Yesterday, it seems that all of Comicdom was under the spell of Amazon.com and their temporary pricing glitch. As far as I know, Bleeding Cool broke the story that Amazon had discounted many high priced items like Absolutes, Omnibuses, hard covers and trade paperbacks from a number of companies including DC, Marvel IDW, Image, Top Cow and more. The sale in most case was up to an astounding 75% off! As expected fan-boys bum rushed the store and ordered in droves.
I found out about it via my good friend Jason Wood (11 O’clock Comics), but only on a whim. For me, Sunday, especially Sunday morning, is a time when I take a break from all things internet related. I have breakfast with the family, go to church and as it happened we had family catechism at 1:00. I also like for the TV and computer to be turned off so the kids can play outside, finish up any homework or practice piano. Also, late in the day the kids had a swim meet and then we decided to go out for dinner. So all in all I was not home from 9:30a to 7:30p. Long day indeed!
Now then the only reason I found out was because while getting bagels at Panera early Sunday, there was long line and I checked my e-mail and subsequently Twitter. My first reaction was, “Wow, can this really be happening?” I know that Amazon has weekend specials from time to time, but this is insanely outrageous. Then, like most of you, I thought that it had to be too good to be true. And that is why I didn’t want to get too involved.
It turns out it was. Partially.
Later Sunday, Bleeding Cool, reported that it was indeed a glitch and that most, if not all orders, would be canceled. Apparently, some orders have been honored, which is excellent news.
Look, I know breaking news happens and in some cases I have a responsibility to Blog, Twitter, Facebook, E-Mail, Post, or Comment on what is happening in the wonderful world of collected editions. But sometimes, my responsibility to my family and my life comes first. I am flattered by the fact that many of you consider me to be a prime source for such information, but sometimes, I need to step away. I make no apologies.
Now, something has been bothering me and I have to get it off my chest. Speaking of bum rushing Amazon; I wonder how many customers wanted to get the deal of the century only to turn it around and sell it on eBay in a few weeks to turn a profit. If this is you – shame on you. The books you bought (or wanted to buy) should first be read or shared, after that, do with them as you will. Each of you should blog or Twitter about your positive experience and write a review of the books you bought. Don’t just speculate and brag to your friends in the comic shop on Wednesday.
In closing, in the future be careful not to be duped by errors and glitches. I know times are tuff and the wallet is a bit smaller then it used to be. Sometimes you get lucky and you should take advantage. I just feel bad for those who lost out that really wanted to read the stories but can’t afford the regular price.
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I disagree with the last part – if people want to buy low and sell high, then I don’t begrudge them at all. If that helps someone make a living, so be it.
My order, which has not been cancelled, as of yet, contains one duplicate, which is going to be a prize to help promote my podcast.
As for Amazon, I’ll be their customer regardless of not standing by their error or not. I will be more “loyal” if they do honor their mistake. I’ve been on “Prime” for over a year and love their two day free shipping. At the time, I was ordering, I did not realize it was a mistake or a glitch. Nor did most people. 85% off is very uncommon, but not unheard of if someone wants to get rid of old inventory.
Rambling, but I love your podcast. Thanks.
“Look, I know breaking news happens and in some cases I have a responsibility to Blog, Twitter, Facebook, E-Mail, Post, or Comment on what is happening in the wonderful world of collected editions. But sometimes, my responsibility to my family and my life comes first. I am flattered by the fact that many of you consider me to be a prime source for such information, but sometimes, I need to step away. I make no apologies.”
I love this part.
I usually never comment on posts, but I have to say, what you said in the later part of your post is just, well, ridiculous. I mean, I have an opportunity to purchase books from Amazon.com at a price where I could make 40 or 50 bucks per book on ebay…why wouldn’t I? And it’s not like I’m ripping off anyone…no one twists anyone’s arm on eBay to bid, so when they win at a decent price, and they think they got a good deal, what’s the problem? How is this different from purchasing product from say, Wal-Mart and reselling it and making a few bucks…isn’t that what businesses do EVERY DAY? I have 3 kids (2 of which are 2-year-old Twins), and in this economy, if I can re-sell some books online that I bought at a good price to help put food on my table, I’m missing the part where there is shame involved…or are you just fustrated that you missed out on this deal?
Bob, The shame is where you get it in the mail and turn around and sell it without enjoying the book itself. I have no problem reselling books. I’ve done it many times over. But what I don’t do is buy books at a low price, sit on them and resell them with the plastic still intact.
I always tell the story of guys I know that buy up the Variant Marvel Masterworks 10 at a time only to sell them on eBay 6-12 months later. It’s a profitable practice and a bogus one at that.
But to each his own, I guess.
There is an interesting catch my argument. What if, for example, your are a loyal Marvel buyer and have bought, say, Marvel Ultimates in single issue or trade form. The Omnibus goes on sale for $15 and you snag one and sell it for an amazing profit. Are you a speculator or just damn lucky? Either way I hope the money is spent somewhere in the comic book community.
