WEEKEND POLL: THE ECONOMY AND YOUR BUYING - WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[MattBrady]

All this week, we've been looking at some of the effects that a downturn in the economy, coupled with increasing inflation and increased energy prices, may have on comics. Now, we open the floor to you. Will you be changing your habits? Have you already changed them?

We'd like to know.

Also - please feel free to share your stories about how you're changing your buying habits, and how the economy is affecting your comic book purchasing decisions. Is it a straight cutback? Have you signed up for Marvel's Digital Comics Unlimited due to the cost benefit? Have you switched from brick-and-mortar store to online retailer due to a deeper discount? Are you waiting for the trade exclusively now? Let's hear your stories...

[OptimusPrime]

As of right now I currently buy 50-60 titles a month and drop between 50-100 dollars every Wednesday. I'm a very small minority and have considered cutting back. For example, I did cut Amazing Spider-Man after OMD as I just lost interest with the direction, something I never done as I like to have a complete set and keep it going. As of now I have no plans to change my buying habits.

However, IF there is a price increase I will have to make serious decisions about my buying habits. I love the medium, the characters, creators, etc. But it is very hard to justify a 20 page book for more than $2.99. If and when the day comes we go to 3.99, I will most likely drastically cut my hold list or even get out completely. If we want this industry to grow and get more kids in anything above $2.99 will kill us. It's hard to get kids and their parents not familiar with comics to justify spending $2.99 or more on something so small. For the occasional special or mini fine but on the regular monthly it can never work.

I need my weekly books so to speak and just not into the trades but again can see how others would like them. Same for the Marvel Digital but can see how others would and that's a great idea. But there is something in owning and bringing your book home. Whether you store and collect or get rid of it later, its yours. Bottom line is the price has to fit the package that is being sold. When the industry goes past that line its going to drive more and more of us away and discourage new readers from coming in. Something must be done to at minimum keep prices as is.

We would all love if they went down but know that will never happen, same with gas. I hope that the industry listens and can find ways to either add more value to the products if the prices were to go up, or keep prices as is, and hopefully give more reasons to lure more new people in. If any of these could be done then even in a difficult economic time this industry could continue to grow to new heights not seen in a long time as we all need an escape from hard times and daily life from time to time.

OH WOW!! My first 1st

[Bevbos]

I'm incredibly lucky to have a steady government job. In fact, I just got a raise for the first time in a long time. Most of my friends are getting laid off, and they're cutting back spending on everything. Comic books are usually among the first to go, and I'm helping one of them out by lending him my books. But I've actually been able to increase my spending slightly. Were I to lose my job, I would certainly try to follow Green Lantern / Green Lantern corps and Secret Invasion, but I'd drop everything else.

[mrorangesoda]

I've been trimming my pull list for a while. About two years ago, I was following about 25 titles a month (including 52, which would make it more like 28). Space and money concerns knowing I'm leaving to a large, more expensive city this fall have seen me trim that list to 14. I find I'm buying more trades as well- considering it's feasible to find them online for 40% or more off retail price (which is often times a little cheaper than the monthlies anyway).

[Samy Merchi]

I've been very happy that the American dollar has been down in the dumps, because that means my monthly bill has been going further and further down. I was paying like 250 euro per month last year, and nowadays I usually get below 200 per month. So far, the American economy going down has had nothing but good results for me.

I am, however, trimming my pull list. It had swelled up to more than 60 titles per month plus collected editions, and I'm hoping to cut down to 40 or so. Not because of any economic concerns, though -- but because I've discovered that I end up having piles of unread material sitting around at home, and I don't feel any great urge to read them. They can end up unread for a year! Some titles, I think I've actually put on the shelf, forgotten about, and never read!! So I figured, if I don't really want to read the books, I might as well not buy them. So I am cutting down, but not because of economic concerns -- rather because my caring level is dropping.

[Doctor_Chronos]

I was up to 50 a month at my peak about 6 months ago. I slowly chopped it down until now I am at exactly 2, which will be 1 in a few more months. Walking Dead and MAX Punisher. When Ennis leaves Punisher so will I. I should switch to trades on Walking Dead but I am too excited to see what happens next

I stopped going to an LCS probably back in 2000 and switched to online retailers because of the greater discount. Now that I am down to only a couple, I switched back to a LCS because the discount the online place gives is still not worth the shipping cost for just 2 books.

