Posted in: Comics | Tagged: coronavirus comics, diamond, distributor wars

Diamond to Launch Weekly Replenishment Orders for Comic Stores

Right now, comic book retailers receive their backlist orders – orders for already published comic books and collections – as part of their weekly shipments for new comics. But it seems that is changing – for US customers at least. Diamond Comic Distributors has told retailers that they will instead be receiving a new, 'weekly replenishment order' for their backlist.

"Under this new procedure, customer reorders will now arrive separately from their weekly shipments," said Diamond Retailer Services Department Executive Director Nance Romer. "Our customers will receive their reorders more quickly and, thanks to the packing list included in each box, can process their shipments more easily — and put product out for sale faster."

But won't that cost more in terms of shipping? Diamond says that they are "working to keep shipping costs under the new weekly replenishment procedure comparable to the existing cost of prepack orders, so retailers will see little change in their fixed costs due to this change."

But why is this happening?

"The numerous steps involved in reshipping backlist reorders with regular weekly shipments — picking, transporting them to customers' local Distribution Centers, then marrying them with local shipments — sometimes resulted in delays between ordering and delivery, damages from repeated handling, and other inefficiencies," said Geppi Family Enterprises Chief Logistics Officer Shawn Hamrick. "By implementing weekly replenishment orders, we expect to reduce the potential for damages, delays and similar occurrences. These changes will complement the improvements we're seeing from our switch to stronger, redesigned boxes and further improve service to our customers."

Here's hoping. Have some Weekly Replenishment bulletpoints:

• The new weekly order cutoff time is Wednesday at 5 PM ET.
• The first week of replenishment orders will begin with items that carry a cut-off date of March 18th.
• Orders will arrive to nearly all retailers within 4-6 business days, with many getting product for sale on the first weekend following the order's cut-off date.
• The product costs and accompanying freight will be reflected on the next invoice, giving retailers time to sell the product before invoicing arrives.
• Each box in the replenishment order will include a packing list.
• Retailers can still place Direct Ship reorders as they do now, with no change to the process.
• The last day to place a prepack reship order will be March 12th at the usual cutoff times.

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