On Sunday, Amazon.com damn near exploded when giant omnibus editions of Marvel and other comics started popping up on the site for $15 or less. Turns out it was a glitch and most of the orders won't be honored (otherwise, Diamond Comic Distributors would probably go bankrupt).
Understandably, people started buying in huge amounts and folks with associates accounts (like our little stuffed bull buddy, Bully) started promoting the hell out of the apparent sale, including a prominent online "journalist" who I won't name because he spends his whole day Googling his name rather than doing any worthwhile reporting. Let's just say he's English, he likes to sell the comics he writes through his "news" column and we've mentioned him before.
So, he linked some of the sales on his "news" site through his associates account. That's not exactly what we'd think of as objective or ethical reporting, but, hey, comics bloggers gotta make money where they can, right? I mean, at least he wasn't using the resources from his news site to brag about how much he made off the thing, right?
Oh, wait.
And the list goes on like that.
That show of hubris led the folks over at Comics Worth Reading to estimate the aforementioned journalist's haul, which they guessed was around $18,000.
He, of course, responded, as he does any time someone says his name, like he's some kind of over-eager, non-tripled Bloody Mary.
Hahahahaha, journalism!
In related news, we here at the ISS will be starting our comics news site which is really a front for Amazon sales bux shortly.
Comments
Just for the curious, the website in question is http://www.bleedingcool.com
There. That's better.
Posted by: Rich Johnston | March 9, 2010 3:52 PM
Are you kidding me, that sounds so much like childish jealousy...
What kind of journalism is that?
Posted by: die-yng | March 11, 2010 6:12 AM
Why would Diamond go out of business if Amazon sold a bunch of graphic novels at a loss? Are you confusing Diamond with Amazon? Do you think that everyone was ordering from Diamond as an Amazon Associate seller rather than Amazon proper?
If anything, Diamond would have had a great week - if Amazon had truly sold this many items.
Posted by: Reader | March 11, 2010 7:07 AM
Actually, they are not confusing anything...the glitch is related to Diamond's pricing codes. Diamond should technically take the hit here. They supplied incorrect pricing that led to the glitch. It impacted onther retailers, so it is clearly a Diamond goof.
Posted by: Thom | March 11, 2010 9:40 AM
For a site that despises Rich Johnston, you sure do talk about him a lot.
Posted by: Cammy | March 11, 2010 9:55 AM
Oh man, you guys pretending to know how businesses work is hilarious.
Posted by: King Oblivion Ph.D. | March 11, 2010 10:27 AM
"Good news, boss! We sold some books below our cost!"
"How is that good news? We lost money!"
"But look how MANY we sold!"
Posted by: Dave Lartigue | March 11, 2010 11:02 AM
Dammit, Rich. This is the last time I click on a link from BleedingCool. I thought I was going to an important site, not one I've never heard of (and let's face it, it's only important if I've heard of it). Point to you, Johnston!
Posted by: Anthony Lucynski | March 11, 2010 12:37 PM