Collector Cave is on my last nerve and soon will never have me as a customer again. I placed two different orders a couple of weeks apart for new releases a week before they came out. I had to email them to get one shipped weeks after everything had come out and sent a message for the second order and still nothing. What a pain compared to other stores I’ve used that are much faster.
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They get overwhelmed with all the books they carry. I have a bunch of books to pick up. I stopped ordering for Delivery and just decided to pick em up weeks or months later.
I’ll never use them again, I can tell you that much. NEVER!
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There was a day when I only ordered from Midtown but after 3 or 4 shipments in a row with major damage I had to give up. They offered some solutions but they are not good solutions, they had a bit of a “not our problem” attitude about it. This was a few years ago. I’m sure it sucks for them when there’s shipping damage but I am not good with eating the cost of it either
“Please be aware, damage claims are handled on a case to case basis and resolutions are offered within our damage and grading policies. You can review our grading policy here, https://www.midtowncomics.com/grading-policy. Also, the 25% is a partial refund of price paid for the minor damaged books and you get to keep the books as well.”
So a dinged left corner is worth 25% I guess (1 outta 4). Referred me to the grading policy, guess they are NM. I guess I should have ripped half the cover off and maybe I’d got some replacements, lol.
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It’s a writeoff. A business with a good business plan should already anticipate damages when dealing with shipping products, etc.
Long ago, I worked at Best Buy and the store I worked at in Indianapolis had like a 100-200k yearly loss in the budget just for theft of products, that’s not even returns and damage to products, just the anticipated stuff that’s gonna get stolen from the store.
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Very true! especially with the volume they do, a portion will definitely not make it without shipping issues
That’s basically why we do what we can to at least make people as happy as they can be when something is damaged or if we messed up. Does it suck seeing lost money on invoices? Or sending out multiple free copies sometimes of a comic worth a decent amoutn of money? Yup. But ultimately keeping customers happy is much more cost efficient than trying to earn new customers to replace ones who leave.
I fully understand people who have had issues with packing, shipping, etc. because sometimes crap luck is just crap luck, but it does make me glad to see that even when some people are trashing us or leaving bad reviews places they at least mention that our CS team is appreciated.
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Guys. Use PayPal and dispute the charge with them. Show PayPal the proof of damage and they will side with you. Midtown backs down when there are charge backs.
Also Midtown is selling BRZRKR #1 2nd prints for $100 each.
My hey lost all credibility in my eyes.
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I have been Midtown free for almost 6 months now. They would just continue to piss me off with their awful customer service. I’d say never again, but then go back because they seem to have the most stock. Continually they would refuse accountability for damages. They also started regularly shorting my orders and claiming allocation. In every instance, I found the same “allocated” book with the price jacked up re-listed weeks, even days later. I used to spend thousands a year with retched company. I haven’t said it in a long time … but FU MIDTOWN!!!
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I spend tens of thousands of dollars a year online. A good amount of the books I sell are preorders months in advance. I spend a lot in stores as well but my shopping habits have changed a lot during covid. Anyway, the point of my story is shops get my confidence get my money. Ones that pull shady stuff get no money. They may have gotten thousands from me in the past and now they get $0. So tell me, is selling that $3.99 book for $100 worth losing $1000’s a year for? As they say tripping over dollars to pick up pennies.
And it is. It “sour grapes” I got copies coming and wouldn’t be mad if it sold out for cover and I missed it. Those that spend $100 on a $3.99 book are fools.
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Wow. I’ve placed dozens of orders with them over the last few years. Just the other day I got a We Live #5 a week after ordering it.
I’ve never had a problem. Maybe once they shipped something really late, but it was a nothing book that I had totally forgotten about. And they still shipped it without me pestering them.
Sorry, man. You sound…bitter…
My state opened up to everyone 16 and over an hour ago…my second moderna shot is coming up in a few weeks…
Kids going back to school after having to distance learn for 2 weeks. Was losing my mind…
Not bitter so much as annoyed. Other shops I could visit in-person or online will be getting my money. It isn’t any hot books, but some things I wanted to read and I thought I’d try their site out having used a variety of online stores and been pleased. I avoid the ones people say are bad here but hadn’t heard of anyone having the issues I have with Collectorcave…
I got an email from TFAW with tracking info on 3/27 stating my order had shipped. I’ve never noticed any kind of lag with it showing up in my Informed Delivery Account at the USPS. It’s not even showing and when I search tracking I get nada. No label being created or anything.
I’ve sent them an email and will use their chat feature once they open. I know it’s been only a few days but it’s always showed up in tracking right away. It contains my Eniac #1 1st Print, I’m wondering if anyone’s had any recent similar issues?
My most recent order shipped on the 12th but my tracking shows it’s been mostly hung up by DHL and such… did the USPS postmaster general take over DHL as well? Guy just ruins anything he’s a part of…
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DHL is like a modern-day Pony Express… takes three times as long as anything else.
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That is the same thought I had dealing with TFAW and Midtown last time I had damages from either of them… they incentivize us to do that. Not that I would. But I won’t work with businesses that set up their game theoretic incentives that way
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Is this more advantageous for customers than a typical credit card dispute? Never used PayPal much
I was reading up on it and with my credit card I think it has to be over $50?
Not sure if there is similar requirement with paypal.