Correction regarding Diamond benchmark

I have a correction to make regarding the Diamond benchmark.  Previously, I had assumed that the $2500 figure is a retail value figure, and that it was the purchase order benchmark.  Here’s an explanation from the September 2005 Diamond solicitation reminder, when it was first instituted:

Diamond has a new policy that will be implemented effective with items listed in the August Previews. Items whose Purchase Order cost falls below 40% of Benchmark (less than $600) will not have a Purchase Order cut for them.

Having just spoken with Diamond again on the phone, it has been made clear to me that this is incorrect.  (The purchase order benchmark noted above may no longer exist at all.)  The $2500 figure is actually the wholesale benchmark.  That translates into $6250 retail (with some wiggle room).  A $3 comic must sell around 2000 copies in order to be kept in Previews.

So the news is actually slightly worse, and may affect a larger number of books than originally thought.

Additionally, whether the PDF version of Previews Adult will be made available to the public is still undecided at this point in time.  One hopes, if decency is an issue, that they’d at least consider a censored text version for general release.