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Post by humanbelly on Dec 3, 2009 6:07:58 GMT -5
You know, I'm SURE most folks must be aware of this, but Marvel's current in-house subscriptions deliver the books for less than half the cover price. Currently/Limited Time, it's $18.00 for 12 issues ($1.50/issue). I've never subscribed through a comic shop, so I've no idea how those rates generally compare. Now, that rate is supposedly for current subscribers, but one would assume that any solid, demanding consumer could get that rate. They're not perfect-- but the quality of packaging and shipping schedules have been VASTLY improved over the last few years.
Ironically, I sat down to renew/extend some titles recently, and found that I just wasn't interested enough in investing even that low rate in more than 5 or 6 titles (and am COMPLETELY regretting going w/ Amazing Spider-Man even as we speak. Omigod, this current artist is horribly unsuited for superhero comics).
There 'tis, for what it's worth-
HB
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Post by woodside on Dec 3, 2009 18:41:02 GMT -5
WOW. Half price? Forgive my cynism (rare as it is in these parts), I can't imagine that's going to last much longer.
I had a Marvel subscription up until about 2001 and it was awful. Comics would often arrive weeks late and would be beaten up during delivery. Sometimes they would even skip a month! Most months, I'd just buy the comic at the store anyways.
But, granted, that was almost a decade ago, maybe things have changed since then.
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Post by humanbelly on Dec 3, 2009 21:05:59 GMT -5
WOW. Half price? Forgive my cynism (rare as it is in these parts), I can't imagine that's going to last much longer. I had a Marvel subscription up until about 2001 and it was awful. Comics would often arrive weeks late and would be beaten up during delivery. Sometimes they would even skip a month! Most months, I'd just buy the comic at the store anyways. But, granted, that was almost a decade ago, maybe things have changed since then. Well, of course, it is wholly dependant on the quality of your local postal delivery--- and I do still sometimes get issues out of order--- but the years of shredded, coverless, torn copies seem to be largely in the past 'round here. My guess is that the price will probably jump soon, but really, the "normal" rate has sat at $19.97 for years & years & years-- which would still be truly half-price, yes? And my gut tells me that there MUST be a big readership attrition in the offing w/ this latest outrageous price hike, and it HAS to be worthwhile to hang onto this small, solid, for-sure group of readers, even if they're slim on the profit-margin. Any industry-savvy folks have a thought on that? HB
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Post by sharkar on Dec 14, 2009 18:57:54 GMT -5
...And my gut tells me that there MUST be a big readership attrition in the offing w/ this latest outrageous price hike, and it HAS to be worthwhile to hang onto this small, solid, for-sure group of readers, even if they're slim on the profit-margin. Any industry-savvy folks have a thought on that? I'd guess that comics are like non-comic book periodicals (magazines) when it comes to the decades-old practice of offering subscriptions at deep discounts: in addition to guaranteeing a steady, "money up front" readership (as you mentioned), subscriptions provide ready-made demographic info that is useful for securing advertising rates and attracting new clients; with a minimum number of subscribers required for the company to receive breaks on mail rates, etc. You know, I was always a sucker for those "$12 for 12 issues" solicitations (for "real" magazines, not comics)...but eventually I stopped subscribing because the magazines would usually arrive in my mail well after they were available in stores!
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Post by dlw66 on Dec 23, 2009 13:39:38 GMT -5
I haven't bought a new comic in over a year. I'm still alive -- wasn't sure I would be. Now when I look at the solicitations each month, I'm just like, "Meh..." Just not interested in all the convolution and changes that have befallen my childhood friends.
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Post by humanbelly on Dec 23, 2009 16:31:43 GMT -5
Aaaaaaaand the price has popped back up to the normal $19.97 rate, anyhoo. And at this point I feel that it's a GROSS waste of money for Amazing Spider-man, in particular. . .
HB
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