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With all the rain we have been enduring here in Vancouver, Sar asked me to look for some new umbrellas.  Little did she know that my geekery tends to follow me wherever I go.  If I were to buy a new umbrella, what umbrella would I buy?

Low and behold.

The Darth Vader Lightsaber Umbrella

What will they think of next? Maybe a Lightsaber-themed sex toy? Eh, its most likely already been done. Not only can a Lightsaber protect you from the Alliance and change your TV station, but it can also apparently protect your hair from liquid droplets of destruction, or as you might like to call it…rain. This Japanese-made limited-edition Darth Vader Lightsaber umbrella comes with impressive telescopic action power and a red nylon sleeve.

It’s not often that we find a product that combines collectibility and utility like this Star Wars Darth Vader Lightsaber Umbrella ($100). The grip is molded after Vader’s very own lightsaber, and the umbrella is 40-inches when open, and features automatic telescoping. Of course, it’s not always going to be open, and when it’s closed the red nylon sleeve fits over the end, making it look even more like a lightsaber.

Serves her right for giving me the credit card.  LOL!

After being nominated as one of the best Comic Book Stores in Vancouver we felt it is our duty to enforce a fair price on comics as the current price seems a bit unfair to the Canadian consumer. At the same time it’s important to me that I am able to support staff and of course keep the doors open.  We crunched the numbers together and the lack of a fair price between the US and Canadian dollar which seems to be trapped in the 80’s (have you looked at a Marvel graphic novel lately) is blatant robbery.

Okay, I’ve had enough!

The exchange rate on comics is messed up.  The manufacturers won’t probably make a change (if at all) for another 6 months and yet again it is left up to the retailer to enforce change.  Elfsar, as of this past Wednesday, has changed the prices to the public.  Until further notice, we are selling new comics and Graphic Novels at a 15% discount (unless otherwise marked).

Why?  Because we can.

For those who don’t know, Diamond has it’s own set exchange rate which does not always reflect the global economy.  Each comic company has it’s own discount plateau levels and so there are different discounts given based upon quantities that are ordered.  Both Elfsar & HH order enough that we have pretty much have maximized the available discount available.  Both our companies are striving to not only offer the best selection, but continue to work diligently and offer the best price we can.  Although it really should be the responsibility of the manufacturers (I’m looking at you Marvel), we are both going that extra mile to give you a better price on your books.

For example:  Walking Dead #42 is $2.99USD and $3.25CND.  At a 15% discount we will be selling Walking Dead #42 for $2.76CND.  That’s .23 cents below the US Cover Price!

Before you ask,  all saver files will continue to get an even better discount than the public (a reward for letting us know what to bring in for them) and as usual, saver files will continue to get FREE protective Bags and Boards (a .22 cent cost).  For Example: Saver files at Elfsar get Walking Dead #42 for .39 cents cheaper than the US Cover Price!  That’s a combined total of .61 cents cheaper per book! Yeah, the savings add up fast.

Yet, another reason to buy your books at Elfsar Comics & Toys.  (like you needed one ;P)

To become a Saver file, it’s easy.  All you need to do is order 5 comics per month or 2 graphic novels per month.  No Membership Fees.  Better service.  Better Prices.  You can find more info here: http://www.elfsar.com/SaverFileMemebership.htm

The starro attacks event continues at Elfsar.

STARRO ATTACKS AT ELFSAR! -September 20th – October 19th!

Check out the forum on Mysterious-Stranger.

Starro Attacks: Week 1 on September 20th

Starro Attacks: Week 2 on September 27th

Starro Attacks: Week 3 on October 4th

Starro Attacks: Week 4 on October 11th

Starro Attacks: Week 5 CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT on October 19th

Find out more here:

http://www.mysterious-stranger.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1243

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Those who do not know -  the 24 hour comic book day coming up on October 20th-21st.

24 Hour Comics Day is a time when people get together and make a comic book in 24 hours.  It is supported now around the world and often hosted by various Local Comic Book Stores. We are the only store that does it in BC.  (which is a shame in my opinion)

Newsamara has more on it here with a full list of all the LCS hosting events:

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=130251

Check and see if you can join in this year. It is very good fun and an experience that you will never forget as you learn a lot about yourself doing it! Check out the 24hr Comics Day website here:

http://24hourcomics.com/

Check out what is happening at Elfsar here:

http://www.elfsar.com/24HCD/24HourComicDay.htm

Join the event on Facebook here:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=6333106001

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Like always we will be celebrating Halloween at Elfsar.  We do more than just candy and for those who dress up as comic book characters always get the good stuff  .

This year Devils Night falls on New Comic Book Day (Wednesday) so although we may not be able to host a costume contest, fear not, we will still feature your great costumes on our website.

