Is the only reason this is only going to be digital is to keep the costs down?

Presumably.

Quote from: JonInIowaCity on April 26, 2016, 03:57:19 PM
Presumably.

That is what I thought. I guess they are thinking even though the digital will be a cheaper price I guess to buy more people will buy it and they will make more than if they spend more on a printed copy and charge more and less people buy it.

Quote from: GingerGal on April 26, 2016, 04:01:49 PM

Quote from: JonInIowaCity on April 26, 2016, 03:57:19 PM
Presumably.

That is what I thought. I guess they are thinking even though the digital will be a cheaper price I guess to buy more people will buy it and they will make more than if they spend more on a printed copy and charge more and less people buy it.

Well, here's where you're wrong. The price of a digital version of Archie Comics that exist in print versions also is the same, so no money saved there if you're choosing digital over print. I mean, sure -- ARCHIE COMICS saves the money that would normally go to paying the printers and distributors, but YOU don't save any.

The problem with digital comics is that you need to seek them out. That's limited, in my mind.

For example, I was a fan of the 80s "Jem & the Holograms" cartoon, but didn't plan on purchasing the new IDW comic. Last year, I went to FCBD and began leafing through those books and really liked them and now I read them regularly.

Basically, it was an impulse purchase that led to me purchasing copies of every book every month.

With digitial comics, you need to look for them to get them.

Quote from: JonInIowaCity on April 26, 2016, 04:16:00 PM
The problem with digital comics is that you need to seek them out. That's limited, in my mind.

For example, I was a fan of the 80s "Jem & the Holograms" cartoon, but didn't plan on purchasing the new IDW comic. Last year, I went to FCBD and began leafing through those books and really liked them and now I read them regularly.

Basically, it was an impulse purchase that led to me purchasing copies of every book every month.

With digitial comics, you need to look for them to get them.

Exactly. Digital sales hinge on your knowing that the digital comic exists, and then being sufficiently motivated to go to an online source where you can buy a copy.

This is the 180 degree opposite of what traditionally has kept Archie digests selling for 40 years - the concept of "point of purchase display" and "impulse buy", which is based on the idea that the consumer HAD NO INTENTION of purchasing beforehand, but just seeing the item available results in a snap decision of "Oh, what the heck! Why not?" The actual MOTIVATION to purchase something specifically doesn't follow until later.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on April 26, 2016, 04:09:35 PM

Quote from: GingerGal on April 26, 2016, 04:01:49 PM

Quote from: JonInIowaCity on April 26, 2016, 03:57:19 PM
Presumably.

That is what I thought. I guess they are thinking even though the digital will be a cheaper price I guess to buy more people will buy it and they will make more than if they spend more on a printed copy and charge more and less people buy it.

Well, here's where you're wrong. The price of a digital version of Archie Comics that exist in print versions also is the same, so no money saved there if you're choosing digital over print. I mean, sure -- ARCHIE COMICS saves the money that would normally go to paying the printers and distributors, but YOU don't save any.

Yeah, but if it is only a digital version it is cheaper, like the new Kevin Keller series. What I was saying I guess Archie comics Execs. thinks it's a safer bet to go just digital with it and charge a cheaper price for it so more people with buy it.That means the more quantity the more $$$$ I guess.

Quote from: GingerGal on April 26, 2016, 05:13:09 PM
Yeah, but if it is only a digital version it is cheaper, like the new Kevin Keller series.

Okay, that is something new then, and I guess I missed that. LIFE WITH KEVIN (digital exclusive) is cheaper than the $3.99 price they're charging for issues of ARCHIE and JUGHEAD? Actually, I'm curious about how you know what the price of LIFE WITH KEVIN will be, since it can't be online for sale anywhere just yet.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on April 26, 2016, 05:17:26 PM

Quote from: GingerGal on April 26, 2016, 05:13:09 PM
Yeah, but if it is only a digital version it is cheaper, like the new Kevin Keller series.

Okay, that is something new then, and I guess I missed that. LIFE WITH KEVIN (digital exclusive) is cheaper than the $3.99 price they're charging for issues of ARCHIE and JUGHEAD? Actually, I'm curious about how you know what the price of LIFE WITH KEVIN will be, since it can't be online for sale anywhere just yet.

What I am looking at is the comics that are on the App that are Kevin Keller comics that they are selling now for 0.99 cents. I must be confused and also confusing you because I guess the Kevin Keller comics and The Life With Kevin comics are a totally different thing. I don't see anything on the App for The Life With Kevin.

