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Post by tundra on Apr 28, 2014 8:52:54 GMT -5
This change isn't really going to me affect me at all since I discovered that buying comics from the App you get charged extra I did only on-site purchases. I just simply saved the site on Safari and sent it to my home screen....it would take seconds to switch from one to the other. Also I have subscriptions for some series, so I don't really need to buy them. This. I have subscriptions for everything I read regularly, so only pick out odd issues here and there in app. I don't think the customer got charged extra, though (at least not in my experience) - I would guess Apple's (and Google's) cut was coming out of Comixology's margin. Also, I believe restrictions from the Apple appstore had several other consequences for Comixology purchases. One was the minimum price for any individual purchase at 99c (minimum allowed by Apple). Comixology have said in the past that this was the reason no issues are sold at less than 99c even on sale since they didn't want to charge different prices on different devices. Not that this necessarily means we'll see any lower prices, but might be interesting to watch. The Apple appstore was apparantly also the reason why each individual issue had to be a transaction in its own right, rather than it being possible to add issues to a cart (presumably because of the minimum purchase price). With the recent update on Android there is now a cart available, which is handy on the occasions when I want to do some back issue shopping, but I now need to pay with credit card or PayPal just like on the site. A major pain for those on an iPad if this option is not available. The only thing I'd really complain about myself is the lack of notice, since many people would have wanted to spend both Apple and Google gift cards on comics. Haven't seen (or heard of) any problems with comics being lost, no difficulty at all accessing my collection.
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Post by ColbyAddison on Apr 28, 2014 12:46:22 GMT -5
I think in an effort to keep more profit, they are going to lose a big chunk of their profit. Convenience is a big deal nowadays. Impulse buying is way easier on the iphone as well.
I'd be interested to know the ratio of sales between the site and the app. Maybe the app sales aren't as much as I imagine.
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Post by tundra on Apr 28, 2014 16:25:14 GMT -5
I think in an effort to keep more profit, they are going to lose a big chunk of their profit. Convenience is a big deal nowadays. Impulse buying is way easier on the iphone as well. I'd be interested to know the ratio of sales between the site and the app. Maybe the app sales aren't as much as I imagine. If it makes you feel any better about the inconvenience, apparently creators got more money if you bought through the site rather than IAP and have been recommending it since long before the sale to Amazon. Clicking on an individual issue in app as a purchase is pretty convenient (I'll admit I sometimes do it) but having to process each individual issue when you want to buy a series that is on sale was not convenient in the slightest - switching out of the app to the site was always easier. If you haven't tried it, their site is really well optimised for mobile devices these days.
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Post by wjohnson22 on Apr 29, 2014 13:06:44 GMT -5
I wonder if this situation makes Dark Horse feel better/vindicated since it decided to not jump on the Comixology train. For a while, Dark Horse's app had a lot of technical glitches, but the updated app for iOS 7 is greatly improved.
Interestingly, many of Dark Horse's digital sales are web only (they have many sales with highly-reduced bundles that are web only, and the recent 3-year sale was web only). I'm assuming this is also to prevent Apple/Google from taking a % of the sales. Anyway, I'll still use comixology but will likely make fewer impulse purchases.
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Post by lissapunch on Apr 29, 2014 13:55:08 GMT -5
I don't use Apple products, so thus far no changes have effected me. I like the idea possibly my Prime account could get me deals on digital comics, though. I buy from both the Comixology site and from the app on my Kindle. I also agree, as someone else said here, the reading format on Amazon is terrible, so I don't buy digital from them, I hope the reading format in Comixology is retained.
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miked
Fearless Defender
Posts: 48
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Post by miked on Apr 29, 2014 19:54:51 GMT -5
i'm really curious as to how this might affect the comixology submit program. i'm currently in the process of putting together my first comic and i am relying on the submit program to make my work available to a wider audience.
has anyone heard anything about any possible changes to the indy program?
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Post by CaptainSuperior on May 1, 2014 9:22:47 GMT -5
i'm really curious as to how this might affect the comixology submit program. i'm currently in the process of putting together my first comic and i am relying on the submit program to make my work available to a wider audience. has anyone heard anything about any possible changes to the indy program? That's a really good question Mike, I've been wondering this myself. Amazon has a publishing division for indie comics, but I'm not sure how this effects the overall Submit Program. If you find anything out as your going through the process let us know, and if I find anything out I'll definitely make you aware as well.
