Viz Media To Increase Manga Prices?

[Steven]

I just bought Naruto vol. 46 and Reborn! vol. 13, and I checked that both of their prices were $9.99 USD, 6.99 UKP, and 12.99 CD. I checked Viz's website, as well, and those prices were correct. Apparently, Viz Media is beginning to feel the heat of this "finished" recession?

I also bought Yu-Gi-Oh! R vol. 01.

 

[Destry]

I remember reading about this earlier this year, and I suppose it's finally happened. A lot of the manga publishers have hiked up their prices, Viz right with them. The first time I saw it was on some TokyoPop manga a few months ago. I stopped bothering to buy them a long time ago, honestly... even $10 per is a bit steep for me, nevermind anything higher than that. D: It's not like, 1999! Manga doesn't need to be $15 a pop. Ridiculoooous.

 

[Rellik]

I just bought Naruto vol. 46 and Reborn! vol. 13, and I checked that both of their prices were $9.99 USD, 6.99 UKP, and 12.99 CD. I checked Viz's website, as well, and those prices were correct. Apparently, Viz Media is beginning to feel the heat of this "finished" recession?

I also bought Yu-Gi-Oh! R vol. 01.

Probably has less to do with the recession and more to do with the fact that most fans just read scanlations these days.

 

[bell02+]

I would say it could have something to do with Anime's Decreased popularity, but I don't think that ever reflected upon Manga sales. Popular series still seem to get high numbers in the New York Times list, and they still top the overall graphic novels lists.

It's probably just the recession. I know I've cut back myself to tell the truth, I've cut back from about 10-12volumes a month to probably around 3-4.

 

[Kiratwig]

I usually dont buy Vi Media manga, one because it just doesnt appeal to me, and two the art wasnt the best in the world. Its still not as expensive as some of the other manga thats out there.

 

[Koji-Kun]

The reason why i buy the original japanese at Book Off... $1 manga baby!

 

[fate]

Cleary the best way to market something declining in popularity is to raise prices.

Hopefully they realize it's not a very good idea.

However... perhaps they are banking on the hardcore fans buying regardless, in which case they can make more money off the hardcore instead of trying to get money from wider low pirce sales. Hm.

 

[SSJ_Jup81]

It wouldn't surprise me that the prices are going up because of people who don't purchase licensed series and stick with scanlations. They're losing profit because of it, for the most part, probably.

 

[Transfinite]

Hasn't Viz's manga been $9.99 for a while? It used to be $14.99. What's the problem?

 

[Steven]

Hasn't Viz's manga been $9.99 for a while? It used to be $14.99. What's the problem?

It depends on which one you buy, really. I guess I should've said that it is the cheaper ones (or probably more popular ones) that are getting a price increase?

 

[Zesty Cactus]

Hasn't Viz's manga been $9.99 for a while? It used to be $14.99. What's the problem?

A quick trip to my bookshelf:
Neon Genesis Evangelion #2 - printed Dec 1998 - $15.95 USA / $23.95 CAD
Eva #7 is the same US price but $26.50 CAD. Yikes! And that was in April 2003!
Pikachu Shocks Back is $12.95 USA / $19.50 CAD. Better, but today's are STILL cheaper... I think I've made my point now, haven't I?

Eh, I just bought a bunch of VIZ mangas (damn that Pokemon Adventures, Pokemon DPA!, and Zelda coming out on the same day!) and they were all $7.99 USA. Or maybe they're just hiking up the prices of "grown-up" manga? idk. Everywhere in Canada I shop at charges US cover (in CAD) anyways.

 

[Steven]

A quick trip to my bookshelf:
Neon Genesis Evangelion #2 - printed Dec 1998 - $15.95 USA / $23.95 CAD
Eva #7 is the same US price but $26.50 CAD. Yikes! And that was in April 2003!
Pikachu Shocks Back is $12.95 USA / $19.50 CAD. Better, but today's are STILL cheaper... I think I've made my point now, haven't I?

Eh, I just bought a bunch of VIZ mangas (damn that Pokemon Adventures, Pokemon DPA!, and Zelda coming out on the same day!) and they were all $7.99 USA. Or maybe they're just hiking up the prices of "grown-up" manga? idk. Everywhere in Canada I shop at charges US cover (in CAD) anyways.

Yes, I bought the two Pokemon volumes that you mentioned as well, but those ones I weren't referring to. I think that they may be doing just the grown-up ones like you said since they are by far more popular than the VizKids products...

 

[Rellik]

Hasn't Viz's manga been $9.99 for a while? It used to be $14.99. What's the problem?

While it's true that quite a few of the titles that they sell are/were around $9.99, the titles that they sell under the Shonen Jump label, such as Naruto, Reborn, and Bleach, used to be something like $7.99, IIRC.

 

[Steven]

While it's true that quite a few of the titles that they sell are/were around $9.99, the titles that they sell under the Shonen Jump label, such as Naruto, Reborn, and Bleach, used to be something like $7.99, IIRC.

Correct. Those under "Shonen Jump" were mostly priced at $7.95. (With a couple of exceptions, i.e. Black Cat.) Those under "Shonen Jump Advanced", for those of a more mature audience, i.e. Death Note, Blue Dragon Ral Grad, I''s, etc., were priced at $7.99 with no exceptions.

It now appears that they are targeting both.

Allow my comparisons:

View attachment 12546