I have recently been forced, due to price, to look beyond my LCS for most of my Comic Book purchases and, so far, I have been reasonably happy with the
results. However, I have a few questions that some of you may be able to help me with.
Forbidden Planet UK
I have, so far, received two books, both of which have arrived in good shape and in good time. They both arrived on the Saturday following their Thursday release i.e. a day later than I would normally pick them up at my LCS. The main difference, of course, is the price. A large Marvel Age Masterwork or Golden Age/Atlas Era Masterwork has a cover price of £45 here in the UK. My LCS gave me a 17.5% discount, which was half of his 35%, making the price £37.12, whereas at the standard Forbidden Planet discount of 35% plus £1 postage the cost is £30.25 or from time to time there is a 40% discount taking the price down to £28 i.e. a £7/£9 difference.
My only problem that I have had, so far, is in dealing with the phone operators when I wanted to make changes to my order. Recently two of the books that I had already ordered where on special offer at 40% discount as opposed to 35% when I ordered them. There appears to be no way to change your order without going through the operator and it took three attempts to get them to cancel my original order and re-order with the new discount. On Amazon for instance I can change my order whenever I like. I was assured when I started ordering with Forbidden Planet that I can cancel an order at anytime up until it is being shipped, however that appears to be more difficult that it should be.
Amazon UK
Whilst I have been ordering most of my hardcovers (mainly direct market books and Masterworks) with Forbidden Planet I have been using Amazon UK for most of my trades, Essential & Showcase Presents. The discount is usually between 30% and 33% and the postage is free. The only problem here is the delay in books becoming available, although I guess I will just have to get used to it. It looks like most of the shipping dates are about a month later than the books actually ship to the UK. For instance Showcase Presents : Green Lantern Vol.4 is still unavailable. From what I can see their distributer is Titan who seem to take a month to get the books from the States and then pass them on the Amazon.
Any help/sage advice would be most welcome.
Forbidden Planet UK
I have, so far, received two books, both of which have arrived in good shape and in good time. They both arrived on the Saturday following their Thursday release i.e. a day later than I would normally pick them up at my LCS. The main difference, of course, is the price. A large Marvel Age Masterwork or Golden Age/Atlas Era Masterwork has a cover price of £45 here in the UK. My LCS gave me a 17.5% discount, which was half of his 35%, making the price £37.12, whereas at the standard Forbidden Planet discount of 35% plus £1 postage the cost is £30.25 or from time to time there is a 40% discount taking the price down to £28 i.e. a £7/£9 difference.
My only problem that I have had, so far, is in dealing with the phone operators when I wanted to make changes to my order. Recently two of the books that I had already ordered where on special offer at 40% discount as opposed to 35% when I ordered them. There appears to be no way to change your order without going through the operator and it took three attempts to get them to cancel my original order and re-order with the new discount. On Amazon for instance I can change my order whenever I like. I was assured when I started ordering with Forbidden Planet that I can cancel an order at anytime up until it is being shipped, however that appears to be more difficult that it should be.
Amazon UK
Whilst I have been ordering most of my hardcovers (mainly direct market books and Masterworks) with Forbidden Planet I have been using Amazon UK for most of my trades, Essential & Showcase Presents. The discount is usually between 30% and 33% and the postage is free. The only problem here is the delay in books becoming available, although I guess I will just have to get used to it. It looks like most of the shipping dates are about a month later than the books actually ship to the UK. For instance Showcase Presents : Green Lantern Vol.4 is still unavailable. From what I can see their distributer is Titan who seem to take a month to get the books from the States and then pass them on the Amazon.
Any help/sage advice would be most welcome.