I did sign up for Marvel's DCU site so I am still in the game, just much delayed and at a much lower price. Here's hoping DC does a digital comics site too.

[WildKard]

On average over the last few years I would spend around 75-80 dollars a month buying comics online. As of two months ago my goal was to cut my subscription to 50 dollars or less per month. I've chopped quite a few books from my lists including:

Punisher (after Ennis run this won't be that hard to give up)
Superman
Action Comics
Ghost Rider
Moon Knight
Captain America
Incredible Hercules

I also have noticed that I've been restraining myself from trying any new comics unless they are must haves for me (based on the creators involved). I've passed on:

Trinity
Final Crisis
Front Line: Invasion
Skarr: Son of Hulk

All in all my belt is definitely tightening up.

[MrGreenGenes]

The enonomy hasn't forced me to cut back on the comics I buy, but it has forced me to change the way I buy comics to ensure that I don't have to.

To save money and make sure I don't have to cut back on books, I've had to eliminate weekly trips to my LCS in favor of ordering through DCBS. The price of gas has more than doubled the cost of my comic habit so I had to eliminate the gas element. Instead of me going to the comics, the comics now come to me once a month. I now spend $6 for a month's worth of comics to be shipped to me instead of puting an extra $80-$100 in my gas tank a month to go get 'em every week. Besides that, DCBS offers better discounts than my LCS does.

I'd rather give my business to my local store but this was a necessary step to preserving my hobby.

[Caronte]

Save the money? or save the comics?

Everybody is trimming because of the economic circumstances that surround the dollar. It's a good thing here for me in Costa Rica since I get paid in $ and our national coin gets bumped up. So more "colones" for one dollar.

Economics aside, the whole comic book experience has become a springboard for anything you can imagine. So stories are bad, everything has to fit the branding and MEGA-happenings surround the readers. Just like the internet, comics are no longer designed for one person or market in special, it's a beehive, a community that has to be pleased wherever "spider-man" or "superman" guest-appear.

So I stick to 2 or 3 titles, mostly DC or Indy.

[I am MODOK]

I buy most of my stuff online now, and it will be even more should the prices rise.

[Simon DelMonte]

I have never bought as many comics as most diehard fans, averaging between two and five a week. I am not in a situation at the moment that would force me to cut back much, though I usually drop one series to start buying another, and do try to avoid getting sucked into the big events if I don't feel I am getting a good story.

I also rely on a good local library system to get me a decent supply of TPBs, and I've even found a few pamphlets on the shelves.

[tgail]

I honestly don't know how many titles I buy a month. But it's a lot. I'm definitely cutting back, because I've found that as the months go by, I'm reading fewer and fewer books as soon as they come out. I've got a stack of unread comics at least 8 inches high. That's a lot of money I don't really have going into a pile of comics I don't really have time to read anymore. Captain America and Justice Society seem to be the only two books I absolutely can't wait to read anymore. I expect to cut my pull list by half before the end of the summer.

[md62]

I already trimmed my pull list in March & plan on doing it again in Sept.

[grendel25]

My local comic shop, Legacy Comics in Glendale, offers a pretty good discount program if you order through Previews, so I haven't thought about cutting too many titles. I do know that I'm not really looking to pick up anything new, and I've decided to drop the stuff that's shipping way late because I'm just forgetting what they're about.

[Noir56]

Not much.

My work is only a 12 minutes or less drive away and the comic shop is in the middle of the road.

My purchasing habit remain the same.

I don't buy DC's and Marvel's 52 Weeks, Countdown, Secret Invasion series, etc. and never will in their future tiresome gimmicks (except for Final Crisis, upcoming Legions of Three Worlds, Red Hulk, Thor:Secret Invasion and the likes).

I buy several Independents which doesn't chain you to their tie-ins.

[tgail]

Originally Posted by MrGreenGenes

The enonomy hasn't forced me to cut back on the comics I buy, but it has forced me to change the way I buy comics to ensure that I don't have to.

