This is my first post, so I want to thank Bob and John for their excellent show.
One comment that I hear a lot on the show is some variation of "it's a shame this title isn't getting more readers."
And invariably, its a title I'm not reading, so I'm usually guilty as charged. But for me, the decision to buy or skip over a title boils down to economics. I simply can't afford to "support" (I hate that word, because it makes comics look like charity cases) every good title out there. Heck, I can barely afford to buy the half dozen titles on my tiny pull list.
I think there only a couple of ways for every quality title to do good numbers:
1. If all comic fans started buying dozens of titles a week
2. If the number of comic fans was increased to support the amount of material
Neither one is likely to happen soon. I believe there are some depressing trends in comics that, put together, don't bode well for creators or publishers. First, there is a steadily shrinking set of buyers. Two, the market is flooded with material every month, which dilutes those buyers even further. Three, the economy is terrible. Four, comic prices seem to be on the verge of increasing across the board -- we're seeing lots of 4 and 5 dollar comics already, and the 3-dollar price point has been around for almost five years, a situation that can't hold forever.
Just some thoughts I wanted to put up for discussion. I guess for me, its no surprise at all when an Eisner-winning title can't crack 5,000-10,000 units in sales. There's simply fewer buyers, and many of us have less money to spend. I'm kind of baffled that John and Bob seem amazed at some of the numbers, when it makes perfect sense to me.
Comic Budgets vs. Comic Readership
Moderator: JohnMayo
Yeah, the "it's a shame this title isn't getting more readers" is something I'm guilty of saying often.
Given that the median sales for the top 300 comics is usually around 10,000 to 12,000 units each month, I do think that most comics could and should be selling better. While I don't expect every title could be moving 50,000+ units an issue, I do think that there are a number of good titles which should be selling more than 3,000 to 5,000 units.
I completely understand that economics is a key factor here. People only have so much money that they can spend on comics. With the typical comics book having a cover price of $2.99 and many starting to be at $3.50 or $3.99, that budget can only stretch so far.
But I'm not sure that all comic fans need to start buying dozens of comics each week. I think they do need to take a closer look beyond what DC and Marvel have to offer. While I'm a huge fan of DC and Marvel, there are a ton of great comics by other publishers that are practically being ignored by too many readers and retailers.
I do agree that increasing the number of comic book readers is a great way for comics to sell more. I would hope that after a summer like this one in which almost every week had a major motion picture based on a comic book property that we've gotten a few more comic book readers. I have my doubt that has happened but I'd like to think it did.
Your point that the $2.99 price point has been around for a while and we may be reaching the need for another price hike is both valid and concerning. Every with the 40% discount I get from DCBS, a price hike from $2.99 to $3.50 or $3.99 on most DC and Marvel titles might cause me to be a bit more selective in what I get. I would imagine that it would cause most people to drop a number of titles that they consider marginal. The result would be that sales would go down. The question is if they would go down enough to offset the advantage of the price increase. I suspect the main reason we haven't seen a price increase recently is that publishers would really not like to find out how committed their readers are or aren't.
It used to be that an average comic would sell in the 300,000 to 500,000 range and cost a dollar or less. In that model, the cost of content creation is significantly less than that of printing and could be leverages over the large print run with each unit only having to cover a penny or so of the creative costs. Now, with the average title doing 20,000 or less and costing $2.99 or $3.99, the content creation cost is a larger percent of the overall cost, printing costs are more on a per unit basis because of the lower print run and there are fewer units to cover those costs. There comes a point at which is simply isn't financially viable for a publisher to continue publishing the title. The lower the sales, the less viable the title.
As for Eisner-winner or even nominated titles, my frustration is around how material which presumably is the "best of the best" for comics manages to fly under the radar of most readers and retailers. I would hope the excellence in content would has some influence on sales but that doesn't really seem to be the case.
And it isn't just Eisner-winning titles that can't crack the 10,000 mark. Outside of the premiere publishers (Dark Horse, DC, Image and Marvel) and a select handful of smaller publishers (Dynamite Entertainment and IDW), only 4 comics cracked the 10,000 mark in June: What If Fantastic Four Tribute to Mike Wieringo from Hero Initiative, No Here #0 from Avatar, Rasl #2 from Cartoon Books and Anna Mercury #2 from Avatar. Everything else from every publisher except Dark Horse, DC, Image, Marvel, Dynamite Entertainment and IDW sold under 10,000 units. If use include those six publishers, there were 117 new comics in the top 300 comics for June that sold under 10,000 units.
