought to ask anybody in the comic shops that I’ve shopped at.