Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Comics, diamond, distribution

Baker & Taylor Takes On Diamond Distribution For Graphic Novels

Published Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:00:28 -0500

Last updated Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:29:39 -0500

Diamond Comics Distribution and Diamond Books Distribution, the leading comics distributor in Northern America, generally gives retailers around 40-55% discount plus shipping on the comics, trade paperbacks and graphic novels they order, sold on non-returnable terms. Stores order the comics, they sell the comics and make the profit, and anything they don't sell, well, they're stuck with. The way of the world.

And for reordering books, Diamond add an extra 3% charge. Just so you'll order more up front next time.

But this week, book distributor Baker & Taylor have stepped up to offer a real alternative. Already popular with a number of retailers for stocking certain graphic novels in depth, with reasonable discount terms and the benefit of returnability, this week they've made some changes.

Firstly, they've dramatically risen their discount so that it's closer to Diamond on certain titles.

Shipping is now $2.50, no matter how many books are ordered, no matter how heavy.

Paying early gives retailers an added discount. And "not yet published" advance orders get a further discount.

There are also extra discounts for orering more than five or more than ten copies of a book.

Which means for titles from such as Boom and Avatar books, factoring in shipping and reorder charges, Baker & Taylor are now much cheaper to ordering books, than Diamond. And advance orders for bigger publishers are level pegging with Diamond, in terms of discount.

And all the stock is returnable too, albeit with a restocking fee.

So if you are an American comics retailer, and you don't have an account with Baker & Taylor… well. What's wrong with you?

And what will Diamond do in retailiation?

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