While the continuing decline in sales does make sense as does the economic reality that there are a limited number of comic buyers which finite amounts of money to spend on comics, I don't understand how only a small fraction of the items on the top 300 comics each month show any sort of increase in sales at all with most of those being due to sales gimmicks of one sort of another. Few titles are holding an audience and fewer still are building one.
Readers and retailers seem all too quick at times to drop a title and reluctant to try out new ones. While I understand why that is, it has been slowing killing sales. The bottom line is that there are usually more and better reasons to drop a title than to try one out.
The bar for what a title can and should be expected to do is continually being set lower and lower. Over the past few years, the phrase "standard attrition" has become accepted fact of comic book sales. There is a defeatist attitude in play here at all levels: creators, publishers, retailers and readers.
I firmly believe that comics can and should be selling better. There is a large audience out there for most comics that isn't being reached. While part of that is due to a financial barrier, a lot of it is due to ineffective marketing and promotion.
Or are we really at a point where at top selling comics can crack 250,000 units while an average title can only be expected to sell 1/10th of that or less?
Given that the median sales for the top 300 comics is usually around 10,000 to 12,000 units each month, I do think that most comics could and should be selling better. While I don't expect every title could be moving 50,000+ units an issue, I do think that there are a number of good titles which should be selling more than 3,000 to 5,000 units.
I completely understand that economics is a key factor here. People only have so much money that they can spend on comics. With the typical comics book having a cover price of $2.99 and many starting to be at $3.50 or $3.99, that budget can only stretch so far.
But I'm not sure that all comic fans need to start buying dozens of comics each week. I think they do need to take a closer look beyond what DC and Marvel have to offer. While I'm a huge fan of DC and Marvel, there are a ton of great comics by other publishers that are practically being ignored by too many readers and retailers.
I do agree that increasing the number of comic book readers is a great way for comics to sell more. I would hope that after a summer like this one in which almost every week had a major motion picture based on a comic book property that we've gotten a few more comic book readers. I have my doubt that has happened but I'd like to think it did.
Your point that the $2.99 price point has been around for a while and we may be reaching the need for another price hike is both valid and concerning. Every with the 40% discount I get from DCBS, a price hike from $2.99 to $3.50 or $3.99 on most DC and Marvel titles might cause me to be a bit more selective in what I get. I would imagine that it would cause most people to drop a number of titles that they consider marginal. The result would be that sales would go down. The question is if they would go down enough to offset the advantage of the price increase. I suspect the main reason we haven't seen a price increase recently is that publishers would really not like to find out how committed their readers are or aren't.
It used to be that an average comic would sell in the 300,000 to 500,000 range and cost a dollar or less. In that model, the cost of content creation is significantly less than that of printing and could be leverages over the large print run with each unit only having to cover a penny or so of the creative costs. Now, with the average title doing 20,000 or less and costing $2.99 or $3.99, the content creation cost is a larger percent of the overall cost, printing costs are more on a per unit basis because of the lower print run and there are fewer units to cover those costs. There comes a point at which is simply isn't financially viable for a publisher to continue publishing the title. The lower the sales, the less viable the title.
As for Eisner-winner or even nominated titles, my frustration is around how material which presumably is the "best of the best" for comics manages to fly under the radar of most readers and retailers. I would hope the excellence in content would has some influence on sales but that doesn't really seem to be the case.
And it isn't just Eisner-winning titles that can't crack the 10,000 mark. Outside of the premiere publishers (Dark Horse, DC, Image and Marvel) and a select handful of smaller publishers (Dynamite Entertainment and IDW), only 4 comics cracked the 10,000 mark in June: What If Fantastic Four Tribute to Mike Wieringo from Hero Initiative, No Here #0 from Avatar, Rasl #2 from Cartoon Books and Anna Mercury #2 from Avatar. Everything else from every publisher except Dark Horse, DC, Image, Marvel, Dynamite Entertainment and IDW sold under 10,000 units. If use include those six publishers, there were 117 new comics in the top 300 comics for June that sold under 10,000 units.
While the continuing decline in sales does make sense as does the economic reality that there are a limited number of comic buyers which finite amounts of money to spend on comics, I don't understand how only a small fraction of the items on the top 300 comics each month show any sort of increase in sales at all with most of those being due to sales gimmicks of one sort of another. Few titles are holding an audience and fewer still are building one.
