3 packs

[the blob]

Is there any reason anyone can think of why some third-party could not legally re-package back issue comics into 3 packs and sell them at retail outlets? I suppose the bag they come in needs to be careful about not having anyone else copyrighted material on it, but simply re-selling issues you own would not seem to be a problem.

[shadroch]

In the late 80s/ early 90s, many jobbers did this. I suspect the reason they no longer do is that the money isn't there.

Marvel used to provide distributors with free empty bags that were passed along to shop owners.

[comicwiz]

There is a company (Tristar Productions) that does this in the card collecting world with a product called Tristar Hidden Treasures. It would be interesting to learn how they get around the legalities.

 

In toy markets, when this type of thing is done, it's usually with unlicensed or crude bootleg versions. If vintage lines are repurposed or repackaged, they better be advertised and properly disclaimed as "customs", otherwise you could expect to face a raging lynch mob.

 

Collectors have a tendency to get up in arms about the practice (especially those using some "chase" scheme), and usually those in favour claim that it's no biggie and that the copyright and license holders probably don't mind much what happens with their vintage lines.

 

I don't know that I agree with the latter view.

 

Nonetheless, CGC's product is marketed on a certification model, but is essentially a product that encapsulates old comics.

 

I'm sure a "comic grab bag" approach that uses some clever way of marketing factory sealed original books could be done, but those pursuing the idea would probably want to make sure it's a good fit for the modern day collecting culture and that it won't attract attention from copyright and license owners if it were to become a hit.

[shadroch]

What legalities are we talking about?

I think everyone agrees that a buyer has the right to resell his books.

I think we all agree that a buyer has the right to resell his books in a commercial venue- ie a store.

So if I can can resell my books in a store, why couldn't I pack them up and sell them in groups of three, or two or a hundred?

Once the books are purchased, I don't see where the publisher or anyone can tell me how I choose to re-sell them.

Diamond may have an exclusive on selling new Marvels, but they can't control how someone disposes of books that were already bought.

Can they?

[Kevin.J]

What legalities are we talking about?

I think everyone agrees that a buyer has the right to resell his books.

I think we all agree that a buyer has the right to resell his books in a commercial venue- ie a store.

So if I can can resell my books in a store, why couldn't I pack them up and sell them in groups of three, or two or a hundred?

Once the books are purchased, I don't see where the publisher or anyone can tell me how I choose to re-sell them.

 

Agreed, done it plenty of times

[comicwiz]

What legalities are we talking about?

I think everyone agrees that a buyer has the right to resell his books.

I think we all agree that a buyer has the right to resell his books in a commercial venue- ie a store.

So if I can can resell my books in a store, why couldn't I pack them up and sell them in groups of three, or two or a hundred?

Once the books are purchased, I don't see where the publisher or anyone can tell me how I choose to re-sell them.

 

Agreed, done it plenty of times

 

You had a third-party factory seal 3 packs of back-issue comics for you?

 

I think the answer on legality is going to vary wildly between bagging and boarding a few comics together, and actually having someone factory seal and package back-issue 3-packs a la Whitman (Western Publishing).

[miraclemet]

I've seen shops package up set and collections in the past.

 

I think you would just have to label them as vintage or non-new comics or something... I could imaging with there being a renewed increase in the "polybag" approach to comics (to protect the digital code copy) that one of the Big 2 might claim it skirts to close to their new product... but as long as the comics are noted as vintage, or something that differentiates them from new comic releases I wouldnt think it would be a problem...

 

as long as they are being sold to the consumer. If you are talking about mass production and reselling these to retailers it might get a little murkier...

[the blob]

Honestly, I couldn't think of any potential prohibition either, at least not in the U.S. Some European countries (maybe the EU in general) give manufacturers some more control over what is done to their product after they sell it. So long as the bag doesn't have pictures of marvel characters, etc. on it, I think it wouldn't be a problem.

 

Honestly, given how much bulk inventory is out there for pennies, I am surprised someone isn't out there trying to sell 3 or packs for $2 or $3 supplying local convenience stores, etc. Stick spiderman, X-Men, Wolverine, Batman in front, whatever else behind it. No porn, of course, so maybe no Image, stick to mainstream DC and Marvel. I guess the problem is that nowadays those stores are mostly huge chains and they probably won't want to be bothered. But I'd think mom & pops wouldn't mind, but then again, maybe not worth delivering and selling $20 worth of comics a week. then again, these snack companies that sell 25-50 cent snacks seem to think it's worth it making deliveries to my local bodegas/convenience stores. Heck, the packaging need not even be fancy, take a silver age bag and board and stick three comics in there. slap a sticker on the back flap that is going to need to be ripped to open it, though i guess that won't have a way of hanging it if they want to stick it on a rack next to the combos and doritos.

 

With so many unemployed, you think some people would be cooking up ideas to make a buck. Then again, this business model requires a lot of driving and gas consumption.

[comicwiz]

I think in theory it sounds workable, and I don't doubt its used to some degree as you suggest, but like I said, the need to observe technical details is not something that might make it a non-starter.

 

For instance, if you factory seal the books, the front covers of the two outward facing issues do contain copyright and company identification of the original publisher.

 

To properly sell sealed back-issue comics, you would need to use a translucent or see through poly-bag, otherwise it would just arouse suspicion.

 

Conversely, I think its equally problematic to market them as "grab bag comics" without obscuring or covering the areas of the covers which names the original publishing company.

 

Even if the only thing the 3rd-party is doing is factory sealing, it would be reasonable and wise to expect they or the seller distributing them include some information on the bag which includes their company name and contact info.

 

If I were a copyright holder, let's just say I would be less than enthused to receive complaints of an inferior product, especially if the complaint stemmed from someone repackaging a product that they were never permitted to sell in the first place.

 

Legalities (if any) notwithstanding, comics just sell better individually. I think one out of ten times, you might get someone who just wants to conveniently rely on the "sellers picks", but the others would rather just bank the 3-pack price against 3 comics they could pick out on their own from a bin.

[fastballspecial]

I know shops that have shrink wrap machines. They do all their trades that way and occasionally do comics.

 

[the blob]

The idea here is to place them in venues without other comics and compared to $3 for a single comic, 3 for $2 or $3 sounds like a good deal, particularly if you can see the one on the top of the pile through the polybag and you know you're at least getting that. This is not to compete with stores or to try and bring in folks who have a weekly pull list, some of this stuff will be overstock from the 90's. Big chunks of the country have no access to comic shops, but kids know the characters from movies/TV and might be interested if cheap enough. So they're not picking out of a dollar box elsewhere because they don't have access. Also, the parent grabbing some comics for the kids while driving or whatever is a potential customer. Maybe that's an antiquated 70's notion, but it's something my dad would do to shut us up.

 

There is no "license" for hard copies of comics. Once the publisher sells them they have no control over those physical copies (at least in the USA). It wouldn't be an inferior product, it would be THEIR former product. honestly, i don't see how the title/cover page being visible is any different than when the comic shop sells this stuff individually (or in a grab bag, which plenty do with overstock).

 

I guess one problem would be if 7-11 has some sort of agreement with Marvel or with their periodical distributor, but I was kindah thinking 7-11 was probably a no go anyway.

[InvstmntComcSuply]

I am sure the only problem would be if you use others copyrights/trademarks in the packaging.

 

Although I wonder why you could not say something along the lines of:

"Vintage Marvel Comics - 3 Pack $3" if you separated them by publisher?