Barnes & Nobles... seriously?!
By
BrandX,
Posted on: 2011-10-07 20:24 in Comic and Hero-Villain Culture
WTF....I LOVE buying comics and stuff from BnN. It's the only place that sells comics nearby. :/
I have no problems with it.
As the article says, they have a policy that states that they'll only stock in the stores items that they can sell all versions of. That way, you don't see something on the shelves and (like me) think "Oh, I'll get that for my Nook", only to find that you can't because it's for the Kindle only.
"I do so love taking a nice, well thought out character and putting them through hell. It's like tossing a Faberge Egg onto the stage during a Gallagher concert." - me
@Palador / @Rabid Unicorn
Not really going to affect me as I buy all my comics/tpb's at a local shop, and I don't even know if we have B&N up here. Still, pretty lame.
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@Starflier
Never really cared for Barnes & Noble anyway. I always preferred Borders, but now that Borders is no more and B&N has absorbed some of their holdings, maybe they think they're in a better position to pull hissy fits like this.
- CaptainFoamerang
Silverspar on Kelly Hu: A face that could melt paint off the wall *shivers*
Someone play my AE arc! "The Heart of Statesman" ID: 343405
The last gasps of the consignment sales industry.
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It's good business and a worthy policy for B&N to offer every possible format available for their merchandise. I support their decision to protest. With bookstores nationwide going the way of the Dodo, it's refreshing to see the stalwart forerunner maintain their position in the sand.
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On The Pinnochle server!
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How will shrinking their selection be good business, though? Won't that just accelerate the acceptance of online shopping and e-book options?
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Originally Posted by Magus_Prime
It's good business and a worthy policy for B&N to offer every possible format available for their merchandise. I support their decision to protest. With bookstores nationwide going the way of the Dodo, it's refreshing to see the stalwart forerunner maintain their position in the sand.
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- CaptainFoamerang
Silverspar on Kelly Hu: A face that could melt paint off the wall *shivers*
Someone play my AE arc! "The Heart of Statesman" ID: 343405
While I can appreciate the "protest" they're trying here, it can only lead to bad things for their bottom line. These are the some of the most popular TPBs in DC's catalogue. As far as comic books go, this would be like pulling Stephen King, John Grisham, and Stephanie Meyer(I know, but she's popular!) books from their shelves. These titles are what people desiring to read a comic book are going into the store to buy and read.
And if they can't find it in the store? Amazon.com has them. Probably get free shipping, too. Hell, they can just use B&N's free wireless to order it right there from their phone or laptop! This just seems like a real asinine move on B&N's part, especially when these brick and mortar stores are already on their last legs.
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Yes, a little. And don't forget, you CAN get them from B&N's online store.|
Originally Posted by CaptainFoamerang
How will shrinking their selection be good business, though? Won't that just accelerate the acceptance of online shopping and e-book options?
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This WILL cost DC some sales too, though. For many people, not seeing the books on the store shelves means they'll never get interested and never buy it. DC screwed B&N over by making it a Kindle exclusive. B&N is trying to make it cost DC more than they gained by that move.
I used to work at a grocery store. There, I found out that if (for example) the local Pepsi dealer gave a deal to one of the other store chains in the area but not to us, the bosses would shrink the amount of shelf space Pepsi had in our store. It may have cost us some sales, but in the end it made offering the deal to us too the smart business move. This is basically the same thing, but with more publicity.
"I do so love taking a nice, well thought out character and putting them through hell. It's like tossing a Faberge Egg onto the stage during a Gallagher concert." - me
@Palador / @Rabid Unicorn
Their policy means that if DC wants to sell any of their titles to Barnes and Nobles, they are slave to the "all formats" policy and can't do exclusives.
What if Amazon has a policy that they will only carry titles if they get a digital only exclusive?*
Between the two - Barnes and Nobles & Amazon - which one do you think generates more business?
*Making this statement up; I don't know if this is, and I doubt, that it is actually true.
I can't believe people think this is lame, when they're thinking of their costumers who have other forms of digital media and can't access it without a kindle.
I also can't believe people care this much when they've done nothing but complain about DC anyways.
BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection
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Aren't a lot of those titles classic DC stories that form the basis of why folks are complaining about the new direction DC is taking because it's not like those stories?
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Originally Posted by BrandX
I can't believe people think this is lame, when they're thinking of their costumers who have other forms of digital media and can't access it without a kindle.
I also can't believe people care this much when they've done nothing but complain about DC anyways. |
- CaptainFoamerang
Silverspar on Kelly Hu: A face that could melt paint off the wall *shivers*
Someone play my AE arc! "The Heart of Statesman" ID: 343405
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On the other hand, there's also the bit where DC is quoted as replying with this:|
Originally Posted by ShoNuff
Honestly... the this makes no damn sense.. Its like they are having a tantrum... ugh..
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DC Entertainments publishing strategy is to give our consumers the choice to read our stories in whichever format they prefer.But then part of the whole issue is that DC isn't making their stories available in whichever format their customers would prefer. They're making them available through physical copies or electronically, but then only through B&N's competitor ... the company that they've been really trying to either meet or outdo in the e-reader market (with varied levels of success, I think B&N is 22%~25% of the market share last I saw). Are you surprised that B&N would be trying to leverage DC into making their e-books available through the nook color (which is also an android based machine).
MA Arcs: Yarmouth 1509 and 58812
Perhaps DC saw a backlash similar to this as acceptable since if folks are interested in picking up physical copies of these trades, they'll be more likely to head into their local comic book store, which increases the chance that they'll purchase new issues as well as old trades.