Readers and retailers seem all too quick at times to drop a title and reluctant to try out new ones. While I understand why that is, it has been slowing killing sales. The bottom line is that there are usually more and better reasons to drop a title than to try one out.
The bar for what a title can and should be expected to do is continually being set lower and lower. Over the past few years, the phrase "standard attrition" has become accepted fact of comic book sales. There is a defeatist attitude in play here at all levels: creators, publishers, retailers and readers.
I firmly believe that comics can and should be selling better. There is a large audience out there for most comics that isn't being reached. While part of that is due to a financial barrier, a lot of it is due to ineffective marketing and promotion.
Or are we really at a point where at top selling comics can crack 250,000 units while an average title can only be expected to sell 1/10th of that or less?
I can't really add comment to the industry as a whole. Only my own perspective. As someone who has had a pretty drastic budget cut, I can tell you that more often than not I just have to go with my gut. I factor in personal taste to my comics buying equation. Do I like the premise? Writer? Artist? And beyond all that I am still a slave to the budget.
For instance, right now, I am enjoying Trinity. It has been a nice toe dip into the pool that is the DCU. I have become aware of a lot of side characters, and got to read about the three characters (well, two really) that I am most familiar with. However, I also know that I can't maintain picking up this title. I knew it was going to be dropped before I even started. That is a strange feeling.
It was last year when Bob and John asked for sort of a year end review. And I looked through my orders and was quite taken aback by how underwhelmed I was. I was keeping titles out of habit, and not really enjoying anything I read, until I saw Toupydoops.
One title, not even close to being from a big publisher, it really opened my eyes. I finally cut myself off from the big two. Took some time away to reevaluate. And I am happier for it. Do I wish I had my old budget, absolutely. But now I look for value and entertainment and I am feeling better for it.
Now something else unexpected that happened was that a local bookstore started backstocking all the periodicals they get that didn't sell and pricing them half off. This has been really nice when I can manage trips there. Because enough time has passed I can flip through and remember the really strong recommendations and even take a few risky choices.
I think ultimately one can only do so much. So there has to be a happy medium of what you like and new things to seek out. Anything else that needs to happen might well be out of our hands anyway.
For instance, right now, I am enjoying Trinity. It has been a nice toe dip into the pool that is the DCU. I have become aware of a lot of side characters, and got to read about the three characters (well, two really) that I am most familiar with. However, I also know that I can't maintain picking up this title. I knew it was going to be dropped before I even started. That is a strange feeling.
It was last year when Bob and John asked for sort of a year end review. And I looked through my orders and was quite taken aback by how underwhelmed I was. I was keeping titles out of habit, and not really enjoying anything I read, until I saw Toupydoops.
One title, not even close to being from a big publisher, it really opened my eyes. I finally cut myself off from the big two. Took some time away to reevaluate. And I am happier for it. Do I wish I had my old budget, absolutely. But now I look for value and entertainment and I am feeling better for it.
Now something else unexpected that happened was that a local bookstore started backstocking all the periodicals they get that didn't sell and pricing them half off. This has been really nice when I can manage trips there. Because enough time has passed I can flip through and remember the really strong recommendations and even take a few risky choices.
I think ultimately one can only do so much. So there has to be a happy medium of what you like and new things to seek out. Anything else that needs to happen might well be out of our hands anyway.
Personal tastes are what it is all about. The comics that really click with me may or may not click with you. Everybody should be buying what they like, not what people tell them they should like.jkarguth wrote: I can't really add comment to the industry as a whole. Only my own perspective. As someone who has had a pretty drastic budget cut, I can tell you that more often than not I just have to go with my gut. I factor in personal taste to my comics buying equation. Do I like the premise? Writer? Artist? And beyond all that I am still a slave to the budget.
I kind of do and don't understand picking up a series you know you are going to drop. Certainly a $2.99 weekly title can put a bit of a strain on the budget.jkarguth wrote: For instance, right now, I am enjoying Trinity. It has been a nice toe dip into the pool that is the DCU. I have become aware of a lot of side characters, and got to read about the three characters (well, two really) that I am most familiar with. However, I also know that I can't maintain picking up this title. I knew it was going to be dropped before I even started. That is a strange feeling.
