Strange things afoot in online purchasing

[andrewducker]

Traditionally speaking my buying of trade paperbacks has followed a simple rule:
Forbidden Planet = Bloody Expensive, Amazon = Good Value
However, this doesn't seem to apply for Forbidden Planet's online catalogue, where the prices seem to frequently undercut Amazon and they get things sooner - sometimes months sooner.

Take, for example the new Absolute Death hardcover.  Amazon have it for £52.50 - FP Online have it for £50.25 (plus £1 shipping).  So £1 cheaper at FP - big deal.  Except that Amazon have it showing as in stock from the 18th of December, and Forbidden Planet delivered it to my door an hour and a half ago (huzzah for Julie being in slaving over her stats).

I assume that Direct Market comics just run ahead of book stores - which you wouldn't think Amazon would be happy about.  I wonder how long that will last.

Comments

[a-pawson.livejournal.com]

Direct Market stores do not have returns rights, something any other retailer (including Amazon) would insist on. Allowing all retaillers to sell new releases on the same date would remove any advantage the DM stores have, and cause all sorts of financial problems for the publishers.

[cybik.livejournal.com]

If I were a publisher I'd be wary of dealing with Amazon. They're not particularly nice..

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

Must check out their price for the latest volumes of Charley's War.