Publishers Weekly has some hard numbers on the distribution of the 300 graphic novel, still going strong at #8 on Amazon. 80,000 copies of the book are on their way for next month, with many more already on shelves:
In a conference call that also included DH v-p of business development Michael Martens, Richardson sought to dispell rumors that the publisher would not have enough books to meet retailers’ needs. He said that 300 has shipped about 250,000 copies since January 2006. He added that the bookstore market should have 25,000 to 30,000 copies in stock (plus another 10,000 copies at online book retailer Amazon.com) and that bookstore and comics shop retailers have stock to meet demand. Richardson said part of the confusion over the availability of the title is that retailers fearful of getting caught short are reordering even though they have the book in stock. There have been complaints in the past about the availability of reprints for DH’s Sin City and Hell Boy graphic novels after those films opened, although the publisher disputes the notion that it did not have enough books available.
In other words, retailers… don’t believe what reality is telling you because your shelves are empty and your distributors are out of stock. Listen to Mike Richardson when he tells you that you have stock to meet the demand. And clearly, your memories of being out of stock during the height of Hellboy and Sin City are also incorrect.
I know that this is categorically incorrect in my case, and I’m sure many others:
“Richardson said part of the confusion over the availability of the title is that retailers fearful of getting caught short are reordering even though they have the book in stock.”
I sold out my last copy on Friday. I attempted to reorder today, and there are none available.
I know… maybe my copies of 300 are behind the magical elves that cobble my shoes at night!
Oh, come on, who you going to believe, Mike Richardson or your lying eyes (and your empty shelves and unfilled orders)?
If it’s any consolation –
I was over at Hi-De-Ho comics on Saturday in Santa Monica – and I did see some on the shelf. So some do exist.
I saw one in the most unlikely of place last week- Fry’s Electronics.
~
Coat
I second cary’s sighting at Hi De Ho, they seem to have plenty of copies. Also, the Borders on the Santa Monica Promenade (across the street from where the movie is playing) has a nice little “300 and related works” display, which includes things like Absolute Dark Knight, the Alexander DVD and several scholarly works on Thermopylae, Greek and Persian culture.
What I can’t find anywhere now is the Art of 300 book that came out a few weeks before the movie opened.
Whats with the all the complaints. I see this book at all the Borders and Barnes and Nobles as well as on amazon, buy.com and the online retailers heavily discounted. 300 is selling for less than $15 on buy.com so apparently they must have plenty of copies. If anything i think these books are going to floating around on ebay soon enough in droves once the movie hype is over.
You can see, perhaps, where telling comic book retailers who can’t get the book in stock that their competitors, offering deep discounts, have *plenty* to sell might not be a comfort? ;)
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