I think DC missed an opportunity here on the pricing. They might have been better off doing Trinity as a 24 page comic at $1.99 and skipping the backup feature. While the backup feature has tied in nicely with the main storyline, I think that if the series was cheaper that it might have been more attractive to more readers and potentially sold better. Usually I don't buy into the argument that a low price will increase sales but in this case I think it might have done so.
Toupydoops is the exact kind of title I'm thinking of when I say that some comics aren't getting the sales they should be. It is a great concept with a brilliant execution. And it hasn't made it into the top 300 once.jkarguth wrote: It was last year when Bob and John asked for sort of a year end review. And I looked through my orders and was quite taken aback by how underwhelmed I was. I was keeping titles out of habit, and not really enjoying anything I read, until I saw Toupydoops.
One title, not even close to being from a big publisher, it really opened my eyes. I finally cut myself off from the big two. Took some time away to reevaluate. And I am happier for it. Do I wish I had my old budget, absolutely. But now I look for value and entertainment and I am feeling better for it.
Part of the problem the title had was reaching potential readers. As a indie creator, Kevin McShane simply doesn't have the same resources as DC or Marvel yet his title is competing with those titles for sales. It is a prime example of the deck being stacked against the smaller publishers.
But, because you mentioned Toupydoops to me and Bob, the title now has at least two more readers. So, in a very real way, you single handedly increased sales on that title. And that is how sales increases happen, by word of mouth. By recommending title you enjoy to others that might enjoy them. While it might not be enough to keep every great title out there afloat, it certainly helps.
Getting comics at a discount does help. I wouldn't be able to get everything that I do get if I had to pay full price. And, again, it always makes sense to use recommendations from other to help find the right comics for you. That is the thing about the Previews Spotlight episodes that I enjoy the most. I've been turned on to a number of titles that I never would have picked up otherwise based on recommendations from others.jkarguth wrote: Now something else unexpected that happened was that a local bookstore started backstocking all the periodicals they get that didn't sell and pricing them half off. This has been really nice when I can manage trips there. Because enough time has passed I can flip through and remember the really strong recommendations and even take a few risky choices.
I agree that each of us can only do so much. Certainly the core of that is to buy what you enjoy reading. But an easy way to help expand the hobby is to talk about what you enjoy and why you enjoy it.jkarguth wrote: I think ultimately one can only do so much. So there has to be a happy medium of what you like and new things to seek out. Anything else that needs to happen might well be out of our hands anyway.
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BobBretall
- Master Reviewer
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- Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:44 pm
Some really excellent points made above! I'll try not to reiterate everything said, but I'll try to address one of Rick's core points from the 1st post:
paraphrasing: How do we "support" variety when most people only buy a handful of titles every month?
My answer to this would be that folks should try to diversify their list, if possible. If you buy 6 comics a month (and let's assume they are all Marvel/DC), then maybe drop the one you like least and try 1 new book that sounds really cool from everything you have heard about it.
Getting 10 comics a month? Maybe try 2 new titles out of the 10.
That, and weed out books that you're not ABSOLUTELY loving. There are so many books out there that anyone should be able to find 10-20 booth that they REALLY REALLY love. If any books on your list don't fall into this category, drop them and look around to replace them with stuff you will like better.
paraphrasing: How do we "support" variety when most people only buy a handful of titles every month?
My answer to this would be that folks should try to diversify their list, if possible. If you buy 6 comics a month (and let's assume they are all Marvel/DC), then maybe drop the one you like least and try 1 new book that sounds really cool from everything you have heard about it.
Getting 10 comics a month? Maybe try 2 new titles out of the 10.
That, and weed out books that you're not ABSOLUTELY loving. There are so many books out there that anyone should be able to find 10-20 booth that they REALLY REALLY love. If any books on your list don't fall into this category, drop them and look around to replace them with stuff you will like better.
johnmayo wrote:
Or are we really at a point where at top selling comics can crack 250,000 units while an average title can only be expected to sell 1/10th of that or less?
This is what is happening in book publishing. Stephen King's sales can offset the money that is lost on that publisher's low-selling literary writers. You have a few superstar authors (King, Danielle Steele, Tom Clancy, JK Rowling) whose sales are propping up the entire industry so small-fry writers can continue to put out books that sell a few thousand.
Book publishing and comics have so many similarities -- struggling industries, shrinking readership, a handful of big sellers surrounded by a sea of material that reaches only niche audiences, and competition from other industries like video games, film and the Internet.