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miked
Fearless Defender
Posts: 48
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Post by miked on May 4, 2014 21:34:46 GMT -5
i'm really curious as to how this might affect the comixology submit program. i'm currently in the process of putting together my first comic and i am relying on the submit program to make my work available to a wider audience. has anyone heard anything about any possible changes to the indy program? That's a really good question Mike, I've been wondering this myself. Amazon has a publishing division for indie comics, but I'm not sure how this effects the overall Submit Program. If you find anything out as your going through the process let us know, and if I find anything out I'll definitely make you aware as well. Thanks! I'm hoping that since Amazon has it's own similar program for kindle books, that the indy spirit will prevail and all will be as it has been. i found an interesting article on bleeding cool about the subject, and the person they interviewed--a successful Submit user--was very optimistic about the whole thing. Apparently, Amazon makes a decent amount of money from their indy Kindle business, and so they are likely to keep the Comixology service because it's also been a good money maker. i also just found out also that the creators "cut" for comixology submit is 50% minus digital distribution fees. For the iOS apps, this meant that the creator cut went down to about 35% after Apple took their piece. But, now that in-app purchases have been removed, the amount that the creators get should be higher. As much as i find the fact that i have to buy my comics from the website instead of directly from the app a pain in the ass, this is good news for when i want to make money from my own work!
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Post by joroak on May 5, 2014 7:24:38 GMT -5
I've been in the habit of making my purchases on my PC for a few months now. I felt guilty about abandoning my LCS, so when I found out if I used their digital store front that they got a cut of the money I spent I started doing it that way. I understand the lack of convenience though, it was such a good way to binge buy. Hopefully their numbers find a way to keep up.
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Post by CaptainSuperior on May 5, 2014 7:26:59 GMT -5
I've been in the habit of making my purchases on my PC for a few months now. I felt guilty about abandoning my LCS, so when I found out if I used their digital store front that they got a cut of the money I spent I started doing it that way. I understand the lack of convenience though, it was such a good way to binge buy. Hopefully their numbers find a way to keep up. How do you see if your LCS is setup for the digital store front?
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Post by joroak on May 5, 2014 7:29:08 GMT -5
I've been in the habit of making my purchases on my PC for a few months now. I felt guilty about abandoning my LCS, so when I found out if I used their digital store front that they got a cut of the money I spent I started doing it that way. I understand the lack of convenience though, it was such a good way to binge buy. Hopefully their numbers find a way to keep up. How do you see if your LCS is setup for the digital store front? I happened to see it by going to my LCS website. I would say check there first. There must be a way to search for it though. Does anyone know how?
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Flasshe
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Pronounced "Flash" as in Barry Allen. Or Wally West. Or Thompson.
Posts: 58
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Post by Flasshe on May 5, 2014 15:24:18 GMT -5
I have no problem with buying from the website. 90% of the time, that's what I would do anyway. Usually the only time I did in-app purchases is when I had iTunes gift cards to use up (occasionally the local grocery stores will do deals where you can buy a $25 GC for $20, for example). However, Apple charges tax on in-app puchases if you have an Apple retail store in your state like I do, so not only does Apple get more of the creators' cuts, the actual purchase is more expensive for me.
What I miss is the ability to browse etc. The app was very convenient for checking out what was available and how much it cost, even if you went to the website for the actual purchase. The new app will still let you browse the "store" to an extent (by using the Search button, or just tapping on an issue to bring up the series), but it doesn't work nearly as well as it used to and you can't see the prices. At least you can still add stuff to your Wishlist that way.
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Post by hermanthegerman on Oct 13, 2014 12:58:47 GMT -5
Since I am from Germany it is really affecting me, because Comixology started to ban Creditcards from outside the US, so I cannot buy through the app anymore and the US website. I have to go to the EU store now, where whole series like Justice Society of America are missing and have to pay the the same price on the website, as in the app...but now they are saving the applefee, right? Yes, but that extra money is now for Amazon or so....the problem is, that when I buy a physical trade, I save money. It is more expensive to buy 4-5 digital comics on the comixology EU website, than buy a printed trade...in 2013 I decided to go all digital...and now I`m going back to trade waiting...this is so frustrating...since in the Talking Comics show they talk about all the development in new comics and I have to wait 6-8 months and try to avoid spoilers...I really hope, we get a second player on the market, that takes care of us and the absurd price policy since the amazon takeover!
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