Will CrossGen go exclusive with Diamond?  Let's hope not for the sake of the industry.  Diamond controls the comic and many of the specialty market products like a dictator and with 95% or more of the total comic distribution business who can challenge them.  What this means for consumers is higher prices and late or slow release on many items that are and are not exclusive to them.

Take a look at the DC Direct line of toys and statues for example and you will see what an exclusive deal can mean to both the publisher and distributor in terms of pricing.  Many of the toys are way overpriced and if Diamond is out of stock there is nowhere else to go and buy it.  DC and Diamond make a higher profit margin with there 'exclusive' deal and it make good business sense for them to due it so it's tough to fault a publisher for wanting to make more money.

When it comes to magazines and video/DVD product Diamond can't keep a street date to save their lives.  Many of the magazines arrive 1-3 weeks after they appear on the newsstand and since they are not returnable retailers have to take the loss.  Most of these items are listed as a caution 4 which means Diamond will ship when they can, if they can, or as it fits into there shipping schedule.

Most retailers will not speak out publicly but almost every retailer I know dose not like Diamond.

Not to jump all over Diamond's case as they have done a great job with the Previews catalogue and bringing together a large selection of products for comic stores to choose from.  What most retailers would like for Diamond to due is improve release dates or make more items returnable if the street date is not met.  This is where Diamond can flex their muscles on publishers to improve the release problems associated with many non comic book items.

A note to CrossGen and all other publishers:  'Only competition will make Diamond a better company and the industry stronger'.

Thank you for the opportunity to sound off.