Comments on: Sales charts and barcodes redux http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:28:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Brock Heasley http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-445016 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:36:55 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-445016 Just got back from reading Michael's blog post on the bar codes and it was a good read. Helped clarify the issue for me. Nice work, man. Just got back from reading Michael’s blog post on the bar codes and it was a good read. Helped clarify the issue for me. Nice work, man.

]]> by: Michael DeVito http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-444990 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:54:11 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-444990 Absolutely makes sense, regarding the buyer beware. For UPC express in particular I know a few people who have used it and met with success. They also provide a refund, so it gives you 48 hours to check on the status of it. I'm sure there are horror stories from some if not a number of those types of 3rd party vendors though. Those secondary costs though occur regardless of who you get the bar code from. Absolutely makes sense, regarding the buyer beware. For UPC express in particular I know a few people who have used it and met with success. They also provide a refund, so it gives you 48 hours to check on the status of it. I’m sure there are horror stories from some if not a number of those types of 3rd party vendors though.

Those secondary costs though occur regardless of who you get the bar code from.

]]> by: Simon Jones http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-444896 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:59:45 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-444896 Michael--> No, it doesn't necessarily take as much money as people think, and those recommendations from Diamond are viable. But technically, they're not fully supported by GS1 which makes no guarantees to the uniqueness of numbers offered through third parties. So buyer beware. Second, you must consider secondary costs, such as acquiring layout software that can correctly handle EPS files, or paying the printer extra to set the label properly. (Yeah, one would think professional layout software would be ubiquitous for all publishers by now. But they're not.) Michael–>

No, it doesn’t necessarily take as much money as people think, and those recommendations from Diamond are viable. But technically, they’re not fully supported by GS1 which makes no guarantees to the uniqueness of numbers offered through third parties. So buyer beware.

Second, you must consider secondary costs, such as acquiring layout software that can correctly handle EPS files, or paying the printer extra to set the label properly. (Yeah, one would think professional layout software would be ubiquitous for all publishers by now. But they’re not.)

]]> by: Michael DeVito http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-444872 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:44:43 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-444872 I still get the impression that people aren't reading the Diamond letter when talking about costs etc for small press. They emphasize you can do the traditional way and buy a small or large lot of bar codes OR you can use all these listed sites which are about 29-40 dollars per bar code. Options are definitely being offered. I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm the one who is wrong, because I'm still seeing so many comments on other blogs about the 400+ dollars to get started. I posted info about the hub bub here: http://www.th3rdworld.com/th3rdworldblog/ This should become a dead issue sooner than later, assuming I'm correct in saying that those 29 dollar per bar code options are viable. I still get the impression that people aren’t reading the Diamond letter when talking about costs etc for small press. They emphasize you can do the traditional way and buy a small or large lot of bar codes OR you can use all these listed sites which are about 29-40 dollars per bar code. Options are definitely being offered.

I’m starting to get the feeling that I’m the one who is wrong, because I’m still seeing so many comments on other blogs about the 400+ dollars to get started. I posted info about the hub bub here:

http://www.th3rdworld.com/th3rdworldblog/

This should become a dead issue sooner than later, assuming I’m correct in saying that those 29 dollar per bar code options are viable.

]]> by: V. Smith http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-444800 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:07:06 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-444800 I know the topic's about something else, but has anyone read that Sharknite book? Is it any good? :) I know the topic’s about something else, but has anyone read that Sharknite book? Is it any good? :)

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-444394 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 05:40:17 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/01/sales-charts-and-barcodes-redux/#comment-444394 So you can't afford barcodes... 1. Publish a webcomic which allows you to: a) track visitors, b) publish a letter column without the actual editorial requirement, c) publicize your comic cheaply and efficiently. Attend local shows, network, hand out paper samples of your work, and discover and learn about other people doing the same thing. 2. Find an alternative means of distribution. Small press clearing houses. Fanzine collectives. Create a studio and sell an anthology to a publisher. Print it on demand via iUniverse. Sell your book on the subway or out of a baby carriage! 3. Purchase the Business Plan For Dummies Kit with CD. Calculate all your expenses. Can you afford to publish your book with your own money? Will a bank lend you money? Does the Small Business Administration offer advice and loans? Ask questions. Learn. Think. Plan. There will always be obstacles, but also rewards. It takes determination to make a dream reality. So you can’t afford barcodes…
1. Publish a webcomic which allows you to: a) track visitors, b) publish a letter column without the actual editorial requirement, c) publicize your comic cheaply and efficiently. Attend local shows, network, hand out paper samples of your work, and discover and learn about other people doing the same thing.
2. Find an alternative means of distribution. Small press clearing houses. Fanzine collectives. Create a studio and sell an anthology to a publisher. Print it on demand via iUniverse. Sell your book on the subway or out of a baby carriage!
3. Purchase the Business Plan For Dummies Kit with CD. Calculate all your expenses. Can you afford to publish your book with your own money? Will a bank lend you money? Does the Small Business Administration offer advice and loans?
Ask questions. Learn. Think. Plan. There will always be obstacles, but also rewards. It takes determination to make a dream reality.

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