Comments on: FCBD Followup

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:11:14 +0000

But without the promise of bringing new bodies in the door of comic shops, they have no incentive to participate. And if only Diamond and publishers teamed up for an event that didn’t include the direct market, you’d hear lots of screaming.

By: WBM

WBM — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:01:43 +0000

I agree with Kat Kan. Holding FCBD exclusively at comics shops is preaching to the converted.

You want NEW customers? Get those free comics into non-fans hands & let the stories draw them in.

By: Kat Kan

Kat Kan — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:34:02 +0000

My LCS is not participating this year, at least not actively. The owner allowed me to order FCBD titles that I will give away in my school, with the store’s name and address stamped on the comics. He has participated in FCBD ever since it started, through last year. Did not get a single new customer for all his efforts and costs. He can’t afford to lose several thousand dollars when there’s not a smidgen of return for him. He only started making a profit after five years of running the store; that was a couple years ago. Since then, rising costs (shipping, utilities, etc.) have eaten up the tiny sliver of profit margin he had. He’s barely breaking even now, so a couple thousand dollars is a huge expenditure for him. We’re hoping that my little push at my school (I’m going to be sending home a “letter from the librarian” promoting comics reading as legitimate recreational reading during the summer vacation) by sending kid-friendly comics home will result in a few new customers. For us (LCS and me, the school librarian), having mostly all-ages FCBD titles is a big boon. Just another perspective here.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:43:48 +0000

I think the contrast was between retailers (who have the opportunity on FCBD itself to recoup the costs they’ve spent on free books and advertising through increased sales to new customers) and the distributor, who has no such direct, immediate opportunity. Obviously they feel that it’s worth it, or they wouldn’t keep doing it. There’s also a perception that it costs Diamond nothing to do it, which isn’t true.

By: Bill Williams

Bill Williams — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:10:39 +0000

I’m not exactly sympathetic to Diamond’s claims of poverty. They assume a chore, but no risk on FCBD.

I participated in the FCBD from both sides. As a retailer, I paid for books to give away. As a tiny publisher, I paid to have some books distributed (which was on top of the cost to have the books produced).

If Diamond loses money on the FCBD deal, it may be made up by the terrible discount that the retailers who buy my books get.

Bill

By: thekamisama

thekamisama — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:26:17 +0000

Yikes, did they really use the words “loses money”? Most other businesses consider advertising and promotion to be costs, not a loss.

I wonder if that was a error in speaking or a subtle hint.