Check out the 2006 event here:

http://www.elfsar.com/Events/vancouver_halloween_2006.htm

Check out the 2005 event here:

http://www.elfsar.com/Events/Vancouver_Halloween_Contest.htm

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Diamond has announced that they are beta testing its “ComicSuite” add-on for the Microsoft Retail Management System with 7 different comic book retailers, in a development with a potential huge change or new implementation to comic book retailer store POS (point of sale) systems.

MRMS (or known as Microsofts Retail Management System) is one of the most widely used POS systems, and ComicSuite is a custom-designed package of features and it tailors itself precisely for comic retailers.  As part of the new program, Diamond will offer and support not only ComicSuite, but also the full RMS software package and hardware packages on which to run the software as a Microsoft Certified Partner.

The goal of “ComicSuite” is to offer better communication with Diamond and to perform common functions in comic stores.  “Communication tools will assist retailers in importing items (including Diamond product codes) into the system, importing invoice data into inventory, receiving of all types of orders, and sending shortage/damage reports to Diamond.  The software also supports creating initial, Preview Plus, special and final order cut-off orders. It will generate cycle sheet and receiving reports.  In-store subscription services will be supported.” Gee, kind of sounds a lot like the custom Elfsar POS system eh?  Been there, done that.

When Elfsar first started, we had a modest amount of inventory for a new store.  We had purchased a POS system from Staples which included our cash till and laser scanner.  It was good for the time being but as we increased in inventory each week, it took longer and longer to import the product into our system because you had to import the entire product and not just the new items but our entire inventory.  We reached a point where one week, out of the blue the system had reached its limit.  As we hit the 15,000 different items the pos system would not allow us to enter any more addition items.  It made for a very interesting Wednesday let me tell you.

The company that made the product said that if we had more than 15,000 items we were no longer considered a small business and this system was made for small businesses.  This was laughable as we are definitely still considered a small business and I tried to explain that the reason why there was so much volume is that comics have different issue numbers and therefore it’s a different item.  No where in the Staples POS system did it state that there was a limit to the amount of inventory you could enter.  So Elfsar was forced to create our own.  Which a lot of credit should be given to Sar who hit the books and amazingly created a rough POS system in only a months time.  We have been moding it ever since and improving it more and more.  To be honest, we actually could make more money by marketing the Elfsar POS system but we are not finished with it yet.  Funny fact… the Staples POS system is no longer on the market as apparently I was not the only one who reached the limit and filed a lawsuit.

Anyway, this new “ComicSuite” POS is being tested by seven retailers chosen by Diamond as a beta group. The system will be marketed and sold to Diamond customers between now and the end of the year.  Sounds a little nutty right?  Well believe it or not, both Elfsar and Happy Harbor are one of only about 10% of comic book retail stores that currently use a computerized point of sale system.  Most stores that you see are currently using a cash till or pen and paper method of tracking inventory.

Jay at HH and I both personally can not understand how a Comic store can survive without a RMS or POS system.  I would find it very difficult to keep key graphic novel titles in stock, order new titles accurately, or get off crappy titles on a timely basis without one.  There are too many advantages to serve your customers better, when you can track sales of product or even have the ability to tell a customer if they have already purchased something in the past or not.  Even the ability to see who our top 10 or top 20 or even top 50 customers is really information that is hard to process without a POS system.

Now some have compared this new Diamond’s development of ComicSuite and offering of the Microsoft Retail Management System to its customers to the cash register program for comic stores that Carol Kalish developed for Marvel in the 80s which had mediocre success.  It’s also worth noting that Diamond’s ComicSuite is not the first or only customized software available to comic retailers.  Mel Thompson’s ComicTrac, Moby from Bitter End Systems (developed originally for Star Clipper in the St. Louis area), and the free software offered by Hijinx all include features specifically for comic stores.

Now there are good reasons for comic stores to adopt a POS system.  But I think many don’t realize what a huge undertaking adopting a POS is for an existing store.  Imagine you have been in business for over 30 years.  That’s a significant amount of time and in some cases a large build up of inventory, as stores receive both new product every week from Diamond and old product from also from the constant flow of people that are getting rid of their comics.  It is not an overnight type of thing.  Elfsar’s POS system is directly tied to http://www.elfsar.com/ online store. (which currently only represents about 2/3 of the inventory that we have on hand).  We are updating our product with descriptions, pictures… etc. EVERY SINGLE WEEK.  This is simply due to the amount of time it takes to add items to the POS system.  It is more than just sticking a tag on a box and saying comics for a buck.  Entering each item is a pain in the ass and is probably the leading reason most stores don’t do it.  The amount of labor costs involved does not justify the sales, so to speak.  But in my opinion, it is the only way you can sell to the world if you don’t want to use ebay.