Michael Churchill of Pulp Nouveau Comix in Canandaigua, New York saw the recent ICv2 report on graphic novel sales (see "Comics Down Slightly in February") and offers a possible explanation why graphic novel sales fell for the first time in February 2009:In the latest ICv2 you report that, "Graphic novel sales in the direct market declined for the first time since May of 2008, falling a substantial 9%, a decline that would have been much steeper if not for the presence of
Watchmen, which sold nearly twice as many copies as the #2 title,
Batman RIP."
I'm guessing that those are numbers from Diamond. If that's the case, I've got a possible explanation. In my store, I've turned to other sources for at least half of my graphic novel purchases. Baker & Taylor offers:
- Equal (or better) discounts on GNs from most publishers who aren't exclusive to Diamond.
- Better shipping rates.
- I can place an order any time and (if I meet a small minimum number of items) I can get it shipped right away for $2.00.
- I can return unsold books.
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