Small Publishers Still Losing Out?
It seems that,after Travelling Man in Bristol closed up rather quickly,many Small Pressers lost out. Their books were not returned and money for books sold not paid out.
However,this is nothing new. Back in the 1980s Small Pressers and Independent publishers,myself included,were being ripped off by shops using one excuse or another and knowing that pursuing matters in court would be too expensive.
In 2004 I handed over a number of new publications to Shane Chebney,running the Small Zone service. Fully invoiced and everything else as required.
Now,I am not the most invisible person on the web and since Small Zone has my publications [with address ,email & phone number in],I still get the Small Zone newsletter via email,you think I might stand a chance of finding out what is going on with my books after 4 years?
Nope.
I have about a dozen emails from Shane stating he’ll forward any unsold books and any monies owed going back to 2005. I get the same promise at Comic Expos. In November I requested all unsold books back plus any monies. On 8th November I was told my postal address had “been lost” and once that was received everything would be sortedout.
Four months later and nothing. I did mail again in March but nothing.
Am I the only one getting this problem?
I am no longer promoting or supporting Small Zone and the on site link has been removed.
Am I unhappy? Is it wise to rip me off?
Guess.
Comic Bits Online is the web version of the Comic Bits magazine Edited and run by Terry Hooper. Currently Interviews Editor at Manga Life,Terry has over thirty years experience in the comic industry as script writer,artist,freelance Editor,publisher and much more. But if you want the facts:
Curriculum vitae Name:Terry HooperDob:6th June 1957 [50 yrs]Currently living Ashton Vale,Bristol,United Kingdom ...
2 Responses
Hi Terry,
I haven’t ripped you off mate, I just haven’t got around to sending you back your magazines yet. Also, you haven’t hit the £25 minimum payment mark yet, as you’ve only sold a couple of zines on the website, so I don’t actualy owe you any money yet.
You ever tried dealing with over 300 publishers from your spare room? Sometimes the wheels move slowly, but I always see folks right in the end. I am sorry for the delay in sending back your comics, and sorry also that you felt you had to publicly attack me and my honestly on here.
Don’t really think you’ve done yourself any favours there Terry, but you should know that your comics will be posted this weekend, once I get a chance to get into town, along with a cheque to close your smallzone account.
I have had some problems the last 12 months that have made keeping up to date on my smallzone work very difficult, and I’m sure you are not the only client who has noticed how slow things have gotten recently, but I’m working very hard to catch up with my (unpaid) workload now, and everyone should be up to date within the next couple of months.
Finally, I too lost money and stock when Travelling Man closed, but I can tell you right here and now, that it was not the fault of the staff working in the shop. Maybe you also should consider that they have lost their jobs… a lot more than a few comics. Come along to my table at Bristol if you wish to discuss this matter further, as I won’t reply to any more public tittle tattle.
all the best,
Shane
Posted on April 2nd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Shane has been in touch and his comments can be seen for all,which is fair.
The situation at Travelling Man in Bristol I know full well,possibly better than Shane knows. What made people angry was the fact that new staff were employed by the manager who did not tell them the shop was closing. But TM is not the topic here.
Now,Shane only had to let me know that there were problems. In the past I’ve dealt with 400 publishers spread around Europe,USA,Asia,etc.. and that was pre-internet days and while working.
I would seriously have been happy to have had all the comics returned if Shane could not sell them [I could!].
Perhaps the number of publishers Small Zone deals with IS too many? If it’s a one-man show then there is the problem. You need the organisation to be able to handle problems and put things in place for possible problems.
I seriously do not think this has put me in a bad light.
In fact,had Shane gotten in touch I could have used my yahoo groups and CBO to smooth things over because I was not the only one concerned [but I’m not speaking for others here]. Andthe offer to help promote Small Zone is still there -and the SZ link has been re-instated.
Terry
Posted on April 3rd, 2008 at 4:31 am
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