Quote from: GingerGal on April 26, 2016, 05:24:34 PM

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on April 26, 2016, 05:17:26 PM

Quote from: GingerGal on April 26, 2016, 05:13:09 PM
Yeah, but if it is only a digital version it is cheaper, like the new Kevin Keller series.

Okay, that is something new then, and I guess I missed that. LIFE WITH KEVIN (digital exclusive) is cheaper than the $3.99 price they're charging for issues of ARCHIE and JUGHEAD? Actually, I'm curious about how you know what the price of LIFE WITH KEVIN will be, since it can't be online for sale anywhere just yet.

What I am looking at is the comics that are on the App that are Kevin Keller comics that they are selling now for 0.99 cents. I must be confused and also confusing you because I guess the Kevin Keller comics and The Life With Kevin comics are a totally different thing. I don't see anything on the App for The Life With Kevin.

Okay, I thought you were talking about new comics, and the new LIFE WITH KEVIN digital exclusive series. What you are actually looking at are the digital versions of old issues of KEVIN KELLER, which ceased publication with issue #15 in 2014. I would imagine that with the new digital exclusive LIFE WITH KEVIN series coming up, they are anticipating pushing some extra sales on that digital title when it becomes available, and (thinking ahead) are offering the old issues of KEVIN KELLER at the sale price of .99 cents, in the hopes that people who try those at the bargain price will then become fans of Kevin and purchase the new series when it comes out.

I think there's going to a difference between the prices of the old "Kevin Keller" series on the app (which are 1-3 years old) and the new "Life With Kevin" series, which is new. The new materials on the app sell at the regular cover prices (currently $3.99).

If they are selling the new series at the same price at both digitally and printed what is the incentive to get the digital one?


I did get the 3 FREE comics(One Life With Archie, and Two Veronica comics). All 3 seem to have a Kevin Keller theme but they are free so that is cool. I am going to read them tonight.

Quote from: GingerGal on April 26, 2016, 05:35:59 PM
If they are selling the new series at the same price at both digitally and printed what is the incentive to get the digital one?

What indeed. It could be that it is just easier for some people to get it that way, and it saves them a trip to the comic store (or their local comic store may not even carry the title they're looking for, or be sold out of it).

One thing that ACP doesn't do, that other comic book companies like Marvel DO do, is to offer a free digital copy with a code printed in the print version of the comics. That is good thinking on their part, because if people who like the digital versions only because it's easier to get for them are given a little extra motivation, they can have BOTH versions, if they're willing to make the effort to seek out a print copy of the comics (and selling those extra print comics is sometimes what makes them worth printing at all, since they may be only on the borderline of profitability -- they don't want to compete for sales with their own digital versions).

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on April 26, 2016, 05:47:01 PM

Quote from: GingerGal on April 26, 2016, 05:35:59 PM
If they are selling the new series at the same price at both digitally and printed what is the incentive to get the digital one?

What indeed. It could be that it is just easier for some people to get it that way, and it saves them a trip to the comic store (or their local comic store may not even carry the title they're looking for, or be sold out of it).

One thing that ACP doesn't do, that other comic book companies like Marvel DO do, is to offer a free digital copy with a code printed in the print version of the comics. That is good thinking on their parts, because if people who like the digital versions only because it's easier to get for them are given a little extra motivation, they can have BOTH versions, if they're willing to make the effort to seek out a print copy of the comics (and selling those extra print comics is sometimes what makes them worth printing at all, since they may be only only the borderline of profitability -- they don't want to compete for sales with their own digital versions).

I can see that especially for someone who does not drive yet and has to rely on my Mum or Dad to take me to the local comic shop. Sometimes it takes them a week until they have time to take me after the comic is released that month. I can also see that some people who have a crazy amount of printed comics and is running out of storage space the digital comics would be great. I only have 12 comics, but have them on my mobile tablet would be great to take anywhere instead of taking a printed copy. I may start using it for the new series and see how it goes. Plus they do have 3 freebies that are "Classic" ones that I can read which is even cooler.

Quote from: GingerGal on April 26, 2016, 05:35:59 PM
If they are selling the new series at the same price at both digitally and printed what is the incentive to get the digital one?

Digital comics come out sooner. BN.com used to release comics at midnight on release day, Amazon around 2 am, and Comixology even later. I used to wake up early and read the new Archie before work when it first started. Now it's not nearly as exciting.


The earliest I could go to a comic store is release day after work and most comic stores near me only open from 12pm-5/6pm and I'm almost never out of work by then. Also most of the comics I read are not the kinds stores keep shelf copies of (i.e. lots of all ages/kids comics and girlie comics) and to preorder them it has to be like 5-6 weeks in advance if you want it on release day and then would order the wrong variant for me. It's just easier to do it all online.