Where do you get your new comics?

tssgery · Post by **tssgery** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 12:43 pm

The idea for this was spurned off another thread, and I don't recall seeing it discussed before...

I currently get my monthly subscription comics from http://www.mycomicshop.com but, as we've discussed before, their service is sometimes lacking. I frequently get dinged books which absolutely infuriates me. I've stayed with them this long because I get a good discount on back issues if I subscribe... but their grading is getting worse all the time.

There are no local stores that I can get to in under an hour, except for one store that keeps books in one of those wire racks that you would expect to see in a drug store. It saves space, but the books all get bent.

Needless to say, it's getting a little frustrating.

My requirements are pretty simple:
1) modest discount
2) good packaging, come on... how hard is it?
3) small/no minimum. I usually order about 10-15 books/month

How do you all get your new books (or do you)? Do you use another online supplier (and if so which one)?

cjv · Post by **cjv** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:09 pm

I don't get new comics anymore.

When I did, I started off with an account at a local comic store (which also included bag/board with the comic). Then, when money was tighter, I went to a direct order service (forget which one) where I had to pick out the comics 2 or 3 months in advance, and then they would get shipped to me.

Chris

tssgery · Post by **tssgery** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:14 pm

I don't mind ordering in advance, it's what I do now. I just want somone besides a gorilla to package/ship them.

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:35 pm

Tssgery, you and I are in the same boat since I recently moved to a small college town in the middle of Kansas!

I use http://www.bobscomics.com. I'm also very picky about my selection but Bob has been nothing but a fantastic seller to me. I've ordered 6 subscriptions at a modest discount and he has emailed me in the past to exclaim that I able to get a 7th subscription free!

All his comics come in bags and boards if you so choose and the shipping can be anywhere from free to medial mail rates depending on how and when you want your comics shipped. I get mine at the end of each month. They’re delivered to my door in an ample box with packaging peanuts that manage get all over my floor when I open it.

Since I've been buying through him I've gotten a free subscription, free comics, a free t-shirt, 6 month old back issues that were sold out at other LCS and he always answers my email questions with in 24 hours or less. I feel like I'm his only customer and that he cares for me and my business. This guy truly knows what collectors and collecting is all about.

Sadly he doesn't sell back issues over 6 months that I can see. I guess that's what eBay is for.

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:37 pm

Hmm, well I guess he does have back issues, just nothing exciting and popular like Amazing Spidey and Valiant. Just left-overs.

sd2416 · Post by **sd2416** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:51 pm

http://www.dcbservice.com/
They use previews and you order 2 months in advance. Everything is 35% off and there are some books that are 50% off. It is easy to set up an account and they have excellent customer service.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:55 pm

tssgery wrote:The idea for this was spurned off another thread, and I don't recall seeing it discussed before...

I currently get my monthly subscription comics from http://www.mycomicshop.com but, as we've discussed before, their service is sometimes lacking. I frequently get dinged books which absolutely infuriates me. I've stayed with them this long because I get a good discount on back issues if I subscribe... but their grading is getting worse all the time.

There are no local stores that I can get to in under an hour, except for one store that keeps books in one of those wire racks that you would expect to see in a drug store. It saves space, but the books all get bent.

Needless to say, it's getting a little frustrating.

My requirements are pretty simple:
1) modest discount
2) good packaging, come on... how hard is it?
3) small/no minimum. I usually order about 10-15 books/month

How do you all get your new books (or do you)? Do you use another online supplier (and if so which one)?

I haven't bought new books since 1993.

Reason? Cost.

As discussed in TREMENDOUS detail in other threads, the average price of a standard new comic (hovering around $2.75 at the moment) is too much for the amount of entertainment it provides.

I HAVE bought maybe 10-20 books new in the last 11 years, including Green Arrow #1 (I can't resist Kevin Smith.

) and...lessee...wow, I really have no idea outside of that. Oh, wait...Fathom #1 and Daredevil #1.

