Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Comics, diamond, distributors, haven

Haven Distributors Closes Its Doors

Published Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:00:15 -0500

Last updated Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:46:22 -0500

When Diamond most recently changed their terms of service to publishers, they made it clear that niche books had less of a place with the monopoly distributor, and saw a number of publishers, pull books, close down or reduce their product range.

At which point, Haven Distributors stepped up. Having acquired another distributor, Cold Cut, they systematically challenged Diamond on price, on availability and on product. While they were unable to carry all the exclusive-to-Diamond publishers, such as Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, IDW and more, they stocked everyone else at better discount levels as well as comics that Diamond wouldn't carry. They would also regularly have a better stock on less high profile books as well, leading retailers to turn to them when Diamond let them down.

The question was often asked, how can Haven provide such comics, and at better rates, but Diamond, a much larger company, can't?

Well the answer seems to be that Haven can't either. Or not any more. A combination of a shrinking economy and the DC Relaunch shifting retailer dollars away from indie books to the New 52 didn't help. And now Haven is closing its doors.

They will continue taking orders until October 23rd and will fill all orders for October new releases. Right now, Haven has marked down stock from 55% off to 85% off, so retailers, now is the time to pretend that you are a Borders customer in those last days and strip the place bare.

And then Diamond shall rule the earth.

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