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Wow... Friday night and DCBS still hasn't shipped my week 1 order. Maybe they'll mail it next week? Oh well, no hurry... hurricane Irma hits my area on Monday at 3:00 am. Switching to Kowabunga Comics

My last shipment came in the Friday I expected it to and I'm generally pleased with the customer service. Most emails are responded to the next day. I've been a monthly customer for about 4 years.

My current weekly shipment was shipped late due to Labor Day. Instead of getting it Friday like I normally do, it is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday but looks like it might arrive on Monday.

This sort of delay is unusual in my experience.

I was out of the country for two weeks and I am just getting caught up now. Message from DCBS on monthly shipment (apparently only hitting monthly shipments):

Hello,
Over a year ago, we decided to move the DCBS warehouse to Memphis, TN. The main reason for this was to be in the same city as Diamond Comic Distributors. Proximity to Diamond means savings in shipping costs and faster turnaround for replacements. We believe the move will allow us to service our customers better, help us maintain our already low prices, and have DCBS and our sister company InStockTrades in the same warehouse.
We made the move from Fort Wayne, IN to Memphis, TN on 09/01/2017. We hired almost an entirely new warehouse team and offered jobs to Fort Wayne employees who wished to make the move.
Customers shipping in the 4th week of the month normally receive a shipping notification by today. We have currently shipped about 80% of fourth week customers and are working diligently to complete shipping for the remaining 20% which should be complete in the next day. As part of our efforts last week and this week, we have brought additional Fort Wayne employees to Memphis to help with order processing and training and have enlisted help from the staff of our sister company InStockTrades. We expect order completion times to be brought back to normal within the next few weeks. If you haven’t received your tracking number yet and are scheduled to receive a shipment notification by today, we appreciate your patience and understanding and we’ll have your shipment completed soon. Thank you for your business.
Sincerely,
The DCBS Team

I'm getting weekly shipments from DCBS and I've noticed delays since the move. I did get the email about the monthly shipments. Hopefully they can work through the issues quickly and get things back on track.

It is ironic that DCBS moving closer to Diamond for faster turnarounds has resulted in these delays.

I have also had issues with missing books but for me they have gotten under control. Probably because I am in 4 digit spending but for others I am still getting friends asking me if I am having issues with damaged books or missing books. Sometimes it is just people that listen to my podcast asking about a decrease in quality since the move. There are a lot of unsatisfied customers right now.

I get roughly a person per week interested in switching to us from DCBS, and it is for various reasons. Some have issues with damage control, some have issues with books not arriving that were marked as shipped, and some people due to getting their books later than they want. Each situation is different.

I haven't really noticed any decrease in physical quality of books from DCBS since their move. Maybe more damaged issues that first or second shipment, but now everything comes pretty much what I would describe as NM. Certainly much better quality (and consistently) than what is pulled for me at my LCS. More than a year ago though, based on a move and changes in life situations, I decided to move my pull list to a local shop from DCBS. I decided I wanted to support them as a local business and community, and also so I could get my books as soon as I want to (sometimes on Wednesdays, sometimes every other weekend). I receive less frequent shipments from DCBS now because I only use them for sampling series, getting a few series that I want to receive in consistently good physical condition, and pre-ordering collected editions or graphic novels. So shipping delays are really irrelevant. I accept them with the better discounts they provide. If someone wants to be ultra current, I wouldn't personally depend on online companies.

NicksPicks wrote:I accept them with the better discounts they provide. If someone wants to be ultra current, I wouldn't personally depend on online companies.

i know a place that has equivalent pricing and better customer service...

I think I know just the place you are thinking of...

drew wrote:

NicksPicks wrote:I accept them with the better discounts they provide. If someone wants to be ultra current, I wouldn't personally depend on online companies.

i know a place that has equivalent pricing and better customer service...

