Jun 30This week’s news for 2010-06-30
Last weekend’s comic delivery was late (this shipment turned up on the Monday rather than the always hoped for Saturday appearance). It marked the first delayed shipment since the Mk1 back office was taken over by boxes and boxes (and boxes and boxes) of back issue comics. So instead of new comics we unpacked new old comics! From now on every delayed delivery weekend (when it comes to international freight anything can muck the schedule up between LA and Hamilton via Tahiti!) we will be sorting, grading pricing and putting to shelf these back issue comics. One thing we won’t be doing though is cataloging them. Why not? Well there’s no point. The back issues will be priced to move in bulk ($7.00 each, 2 for $12.00 or 5 for $24.00). A catalogue is only as good as the people keeping the info up to date – and to be perfectly honest the thought of inventory controlling thousands of older non-barcoded comics is more than a little daunting. I have no plans to sell the bulk of these issues online – so cataloging would really be an academic exercise at best.
Why not online? Simple economics. My definition of retailer frustration is selling a $7.00 comic and than spending $30.00 worth of staff hours finding the comic because somebody has misfiled the issue. By all means send me your want lists and I (or someone much like me) will check the processed back issues for your request (note the very carefully chosen words there)…alas the combo price break won’t be on offer for want list hunting (for the aforementioned expensive staff hours reason and because we will no doubt spend an inordinate amount of time back and forwards with – have you got this, and if not that have you got this – emails). On a related note Specific Want Lists are good (Nick Fury Agent of Shield #1, 3 & #22). General want lists are bad (awesome comics with cool covers from the 1960s). No doubt there are some reading this that think “he just wants us to visit the shop” and you would be right – I view this new back issue section as one more feather in the Mark One cap. We get lots of feedback about how good the Mk1 shop is from international and NZ wide visitors – so I’m certainly not ashamed in asking everybody to pay a visit or take a detour off state highway one if you are in the vicinity. I will be listing the cream of the crop direct to trademe – along with any significant consecutive runs – so keeping an eye on our listings would be a good idea for those further afield.
The new back issue section is the back wall of the shop – eventually it will take over the old curtained off changing room courtesy of filing boxes organised via title. I’m not looking to purchase any more back issue collections (it took the whole weekend to deal with the first 500 odd – I’m pretty sure we will still be sorting these comics out this time next year!) But a good response and who knows? A successful first month might generate new staff hours for the second month! And a good second month might give me a budget to go buying! Watch this space…
So will this weekend’s comics be new comics like these or new old comics? Watch the website to find out!
Last weekend’s comic delivery was late (this shipment turned up on the Monday rather than the always hoped for Saturday appearance). It marked the first delayed shipment since the Mk1 back office was taken over by boxes and boxes (and boxes and boxes) of back issue comics. So instead of new comics we unpacked new old comics! From now on every delayed delivery weekend (when it comes to international freight anything can muck the schedule up between LA and Hamilton via Tahiti!) we will be sorting, grading pricing and putting to shelf these back issue comics. One thing we won’t be doing though is cataloging them. Why not? Well there’s no point. The back issues will be priced to move in bulk ($7.00 each, 2 for $12.00 or 5 for $24.00) and a catalogue is only as good as the people keeping the info up to date. To be perfectly honest the thought of inventory controlling thousands of older non-barcoded comics is more than a little daunting. I have no plans to sell the bulk of these issues online – so cataloging would really be an academic exercise at best.
Why not online? Simple economics. My definition of retailer frustration is selling a $7.00 comic and than spending $30.00 worth of staff hours finding the comic because somebody has misfiled the issue. By all means send me your want lists and I (or someone much like me) will check the processed back issues for your request (note the very carefully chosen words there)…alas the combo price break won’t be on offer for want list hunting (for the aforementioned expensive staff hours reason and because we will no doubt spend an inordinate amount of time back and forwards with – have you got this, and if not that have you got this – emails). On a related note Specific Want Lists are good (Nick Fury Agent of Shield #1, 3 & #22). General want lists are bad (awesome comics with cool covers from the 1960s). No doubt there are some reading this that think “he just wants us to visit the shop” and you would be right – I view this new back issue section as one more feather in the Mark One cap. We get lots of feedback about how good the Mk1 shop is from international and NZ wide visitors – so I’m certainly not ashamed in asking everybody to pay a visit or take a detour off state highway one if you are in the vicinity. I will be listing the cream of the crop direct to trademe – along with any significant consecutive runs - so keeping an eye on our listings would be a good idea for those further afield.
The new back issue section is the back wall of the shop – eventually it will take over the old curtained off changing room courtesy of filing boxes organised via title. I’m not looking to purchase any more back issue collections (it took the whole weekend to deal with the first 500 odd – I’m pretty sure we will still be sorting these comics out this time next year!) But a good response and who knows? A successful first month might generate new staff hours for the second month! And a good second month might give me a budget to go buying! Watch this space…
So will this weekend’s comics be new comics like these or new old comics? Watch the website to find out!
- New Halo & Marvel Encyclopedias on shelf now http://ow.ly/223kx – and Yugioh Gold Series 3 arrived (cardboard gold… but still!) http://ow.ly/i/2cou
- A fan was missing their dose of Lobo mayhem - @Docbhoy suggested: how about The Boys by Garth Ennis for a bit of Lobo-like outrageousness? Great suggestion – lots of Garth Ennis in the Mk1 web store http://ow.ly/22sjr
- I couldn’t tweet, facebook, buzz or wordpress blog without HootSuite – and the new 5 version with Google Analytics is smarter than KITT in Knight Rider. Even without The Hoff. http://hootsuite.com/hoot5 – if you social mediate try hootsuite today!
- Lots of those Free Comic Book Day $10 off a Graphic Novel vouchers have been turning up – I posted a tweet reminder that it’s the last weekend those are valid – seems only fair I should newsletter announce as well! Mention the password “cavemonkey” and your $10.00 off voucher will be magically valid for this weekend as well.
- Can Mk1 convince it’s legion of Phantom newsprint $2.50 phantom fans to take a detour and have a gander at the glossy Alex Ross version? Check out the Last Phantom story here. I have my doubts as – believe it or not the Phantom fans are some of the biggest complainers about their chosen comic price! http://ow.ly/i/2eyl
- Latest Wargames Illustrated magazine on shelf for the weekend - here’s the cover http://ow.ly/i/2eOv
- August Previews – Made my picks – now it’s your turn! Highlights and links follow! http://ow.ly/23rVF
- Warmachine Forces of Cryx arrived early this week – shipment details can be viewed here.
- D&D new arrivals (spot the Penny Arcade cover!) Here’s a link to the post.
- I’ve started using Buzz to announce some of Mk1′s more nerdy (said with much love!) announcements – Here’s a link to our Buzz posts. I will eventually work these into our newsletter summary as soon as I choose a good buzz app to view and generate said summarys… any suggestions?
- Next Weekends Cover gallery is up on the Mk1 site – featuring White Lantern Rings at long last.. http://ow.ly/242Zl
- Halo 3 Action Figures on shelf now! http://ow.ly/24vHS as is last week’s comic shipment.. http://ow.ly/24vJA
- Victoria Frances fans should check out a new Art book on Mk1′s shelf right now (not VF but certainly in the same genre!)
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