I do feel bad for retailers, because there's no way they can offer people like me a discount I'd be happy with and still stay in business. Ah well.

ckb · Post by **ckb** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 2:16 pm

Buy new books at cons for $1-$0.50 each. The one you have to pay $10 to get once in a blue moon does not come close to making up the savings. You just need to be OK with being a few months behind.

Christopher Martin · Post by **Christopher Martin** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 2:32 pm

I don't think comics are too expensive, and I don't think of them only as entertainment like a movie or tv show. Comic collecting is a hobby. The model I compare it to is baseball cards. Those cost 2-5 dollars a pack and what does a baseball card do? Can you read it? no, you put it in a box or a holder just like a comic. With a comic you get an added bonus of a story. The entertainment value isn't just in the reading, but the collecting aspect. And to keep this on topic, I buy from Graham Crackers downtown and Lincoln Park locations, as well as Chicago Comics and ebay.

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 2:38 pm

I'm jealous, Chris. One of the things I miss most about Chicago is the wide range of really good comic stores that they have there.

In Cincinnati, I go to Comic Book World, and I receive a moderate discount. They'll probably never go onlne with their sales, though, which is sad.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 3:07 pm

ckb wrote:Buy new books at cons for $1-$0.50 each. The one you have to pay $10 to get once in a blue moon does not come close to making up the savings. You just need to be OK with being a few months behind.

ED-ZACHARY.

My sentiments to the 'T'.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 3:10 pm

Christopher Martin wrote:I don't think comics are too expensive, and I don't think of them only as entertainment like a movie or tv show. Comic collecting is a hobby. The model I compare it to is baseball cards. Those cost 2-5 dollars a pack and what does a baseball card do? Can you read it? no, you put it in a box or a holder just like a comic. With a comic you get an added bonus of a story. The entertainment value isn't just in the reading, but the collecting aspect. And to keep this on topic, I buy from Graham Crackers downtown and Lincoln Park locations, as well as Chicago Comics and ebay.

Chris....I actually find your post to be very, very sad, to me (and I'm sure to a great number of creators.) First and foremost, comics were always supposed to be about entertainment...collectibility was SUPPOSED to be a pleasant bonus...not the other way around!

Shakes said it better than I..."I don't expect my DVD's to go up in value...why should I expect my comics to?'

Master Dorque · Post by **Master Dorque** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 3:25 pm

I get mine from the LCS "RVD's 5-Star Comics". This store is owned and operated by Rob Van Dam of WWE fame. I was using a larger store in my area called "Amazing Comics", they are a very large store and the selection they have is really amazing. Always have ALL the new books, plus a good selection of back issues. Also, they have an unbelievable selection of cards, toys, statues, and everything else. The one thing they don't have is any kind of discount, or any way of showing appreciation to long term loyal customers. I buy comics EVERY WEEK, and have for many many years. I started going to "Amazing Comics" when they first opened, when the store was much much smaller, and only the owner worked there. I bought my comics from them every week for years. I've watched them grow into a huge store that now employees around 6-8 people. But despite all my loyal business, they never offered me so much as a free bag and board. In fact once many years ago, they tried to charge me $2.00 more for a brand new just released action figure just because it was in mint condition! I had requested it, and he had pulled it and set it aside for me. When I came in that day they had one on the shelf for $6.00, when I asked about mine, they had it behind the counter, and when they rang it up they charged me $8.00! I said, "Hey, the one on the shelf says $6.00. These just came out and I had requested this one in advance." The guy says, "yeah, but this one is in mint condition, the other one is not as good." I again reminded him that these were just released, and I had ordered it in advance. "Sorry". Ok, so I ask to talk to the owner. Remember, at this time I had been a loyal weekly customer for probably 5 years. So the owner comes over and gives me the same line of bull. I remind him that I buy comics every week, and always use his store, and I don't think it is right for him to be charging me a premium for condition of an item that was just released. This is not a vintage item...it is brand new, and Toys R Us and Target and everyone else are hanging them on the shelves for $6.00 each. "Sorry". Man I was *SQUEE*! It was only $2.00, but at this point it was more the principle. I said "You know what. I don't think you appreciate my business. It is your right to price your stuff as you see fit. But is also my right to give my business to those who appreciate it - which you don't. Keep the action figure, and this stack of comics, I'll find them somewhere else." I walked out of there and didn't buy another thing there for over a year. During that time I would drive out about 30 miles to the "Frank and Sons Collectables Show" on wednesday nights for my new books. This is an awesome place for new books - it has lots of dealers all competing under one roof, so you get discounts up to about 25% AND free bags and boards. The only thing for me was the drive. So, when my son was born about a year later, I started going back to "Amazing" just to save the time. Now with "RVD's", they give me 15%, free bags and boards, and they are even closer to me than "Amazing". I know "Amazing" must be doing something right - look at how they have grown. Most of the success they have I attribute to the selection and variety of items they have. No matter what you like to spend you collectors dollars on, when you go in that store, chances are very very good they will have what you are looking for. But they just don't seem to appreciate, or even acknowledge, their best customers. Wow....I got a little long winded for such a simple question. Guess I may have been harboring alot of anger over that $2.00 and needed to vent.