I think that I've heard that both newspapers and magazines are having similar problems. If print isn't dead, it sure seems to be dying.RickM wrote: Book publishing and comics have so many similarities -- struggling industries, shrinking readership, a handful of big sellers surrounded by a sea of material that reaches only niche audiences, and competition from other industries like video games, film and the Internet.
I've got few questions for all of you guys about comic budgets:
1: Do you budget by dollars or number of titles?
2: Do you budget by week or by month?
3: Do you budget based on when the comics are ordered or when the ship?
4: Do you budget separately for comics versus trades versus hardcovers?
5: Do you include things other than comics/trades/hardcovers in your budgeting?
6: How much do you budget for comics?
7: Do you have any particular comics that you exclude from your budgeting?
8: How hard of line do you put on your budgeting? (Is it okay to go a little over or not?)
Here are my answers:
1: I mainly budget based on dollars but I'll admit to starting to think about limiting the number of comics I get. Part of that is me being behind on my reading and part of it is a growing concern about storage space.
2: I budget by month. That means that five week months feel more expensive than four week months. So, I suppose on in that respect it makes sense for a small press publisher to release new titles during four week months. (Once I start getting a title with the first issue, I'm likely to stay with it for a while.)
3: I budget based on when the comics are ordered. I use my DCBS order total as a metric of how much I'm spending. The obvious flaw with that is that it doesn't take into account any purchases I make locally. I manage to spend at least $50 to $100 a month (sometimes per visit) to Austin Books and I don't factor that into my comics budget (although I suppose I should).
4: No, I include comics, trades and hardcovers all in my comic budget.
5: I used to include RPGs and action figures in my budgeting but have since cut way back on those kinds of purchases. I now get RPGs elsewhere on a once or twice a year basis.
6: I try to limit my spending at DCBS to around $500 a month but don't really start cutting back until I've exceeded $600 for a month. For about a year I'd managed to get down to an average of around $318 but I've since fallen back into indulging a bit excessively.
7: Not really. There are a few comics I'd probably still get even if I cut back to nearly nothing but there aren't that many that fall into that category. Those items would be things like JSA, Teen Titans, Captain America that I'd really enjoying and have been reading for ages.
8: I've been lucky enough to have a job that lets me indulge my bad spending habits on comics. I'm not all that concerned if I spend a little too much in any given month. I do try to go too overboard too often.
I don't really establish a budget, I just buy a lot less. I used to drop $30 every time I was in the LCS. But our family budget has taken major hits so I basically set up a pull list of about 6 titles. I went to the LCS last week and he said "nothing for you this week." So I bought one title off the rack: True Believers #1. (He gives me 20% off for being a pull customer, so that's cool).
Other times I go into his store and spend around $5 on comics from the 50-cent bin. I'm trying cheaper ways to get my fix, basically.
One thing I've noticed: I will tell myself that I'm dropping a title and will wait for the trades. But in almost every case, I end up not buying the trade, either. It's hard to justify buying a pricy TPB when money is tight. The latest title is JMS' Thor, which I love. I want to read the rest of this story in trades but I doubt that will happen. I suppose I'm slowly moving into the area of "lukewarm comic fan", but its not by choice.
Other times I go into his store and spend around $5 on comics from the 50-cent bin. I'm trying cheaper ways to get my fix, basically.
One thing I've noticed: I will tell myself that I'm dropping a title and will wait for the trades. But in almost every case, I end up not buying the trade, either. It's hard to justify buying a pricy TPB when money is tight. The latest title is JMS' Thor, which I love. I want to read the rest of this story in trades but I doubt that will happen. I suppose I'm slowly moving into the area of "lukewarm comic fan", but its not by choice.
Very interesting post. I buy as much if not more comics than Bob and John but I can say this. If I was limited to 10 books a month, the indies would go. I know that is harsh but there are certain Marvel and DC titles I just have to have. While the quality may be higher in some of the other books the fact is I am a completist with a few Marvel and DC titles and really love those characters. I know it sounds crazy but there are freaks like me who love their comic characters and with a limited budget the decision is sometimes easy (at least for me).
Well of the 10 there is one indie I would continue to get and that is True Story Swear to God.
Well of the 10 there is one indie I would continue to get and that is True Story Swear to God.
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BobBretall
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Budget? what does that word mean? It does not seem to be in my vocabulary.....
In all seriousness, I'm fortunate enough at this point in my life to have enough disposable income that a budget does not really enter into my decisions on what to buy. I am a bit harsher than John on what titles I will chop off at the knees if I stop enjoying them.
