What is your LCS doing about Valiant Direct?

thePike · Post by **thePike** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:03 pm

As for mine... They're not to optimistic at this point.

I brought it up today when I went in to pick up some comics supplies and they didn't seem very interested in it at this point. They said they wouldn't completely write it off, but for the moment I just don't think they have the customer base for it (their customer base for Valiant titles being only me). They tend to order new comics to fill orders (it's a small shop in a small town) so maybe if DNV picks up...

In a way, I'm disappointed, and in another, I'm not. I'm disappointed because LCS recognition is one great way to get noticed in the comics world today, and I hope that all the comic shops aren't taking my LCS's approach.

On the other hand, I was considering going to a Comic-Subscription Service anyway (before the Diamond dropout) for any regular DNV titles. I love support my lCS, but paying $1.76 an issue as opposed to $2.99 does allow me to purchase more comics (even if I do only get them once a month).

What is everyone else experience with the Diamond-dropout and their LCS's reaction?

Second_Death · Post by **Second_Death** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:35 pm

Just forwarded my shop's info to VEI so a final decision has obviously not been made yet. I can definitely say however that he will be ordering the HC's via Valiant Retailer Direct even if I have to order extra copies to get them to do it. We do what we must.

daysdreamscomics wrote: make sure your local retailer gets the info from VEI that they need to be able to place an order, and if they don't, make sure to report the store info to VEI so they can get in contact with your retailer.

we are all involved in this process whether we like it or not. we are the voice of valiant, so be heard!

- zach

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:35 pm

My LCS owner said to me today that it is not cost effective use VRD.

He will not get the discounts that he would normally get with Diamond. So would be losing money.

Sad to say that I agree with him. The name of the game is to make money.

ckb · Post by **ckb** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 5:14 pm

jedimarley wrote:My LCS owner said to me today that it is not cost effective use VRD.

He will not get the discounts that he would normally get with Diamond. So would be losing money.

Sad to say that I agree with him. The name of the game is to make money.

Looking at Diamond's discount schedule, I don't see how that's possible. Is this Mile High or some huge retailer or something? 56% the VEI is offering seems much better than what I could get if I signed up with Diamond.

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 5:20 pm

ckb wrote:
jedimarley wrote:My LCS owner said to me today that it is not cost effective use VRD.

He will not get the discounts that he would normally get with Diamond. So would be losing money.

Sad to say that I agree with him. The name of the game is to make money.
Looking at Diamond's discount schedule, I don't see how that's possible. Is this Mile High or some huge retailer or something? 56% the VEI is offering seems much better than what I could get if I signed up with Diamond.

Per how many comics ordered?

paradise · Post by **paradise** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:07 am

jedimarley wrote:My LCS owner said to me today that it is not cost effective use VRD.

He will not get the discounts that he would normally get with Diamond. So would be losing money.

Sad to say that I agree with him. The name of the game is to make money.

He's a lier, or he does not understand math. Diamond offered them at 45% off, and even with the silly $2 per book shipping from Valiant Direct it's still 48% off, so the math does not add up. We are talking to Valiant right now about special shipping rate for a larger purchase. If any of you guys need the books, call me up at the store tomorrow (wednesday) and you can order for 25% off cover price, plus media shipping. The more you order the cheaper it will be and the more I will get from Valiant to sell to my customers and you. Mine is the first one out of the box, the rest is for sale

(818) 999-9455 open 11-8 pacific time, ask to talk to Edward (me).

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:14 am

paradise wrote:We are talking to Valiant right now about special shipping rate for a larger purchase. If any of you guys need the books, call me up at the store tomorrow (wednesday) and you can order for 25% off cover price, plus media shipping. The more you order the cheaper it will be and the more I will get from Valiant to sell to my customers and you. Mine is the first one out of the box, the rest is for sale (818) 999-9455 open 11-8 pacific time, ask to talk to Edward (me).

Very cool of you!

-slym

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:34 am

paradise wrote:
jedimarley wrote:My LCS owner said to me today that it is not cost effective use VRD.

He will not get the discounts that he would normally get with Diamond. So would be losing money.

