Anyone use Marvel's subscription?

[Sundancer]

I may have to go the cheaper route for Moon Knight, maybe Iron Fist. But last I knew (and this was awhile ago) subscribing wasn't too safe for the condition of the comics.

Does anyone subscribe and can they tell me their experience?

 

[Kraven]

I subscribed to FNSM for a while, and my first three issues came in great condition, but two of the last three have come in late, and there was a small rip through all of the pages in the latest issue. The other two of the last three came in what I'd say is a low very fine condition. I've since switched to Daredevil, but I'll be mad if the problems continue.

 

[i'm Spider-Man]

I subscribe through Forbidden Planet, and they're fab. We get our books a day or two late over in England anyway, so I don't mind waiting an extra one to get mine delivered. The books are always well-preserved!

 

[CConn]

If you get 5 or more books a month, www.dreamlandcomics.com is a good option. They give you a good 35% off, and I've never had any problems with them.

 

[Anubis]

I have a few subscriptions through Marvel. I've been doing so for years. Sometimes, you get the books before everybody else does. Sometimes, you get em late. I recently got the last ish of DD like, Three weeks late. Two months in a row. As far as the condition, well, that depends entirely on your mail carrier. If your guy is a lazy *****e who would fold it up and stuff it in the mail box, then I can't recommend it. If they aren't, then you might be okay. Your best bet would be to subscribe to one of the many websites on the net. I get most of my books from Midtown comics. I get a 15% discount on all comics and the waiting time is like, two days most of the time so instead of getting your books Wednesday you'd get em Friday.

 

[CConn]

Dude, I used to use Midtown. You should switch to Dreamland - it's tons cheaper.

 

[Anubis]

Dreamland has it's own problems. Like missing books.

 

[CConn]

Really? That's only happened to me once in a year. Granted, it was an ish of 52...

 

[Kraven]

If you get 5 or more books a month, www.dreamlandcomics.com is a good option. They give you a good 35% off, and I've never had any problems with them.

How is their shipping? Do they ship with bags and boards, or do you have to specifically ask for that?

 

[CConn]

They use to ship with bags and boards but they stopped like a month ago for some reason.

Shipping's like 5 bucks for me, but then I have mine delivered weekly. There's an FAQ on the site about it.

 

[i'm Spider-Man]

Forbidden Planet bag all the books together, then its wrpped in a cardboard-sleeve type thing for transit. plus a receipt, so you know which books should be in the bag, (and which you have just paid for, lol)

 

[CConn]

Yeah, Dreamland does the same thing now. Before they bagged them individually too.

 

[iloveclones]

I had nothing but good luck with my Marvel subs. I bought a bigger mailbox and talked to my mailman (and bribed him with some cookies), so that might account for a lot of it.

 

[WOLVERINE25TH]

Forget Dreamland. They screw up yer orders an' their customer service sucks. Instead of a book I ordered they sent me two of th' same book, an' still haven't gotten back to me on correctin' that.

That said, I got Wolvie directly as an Xmas present fer a year. As stated they sometimes arrive late, but all of mine were in great shape when they arrived. Which I was shocked to see considerin' their flimsy packagin'.

 

[Phaedrus45]

About a year ago, I looked into getting my comics at a lower price by going through Marvel. After getting passed onto one person after another, I finally reached someone who said Marvel couldn't handle my request. Of course, I wanted everything Marvel put out weekly that wasn't a reprint or trade paperback (with the exception of the Essential titles.) They just don't do that. They recommended me try a few online places, like Milehigh and Midtown.

I did find the place that offered 35% off, which would have saved me an additional 15% of what my local comic shop did...but, after asking the same question as you on the Marvel boards, I changed my mind. As one of the regulars pointed out, I could get my comics cheaper online, but it's up to us to support our local comic shop if we are able. Sure, I might save an additional 15%; but, I know with the amount of comics I get each month that I am helping them stay in business that much more than if I went away. They are really the only comic shop within about a 45 mile radius. And, they have stuck around while the other shops that went out of business after the comic boom of the 90's.

Sometimes it is more than just about saving money.

 

[Sundancer]

I think with Midtown you have to order at elast 10 titles.....

 

[Anubis]

Fifteen actually.

 

[KingOfDreams]

I subscibed to FF from 1998 to 2004 directly through Marvel. I don't remember getting any that were damaged in any substantial way.

 

[Uncanny]

I have a subscription through Marvel to New Avengers, Uncanny X-Men and Astonishing X-Men. All come a week late, but Uncanny X-Men. Then again, sometime I get it late too. I might stop being a subscriber and just go to "Comic Town" every Wed.

 

[KingOfDreams]

Yeah, that's right. They do come late.

 

[Wolfwood]

I subscribe through Marvel and I've never had any problems. Occasionaly the mail man will bend my comics, but nothing on Marvel's side.

 

[squeekness]

I subscribe through Marvel and I've never had any problems. Occasionaly the mail man will bend my comics, but nothing on Marvel's side.

This was the same with me way back when I did it so I stopped. All of the above posts pretty much cover the way I feel. I don't like my comics bent or late and just the fact alone that Marvel doesn't ship all of their titles was enough for me to head back to the shop. I'm glad I did because, like Phaedrus said, it is important to keep the local guys in busines. I have built a great rapport with my local guy. Sometimes he gives me free comics or goes out of his way to get me alternate covers at no extra cost without me having to ask.

 

[hippy fascist]

forbidden planet international are very good on this, you get a 25% discount ofr subscribing and they come with pretty hardcore cardboard protection. Basically they come in one bag and the carboard casing is actually like amazon's but with better coverage and thicker. Can't fault them

 

[Spidey Rules 2]

I use to subscribe to Marvel, but most of the time I would get my books late. There was a time that a book arrived damaged. I called and got a replacement (free of charge). I just had to wait even loner. I'd rather just go get them myself at my local comic shop.

 

[Eddie Brock]

my first issue of USM (USM 98) came with some pages unstapled
it would have been confusing if i hadn't already read the issue when it came out