I switched to Kowabunga about 4 months ago and couldn't be any happier. Better service, same great prices. For me the breaking point with DCBS:

1. Would pre-order books and comics. Several times I would get a notice of a cancellation like "allocated" and recently "sold out". I would then have to hunt things down. The sad part is many of these items would have a 2nd print offering. That was never offered to me. If I didn't know to ask it would just be "gone"

2. Shipments for my monthly shipments kind of broke when DCBS acquired the accounts for Mail Order Comics. Apparently the weekly / bi-weekly shipments weren't impacted that much. I used to have my orders mailed out on a Tuesday or Wednesday the last week of the month. That started rolling into a few days, a week, 1 1/2 weeks late. Then I received an email from DCBS asking to help them out by choosing a different week for shipments. I wanted to be nice and picked week 1 (that's why I rarely contributed to previews spotlights, my shipments came after that episode). They then started shipping my week 1 shipments in week2??

3. They started canceling items saying XXXX book was damaged and there were no copies left. I asked them if they could still just ship me the damaged copy so that I can read it (I'm a reader). They wouldn't or couldn't do that?

4. During their move they just stopped responding to emails.

5. If you stop ordering, you will receive 2 shipments. After that your account will just accumulate books until everything is there for one final shipment or you email them to pay for one shipment. I emailed them to ask them if I could pay for one shipment or use the $35 credit I had with them for cancellations. They shipped me my things and used the ENTIRE $35 for shipping.

6. They started replying to emails (I still have so many unshipped trades with them). If I don't remind them something has shipped now on very late items, they sit there forever. They very nicely told me they are re-ordering things that I ordered almost a year ago and I guess they forgot? See below:

Hi James,

The Avatar sale items from August have not released yet. I reordered the rest of the items on your list except for Last Days of American Crime as it is no longer available. I credited your account today for this title.


Thank you for your business!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Carrie

Discount Comic Book Service
www.dcbservice.com

InStockTrades
www.instocktrades.com

My Digital Comics
www.mydigitalcomics.com

On Wed, Jan 24, 2018 at 4:49 PM, James Raynor <> wrote:
Hello,

I was writing to inquire about some items that I have ordered. I know they were released already but, they have been missing from my shipment.

Sanctum Redux GN (MR)
JUN171729 504747
$24.47 1 $24.47
Lost Fleet Corsair #3 (of 4) Cvr B French Wraparound Var
JUN171985 504747
$2.79 1 $2.79
Bankshot #4
JUL170168 508963
$2.39 1 $2.39
Last Days of American Crime HC
JUL170844 508963
$14.99 1 $14.99
Letter 44 TP Vol 02
NOV141566 508963
$12.99 1 $12.99
Alan Moore Fashion Beast TP Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171250 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
George Rr Martin Fevre Dream TP Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171251 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Black Summer TP Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171260 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Disenchanted TP Vol 01 Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171261 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Disenchanted TP Vol 02 Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171262 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Dan The Unharmable TP Vol 01 Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171265 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Dan The Unharmable TP Vol 02 Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171266 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
(bleep) TP Vol 01 Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171267 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
(bleep) TP Vol 02 Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171268 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
(bleep) TP (MR) Vol 03 End of Time Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171269 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Gravel TP Vol 01 Bloody Liars Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171273 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Gravel TP Vol 02 The Major Seven Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171274 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Gravel TP Vol 03 Last King of England Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171275 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Gravel TP Vol 04 Combat Magician Sp Ed (MR) (C: 0-1-2)
AUG171276 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Doktor Sleepless TP Vol 01 Engines of Desire Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171277 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Anna Mercury TP Vol 01 The Cutter Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171281 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Captain Swing TP Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171282 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89
Warren Ellis Black Gas TP Sp Ed (MR)
AUG171283 513171
$3.89 1 $3.89


Sent from Mail for Windows 10

jrphoenix wrote:

drew wrote:

NicksPicks wrote:I accept them with the better discounts they provide. If someone wants to be ultra current, I wouldn't personally depend on online companies.

i know a place that has equivalent pricing and better customer service...

