<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">I'm not certain whether I should be saddened or wryly amused at the accounts of the failure of various list members to obtain the first Gemstone releases. <BR>
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Why? Because, for the most part, it remains unclear whether or not they are the victims of shops offering poor service, or whether they could have helped themselves in this regard. As with most things, I suspect matter falls somewhere in between. <BR>
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My shop, Bailey's Comics of Lindenhurst, NY -- go there if you're ever near Long Island, NY - had both my copy of WDC&S and my copy of UNCLE SCROOGE... and one copy of each I'd requested for a friend. <BR>
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Please note that I PRE-ORDERED these through Diamond's PREVIEWS catalogue. In this poor business climate, it would be wise for each of you to do the same. Just as I previously suggested with the "Free Comic Book Day Donald Duck Adventures", DON'T rely on your retailer to automatically order copies. Those days vanished with the unfortunate speculator craze of a decade ago. <BR>
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A retailer is not going to risk purchasing a number of relatively expensive items that might just sit on his racks indefinitely. So, for anyone who hasn't done so, take the initiative and pre-order your Gemstones. <BR>
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It would also help matters if you were able to form some sort of "regular relationship" with your retailer as well. That way he or she feels more comfortable and secure in financing your purchases in advance (...which, let's face it, is exactly what they do!). <BR>
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My retailer sees me each week, for a wider variety of comics, and has no doubt that I will be there when the $ 6.95 (x 4) American Dollars are due for my Gemstones. I realize this is not always easy to do -- depending on the retailer and/or the "other comics interests" of the individual customer... BUT IT WILL NEVER HURT! <BR>
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Indeed, my retailer did order an extra copy or two for the racks, since he KNOWS he is already assured of a minimum copy sale to me. And who knows, as a regular, your retailer may even offer you a "good customer discount" or other special privilege. So, unless your retailer is a total "doorstop" (...and some of them CAN BE!), please take my advice -- and pre-order your Gemstones! It's a win for you, a win for your retailer... and, best of all in the "bigger picture", it's a win for Gemstone! <BR>
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Joe Torcivia. </FONT></HTML>