Retailer Thoughts on the Diamond Shutdown / Not Just For Retailers

Comics
#121

I’d imagine if it does go the route of multiple distributors, most will eventually offer most of the product as I’m sure these distributors want a piece of every pie available on the counter, not just one. I don’t see a distributor only distributing Marvel books or DC.

But yes, publishers sending book orders to multiple vendors who then distribute amongst the front end retailers is the best route for a healthy competitive market.

Honestly, as much complaining I hear about Diamond, who wants it to just go back to how it was and we do all this over again during the next pandemic or disaster that shuts them down, in effect shutting down all production for everyone involved?

#122

Regardless of my personal opinion on Diamond, I’ve stated on multiple occasions that they have a place at this table … I’ve been through multi-distribution with fragmented availability, thus forcing Retailers to have to order from multi-sources …

In addition, I don’t have a wish that Diamond would go away … Previews in and of itself is a great and vast monthly source of many things pop-culture, besides comics … the dedication of the Diamond staff that puts the catalog together each and every month, that gather the data from a long list of companies … all of that, would need to be re-created by any competitor …

I may not care for the Leadership at Diamond, however, I have a great deal of respect for much of it’s staff … the Diamond Retailer website is solid, they do a great job consolidating re-orders into regular weekly shipments, even if you order just one book … it’s kept current, etc … there is a lot of behind the scenes that goes on …

I think what my main point is, no one had a real plan for this scenario we are in … and now, although I applaud DC’s efforts, it’s a band aid on a bullet wound …

It’s not, IMO, going to much help to the shops that are out there … although, from the looks of it, if I understand it correctly, could be a real boon for Midtown and DCBS …

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#123

Well said.

Like you said, nobody expected this situation but now it’s opened eyes, not only in this industry but a lot of others I think.

There’s never going to be a one in all solution that makes everyone happy. I just think now, at our present time, there’s going to be some that seize the moment and honestly, now it truly is, those who can adapt and change quickly, will survive. Darwin’s theory is no longer a theory, it’s fact. The world is based on the survival of the fittest… the weak die out while the strong move on.

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#124

Agree 100% … this thing has exposed weakness throughout various businesses as well as the Government itself … Diamond is a tiny slice of a giant pie …

I fault Diamonds leadership more than anything … not it’s front line people … Geppi should have, at the get go, called for a brainstorm meeting of all Publishers and formulated a cohesive plan with which to implement as things began to get back to semi-normal …

I don’t think, had that happened, would we be seeing DC and probably others soon, stepping in with their own plan of how to get something going in the market …

#125

Oh for sure. Who’s primarily to blame? The person in charge.

At a startup company long ago, we were questioning the actions of our current CEO (it was a small company, like 15 of us total) who was dooming the business, I asked, how did such a moron get to the top as CEO? My managers response was quick and to the point, “Shit Floats”! :slight_smile:

And I agree with you. If Geppi took a better position as a “Leader” in this situation, might be a different tune. Instead we saw him throw in the towel a week into the shutdown, claim they were in financial crunch and that’s about it… It’s like he had no ideas or even attempted to come up with a plan of action but rather gave up before the first real punch was thrown.

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#126

People tend to look for a direction … when there is no direction, there is a void … if the prime Company in an Industry does not step up, then someone will find another way …

That way may not be the best way, but at least it is a path …

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#127

I posted this on the Main CHU site, but I’ll repeat it here ::

I’m just an old man that has watched, in my lifetime, the changes that took place as mail order and large Retailers inexorably came to rule the landscape … and, in that time, a piece of real America fell by the wayside, piece by piece, bit by bit … and a large part of our Soul fell as well …

We are faced with something that we don’t have much control over, it makes it uncertain and scary … yes, things will improve, but what will it look like at that point … ??

Roll with the punches, that’s all you can do …

I will say this … over the last month or so, since the State Non-Essential shut down, I have personally been uplifted and gratified by the outpouring of support from so, so many of my long term Customers … who have called or texted me and said “If you let me, I’ll come in and buy some stuff, or I’ll pick up any pull and holds I might have …”

Yes, I have flouted the Shut Down in those cases … it’s a quandary on what to do, but many of these people I call Customers are friends and maybe close to a Family as well … I had a 15 year loyal Customer in today that selected about $200 in goods, I know he did not have to do that, but he did … I thanked him deeply and he said, “No, man, thank you …”

So, if you know these shop owners, if these are folks you regularly see, if you have a connection, take a moment out of your day and, if nothing else, call or text them that you support them … even if you can’t get in and buy something … these people are the fabric of this hobby … trust me, it will mean a lot to them …

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#128

As I understand it, DCBS will be a player in all of this. I’ve utilized them for about 3 years now and have been overall happy with them. Prices are good, books have always been in good shape, and shipping is good/carefully packaged.