Sad to say that I agree with him. The name of the game is to make money.
He's a lier, or he does not understand math. Diamond offered them at 45% off, and even with the silly $2 per book shipping from Valiant Direct it's still 48% off, so the math does not add up. We are talking to Valiant right now about special shipping rate for a larger purchase. If any of you guys need the books, call me up at the store tomorrow (wednesday) and you can order for 25% off cover price, plus media shipping. The more you order the cheaper it will be and the more I will get from Valiant to sell to my customers and you. Mine is the first one out of the box, the rest is for sale (818) 999-9455 open 11-8 pacific time, ask to talk to Edward (me).

Liar or not. I'm the only costumer he has that is interested in anything that VEI puts out. I think that is also a major reason that he will not deal with this right now.

thePike · Post by **thePike** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:11 am

jedimarley wrote:Liar or not. I'm the only costumer he has that is interested in anything that VEI puts out. I think that is also a major reason that he will not deal with this right now.

I think this is the same boat I am in. Do they still get a discount if they only order 1?

It's okay though, my LCS said that they weren't completely against the idea of going to VRD, I think he just needs enough customers to get in on the action. Right now, his customer base for this project is "1" and it's me.

paradise · Post by **paradise** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:38 am

thePike wrote:
jedimarley wrote:Liar or not. I'm the only costumer he has that is interested in anything that VEI puts out. I think that is also a major reason that he will not deal with this right now.
I think this is the same boat I am in. Do they still get a discount if they only order 1?

It's okay though, my LCS said that they weren't completely against the idea of going to VRD, I think he just needs enough customers to get in on the action. Right now, his customer base for this project is "1" and it's me.

Yes, all they have to do is verify they are a diamond account, shipping is flat $2 per book. It does not matter, there are NO excuses.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:37 am

I emailed my LCS two days ago about reordering the book thru Valiant Direct and have not got a response yet. He usually contacts me right away if I have a question.

bnasty71 · Post by **bnasty71** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:02 pm

Just got off the phone with my LCS,he said he that he was gonna place the orders with Valiant Direct!!!

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:13 pm

thePike wrote:It's okay though, my LCS said that they weren't completely against the idea of going to VRD, I think he just needs enough customers to get in on the action. Right now, his customer base for this project is "1" and it's me.

Yep. Same here.
Spoke with him today. Again. One customer for one book for all the headaches that come with another distributor isn't worth the time and aggravation.
His words. Not mine.

Second_Death · Post by **Second_Death** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:17 pm

jedimarley wrote:
thePike wrote:It's okay though, my LCS said that they weren't completely against the idea of going to VRD, I think he just needs enough customers to get in on the action. Right now, his customer base for this project is "1" and it's me.
Yep. Same here.
Spoke with him today. Again. One customer for one book for all the headaches that come with another distributor isn't worth the time and aggravation.
His words. Not mine.

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:55 pm

jedimarley wrote:
thePike wrote:It's okay though, my LCS said that they weren't completely against the idea of going to VRD, I think he just needs enough customers to get in on the action. Right now, his customer base for this project is "1" and it's me.
Yep. Same here.
Spoke with him today. Again. One customer for one book for all the headaches that come with another distributor isn't worth the time and aggravation.
His words. Not mine.

That's what I figured we'd here from most LCSs.

paradise · Post by **paradise** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:31 pm

It does not matter, as long as Valiant verifies them as a store, they can order one copy it's fine. Shipping PER copy does not get better till about 10 copies, so there is no economy of scale there.

magnusr · Post by **magnusr** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:34 am

Mine is working on it, which is great. I'm not sure about the exact problem, but it seems the major issue is that VEI doesn't accept the payment method that works for my shop. Probably a complication from being outside the US.

/Magnus

Second_Death · Post by **Second_Death** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:17 pm

Called my shop today to see what they decided to do with the Valiant Retailer Direct info I had sent to them. Their order has been placed. The owner was out so I'm not sure how many extras they ordered above the number I requested but when I talked to him about VRD a couple of days ago he said he would order one or two extra in addition to my copies. Chalk up a win for VEI!

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 3:17 pm

paradise wrote:It does not matter, as long as Valiant verifies them as a store, they can order one copy it's fine. Shipping PER copy does not get better till about 10 copies, so there is no economy of scale there.