To save money and make sure I don't have to cut back on books, I've had to eliminate weekly trips to my LCS in favor of ordering through DCBS. The price of gas has more than doubled the cost of my comic habit so I had to eliminate the gas element. Instead of me going to the comics, the comics now come to me once a month. I now spend $6 for a month's worth of comics to be shipped to me instead of puting an extra $80-$100 in my gas tank a month to go get 'em every week. Besides that, DCBS offers better discounts than my LCS does.

I'd rather give my business to my local store but this was a necessary step to preserving my hobby.

How much of the extra discount are you losing in shipping charges? I'm sure you probably still come out ahead, because it sounds like you have to drive a considerable distance to the LCS, but for me, I'm just a few blocks away. I don't know if I'd really save enough to make the switch.

[Noir56]

...I've got a stack of unread comics at least 8 inches high...

What were you thinking? You use them for paper weight?

[mrfstr]

considering I just made a cross country move (effectively out of work for over a month after it) and am looking at getting married in the next year, I've had to cut down. I haven't been to the shop in 4 weeks (missed 5 new comic days) and don't really know when I'll be getting back. I've already thought of current stories I want to/have been picking up and am going to ask my fiancee for TPB's of them either for my birthday or Christmas. Never been a huge fan of the TPB market... I like picking up each issue every Wednesday... but sometimes you have to make the sacrifices.

[J. Wilson]

I have had to cut back on what I spend. I've been able to maintain the regular series I read by passing on the various miniseries that come out that I want to read but simply can't afford.

I see more cutting in my future if things keep going up.

[tgail]

Originally Posted by Noir56

...I've got a stack of unread comics at least 8 inches high...

What were you thinking? You use them for paper weight?

Yup. The comics on the top are holding down the comics on the bottom.

[Noir56]

[quote=
I'd rather give my business to my local store but this was a necessary step to preserving my hobby.[/QUOTE]

You need to preserve your sanity.

[nemler]

I spend $20 each Wednesday and that is it. That gets me about 5-7 comics per week. I would love to buy more, but reading about 6 comics a week is all I have time for anyway, so I guess it works for me.
If the prices go up, other than being seriously irked, I think would continue to spend my $20 each week and bring home 4-5 comics rather than 5-7.
However, having collected comics for a looong time...I used to see my $20 get me 20+ comics each week! So...while I have become desensitized to the $2.99 price tag, any further increase might just make me too bitter to continue. Hopefully I won't have to find out (or at least not soon).

[biffordmichael]

I need to trim my pull list, this summer has been crazy. I get caught in that "Well, It's not that great but it's only a few issues" mini-series place (see Raven/Cyborg/Omega The Unknown/Rann/Thanagar War, etc.) or I decide to cut it after not reading it for a long time and then I read the stack and am like "Wow! This isn't as bad as I thought!" (Nova/Ultimate Spider-Man, etc.) or I convince myself that it will get better (She-Hulk, Iron-Man: Director Of S.H.I.E.L.D., Punisher War Journal, etc.) BUT living in Austin on the world's best bus line (I live downtown and can get anywhere for a buck) and driving a very fuel sipping car like a Honda Civic I don't have (thankfully) have to base my issues on gas prices!

Trades are killing me but Marvel and DC are putting out SO MUCH great 70's/80's/90's stuff right now that I sold off for beer years ago in college!

Biff

[Dreighton]

over the last couple of years. I use to by about 25 a month, now a lot less. I also don't try out new comics or "new directions/creative teams" like I used to.

Part of this is the price/economy but only part. I don't have the space to store comics, and have sold off much of my old collection, just to get the floor space, or not to move them. Also I find comics today to not grab my attention like they used to. I feel like I've read every comic book before. (Batman's DEAD? I've never read THAT before!)

[Union Jim]

I wish petrol... sorry, "gas" () was that cheap here in the UK, we are paying around £1.10 for a litre! That's around $2.40! My math is bad, but I'm sure there are around 5 litres in a gallon, which makes it around $12 a gallon over here! If petrol was $4 a gallon I'd be buying MORE comics, not less