The change in Tokyopop's shipping made in conjunction with Diamond's new direct market exclusive (see 'Diamond Has Tokyopop Exclusive for Directs') took effect in May, according to Tokyopop COO John Parker.  Diamond Comic Distributors is now shipped at the same time as Client Distribution Services, Tokyopop's bookstore distributor.  As Diamond is shipping its comic store accounts, CDS is shipping book chain distribution centers (except for some Walden's stores, which are dropshipped).  Depending on the turnaround times at CDS, book chain DCs, and at Diamond, comic stores should come out ahead of most bookstores at least some of the time. 

Tokyopop isn't the only manga publisher with which there have been timing issues between the comic store and bookstore channels.  Diamond VP Marketing Communications said that Diamond was '...in discussions with both Viz and Random House to improve their delivery times to the comic store market too.'

Tokyopop is also working to improve Diamond's inventory of Tokyopop books by flooring inventory at the distributor.  In this arrangement, Tokyopop is placing some of its inventory at Diamond in order to have product closer to the market for reorders and backlist orders.