- CaptainFoamerang
Silverspar on Kelly Hu: A face that could melt paint off the wall *shivers*
Someone play my AE arc! "The Heart of Statesman" ID: 343405
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Quite possibly what happened. I just think it's entertaining that DC's response to the issue is that their strategy is to make their products available to read in whichever format their customers prefer ... but they're not and that appears to be the entire issue.
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Originally Posted by CaptainFoamerang
Perhaps DC saw a backlash similar to this as acceptable since if folks are interested in picking up physical copies of these trades, they'll be more likely to head into their local comic book store, which increases the chance that they'll purchase new issues as well as old trades.
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MA Arcs: Yarmouth 1509 and 58812
Unforunately, I sort of agree with them. They have a digital reader, without it the chain would had died. The Kindle Fire is a direct response to the Nook Color (not the ipad as many seem to think) and such an exclusivity deal deeply hurts them.
Now, mind you, this wont help them much unless they are using the print distribution as hostage and requesting the drop of digital kindle exclusivity for ransom.
If this is just "we dropping it and not doing more business with you?, then it does not really help them much.
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Disclaimer: been YEARS since i been out of the comic business.|
Originally Posted by Kyasubaru
While I can appreciate the "protest" they're trying here, it can only lead to bad things for their bottom line. These are the some of the most popular TPBs in DC's catalogue. As far as comic books go, this would be like pulling Stephen King, John Grisham, and Stephanie Meyer(I know, but she's popular!) books from their shelves. These titles are what people desiring to read a comic book are going into the store to buy and read.
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As far as these chains go, they barely make any money out of American comics. The bulk of their comic based income comes from selling manga books. Those sell insanely and is evident by the amount of floor space they are given over American comics in almost every store. So cutting on DC comics is nowhere near as big as cutting on Stephen King for them.
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| And if they can't find it in the store? Amazon.com has them. Probably get free shipping, too. Hell, they can just use B&N's free wireless to order it right there from their phone or laptop! This just seems like a real asinine move on B&N's part, especially when these brick and mortar stores are already on their last legs. |
From a personal stance, I also dislike the exclusivity Kindle Fire deal (even if I am planning to buy one.) Comic books are in too weak of a position right now to fragment eShopping with exclusivity deals anywhere. They should attempt to offer everything in as many digital retailers as possible.
This means Comixology, Kindle, Nook, Zinio and iBooks. They should proactively push their product to these and other digital newstands and not sit waiting for anyone to approach them.
Now that B&N has no competition, they can act like this and expect DC to cave. Gotta love monopolies!
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I find myself extremely confused by this statement. B&N a monopoly?
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Originally Posted by dbuter
Now that B&N has no competition, they can act like this and expect DC to cave. Gotta love monopolies!
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MA Arcs: Yarmouth 1509 and 58812
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The other major chain, Borders, is now out of business. The other mall-based major bookstore, Walden Books, is also out of business. Meaning that B&N is the, iirc, last major book chain in business. There may be others, but I can't recall any of them in my state (can't speak for any others).
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Originally Posted by Oliin
I find myself extremely confused by this statement. B&N a monopoly?
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Despite it's size, B&N has a lot of competition.|
Originally Posted by dbuter
Now that B&N has no competition, they can act like this and expect DC to cave. Gotta love monopolies!
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It does mean they have a lot of pull with publishers (if they refuse to carry titles you are out of a huge chunk of the market) but there are lots of small chains selling books.
Calling B&N a monopoly is the same as saying Target and Walmart are the only places you can buy your groceries.
Do expect, over time, for B&N's brick presence to fade and slowly turn into a completely internet based business, btw.
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Originally Posted by Dark One
The other major chain, Borders, is now out of business. The other mall-based major bookstore, Walden Books, is also out of business. Meaning that B&N is the, iirc, last major book chain in business. There may be others, but I can't recall any of them in my state (can't speak for any others).
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Books-a-Million. Sure, B&N is rather bigger than BAM, but it's still a pretty decently sized chain book retailer. Also, speaking as far as book retailers in general go ... um ... Amazon?|
Originally Posted by Dark One
The other major chain, Borders, is now out of business. The other mall-based major bookstore, Walden Books, is also out of business. Meaning that B&N is the, iirc, last major book chain in business. There may be others, but I can't recall any of them in my state (can't speak for any others).
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I mean I'm sorry, but if you're selling new books, regardless of if you're an online or a brick and mortar store you're competing with Amazon.
MA Arcs: Yarmouth 1509 and 58812
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What would be an alternative in a State with, at most, small, poorly-lit and run used book stores now that Borders & Walden are gone? Sure, I can go to Wal-mart or K-mart and buy the latest Twilight book or browse through their self-help books, but if I want to go to a real store where I can find a Calvin & Hobbes collection or a WH40k book, I'm SOL.|
Originally Posted by Starsman
Being the only major chain is not the definition of a monopoly. Monopoly would be if you had no alternative to buy books.
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They may not be a "true" monopoly, but they may act as an effective monopoly.
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That store doesn't exist in PA. I think it's only NJ, NY, and New England. And the South, but no one lives there.
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Originally Posted by Oliin
Books-a-Million. Sure, B&N is rather bigger than BAM, but it's still a pretty decently sized chain book retailer. Also, speaking as far as book retailers in general go ... um ... Amazon?
I mean I'm sorry, but if you're selling new books, regardless of if you're an online or a brick and mortar store you're competing with Amazon. |
Courtesy of Newsarama - http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/10/07...l-exclusivity/
Honestly... the this makes no damn sense.. Its like they are having a tantrum... ugh..