YAOI NEWS: BLU Responds to Pricing Increase
I'm a bad blogger. I admit it. I did not think to ask BLU or Tokyopop to comment on the pricing increase but luckily they (Tokyopop) are on the ball and contacted me instead. Marco Pavia, (Associate Publisher at Tokyopop) and I had a few back and forth emails to sort out the details and I'm happy to give you a summary of Tokyopop's stance on the pricing increase.
Bad news first, the pricing increase is accurate so we will be paying more. The good news is that we aren't paying more for the same thing. All new releases at the higher price will now include color pages, anywhere from two to four pages (one or two front and back color inserts to clarify that). He also touched on the page quality issue they had last summer, which was due to an issue with the paper supplier at that time. Those issues have since been resolved and anything published since the end of 2009 and forward will have the same quality as prior to the change.
As far as exactly why the pricing change, well that wasn't specifically addressed but the yaoi industry in general was, which I'm sure is why we're seeing an increase. A big carrier of yaoi in the industry is Borders and their issues have taken its toll as well as the fact that many retailers do not wish to carry yaoi due to its content. This can lead to BLU being "stuck with a series that few at retail want to support, and that's a problem".
For 2010 BLU is committed to communicating more with fans through updates on their new(ish) twitter page, to providing previews to "most or all BLU manga on their site months in advance of publication" as well as updating their site more frequently with new content and news.
As an ending note, Marco mentioned having an copy of Croquis in his hands, that it looks great and he hopes fans will like it!
BTW, I checked Amazon and Rightstuf.com with its GotAnime discount and price for Croquis was the same at $10.11 with the retailer's discount to the customer.
So what do YOU think? Is the sting of the pricing increase eased at all with the addition of those color pages? Which would you rather have, color pages with an increase in price or no color pages with a lower price? Speak your mind because they ARE listening.
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I’m past worrying about price increase vs color pages. Whatever, I just want the manga. As they know we will pay price, if we want it bad enough. That maybe cynical, but I’ve decided that it is what it is. Just put out good stuff.
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As they know we will pay price, if we want it bad enough
You think? Don’t you think this could drive more people to scanlations? That this is just one more excuse to read them?
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Personally I see no need for color pages…I’d rather them be mini posters I can take out of the book lol. Just..seems pointless when it’s stuck in the book… :/
Never knew Borders had issues with it though..I mean I live in UTAH (cough) and they seem to have no problem at all with it XD Put them on display even! (they even started carrying Manga Sutra, which surprised me!)
They dont even give me/the covers weird looks XD
Once a male employee purred “fiesty!” at Man’s Best Friend’s cover LOL
Oh but I am kind of getting off topic…
Anyway I will still be buying, but being more selective (but that goes for every publisher as all prices have been raised) and most of my shopping will be done on Amazon (especialy goldbox deals!)
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@Sorjei
Border’s doesn’t have issues with yaoi, they’re having financial issues, which is affecting the yaoi industry in general. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.
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oh! Sorry lol
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Almost all paperbacks are going up in price. Now that they have invented the new ‘comfort grip’ (yeah, right) paperback. You know the one that is slightly longer horizontally and just as wide? They sell those for $13 and $14 dollars when the original paperback version has been working for years. I’m new to yaoi so the rising prices don’t really bother me so much. Probably would if I were used to years of paying in a certain price range.(Like I am with the fiction novels.) High prices will cause me to be more selective just because I’m an avid reader and I need to stretch my dollar.
I’d like to see the day when yaoi is sold in e-book format(not sure if they do that already.) Of course, they’d be facing the same issues as us authors are facing now with pirating, but then again I do think the driving up of cost will lead to more scantalation viewing so it’s a gamble either way.
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@Sage Whistler
I think the beef for many is that a non-yaoi manga doesn’t typically cost this much BUT yaoi IS a niche so we’re going to have to pay more to support it.
Yaoi is already sold by a few pubs in eBook format. DMP (June Manga) has made many of their manga and novels available for the KINDLE as has Yaoi Press. Netcomics has a lot available on their site as well as has eManga, both using a reader so you don’t get to keep it (and thus no sharing although I have seen people work around that with screen shots. Talk about determined!).
