Just as (New) Diamond announces that they’re moving their Previews catalogue to a digital only offering, and with it the potential for ordering that opens, they have now told retailers they are “re-evaluating” its online services such as ComicSuite and Previews Pullbox.

ComicSuite is a suite of tools for retailers’ point-of-sale system that’s geared specifically for comic shops. It was built to take advantage of Diamond’s data to help with ordering and re-ordering as well as manage customer subscriptions.

Previews Pullbox launched in June 2021 and was a service that allowed comic shop customers to manager their own preorders and subscriptions. It was initially announced in February 2018 but suffered delays. In the initial announcement it said it had 300 comic shops using it and over 17,000 customers. It allowed them to use the Previews website to place orders directly with their local comic shop. It’s unknown how much it was used since its launch.

With upcoming Previews going digital only, it provided a great opportunity to integrate with both making ordering by customers and shops even easier.

Specifically, for shops that are still using ComicSuite:

• The point-of-sale system will continue to run but automation of subscription management from the web and store will cease to function as well as reporting shortages/damages, and general ordering.
• Stores can still use the point-of-sale system but will need to get support from Retail Hero’s Retailer Management Hero (RMH) or a third party.
• RMH might cease to function if the user license or software license expires.

In short, retailers still using this needs to find alternatives and fortunately there are alternatives that have been on the market such as Comic Hub (hell we easily built our own when I ran a shop back in 2000).

It’s no surprise that Diamond’s digital tools are degrading as key staff that handled it have left the company. Add in short pickings due to publishers halting their shipments to (new) Diamond over lack of payment, and it goes intot he pile of good ideas in the comic industry executed poorly and dying a much needed death.

(thank you Ryan Higgins for the tip)