Where is the cut-off point?

[aerischan]

And again, I have a suspicion (and I dont know if anyone has done a study of it) but I bet the percentage of full retail price purchases is at an all time low. In other words there are fewer people paying the omnious $3.99 than ever. Between Comic shops passing along discounts to customers (for pull boxes, preorders) to online discount sellers, to online discount pre-order services (30% of virtually all major titles and often 50% off,and sometimes 75% off ) So Im sure some of that factors into Marvel/DC price setting.

+1.

 

DC Standard Discount

$0-$999...............................35%

$1,000-$2,999.....................50%

$3,000-$4.499.....................53%

$4,500-$16,999...................55%

$17,000-$34,999.................56%

$35,000+.............................57%

 

Marvel Standard Discount

$0-$799...................................35%

$800-$1,199............................45%

$1,200-$2,499.........................50%

$2,500-$3,999.........................53%

$4,000-$6,999.........................54%

$7,000-$14,999.......................55%

$15,000-$29,999.....................56%

$30,000-$74,999.....................57%

$75,000-$124,999...................58%

$125,000+...............................59%

 

Above is just retailer discounts. Diamond takes a cut, too, so publishers get even less. On titles with low circulation, these translate to lower page rates for writers, pencillers, inkers, colorists, letterers, etc.

 

A direct print subscription through DC gives you 30% discount and that's with shipping already included. Marvel offers discounts up to 45% and Image is also 30%. Alas, it does require prepayment for 1 year and I don't think you can cancel. For someone who just buys a 1-2 series to read and doesn't need their copies to be NM/MT condition, that's certainly a route worth considering if your LCS doesn't offer any discounts.

 

More than a couple series, there's DCBS, Midtown, etc.