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I’d asked about this on their forum a couple of weeks ago and they deleted my post. I guess they weren’t open to communication yet. ;P
I don’t mind paying more for a higher quality product, so long as that’s what they truly give us. I for one like color pages and will be glad to see them. But I’ll be really annoyed if they do what they did with the last price increase, which was improve one or two volumes then go back to lower quality while staying at the higher prices.
Honestly though, this seems like a really bad move on their part. When they were the standard $10/vol (and I guess not a niche product then ^^;) I’d buy all their books; I could get them at $7 each. In this economy at $15 each, I’ll only be buying must-haves. Seems like if they want to keep their manga division alive they shouldn’t be raising prices right now.
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@sunflower
I agree. I question whether or not the price increase will offset the loss of sales due to the higher prices.
And if they DON’T stick with the color pages, then we’ll give them hell for sure!
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[...] in with buying tips of their own. This will be useful very soon for fans of Blu manga, as Tokyopop confirmed their price increase to $14.99 per volume. Lissa Pattillo has more at [...]
[...] Edit: BLU Manga has since stated that their future releases will all have 2-4 colour pages to go along with the price increase. (via TheYaoiReview) [...]
I’m glad for the color pages, but the price increase will make me pickier, especially with manga I’m not familiar with. And I’ll be relying on sales at RightStuf and pre-orders at Amazon (cheaper), as I have been–I can’t remember the last time I bought any manga at cover price.
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I think that though the price is going up , so is the quality of books. I have been into anime, and yaoi for years. Yaoi has always been a bit pricy but it is a niche genre. Those prices are what keep those companies in business. Several companies have already perished becuase of this market.
We are in an age when magazines and sandwiches cost 10 bucks, and I don’t see that 14 dollars is a lot for a book when you look at some of the graphic novels in American comics are $20 dollars, and little comics are near $4. I also have to say, I have bought Madness and the size of it alone I didn’t feel bad paying the price, not to mention it was a good solid story.
With sites like Emanga and Net comics giving net formats and the Yaoi press and others using the Kindle, I think we will see the prices change for several bound copies.
Blu doesnt release a huge amount of titles, but the ones they do are solid. And I don’t mind paying for them if they continue good stories and good work.
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[...] in with buying tips of their own. This will be useful very soon for fans of Blu manga, as Tokyopop confirmed their price increase to $14.99 per volume. Lissa Pattillo has more at [...]
I would prefer a different approach than gimmicks such as color foldouts. Never has anyone opened a Manga and said: “Screw the hundred or so pages with text, art, and plot, they’ve got a pretty color picture!”
It probably won’t even be exclusive artwork to their edition, which makes the excuse for the rise in price exactly that: an excuse.
Instead of distracting their audience with ploys of “look at all the pretty colors” I would prefer they invest in a broader range of titles, the expedient continuation of the series they have already begun, and so forth. In few cases will I ever accept quantity over quality, but I am willing to do so if it means I don’t have to wait a year for the next volume of a two volume series (*coughs VERY LOUDLY with a menacing eye cast in a general direction* JUNE). IF they were willing to actually produce the works as outlined previously, sans distractions fit only for blondes, of course I would understand an increase in pricing… but they don’t seem willing in that department.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by TheYaoiReview: YAOI NEWS: Tokyopop Responds Regarding BLU Manga Pricing Increase http://bit.ly/89Q4jh #yaoi…
I guess I’m the only one who doesn’t read scans. Wow, I thought there might be more than just little ole me.
So, the cost going up will drive more people to scans. Hum, the majority who read scans aren’t buying yaoi or any manga anyway. Don’t think prices make that much difference except that the consumer might be more circumspect about what they purchase.