I ordered a bunch of stuff, so we’ll see what happens. They already shipped one of them (Bone), and I haven’t gotten any cancellation e-mails yet.
I don’t think I’d ever bother trying to sell comics in any form. Whenever I get a collected edition (or upgrade to a better one), I just give my issues or trades to the local library. I know they get good use because I work there!
Hey Chris,
I just wanted to say that I understand and agree with your sentiment at the end of this post. Personally, I got into “the game” of collected editions relatively recently, around the last 2-3 years or so, simply because that’s when I actually got my first “adult” job and could begin to afford things like that. Consequently, I missed out on getting books like the New X-Men and Alias Ominbuses and Absolutely Planetary. I ended up getting them eventually, but paid around $150-$200 each for them, which is a bit frustrating when they retailed for $50-$100. (I think I paid about $200 for Absolute Planetary, which is a solid 400% mark-up… I also had no reason to believe that DC would ever reprint it… ugh.) Anyway, I’m really not complaining about that, and I understand that’s the way things work. What bothers me is people buying these things, who have absolutely no interest in comic books whatsoever, and simply see me as a chump that they can make an easy buck off of.
I mean, when I first wanted to get into getting collected editions (and I think I actually e-mailed you about this for your suggestions), I debated between Masterworks/Archives or Omnibus-style stuff. And, in the end, while the Masterworks have far more material published so far, I decided I ultimately wouldn’t be able to track down all the volumes I wanted without paying ridiculous mark up prices.
I guess, for me, collected editions are all about the story. They’re supposed to be an easily accessible way for people to read stories that they would otherwise have absolutely no chance of doing so in their original format. Let’s face it, nobody would ever be able to read Action Comics #1, or Detective Comics #27, or Amazing Fantasy #15 if it weren’t for collected editions. People probably wouldn’t be able to even read stuff like Watchmen or Swamp Thing, or even Fables or Y: The Last Man without them. Contrary to what the name might suggest, collected editions are not about “collecting,” they’re about reading a story. People who actually enjoy collecting stuff, and I mean the actual process of going out and finding items and building a collection, are much more likely to do so with individual issues of comics. People who just want to read a good story are going to get collected editions, and Omnibus/Absolutes/Masterworks/Archives are simply the best reproductions/formats that are going to stand the test of time and last the longest.
It slightly disheartens me that these formats are probably going to end up becoming a speculative market just like the individual issues of older comic books, when it feels like they should be intended to correct that problem for your average reader. (Although I guess I don’t know why I’m complaining… I stand to make a fortune if that actually happens.)
Of course, I also “missed out” on the Great Amazon Sale of 2010, so maybe I’m just bitter, too… Then again, I wouldn’t have bought anything since I already own all of the titles that were mentioned in the Bleeding Cool story, and it never would have even occurred to me to buy a duplicate (or ten) simply to sell later until I read this post.
Anyway, there’s my take on this, which turned out to be much longer and more rambling-er than I had original planned. I’ll just finish it out by saying I love the podcast and the site and keep up the good stuff.
All the best,
Luke
If a book is going for $100 or more on Amazon, eBay, or other secondary market, then there must be a demand for the book. It’s up to the publishers to furnish the supply.
A speculator takes a chance as well on a product – just as ticket brokers do for concerts and sporting events. They are not forcing anyone to buy things at elevated prices.
That’s whay I don’t buy anymore on resellers and ebay nowadays… tickets sellers are the worst for that… huge concerts are sold out in a week and ohhh surprise 2 or 3 times the price they show on ebay….
I can understand for error like that since ticket concerts are making a shortage in order to resell heavily.
But in that case I do what should be done if you don’t condone that kind of thing.
I do not buy from ebay or sellers unless it is the price you could have snagged it (iE 15 bucks) or I go and Buy it more expensively at a professionnal seller.
But of course as long as people keep on buying cheap er than real prices or are willing to pay triple for something ‘rare’..
As a friend of mine used to say… with time and money who can get anything… just how long you can wait and how much you’re willing to pay to get the stuff you want….
I ended up with over 30 books from that Amazon glitch — no doubles, nothing I already owned, just amazing deals on Terry and the Pirates, Herbie the Fat Fury, King Aroo, and the Ultimates Omnibus (along with dozens of Dark Horse omnibi).
And I do agree with you — it’s sleazy to speculate and resell purely for profit.
It’s like the people buying up all the tickets for Comic-Con, so they can turn around (after creating a false shortage of tickets) and make money off other people. It’s the reason the baseball card market died. It’s the reason comics sucked in the 1990s.
I can understand why people would want to do it — making a fast buck is tempting — but I tend to believe that the best way to make money is to work for it. Not just take advantage of the mistakes of others.
Though I took advantage of the mistakes of others to get a ton of great comics to read, so there you go.