Mark Amoroso of Blackthorn Gamecenter in Dickson, Tennessee saw our recent article on Ingram comic service (see 'Ingram Fast Enough on Marvels for Comic Stores?') and was prompted to write about his experience with Ingram.  He likes Ingram, and doesn't particularly worry about the release date.

 

Does it really matter about receiving comics from Ingram before or on the same date as Diamond?  I thought the ultimate goal was to develop readers.  If stores have product on the shelf then there is a better chance of developing new readers.  Newsstand copies do not always arrive early or on the same day.  Many times newsstand comics arrive late and barely have a weekend of shelf time before for they are due for return. 

 

I think that the people who are complaining either haven't thought of establishing an account with Ingram (or another newsstand supplier) or are the larger stores who feel they should control the market.  I, for one, get a lousy discount from Marvel (35%).  Marvel can always say, 'order more comics.'  To which I could reply, 'to sell to whom and with what money?'  I know I don't have extra boxes of cash laying around in the back room to risk on rack titles.  With newsstand I can afford the risk and hope to develop new readers (healthy for us all).  My discount from Ingram is 40%, the books are returnable, I have an open account, and many times I qualify for free freight.  Diamond sure doesn't offer all these features. 

 

In addition, the service from the new Diamond Memphis warehouse is horrible.  Many weeks I am forced to drive over forty miles to another retailer to buy Marvels that have not been packed by the Memphis crew.  The books go on backorder (which never arrive) and I'm forced to pick up the books at full price, or marked-up, plus tax!  So much for the overprint policy.  I really think the newsstand thing is working fine. The street date issue is really minor and we all need to concentrate on more important issues.