If I REALLY had to cut back?
* I would stop everything @ DC not written by Geoff Johns.
* I could cut Marvel back to 5-10 core books.
* I'd probably still get 10-15 indie books.
But seriously, I could do my budget wonders if Randy Bowen ceased to exist, I spend a TON on busts/statues. DC's abortion of the "Archive" line is also saving me a lot. I used to get ALL the Archives. My collector's mentality kicked in and I wanted them all. It's much easier to say "NO" to a random assortment of trades & HCs. Marvel is getting to a point on their Masterworks where they are moving into the 70s and books that I bought off the racks the 1st time around, so I can see myself weaning off these also at some point.
In all seriousness, I'm fortunate enough at this point in my life to have enough disposable income that a budget does not really enter into my decisions on what to buy. I am a bit harsher than John on what titles I will chop off at the knees if I stop enjoying them.
If I REALLY had to cut back?
* I would stop everything @ DC not written by Geoff Johns.
* I could cut Marvel back to 5-10 core books.
* I'd probably still get 10-15 indie books.
But seriously, I could do my budget wonders if Randy Bowen ceased to exist, I spend a TON on busts/statues. DC's abortion of the "Archive" line is also saving me a lot. I used to get ALL the Archives. My collector's mentality kicked in and I wanted them all. It's much easier to say "NO" to a random assortment of trades & HCs. Marvel is getting to a point on their Masterworks where they are moving into the 70s and books that I bought off the racks the 1st time around, so I can see myself weaning off these also at some point.
If limited to only 10 books my layout would be:
7 DC
2 Marvel
1 Indie
7 DC
2 Marvel
1 Indie
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HipHopHead
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A few questions for all of you guys about comic budgets:
1: Do you budget by dollars or number of titles? No, I buy books on my taste. My selection is across the board. I purchase most of my books based upon the writer and/or the story (to give new writers an opportunity). I just added some books after listening to the Preview Podcast. Thanks
2: Do you budget by week or by month? I purchase most of my books monthly. I have few titles via subscription, which I will let expire.
3: Do you budget based on when the comics are ordered or when the ship? See my answer to number 2, I will also order via online outlets for something I may have missed, such as Guardians of the Galaxy.
4: Do you budget separately for comics versus trades versus hardcovers?
I love hardcovers, I have picked up quite a few trades via Instocktrades.com (actually too many)
5: Do you include things other than comics/trades/hardcovers in your budgeting? The statues
6: How much do you budget for comics? $100 discounted dollars, but like our government, I will go over budget every month.
7: Do you have any particular comics that you exclude from your budgeting?
No true collector/reader would exclude due to a budget.
8: How hard of line do you put on your budgeting? (Is it okay to go a little over or not?) It is always okay to go over. Who needs to eat? Who needs a new car? Who needs new shoes? Me
Though the number of books printed is going down, the quality of the books has increased, the variety of genres' is at an all-time high. With the tremendous success of the comic based movies, comics will have a good financial foundation. We (comic readers) are the "Nielsen Ratings" for potential comic movies
1: Do you budget by dollars or number of titles? No, I buy books on my taste. My selection is across the board. I purchase most of my books based upon the writer and/or the story (to give new writers an opportunity). I just added some books after listening to the Preview Podcast. Thanks
2: Do you budget by week or by month? I purchase most of my books monthly. I have few titles via subscription, which I will let expire.
3: Do you budget based on when the comics are ordered or when the ship? See my answer to number 2, I will also order via online outlets for something I may have missed, such as Guardians of the Galaxy.
4: Do you budget separately for comics versus trades versus hardcovers?
I love hardcovers, I have picked up quite a few trades via Instocktrades.com (actually too many)
5: Do you include things other than comics/trades/hardcovers in your budgeting? The statues
6: How much do you budget for comics? $100 discounted dollars, but like our government, I will go over budget every month.
7: Do you have any particular comics that you exclude from your budgeting?
No true collector/reader would exclude due to a budget.8: How hard of line do you put on your budgeting? (Is it okay to go a little over or not?) It is always okay to go over. Who needs to eat? Who needs a new car? Who needs new shoes? Me
Though the number of books printed is going down, the quality of the books has increased, the variety of genres' is at an all-time high. With the tremendous success of the comic based movies, comics will have a good financial foundation. We (comic readers) are the "Nielsen Ratings" for potential comic movies
1: Do you budget by dollars or number of titles?
