CBR: Diamond Talks Street Dates

[CBR News]

Roger Fletcher, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Diamond Comic Distributors, tells CBR News how the industry giant settled on the new scheme of Tuesday shipping to all its direct market comics shop partners.


Full article here.

[connor_kent]

so what about the shops that get comics on thursday? will they recieve them on tuesday or wednesday?

[howyadoin]

the distributor began reaching out to its retailer partners

Holy shit.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I wonder if this is anything to do with Hibbs and ComicsPRO.

He's been saying that they need earlier delivery dates and diamond to work with retailers, organized an alliance, and recently had a conference with DC and it's new owners where he made this a key point.

So I wonder if Diamond listened to the retailers, or if DC got on the blower and asked Diamond why they weren't doing what the retailers asked.

[dupersuper]

So, when does this start? Will this meam my comics will be on sale Wednesday morning now?

[Iangould]

Starts January - and the hope is that this will allow shops to have their stock on the shelves for Wednesday opening.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

Starts January - and the hope is that this will allow shops to have their stock on the shelves for Wednesday opening.

Does this cover Australia as well, Ian?

Bleeding Cool says it's happening in the UK.

[Iangould]

I wonder if this is anything to do with Hibbs and ComicsPRO.

He's been saying that they need earlier delivery dates and diamond to work with retailers, organized an alliance, and recently had a conference with DC and it's new owners where he made this a key point.

So I wonder if Diamond listened to the retailers, or if DC got on the blower and asked Diamond why they weren't doing what the retailers asked.

It arose from a suggestion made by one of the members of CBIA, a forum for industry professionals.

I want to say it was Paul Stock from Astro Books but it's the end of a very long day and I'm a bit fuzzy.

The idea has actually been kicked around for years. (I originally pushed for Friday ship for Monday delivery and Tuesday onsale. Only that fails to take into account that most public holidays fall on a Friday or a Monday.)

The probem was always how to enforce street dates, Paul (if it was him) suggested charging every participating retailer a small weeekly fee to fund a secret buyer program.

[Iangould]

Does this cover Australia as well, Ian?

Bleeding Cool says it's happening in the UK.

The UK situation is quite different to the Australian one though.

I'm waiting to hear back from my Diamond rep but I suspect we'll stay with (mostly) Wednesday delivery for Thursday on sale.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

It arose from a suggestion made by one of the members of CBIA, a forum for industry professionals.

But was it the recent ComicsPRO meeting which kicked it off?

I just know that DC and Diamond were there, and Hibbs went in with it as the agenda... and the timing seems about right for something raised there to come into effect now.

The probem was always how to enforce street dates, Paul (if it was him) suggested charging every participating retailer a small weeekly fee to fund a secret buyer program.

I think DC's way with the Blackest Night issues worked - just drop anyone who breaks the date from participating ever again.

[Iangould]

But was it the recent ComicsPRO meeting which kicked it off?

No, Diamond did a retailer survey several months ago and it was under active discussion for some time before that.

I'm sure ComicsPro was involved in the discussions with DC but this isn't something that happened as the result of a recent meeting.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

No, DC did a retaielr survey several months ago and it was under active discussion for some time before that.

I'm sure ComicsPro was involved in the discussions with DC but this isn't something that happened as the result of a recent meeting.

As Howy pointed out, I'm just shocked Diamond actually took action on something, so am trying to figure out what happened.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Well according to the article its an "option" for those who wanna get the comics on Tuesday evenings and have em set up for Wednesday. Those who wanna do it can. Those who don't , won't have to.

[RichJohnston]

Earlier this week, retailers and readers alike learned of the distributor's final decision

Or the previous week if they were reading Bleeding Cool.

[dupersuper]

Starts January - and the hope is that this will allow shops to have their stock on the shelves for Wednesday opening.

Hmmm...I guess I'll have to start going by my lcs Wednesday morning on the way home from work, rather than Wednesday evening on the way to work.