I switched to Kowabunga about 4 months ago and couldn't be any happier. Better service, same great prices. For me the breaking point with DCBS:

1. Would pre-order books and comics. Several times I would get a notice of a cancellation like "allocated" and recently "sold out". I would then have to hunt things down. The sad part is many of these items would have a 2nd print offering. That was never offered to me. If I didn't know to ask it would just be "gone"

2. Shipments for my monthly shipments kind of broke when DCBS acquired the accounts for Mail Order Comics. Apparently the weekly / bi-weekly shipments weren't impacted that much. I used to have my orders mailed out on a Tuesday or Wednesday the last week of the month. That started rolling into a few days, a week, 1 1/2 weeks late. Then I received an email from DCBS asking to help them out by choosing a different week for shipments. I wanted to be nice and picked week 1 (that's why I rarely contributed to previews spotlights, my shipments came after that episode). They then started shipping my week 1 shipments in week2??

3. They started canceling items saying XXXX book was damaged and there were no copies left. I asked them if they could still just ship me the damaged copy so that I can read it (I'm a reader). They wouldn't or couldn't do that?

4. During their move they just stopped responding to emails.

5. If you stop ordering, you will receive 2 shipments. After that your account will just accumulate books until everything is there for one final shipment or you email them to pay for one shipment. I emailed them to ask them if I could pay for one shipment or use the $35 credit I had with them for cancellations. They shipped me my things and used the ENTIRE $35 for shipping.

6. They started replying to emails (I still have so many unshipped trades with them). If I don't remind them something has shipped now on very late items, they sit there forever. They very nicely told me they are re-ordering things that I ordered almost a year ago and I guess they forgot?

for me emails were often not returned and when they were, inadequate info, and you couldnt call...i tried to order 2nd prints or image FOC offerings and they would respond after cutoff days or weeks later that i missed the cutoff...so frustrating, couldnt ask any time sensitive questions at...i had about 20 damaged books that they were "reordering" and about that many or more unfilled items (things like Heres Negan HC which were everywhere) and my last shipment was just sitting there so i said ship my last with whatever was in stock and ill take my damages (the ones that werent replaced) back and my credit back on my card for remaining unshipped items...

I got some of the comics i had ordered (including negan, just 3 months after everyone else) they sent me all the damaged books back, never replaced a single one and i had to pay for them fully, then they credited stuff that had been backordered for years so that was okay, got a little bit back.

glad i switched - kowabunga is great customer service and actually answer my questions same day, or within a few minutes

DCBS got too big and cant handle it well- at least not to the level i need for my hard earned cash

How does one get started with Kowabunga? I'm a 12-year DCBS customer, but I've experienced a lot of the growing pains that everyone else has. To top it off, I live in TN, so when they opened the IST Memphis warehouse in 2014, my comics suddenly (without notice) got 9.5% more expensive with sales tax.

I used to get my monthly books two days after the final wednesday. Per DCBS's request, I gladly agreed to move to the "Week 3" slot to help them even out their shipments. So even though I'm supposed to ship on a "slow" week, and even though I live in the same state as the warehouse, my monthly comics are suddenly far slower to arrive (usually tuesday after 3rd Wednesday release). They used to ship via UPS... then I got downgraded to FedEx - I assumed b/c their HQ is in Memphis too? My last shipment came via USPS of all things. What's next, media mail? Carrier donkey?

I don't know what kind of logistics Kowabunga has in place to handle a growing mail order business, but if they can satisfy John Mayo as a customer, my order won't tax them If somebody can give me a clue how to get started, I'll give it a serious look.

nacho wrote:How does one get started with Kowabunga?

If you want more info on their mail order pull list system discounts and other info, reach out to them directly at orders@kowabungacomics.com

Ok, after twelve years with DCBS, I made the switch to Kowabunga! It's nerve-racking, like breaking up with a long-time girlfriend or something Hopefully I won't have too many straggler issues that don't make it into my final DCBS regular shipment. There's that awkward time when you want to read the books that trickle in afterward, but you have two or three REALLY late books that keep you from shipping the stragglers for a couple of months. Or those two trades that were solicited in 2016 that still haven't come out. What to do then? Arrrgh. Another example of first-world problems I suppose.

February order is in! Looking forward to doing business with these guys @ Kowabunga, as they really seem to have their act together.