Dollars within reason. I get as close to 25 dollars as possible.
2: Do you budget by week or by month?
Month, going through DCBS means that is pretty much the only way for me.
3: Do you budget based on when the comics are ordered or when the ship?
When comics are ordered.
4: Do you budget separately for comics versus trades versus hardcovers?
Pretty much all the same. Leaving out sporadic bookstore purchases or the like.
5: Do you include things other than comics/trades/hardcovers in your budgeting?
At times, it really depends.
6: How much do you budget for comics?
$19 at DCBS (Shipping is included in my $25 budget), I don't really budget what I pick up sporadically. Granted, I still keep finances in mind, but I am not as thorough with keeping up with it.
7: Do you have any particular comics that you exclude from your budgeting?
Not monthly. There is on occassion something that I know I would read and is a great value. And that will flex the budget by about 10 more dollars or so. Happens probably every three months or so.
8: How hard of line do you put on your budgeting? (Is it okay to go a little over or not?)
To a degree, it is fine to go a little over. But I still spend a good month going back and forth. I think about whether or not I am quick to pick up a title, if I want to leave a title to get as a trade around Christmas or so. Which I always end up forgetting about. I am actually probably more strict about it then I need to be. But financial history has taught me that I need to be conservative unless I know the money is really there.
Dollars within reason. I get as close to 25 dollars as possible.
2: Do you budget by week or by month?
Month, going through DCBS means that is pretty much the only way for me.
3: Do you budget based on when the comics are ordered or when the ship?
When comics are ordered.
4: Do you budget separately for comics versus trades versus hardcovers?
Pretty much all the same. Leaving out sporadic bookstore purchases or the like.
5: Do you include things other than comics/trades/hardcovers in your budgeting?
At times, it really depends.
6: How much do you budget for comics?
$19 at DCBS (Shipping is included in my $25 budget), I don't really budget what I pick up sporadically. Granted, I still keep finances in mind, but I am not as thorough with keeping up with it.
7: Do you have any particular comics that you exclude from your budgeting?
Not monthly. There is on occassion something that I know I would read and is a great value. And that will flex the budget by about 10 more dollars or so. Happens probably every three months or so.
8: How hard of line do you put on your budgeting? (Is it okay to go a little over or not?)
To a degree, it is fine to go a little over. But I still spend a good month going back and forth. I think about whether or not I am quick to pick up a title, if I want to leave a title to get as a trade around Christmas or so. Which I always end up forgetting about. I am actually probably more strict about it then I need to be. But financial history has taught me that I need to be conservative unless I know the money is really there.
1: Do you budget by dollars or number of titles?
A bit of both. My wife's biggest complaint is number of comics that I store downstairs. I go through my comics once a year and either give away or sell comics I don't want anymore. Therefore I try to keep my list to a manageable 60 to 80 comics per month. My goal is no more than 60 comics but I have gone over that for the past twelve months
Budget dollars depends. I buy both comics and collections. If I think I could spend extra, it adds to my budget for collections.
2: Do you budget by week or by month?
Monthly. That is one of the reasons I love DCBS because I have a list I put together monthly. The one thing I hated about LCS is that when I dropped a title, sometimes they forget to drop it from my list. Or an old title I had on my list years ago is relaunch, it is added to my list automatically.
3: Do you budget based on when the comics are ordered or when the ship?
Paid so it based on when I ordered the books since I go through DCBS.
4: Do you budget separately for comics versus trades versus hardcovers?
Yes.
5: Do you include things other than comics/trades/hardcovers in your budgeting?
No. If I buy toys or busts, they are a separate budget.
6: How much do you budget for comics?
I really don't want to say, but you can do the math
7: Do you have any particular comics that you exclude from your budgeting?
No
8: How hard of line do you put on your budgeting? (Is it okay to go a little over or not?)
Not much at all. If I spend a lot on comics, then I cut down on my other hobbies. I would also add that comics is the last thing on my budget, after paying for the mortgage, utilities, 401K, kids' college fund, kids' activities, stuff for kids, savings, and investments. So by the time I spend money for comics, it is guilt free.
Hassan
A bit of both. My wife's biggest complaint is number of comics that I store downstairs. I go through my comics once a year and either give away or sell comics I don't want anymore. Therefore I try to keep my list to a manageable 60 to 80 comics per month. My goal is no more than 60 comics but I have gone over that for the past twelve months
Budget dollars depends. I buy both comics and collections. If I think I could spend extra, it adds to my budget for collections.2: Do you budget by week or by month?
