Amazon VS Overstock dot com pricing war hits graphic novels
Sometimes companies decide to compete in ways that work for the comic book market. Over the last couple of weeks Amazon.com and Overstock.com have been in a take no prisoners pricing war for general books that has now extended on to graphic novels. The good part is that regardless if you are a regular Joe customer or a smaller comic book shop you can purchase fresh brand new books from either company with free shipping that will beat any discount you are going to get at Diamond or any other supplier out there.
We are tracking discounts in the 50 to 60 percent range for some of the most expensive comic books and graphic novels out there right now. Again, this is better than Diamond, or any other supplier out there.
The good news is that this new pricing war does not hurt anyone but Amazon and Overstock and third party sellers who should not compete while the war is raging. Authors are paid by the publishing company, there are a ton of titles not covered by this pricing war, and it looks more like a warehouse clearance sale than anything else going on in the world of graphic novels.
From the third party seller viewpoint – seriously just let the two big boys argue this one out and focus on titles that are not in the middle of the pricing war. Both Amazon and Overstock are going to lose money while they duke it out for the hearts and minds of consumers. Really we just need to sit back, pop some popcorn, put our feet up on the table and watch the battles rage back and forth not just in the press, but in the prices that they are dropping books down to.
Really what we should be doing is snatching up inventory because the prices are stupid low and then holding on to the inventory until prices stabilize once the pricing war between Amazon and Overstock is over with. There is nothing wrong with picking up a 100 dollar book for 30 bucks and then holding onto the inventory until the prices creep up again to suit what profit you need to make on it. Free shipping is a bonus to all this, usually we pay for our shipping from suppliers. And if you are lucky enough to be shipping across state line, no sales tax either. At least for now on the sales tax issue.
This might just be the best pricing war for retailer and consumers out there, so what kind of popcorn do you like?
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