cjv · Post by **cjv** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 3:32 pm

So if new comics cost about $2.50 to $2.75 each, how are kids buying them? Or has the age demographic switched to mostly the 25-35 age crowd? OR are kids just buying two to five titles, and thats it.

When I first started buying lots of comics, I probably bought between 5 and 10 titles a month. When I went to college, it might have been closer to 10-12 (things like Xmen, Xfactor, New Mutants, Excalibur - yeah, I was a Marvel junkie! - some Spiderman titles, Avengers).

Soon after college, I really exploded. If I recall I was collecting at one point:

Xmen, Xfactor, New Mutants, Spiderman, Amazing Spiderman, Avengers, Quasar, Silver Surfer, West Coast Avengers, Flash, Green Lantern, Legends of the Dark Knight, Supergirl, Justice League, Justice League international, Sandman, Hellblazer, Animal Man, Impulse, Bone, all Valiant titles, Stray Bullets, Wandering Star, various Image titles, various other indie titles (Vampirella, Shi, Thieves and Kings, Ragmop, Strangers in Paradise, and others), LEGION, and a bunch more. Plus various one shots, interesting titles, etc.

(my timing may be off on some of those) Basically getting about 40 to 50 titles a month.

I can't imagine spending $100 to $150 a month now on comics.

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 4:21 pm

I still buy about $75 a month of new comics at an LCS. Only a 10 percent discount. Same shop offers really good back issue sales every so often.

I wouldn't want to order online unless NM condition was 100 percent guaranteed.

johnhickman · Post by **johnhickman** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 11:09 pm

Ok, now understand that I am a READER of comics with the collectibility being a bonus, so I'm not looking for that CGC 10.0 quality book. That said I get my books from http://www.mailordercomics.com - good discount and I get my books fast (they ship from Omaha, NE). I average saving about 30% over paying cover at the LCS when you factor in sales tax (none with mailorder) and shipping charge (less than $10). I spent about $200 a month with them on average, although more and more of what I buy are TPBs, not comics. Books come in reasonable shape and if something is bad, I can let them know and they ship me another on the next run.

If condition is more important than price, I also found http://www.westfieldcompany.com good to deal with. Still discounted over LCS, but not as deep as others. Good shipping/packing quality - never had an issue with them. I just found Mailorder better priced. Both have served me well w/out complaint.

tbrezz · Post by **tbrezz** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 11:47 pm

Shoot The last time I bought "New" comics was about the time that the Vol1 valiants were ending Didn't see much point in colecting after that

Christopher Martin · Post by **Christopher Martin** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 12:50 am

Compact discs and movies can indeed go up in value, if they are out of print, a first edition, etc. Old VHS copies of the original Star Wars films are worth good money, and I have even seen taped classic TV shows with the original commercials offered on ebay. There are even people out there who collect old typewriters. There are people who collect shoes that never wear them, and people who collect classic cars and never drive them. Collecting is fun, and there is nothing sad about it!