Monthly. That is one of the reasons I love DCBS because I have a list I put together monthly. The one thing I hated about LCS is that when I dropped a title, sometimes they forget to drop it from my list. Or an old title I had on my list years ago is relaunch, it is added to my list automatically.
3: Do you budget based on when the comics are ordered or when the ship?
Paid so it based on when I ordered the books since I go through DCBS.
4: Do you budget separately for comics versus trades versus hardcovers?
Yes.
5: Do you include things other than comics/trades/hardcovers in your budgeting?
No. If I buy toys or busts, they are a separate budget.
6: How much do you budget for comics?
I really don't want to say, but you can do the math
7: Do you have any particular comics that you exclude from your budgeting?
No
8: How hard of line do you put on your budgeting? (Is it okay to go a little over or not?)
Not much at all. If I spend a lot on comics, then I cut down on my other hobbies. I would also add that comics is the last thing on my budget, after paying for the mortgage, utilities, 401K, kids' college fund, kids' activities, stuff for kids, savings, and investments. So by the time I spend money for comics, it is guilt free.
Hassan
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Alec Burkhardt
- Contributor
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:56 pm
- Location: Tucson, AZ
1: Do you budget by dollars or number of titles?
By dollars, but it's fairly loose. Basically I work off the idea of trying to keep the monthly orders somewhere around $150-$200, but if a bunch of pricey items come out at one time (like last month), I've been know to go up to $300-$400.
2: Do you budget by week or by month?
Monthly, since I order from DCBS & HC. What I pick up in stores I never actually figure into my budget.
3: Do you budget based on when the comics are ordered or when the ship?
Ordered, as that's much closer to when I'm going to be paying for them than when they actually ship.
4: Do you budget separately for comics versus trades versus hardcovers?
No, since it's all on the one order, I just consider it all part of the same pool. I guess it might impact what gets left off when I'm starting to go over budget, as it is generally much easier to pick up trades/hardcovers a few months down the road.
5: Do you include things other than comics/trades/hardcovers in your budgeting?
Everything I order from DCBS/HC is considered equally, although I don't often order items other than comics/trades/hardcovers. I think the only regular recurring item is the Classic Marvel Figurine Collection, but I only get specific figures so there isn't one every month.
6: How much do you budget for comics?
$150-$200 per month.
7: Do you have any particular comics that you exclude from your budgeting?
No, although I suppose it could be argued that the months where I go over the general limit means some of those items are somewhat excluded from the budgeting. But those are generally caused by items like Absolute Sandman, Battle Royale Ultimate Edition, or Starman Omnibus.
8: How hard of line do you put on your budgeting? (Is it okay to go a little over or not?)
Obviously not a very hard line, although I'm trying to get a bit stricter on it currently.
By dollars, but it's fairly loose. Basically I work off the idea of trying to keep the monthly orders somewhere around $150-$200, but if a bunch of pricey items come out at one time (like last month), I've been know to go up to $300-$400.
2: Do you budget by week or by month?
Monthly, since I order from DCBS & HC. What I pick up in stores I never actually figure into my budget.
3: Do you budget based on when the comics are ordered or when the ship?
Ordered, as that's much closer to when I'm going to be paying for them than when they actually ship.
4: Do you budget separately for comics versus trades versus hardcovers?
No, since it's all on the one order, I just consider it all part of the same pool. I guess it might impact what gets left off when I'm starting to go over budget, as it is generally much easier to pick up trades/hardcovers a few months down the road.
5: Do you include things other than comics/trades/hardcovers in your budgeting?
Everything I order from DCBS/HC is considered equally, although I don't often order items other than comics/trades/hardcovers. I think the only regular recurring item is the Classic Marvel Figurine Collection, but I only get specific figures so there isn't one every month.
6: How much do you budget for comics?
$150-$200 per month.
7: Do you have any particular comics that you exclude from your budgeting?
No, although I suppose it could be argued that the months where I go over the general limit means some of those items are somewhat excluded from the budgeting. But those are generally caused by items like Absolute Sandman, Battle Royale Ultimate Edition, or Starman Omnibus.
8: How hard of line do you put on your budgeting? (Is it okay to go a little over or not?)
Obviously not a very hard line, although I'm trying to get a bit stricter on it currently.