Diamond Comic Distributors is planning to launch an online reorder service, which will give retailers with Internet access the ability to place reorders any time of the day or night (excluding the regularly scheduled online maintenance periods).  Retailers will be able to enter their orders and receive instant confirmation (both on-screen and via e-mail), attach their own purchase order numbers to the transaction, and decide on shipping arrangements.  Diamond has also installed a nice feature that will keep the order active for up to 80 minutes without any user activity, which will be very useful if a retailer gets disconnected from the web during the ordering process.

 

Retailers will be able to search for items by both the Diamond item code number and by title.  Dealers will also have the option to backorder items that are not in stock.  'One click' online help will be available for nearly every phase of the ordering program.  The program is currently undergoing extensive testing.  Diamond is expected to make an official announcement of its debut very shortly.

 

With the growing importance of graphic novels, toys, games, and DVDs, reorders are playing an increasing role in the success of all pop culture stores.  The instant access of Internet ordering will give savvy retailers a leg up on the competition.  Ideally retailers can stock lightly on many perennial 'evergreen' items and reorder almost instantly online as items sell out (or sell down to 'order' levels).  If Diamond's system works as well as it has been described, it could usher in a new era in pop culture retailing.
 
This brings Diamond up to the level of on-line service enjoyed by customers of its sister company Alliance, which already takes reorders and provides availability information on-line.