Cost of comics

[uthor]

I noticed that the most recent ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN HC has already gone up in price. Didn't they used to be $29.99 and now are $39.99? To bring it all back, I'm not sure how my LCS can compete with an online retailer in this format when the maximum discount given is 20%.

It sounds like the reprints of Absolute Sandman volume 1 are going to cost retailers $10 more per copy, so a lot of places (possibly even Amazon) are dropping the 30% discount and charging the full $99 MSRP.

[dancj]

It's tricky with TPBs.

Basically (discounting things like traditional first TPB at $10 rule that Vertigo use) with each book they have to decide whether the book is
A - A book with a small market (thereby making low prices unpractical), but hardcore enough that those who want to buy it will pay whatever you charge.
B - A book with a big market which will be affected heavily by the price
C - A book with a big market which won't be affected heavily by the price.
D - A book with a small market which will get even smaller if the book is pricey.

If they think it's A, the only option is to bring out a pricey book.

If they think it's B, then they'll probably want to keep the price low because that's what will bring in the most money.

If they think it's C then they could go low or high with the price. In my experience, Marvel seem more likely to go high with these ones than DC. I don't know which approach brings in the most money.

If they think it's D then the book just won't be profitable to produce at all.

I don't think it's really fair to look at just the price and page count to judge how fair a price is. That said I do think it's fair to criticise over the top prices for obvious high sellers - such as the Civil War TPB which is 208 pages for $25 when I have no doubt they could bring in a tidy profit at half that price.

[Billy Parker]

Subscriptions on Marvel.com and Dccomics.com are the cheapest way to go!

Hi Augie. What are your thoughts on subscriptions? I've never heard a podcaster or journalist once mention the benefits of subscribing. $19.99 for 12 issues is about $1.60-$1.70 an issue vs. $3.99 plus tax on each comic you'll get at the store. That's a HUGE savings. I get 10 or 12 Marvel comics that way. I just get non-subscription stuff (SI, etc.) in store.

Furthermore, Marvel offers ASM and others in packs of 36 issues for $49.99! That's more than a 50% discount. With the jump in price, it's closer to a 75% discount!

One thing to watch will be if the subscription prices will rise as well? From $19.99 to say $24.99? That would be a significant jump. Hopefully they'll only move to $20.99 or so.

The people that complain like crazy need to subscribe because there is no excuse for people that complain about prices but don't take the solution.

Subscriptions seriously need to be commented on by Augie and others.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Generally, the problem with susbcriptions is that they arrive damaged in your mail box, and often weeks after the issue hits stands. At least, that's what I recall from the last time anyone talked about subs, years ago. Has that changed significantly? Is the USPS handling their mail better? Is the packaging better? Is the timing closer to comic shops now?

-Augie

[torippu]

I'd also like to know how Marvel runs their subscriptions these days. The last time I subscribed to something from them was probably G.I. Joe back in the late-80s and I'm pretty sure that the books arrived with a plain brown wrapper and were usually bent in two by the postman.

[Billy Parker]

Generally, the problem with susbcriptions is that they arrive damaged in your mail box, and often weeks after the issue hits stands. At least, that's what I recall from the last time anyone talked about subs, years ago. Has that changed significantly? Is the USPS handling their mail better? Is the packaging better? Is the timing closer to comic shops now?

-Augie

Marvel does a great job. The postman...not so much. They arrive usually on time now. (I've subscribed for 2 years now) Sometimes 2 days early, or 2 days late is the typical range. It could even be a week early or late. Random, not common.

It's wrapped in plastic with a cardboard back with Marvel sub info printed on it. The condition is usually perfect. But it depends on your postman and the size of your mailbox. But Marvel is great about re-sending comics when there is a problem.

Despite that, the price is far superior to what you pay in store. In these times where everyone talks price and dropping books, you could add books by moving to the subscription price. A 40%-50% discount? Definitely worth what you pay.

[pmpknface]

Cool. Thanks for the info BP! ;)