The issue I have had with them is very, very poor communication. No phone number for communication, extremely slow response time (if any) and they tend to make mistakes when books that were preordered (as you pay upfront for preorders) don’t come through, in terms of refunds/credits.

So…even as of today, I’ve had a shipping issue on a book that was pretty costly and I can’t get a response from them.

If they are going to toss their hat into a distribution ring…they need to fix some of these issues.

#129

No one is happy with DCs choice in distribution. But it feels like there is more foing on then Any of us know.

If i order from UCS im hurting Diamond and empowering Midtown. If I dont order then i miss out

#130

@Uncle_Willie
You had ask what my local shops are doing. I don’t have a link but essentially they are heavily using Facebook for sales and raffles.

They are doing live sales of both toys and comics. Typically books for $5 or $10 bucks a piece. They show the books and put them on a wall behind them. Mix of books…usually pretty fair deals. Old and new stuff. They will put together something like a “independent package”…4 copies of varied #1 issues from independents. I don’t know the why or what’s…but people snag everything and anything as fast as they can. I think it is a combination of boredom, wanting books, and wanting to support the shop. Certainly don’t pick junk to sell…but if it is remotely cool or interesting/popular…it is claimed immediately. Same with POP stuff and toys.

The other thing is raffles…put up a a grouping of comics or toys…maybe a selection of 10 items. Sell off random raffle spots, however you want to do it. An example…put up 10 toys that usually sell for between 50-100 bucks…do a raffle with 15 spots at $10 a spot. I’m telling you…these things immediately sell out.

Do a comic raffle…same way. I’ve seen these with books that aren’t worth over $100 bucks and they do 25 spots at $10 a spot…instant money made.

You know your customers and what they like. I don’t know the following you have on FB…but I see these raffles taking place all over…and people seem to go crazy for them.

I can’t speak to the payment process/the fact that they aren’t technically “approved” on FB…doesn’t matter…what I know is it is saving the bacon of many a comic shop.

#131

I am not a member of Facebook, and don’t plan on becoming one … I’m still getting regulars that want to come in and spend some money on back issue’s, TP’s and GN’s … I know that flouts the ‘stay at home order’, but I know the Police Chief as well as the County Sheriff and they are not going to hassle me as long as I keep it low key …

Truly, I don’t worry much about my own self and the shop … I’ll be fine, financially … it’s those other B&M’s that I worry about … my shop building is paid in full and has been for a long time, my home is paid in full as well …

#132

Might only be retailers, myself, as just a comic book buyer am not bothered by this. DC found a new way to get their product to shops that get that product to me. I’m down…

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#133

@Uncle_Willie I’m genuinely happy to know you are in a good shape! Well done to be at that point. I think my local shop will be ok as well from what they tell me.

Frankly, I wish more shops would have been able to go the route you mentioned. I read in article about a formal book store that was having customers make expensive appointments to shop for an hour all by themselves. For some it was just a nice escape.

I wanted to do that at my shops nearby. I told them they could feel free to keep a camera on me the whole time. I’d leave my books on the counter and they could charge me later. Just a chance to sit in a comic store and go through boxes alone would be amazing in my opinion.

#134

Honestly, if yo limit people in your store and insist everyone wears a mask and washes their hands before handling anythimg I don’t see the big deal opening your shop by appointment.if everyone could be counted on to do the right thing (masks/hand washing) starting back in Early March we’d be in a much different situation than we are now.

#135

Looking back at this year’s from now there will be stories about the hardships and death, but there will also be many positive stories about how people got innovative and creative and changed the world for the better.

Evolution and ingenuity are relatively slow, until something global drives it to go much faster.

#136

I don’t agree with all the points made, none the less ::

#137

I know most of these guys … some excellent points … and Mr Geppi presented himself very well …

#138

It reminds me of the titanic.”everyone stay calm, we arent sinking. But we do want all women and children to move over here”

#139

I am happy to report my first order from the Diamond re-opening is on the way … got the email invoice this morning …

After the various credits as well as what appears to be some subsidized UPS shipping rates, it was a rather low bill, but, that’s OK …

I started this Thread on March 24th, it’s been a wait … almost 2 months … I’ll be contacting pull and holds over the next few days and alerting them …

The Shop is spick and span, as clean as it’s been in a while … my Spirits are uplifted … and, I honestly hope my fellow Retailers around the Country have also weathered the storm, although, sadly, there will be fall out …

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#140

I visited a few shops yesterday. All the stores in my area seemed to have weathered the storm. One shop I visited had a new collection in that they had just purchased.