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Well, I’m putting my two cents worth in on it since I probably buy more yaoi than most (I was averaging 10 a month). I don’t mind paying higher prices if the story is good AS IS the mangaka. We seem to be getting too much crap in way of story and illustration. As far as color pages? For a story I absolutely love (like Viewfinder) I’m all in but for as much as I buy, I don’t need them in every one. They aren’t ALL great and worth seeing in color. My biggest issue with it all is where does it end? What’s the ceiling on pricing increases? Are we at it? Is $15 the limit or am I going to be posting next year talking about $18 pricing because if I am, I will not be pleased and whatever publisher it is will be thrown under the bus hard.
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It’s a little difficult to believe that. They said the same thing with the last increase, and I’m hard-pressed to find a color page in some of the books that came after that price increase. As for Borders having problems, well, there’s not even a Borders where I live, so I can’t really comment. But, there are Barnes & Noble and Books-a-million. And both of them rarely put yaoi on their shelves. Besides that, the brick-and-mortar bookstores have always cost more for their manga selections anyway, vs purchasing online (and that’s before adding in tax). So, I buy almost all my yaoi online.
I have to agree with what some of the others say – I used to buy all Blu’s works (when the price was reasonable), but now I’ll be very discriminating. And it would be wonderful if Tokyopop/Blu would continue some series that have ‘stalled’ or at least communicate with the fans why those series are stalled.
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Wow. That is very sad news indeed, but they’ve placed other books at the 14.99 USD/18.99 CAN.
Earthian was truely a beautiful release. Textured cover, a single color page, good quality paper and a horrid price (the one now standard).
I don’t mind paying more for higher quality manga. In fact the nicer ones in my collection are way above the previous 9.99USD price point.
I do fear that the quality will not go up, and we’ll be stuck with Tokyopop pulling the same nonsense as recent times.
My copy of Junjo Romantica 10 is so thin that it BENDS while still shrink sealed, and they felt 12.99USD was a decent price point.
I thought Mixx pocket editions (unflipped with slightly better binding) was making a comeback.
Silly me!!
…At least they’re not trying to force us to go entirely digital (I guess).
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@Judi, most of the people I know who buy also read scans. I read scans for pretty much everything I buy – if not that very book then something else by that mangaka. I do it because I don’t want to get burnt with average yaoi like much of what June puts out.
I didn’t used to do that. When the books were cheaper I just bought. But now, I read scans of all of it. It’s a rare day when I buy something out of curiosity just because someone recommended it. I need to see the art, see the story-telling, know if it descends into cliche or if there are things that will make me want to reread it. And if I like it, I buy it, knowing my money is well-spent.
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[...] Fontes: Boys-Luv e The Yaoi Review [...]
…At least they’re not trying to force us to go entirely digital (I guess).
Wow, this comments scares me a tad. So I’m curious…do fans dislike digital manga? Or do they just dislike digital BL?
That’s weird, once upon a time, the only BL I got to see were digital scans translated by Aestheticm.com, we’re talking way back in the 90′s. Scanslations are immensely popular, so it’s not the format that might be the issue…is the issue that you have to pay for original BL in digital format?
That’s unfortunate. I truly see digital as the future playground of new titles and new talent. Many mangaka in Japan are selling just as much on sites like Digiket, then they are to publisher printing their material. I hope there isn’t a huge digital backlash.
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ashkai Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 11:58 AM
@ tina
I dislike only having the option for digital copies, especially when places only give you the option to ‘rent’ those copies.
I own only words and Gadarene from you (because they are the only ones I could find in print) and I enjoy them a lot.
I know its easier and more profitable for authors and artists to go digital (especially for the independent ones out there that are just getting started), but I don’t chose to live in a digital only world.
I own thousands of manga and have no issues with forking out the money for it, so its not a pay for content as opposed to getting it free issue.
Print copies are always going to win out for my money even if I’m the only one left out there doing so.
I haven’t read digital manga since we actually got to enjoy manga being published here in the U.S. on a constant basis.
I don’t enjoy scanlations anymore and I fear the coming of the digital age for books, movies, games, all media.
With it we are leaving the tiniest of historical footprints as compared to our ancestors. Even our historical photos of everyday life are now temporary because they are in digital form.