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 1:10 am

Christopher Martin wrote:Compact discs and movies can indeed go up in value, if they are out of print, a first edition, etc. Old VHS copies of the original Star Wars films are worth good money, and I have even seen taped classic TV shows with the original commercials offered on ebay. There are even people out there who collect old typewriters. There are people who collect shoes that never wear them, and people who collect classic cars and never drive them. Collecting is fun, and there is nothing sad about it!

You're missing the point. No one said collecting wasn't fun, and that it's sad. What WAS said was that people who collect ONLY because the item 'might be worth something someday', and that's their MAIN, or even SOLE focus for buying funny books....THAT is sad. And it is.

That SOME 'compact discs and movies' go up in value doesn't negate the fact that MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of copies will never, EVER 'go up in value' for ANY reason...because they weren't MADE to be COLLECTIBLES. They were made to ENTERTAIN. That a TINY, TINY FRACTION of them BECAME collectibles is the DIRECT result of the quality of that entertainment in the first place!

We're not talking about what 'can' go up....we're talking about people EXPECTING things to go up. Using an EXTREMELY RARE example to prove your point doesn't really work.

Oh, and taped shows are bootlegged copies, and therefore illegal to sell.

No one said there is anything sad about collecting....what is sad....truly....are so many people with the 'I'm buying it because it's "going to be worth money someday"' mentality, FIRST AND FOREMOST. They care not one BIT about what is actually INSIDE the book, all they care about is 'what it will be worth'.

Do you think creators want all their work shoved into a bag and board, never read, for fear that it might 'ruin its collectability'?

If so, why not just print a front and back cover, with 32 blank pages, slip it into a bag and board at the press, seal it, and be done with it? Heck, you don't even need a BACK cover at that point. I'll tell you something....the REASON comics BECAME worth something to BEGIN with was on the MERIT of the creation contained therein....whether it was kickass Golden Age Batman, or killer Silver Age Spidey, or awesome modern X-Men.

In other words...their merit as creative works of art....not their status as 'collectibles'.

Let's put it another way...the Franklin Mint produces 'collectibles'. That's ALL they do, produce things that they can convince the average idiot into buying with an eye towards investment.

Not for the merit of the work alone...not because they collect for the LOVE of whatever it is they are collecting...heavens, no...no, only because it's a 'collectible' (cause the Franklin Mint says so, so it must be, right?) and 'might be worth money someday.'

And that, Christopher, is just sad.

Oh, and for the record? One of the biggest collectors of 'classic cars'. Jay Leno, drives a different one into work at the studios down the street every day. I've watched him do it.

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:42 am

So, um, do you read every copy of those 20 Harbinger #1's you have hoarded ZWH?

myron · Post by **myron** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:34 am

Knightt_333 wrote:
tbrezz wrote:Shoot The last time I bought "New" comics was about the time that the Vol1 valiants were ending Didn't see much point in colecting after that
Amen brother !!! LOL

what they said

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:23 am

I collect comics because it is the right thing to do. Everybody who does not collect comics is wrong.

DawgPhan · Post by **DawgPhan** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:29 am

whetteon wrote:So, um, do you read every copy of those 20 Harbinger #1's you have hoarded ZWH?

he has probably read one of them..but your point is taken...Though I own tons of comics that I have never read, but I did not buy them thinking that they would go up in value. I bought them because I wanted them.

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:43 am

DawgPhan wrote:he has probably read one of them..but your point is taken...Though I own tons of comics that I have never read, but I did not buy them thinking that they would go up in value. I bought them because I wanted them.

Right on Dawg.

I've been collecting comics (and some basketball cards, ew) for most of my life. I collect like crazy, and I could give a rat's *SQUEE* if they go up in value. In fact, it kind of ticked me off when the Valiants took off in price again, because there are some I don't have.

Well, I guess I'll still be around when they come back down.

dino · Post by **dino** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 7:19 pm

Did someone say D.V.D?

ValiantFans.com Board - Since 2004

Where do you get your new comics?

Where do you get your new comics?

Re: Where do you get your new comics?