Thanksgiving perhaps
Update on my recent Midtown order…
Order placed on 9/10
Moved to “processing” on 9/12
Moved to “tracking number created, no label yet” on 9/16
I’ll feel better once the book actually ship.
They’ve been faster lately but the major holdups for mine when they are severely delayed has been after it’s marked as processing complete, that shipping update isn’t fact until there’s a tracking number and it’s in transit. I had a package sit after “processed complete” for like 12 days before a tracking number was slapped on it and it was actually shipped.
Just got my first order in a long while from Midtown.
Ordered 9/3/2020 - order included books that released on 9/8/2020 however.
Order shipped 9/14 and received on 9/17 - NYC to Orlando…
Last time I ordered from them was around 2015 when Marvel was doing hip hop variants. Always had positive experiences never had a single negative one… I’ve ordered from them several times… books always showed up in excellent condition, but… then I got today’s package.
19 comics in today’s package - just got back into the game and was playing catch up. Oldest back issue was Walking Dead 100 … all other comics were recent if not new releases (April 2020 onwards).
Walking Dead 100 had a significant crease on the bottom right corner that affected every page in the book - no color breaks so I could have it pressed out one day if I ever decide to get it slabbed, but if I’m paying ~ 10 bucks for a NM comic I expect better. Pic of this crease attached…
Batman 90 1st print “NM” had more color breaking spine ticks than I wouldve liked…
Handful of other comics had significant enough defects that left me less than content. To be fair, at least half of them were in good shape, but the card stock variant for Batman 92? C’mon now… no reason a NM copy of that book should have any significant stress marks/bends on the spine, but the copy that I received did.
Seems like the comics that released the day my order was fulfilled (thor #1 3rd printing and batman #90 3rd printing) were the ones in best shape that I can’t complain about). That said, I ordered a single copy of the most recent printing of Thor #4 and it had some nasty scuffing in a couple of places on the cover - bummer.
Tossed every bag and board into the trash because the flap on each bag was bent in at least two different directions, would no longer lay flat and basically looked like trash - never experienced this with them before but it’s been several years since my last order and things apparently have changed - their poly bags were useless beyond serving to protect the books during shipment.
I dunno … Just overall wasn’t happy with what I got. Not going to bother reaching out to them because I’m not about to pay return shipping and frankly don’t expect them to be of much help.
Disappointing, but not bad enough to say I won’t shop with them again. They’ll get another chance.
On the flip side I got my first ever package from TFAW last week. Package was damaged during shipping. 2 of 4 comics affected by the damaged envelope/package. Provided pictures and got an immediate refund no further questions asked + no hassle. Superb customer service and the rep was super polite and helpful.
Shrug
I think a lot of these bigger online shops throw a new release book in a bag and toss it in a long box. They
slap A “NM” on the sticker because that’s what the grade was at that time…but being sandwiched in between books over time do such damage if others are rifling brought them. They likely do not go back through and regrade.
Not sure if they keep their in stock back issues in a warehouse or if they’re out in the open for customers to bend over as their flipping through…but could further explain the damage if so.
Newer comics no problems as they’re new.
I’m thinking the same - best to stick with new releases or books that may be a week or two old tops.
Will follow up if and when I receive another shipment from them.
Another thing to add that I suppose is neither here nor there but figured I’d mention is the affect of what I believe is humidity on these comics in transit from NYC to Central Florida. Several of the newer books (released within the past month) already had ink transfer from the back cover to the backing board (near the spine) … more noticeable on books with darker/black back covers and generally affecting the area near the staples. Guess it doesn’t take much time under the right conditions for that ink to start rubbing off…
I’ve gotten over a hundred Midtown orders over the years, and they generally pack well enough. I’ve never gotten something damaged bad enough to initiate a claim. I agree that they could tighten up their grading a bit also.
And on TFAW: I’ve gotten dozens of packages from these guys and EVERY SINGLE ONE has been packed fairly poorly in my opinion and I have been extremely lucky that the books have not been damaged.
Just another perspective…
Appreciated. We have had issues with Midtown lately. Not sure where in the country you are but my biggest concern is they are not shipping timely. For example I placed an order on 9/12, and a week later there has been no movement on it. My last order from Midtown took a month to get out, hence the topic. TFAW I know if I order over 5 books at a time, or an issue over $7, I can get boxed shipping and have had no problems. Just got a Venom 27 2nd print variant in in less than a week from thaw, boxed and NM
Is that poor packaging or perhaps packaging done right? Seems the packaging takes the beating while the insides stay good… 
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Sounds like that song on the radio, “The house don’t fall if the bones are good,” but instead it’s, “The comics don’t rip if the package is good.”
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Since my Venom #25 retailer variant from TFAW was damaged in transit (flimsy mailer) I have changed all my orders to bi weekly (boxed) and have not had a problem. They were also amazingly courteous on the phone and refunded the damaged comic. TFAW has grown on me in a good way. I hope they keep their standards high because I do enjoy using them.
Update pt2:
Order placed on 9/10
Moved to “processing” on 9/12
Moved to “tracking number created, no label yet” on 9/16
Out for delivery 9/19
Kinda weird that the tracking showed “label created, awaiting item” last night, and now it’s out for delivery this AM. Definitely not a complaint.
Up next, the condition of the books…
That’s a UPS/USPS not scanning in properly then…
I’ve had packages that had zero updates until they’re out for delivery myself… Kind of wish you could spend the time to hit up USPS and ask for your money back if you spent extra on tracking (which is pretty much standard now I think).
Books arrived well packed and all in a NM range. I don’t think there’s a 9.8 in the group, but SIKTC 1, Strange Academy and Spider Gwen Scottie are close. Maybe 9.8 with a press. Spider Gwen A is pretty scuffed up, and SIKTC 2 has a few tics. But, overall, that was a pretty solid transaction from start to finish. No complaints.
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I would say it is a 50% chance of getting damaged books due to their sloppy packing. Whenever I got more than 20 books I noticed a higher risk of damaged books. Some of their people are better at packing the comics. But the last few orders I put in was too much for me. Never again 
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I had gotten a Hawkeye 1 1:10 Character Variant from them listed as NM. Had a total paper burr on the cover. Like someone duh into the top layer with their nail. Guy who was buying it from me on eBay noticed it. Cost me a sale and lost cost of the book.
My last three orders from Midtown came not only undamaged but rather quickly! Wednesday’s new comics were shipped and delivered by the following Monday (5 day turn around) with the exception of Colombus Day holiday.
Wow that’s impressive. I’ve never received a midtown order that fast, my average is 2 weeks.
I stopped using Midtown after a few problems.
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I would subscribe through Marvel because it is soooo cheap but you take a risk on the condition because they are cheaply packaged. I have had 9.8s come back though as well as completely destroyed comics. Anyway, if a title gets cancelled and I still had issues remaining they would never tell me. Any time this happens you should be getting an email telling you to pick a new title or telling you it is being transferred to the heroes new comic.
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I had an order go to the wrong address in the middle of moving to a new place and it got returned to them and they never notified me. I had to have the package traced through the post office to find out what happened. because the tracking always said in transit. So essentially they just opened my package, sold my comics and kept my money and were never going to contact me. I had to harass them for a week in email exchanges to get a refund.
Before those incidents I never had a problem and would even defend them at times but you don’t have a problem until you have a problem.
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