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Tina Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 8:37 AM
@ashkai I can respect where you’re coming from.
I have many friends that’ve given me grief for going digital-only with ‘Games With Me’ ‘s first volume, it’s what prompted me to decided on print when collecting both volumes together – I guess the ‘real book in my hand’ love is never going to disappear.
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@Tina, I bought your book at emanga.com. I really liked being able to “rent” it for such a low price, and I enjoyed reading it via their viewer where the pages were crisp and the type easy to read. To me it was akin to reading scanlations to see if I wanted a book, except it’s legal and I get to see the real translation (or dialogue, in your case), and the whole story. If more people did this, I’d read fewer scanlations.
But I’d like to always see digital forms go hand in hand with print, even if it’s just print on demand. I like having a book of my own when I like a title or series. Maybe someday POD technology will work well with manga/comics.
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@Tina.
Digital is great for sampling.
I wish everything was available as digital preview first. Maybe with a rating or preorder system for the paper versions.
But to keep – it’s still hard copy books for me. BTW Tina, I find it really hard to find paper copies of your books, except from Amazon – where I have to pay international shipping (T__T).
Re: Accessibility
For those who buy books from outside the Amazon Free Postage Zones – is anyone finding it increasingly difficult to find June/801 Media stock from other online retailers?
I wish the publishers would do a deal with http://www.bookdepository.com
instead of Amazon – because these guys ship worldwide for FREE *Hint! Hint!*
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@sunflower thanks for your thoughts on ‘Games’. I plan to release a print version, once both volumes are complete and V2 has a good run on emanga.com
My plan is to utilize emanga.com [if they'll keep having me] in order to release a proper offset print run to coincide with the digital release.
POD quality is iffy :/ Many fen still want crisp well printed erotica, and POD can’t always deliver this. Amazon’s POD program for example will only take a certain file size–which is no where near the size of a typical well made illustrated book. Novels are great with their POD program, but not manga or comics.
Keep your eye on the indy-creators though. There’s a wealth of cool stuff out there right now running as web series, and they’ve hit the mark where they can collect volume 1′s and start printing. If they get enough pre-orders, they print – and the stuff is great. To be honest, I think I ordered more GloBL and m/m from indy comikers and mangaka then I did from the pros this year. My faves were Starfighter and Honeydew Syndrome.
@yblees The Book Depository expected me to have 5-12 titles in circulation from my own ‘warehouse’ before it will deal with me. :/ I’ve heard through the grapevine they’re trying to be more Small Press friendly, so perhaps I will contact them again and give it a try. Technically though, I’m not a small publisher [yet--I'm going back to producing my own material, ISBN and all], – at this time, the only book I ship and sell myself is ‘Only Words’. All my other titles are handled by the publishers that hired me to write for them.
What title are you trying to get?
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Personally, this just doesn’t change my opinion of them. I mean the first time when the price was at 12.99 they could’ve included the pages then rather than now. Yet, they make us pay more then we have to, then we should have at the beginnng
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Add dust jackets and FULL translations of the sound effects, than you’ll have a price worth paying for Canadians who have to suffer through the even higher price tag of $18.99!;p
It’s true that Tokyopop has had a LOONG history of disappointment, and are trying to change, but to me, the biggest change would be staying consistent. For thing, translating ALL the sound effects for once! It’s true, in some books they do translate the sound effects, but NOT COMPLETELY, and that is clearly, NOT of a high standard in my book. This maybe completely unrelated to the topic at hand, but I’ll say it anyway, the Tokyopop logo, printed back and forth on the spines of many books, looks VERY unprofessional. I don’t know if Tokyopop just loves itself that much to want to see it’s own name more than once or whatever, but the look of it, on the front and back cover, is kind of annoying and ruins many covers. If Tokyopop wants to change as a whole, to me, it has to go through the process of re-working and a sense of the words, “a love of
labor” Making each cent/penny count, by knowing that fans do know who is publishing the book, therefore, it’s not necessary to put, Tokyopop, on the front and back covers of each book!
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