Well, I give up. Evidently we are never ever again going to know for sure if and when comics are going to show up. They were not there again today and won't be there until Friday. There was some kind of glitch and several customers didn't get shipped. Of course, Ron's was one of those customers.
After this week, I am never again going to drive to my retailer on a Wednesday expecting comics. Jim or I are going to call first. That way I don't waste my precious gas on a trip across town that wasn't worth making.
I also feel bad for my retailer. The manager was surrounded by fanboys and couldn't deliver the goods. It wasn't even her damn fault but she had to take crap and be polite. That wasn't fair to her at all.
So screw it. Diamond sucks. My comics are always going to be late. I am going to have to start my own company to make things right or I am just going to have to eat crap with a smile.
To top it off, I couldn't even read the Flash like all the rest of you lovely people. or even peruse JLA. I am an internet blogger without a story. I can't relate to the awesome reviews because I don't dare read them.
Anyone else get screwed by Diamond's horrible service today?
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
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16 comments:
Shshshsh, don't say Diamond sucks. They'll hear you. They hear everything. They...control...everything.
That's horrible. I got mine. Forbidden Planet hardly has any problems. You have my condolences, sympathies, etc.
Nope, I get mine from DCBS.
Not to rub it in, but the shop I picked up my books at this week had 'em all available by their 10:00 AM opening time. I'm not sure how they swing THAT deal, but I was able to nab Flash and JLA on my lunch break (couldn't wait til quitting time)!
We got all of our books, but more than half of our "Countdown" and "Incedible Hulk" issues were smashed up. We had a few trades that were damaged and a good bunch of "Iron Man" were messed up too. Now that we don't have a rep at Diamond (our rep's been gone for over a month and we STILL don't have a replacement) we have to jump through like five hoops, spell our last names backwards, know the maiden names of our mother's mother's mother on both sides... you get the idea.
I made a post on our retailer forum, called CBIA, to see if anyone there was having the same problems and to get some advice from other retailers as to what your store can do about this.
If it were me, I'd be SO angry! We had a few weeks of bad shipping and really got upset about it. It is absolutly not fair to the store! Or to the manager & employees or to the customers. Just hearing about how often his happens to your store makes me irritated. Where is the quality control over at Diamond? GRRRrrrrr....
You know, there are retailers who just tell their customers that new book day is Thursday and that's how they run their stores - so that if the shipment is late or something they're not so bad off. The solution seems to work for them, but I think it's a horrible thing to have to do. Diamond can't deliver on time, so people have to change the way they do business just to make it work - that's not right!
Hopefully later today I'll have some ideas for you from those other retailers as to what you guys can do to help get the situation improved. I feel for you and for the folks at the comic book store!
I still haven't even read the last issue of the Flash!
Upside though, think of this as time to catch up on those trades you have laying around, or checking some out from the library...may I suggest Fear Agent or Fray!
Hope you get your books soon.
Todd, I feel your hypnotic post suggestion kicking in.... Diamond is, well, it is the only game in town, isn't it. Damn. I am stuck.
Anybody got a cool million so I can start up a competitor?
Shelly, you are so sweet! Thank you so much! It is a bit better today since 2/3's of the books showed up. Yay!
Johnny- you are a man of wisdom. I have considered that as well. Hmmm...
Mark, once again I can only exclaim "I'm not worthy!" to you! :-) I am glad your books were there, my friend!
Lisa, thank you so much for your insight! I think my shop has the same problem as you do- they didn't have a specific person to call since they are in between reps. Carol was SOOOO frustrated, and I can't blame her. Most of her customers don't understand like Jim and I do, so they blame her. It is crap!
I would appreciate any help for her, so I will keep an eye open. I am so appreciative of your help. I am so sorry though that you had problems with your shipment as well. That is awful!
I just wish I could raise the money to blow this monopoly out of the water!
Nick, you have very positive, sound suggestions! I may have to go check out those titles as I am always looking for something new to read!
Thank you so much!
Heidi - I sent an email to James (I couldn't find your email) with comments I received from retailers about your store's dilema. Seems you are in Diamond's Bermuda Triangle out there, in a place where neither the LA nor Memphis warehouses can seem to get UPS to consistantly ship to on-time. As I said before, many stores in that area have to do Thursday as new book day because of it.
The problem with competing with Diamond is that it can't be done as long as Marvel and DC have exclusive contracts with them. My suggestion - start a letter writing campaign (maybe post it on POWER in Comics too) to Marvel and DC requesting that the end the exclusive contracts because they are bad for the industry and it's growth.
Lisa, thank you so much for the e-mail. Jim printed it out for me and we are going to take it to our retailer tomorrow with your permission. She never did get the last third of her shipment today, so it was pretty bad.
My goal tomorrow is also to sign up on P.O.W.E.R. and see if I can help make a difference. I am so impressed with what you are doing there!
Thank you so much for all the fantastic help, Lisa. It means a great deal to me and the hubby, as we are really upset for our retailer on top of being irritated about the situation in general. I will keep you posted!
Please do show the comments to the gang at Ron's - when I posted the problem on CBIA I let them know I'd make sure the information would get to the store owner. No one else has given any new comments yet, but if they do I'll let you know.
Let me know how it goes. I am interested ti find out if they contact Diamond, what options Diamond might offer now that you've got an idea of what other retailers in similar situations have been offered as a "solution" and the names of some of the upper management team people.
See you in POWER!
Now's your chance Heidi. Cold Cut distribution is for sale.
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