I think what jedi's lcs is saying is that -unlike you, who is obviously very proactive of your support of VALIANT which is to be commended

- they do not give a flying fck whether it is possible or not to order ONE copy or how cheap its gonna be. They'd rather save the time scratching out another order form just for ONE fickin book.

And I highly anticipate *unfortunately* this will be the answer heard across the majority of LCS.

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:47 pm

cobra_commander wrote:
paradise wrote:It does not matter, as long as Valiant verifies them as a store, they can order one copy it's fine. Shipping PER copy does not get better till about 10 copies, so there is no economy of scale there.
I think what jedi's lcs is saying is that -unlike you, who is obviously very proactive of your support of VALIANT which is to be commended - they do not give a flying fck whether it is possible or not to order ONE copy or how cheap its gonna be. They'd rather save the time scratching out another order form just for ONE fickin book.

And I highly anticipate *unfortunately* this will be the answer heard across the majority of LCS.

I think another major factor in my situation is that I don't buy enough comics from him.
I spend less then $10 a month.
And I never buy back issues from him.

daydreamscomics · Post by **daydreamscomics** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:18 pm

thePike wrote:
jedimarley wrote:Liar or not. I'm the only costumer he has that is interested in anything that VEI puts out. I think that is also a major reason that he will not deal with this right now.
I think this is the same boat I am in. Do they still get a discount if they only order 1?

It's okay though, my LCS said that they weren't completely against the idea of going to VRD, I think he just needs enough customers to get in on the action. Right now, his customer base for this project is "1" and it's me.

it shouldn't matter if 1 person wants it or 100.

HE'S TURNING DOWN TWO THINGS:

1) a guarenteed sale
2) the chance to make a customer satisfied shopping at his store

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED???

daydreamscomics · Post by **daydreamscomics** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:20 pm

jedimarley wrote:
thePike wrote:It's okay though, my LCS said that they weren't completely against the idea of going to VRD, I think he just needs enough customers to get in on the action. Right now, his customer base for this project is "1" and it's me.
Yep. Same here.
Spoke with him today. Again. One customer for one book for all the headaches that come with another distributor isn't worth the time and aggravation.
His words. Not mine.

the "headache" includes:

clicking on a link
entering a quantity
entering a password
clicking a "pay now" button

HOLY *SQUEE*, THAT'S GONNA TAKE WHAT, 1 MINUTE TOPS?

your retailer can eat *SQUEE*

siren3-4 · Post by **siren3-4** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:29 pm

daydreamscomics wrote:
jedimarley wrote:
thePike wrote:It's okay though, my LCS said that they weren't completely against the idea of going to VRD, I think he just needs enough customers to get in on the action. Right now, his customer base for this project is "1" and it's me.
Yep. Same here.
Spoke with him today. Again. One customer for one book for all the headaches that come with another distributor isn't worth the time and aggravation.
His words. Not mine.
the "headache" includes:

clicking on a link
entering a quantity
entering a password
clicking a "pay now" button

HOLY *SQUEE*, THAT'S GONNA TAKE WHAT, 1 MINUTE TOPS?

your retailer can eat *SQUEE*

Lazy store owners is bad for the industry . . .

But people like things easy . . . I am still getting my LCS to put my copy on display for a few weeks . . hopefully we can create some more buzz !!!

etos45 · Post by **etos45** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:36 pm

My LCS is apparently aware of Valiants distribution method, but said that no one has told him how to do it. I think next week I'm going to try and point him in the right direction. I'm all for saving money on comics, but I'm about supporting the LCS more right now... so I'd rather see him get them.

daydreamscomics · Post by **daydreamscomics** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:45 pm

etos45 wrote:My LCS is apparently aware of Valiants distribution method, but said that no one has told him how to do it. I think next week I'm going to try and point him in the right direction. I'm all for saving money on comics, but I'm about supporting the LCS more right now... so I'd rather see him get them.

if you have all of the stores info (mainly phone # or email) you can take a step out the of equation and email VRD with the info so they can contact your retailer and have their info for future releases

inquiries@valiantentertainment.com

ValiantFans.com Board - Since 2004

What is your LCS doing about Valiant Direct?

What is your LCS doing about Valiant Direct?

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