Comics UK

intune wrote:Got mine today on the way to work in Chorley.They only had about 3 copies and had to ask for it as it was hidden away.

Not had chance to look at it properly yet.. it's all black and white though, except for the cover obviously.

Haven't had a chance to go into town today so not sure about my local Smiths. However what I've noticed is that they ordered less copies of each title of those Egmont reprints. I suppose this was due to it being called "Egmont Classic Comics" on their order list, so they've treated it as one comic instead of 4 separate titles, and scaled their order down as they do with anything else. eg: If they ordered, say, 20 copies of Roy of the Rovers and it sold 12, they'll order 12 copies of Battle. If that sold 8 they'll order 8 copies of Misty, and so on. So even though Buster may potentially sell many more copies than Misty, it's possible there may be less available.

(I noticed that's how they scaled down their orders of The Beano so I imagine it applies to all titles.)

That's what happens when they rely on a computer system instead of experience to order magazines etc. Remember the fiasco with the final Buster Annual? When Smiths went computerized they mistakenly left it off the list, so when time came to order that year's books, they didn't order the Buster annual. (A sales assistant said to me at the time: "Buster annual? It's not on our system so we've never stocked it." Incredible!) Subsequently sales suffered without Smiths stocking it and the book never appeared again after that year.

Lew

Not in WHSmiths in Guildford..or in the back room....said it will be out on Thursday..

Got the Christmas Beano and Christmas Dr Who Magazine..

Lew Stringer wrote:That's what happens when they rely on a computer system instead of experience to order magazines etc. Remember the fiasco with the final Buster Annual? When Smiths went computerized they mistakenly left it off the list, so when time came to order that year's books, they didn't order the Buster annual. (A sales assistant said to me at the time: "Buster annual? It's not on our system so we've never stocked it." Incredible!) Subsequently sales suffered without Smiths stocking it and the book never appeared again after that year.

Lew

That's the 1994 editions - didn't Fleetway stop all their comic annuals that year - Whizzer and Chips for instance (although at least that comic had already closed)? A bad year for annuals that, as that's also when Topper Book stopped.

Wow - had no idea of that story, thanks for sharing Lew.

I wonder how much that contributed to the decline?

Good to hear some issues were picked up, I'm hoping I come across one tomorrow - need to post it to Oz; we're already way past last posting for Christmas!!!

Digifiend wrote: Lew

That's the 1994 editions - didn't Fleetway stop all their comic annuals that year - Whizzer and Chips for instance (although at least that comic had already closed)? [/quote]


I think they still did a couple of merchandise tie ins after 1994, and the 2000AD Yearbook.

Lew

I've now been in 6 WH Smiths no joy, typical isn't it the one I've been looking forward to the most.
Is it just Smith's it's being sold in or other shops as well?

I'm not expecting to find one in Belfast, but I live in hope...

steelclaw wrote:I've now been in 6 WH Smiths no joy, typical isn't it the one I've been looking forward to the most.
Is it just Smith's it's being sold in or other shops as well?

It's an "exclusive" to WH Smith only.

Obviously not as exclusive as we'd hoped.

Anyway, keep up the search folks. If we get findings like this from around the country it'll be worth contacting Egmont about it to let them know what's going on.

Lew

steelclaw wrote:I've now been in 6 WH Smiths no joy, typical isn't it the one I've been looking forward to the most.
Is it just Smith's it's being sold in or other shops as well?

You're not alone. I've just spent my lunch break trawling Waterloo, then taking my oversized jiffy bag bound for Australia to Oxford Street in the hope of getting hold of one to send off.

Still no joy. I've e-mailed my Egmont contact, though - so hopefully will have some news soon.

Incidently, am I alone in finding this is taking the 1970s theme too far. Turning up at the newsagents, only to find it's not on the shelf due to problems!!!

Thought I'd join in the 'I couldn't see it in Smiths either' chorus (have only looked in the Holborn one so far though)

Maybe it's a London thing the 'Smith's' I've been in have all been in London.

Doesn't sound good, hopefully it's just London. I'm just heading into town now. If I find it, I'll buy it. I'll let you know if I do get hold of a copy later.

If you're still having problems, let me know I'll check my WHSmiths, I could always post on in return for paypal or swaps?

None in Guildford again or Dorking WHSmiths...aagghh!!

this is winding me up..

steelclaw wrote:Maybe it's a London thing the 'Smith's' I've been in have all been in London.

No, just nipped to the bank to pay a bill and my Smiths doesn't have it either. They've removed the unsold Misty copies but haven't replaced it with Buster.

I noticed some of the Panini titles due out today haven't been distributed either, including Doctor Who Magazine.

Lew