I’m always on the lookout for a great deal, especially involving comics! I’ve used and reviewed DCBS and Fearless Readers Online, and now I’ve obtained some comics from yet another online source: mycomicshop.com. I “discovered” mycomicshop.com (hereafter known as MCS in this review) via the comic book database site StashMyComics. Whenever you look up the details of an issue at StashMyComics, there’s a handy Buy link that directs you to MCS. And from there, let the money fly out of your wallet! (Update: Before buying from this vendor, please review the comments below.)
The first thing about MCS that I like is how easy it is to find back issues (or even newer comics). Simply type in the title or portion of the title and you get a list of potential hits. At this point, you can already see if MCS has a complete run or not, or you can click the associated tabs to only see the In Stock books, CGC rated books, or if there are any auctions for issues in that title. Seems pretty handy. When you click the title link, you can then see the issues. This is the part that I really like. For each issue that MCS has in stock and has multiple copies of, you are presented with a quality rating and corresponding price. You can just choose what copy you want and it is added to your cart automatically.
Be careful with this. It might be very appealing to order that copy of Avengers #177 (1963 series) for $1.10, but in the case of this store, that grade of GD is probably pretty accurate. I bought an issue of Americomics with a rating of VG and was surprised that it wasn’t in better shape. This isn’t a knock at MCS’s graders–I know I have an uninformed view of these grades (in fact, this is something that I need to become much more familiar with; fortunately, MCS helps with that). Plus, considering that I can buy $1 back issues at Fearless Readers Online and the quality of the issues is always really good, I’m more than a little spoiled when it comes to getting cheap, good quality copies. Regardless, MCS usually gives you a choice in obtaining that issue to complete your run.
Once you’ve selected all of the comics that you want, you can review your cart and change the amount or easily remove the titles if you’ve found that you’re spending too much (is that actually possible?!). Again, it’s the ease of use with this site that I particularly like. After you start the checkout process, you’ll be asked to log in or create an account. When you choose your shipping, you are given more choices than is usual for an online comic shop. I went with the cheaper Lone Star Economy option, but you may have to wait 10+ days to receive your order with that one. Keep in mind that they have to process your order, then ship it–the time frame MCS gives is for when they hand your package off to the USPS or UPS, and this is where MCS does get a knock: it took them four days to pull my order and ship it (including a weekend). Realize that MCS is the online presence of a comic shop in Texas. Someone has to process the order, and go find and package the comics. I get that, but I’m also used to the processing of online orders being much faster (there’s that “I’m spoiled” thing). That aside, when you get your comics, they come pretty well packaged/protected.
As you can see, my comics were placed between slabs of cardboard, wrapped in thickish plastic (with the exception of one title that came in its own bag with a board), and taped pretty securely. Because of the great selection at MCS, I was able to complete runs on eight different series! And the price wasn’t bad either. The average price that I paid per comic was $2.90 for 16 issues, plus a little more than $4 shipping.
MCS also offers a subscription service, but based on its discount tiers alone, I can’t recommend it. If you want to buy your monthly comics online more cheaply, go with DCBS (and no, I don’t work for DCBS, nor do I get anything from them for recommending them). Also, if you’re looking for those rare, collectible comics, MCS offers an auction service.
All in all, I was pleased with this service and will consider buying from mycomicshop.com again.
Longbox Review 
Horrible costumer services …supervisor Beth unhelpful
Stay away from this webpage if they sent your the wrong item they wont help you !! period !! … plus Horrible costumer services … supervisor Beth unhelpful and not willing to fix my order … BE AWARE …. they send you a random comic so if you want the Newsstand or Direct edition you may receive the one comic that you dont need … besides their website does not clarify any where which is which …
LikeLike
My experience with mycomicshop has greatly been hit or miss. They have some good prices on issues, some of which are listed and “graded” But it’s the same problem as it is with Midtown Comics. They broad-grade issues that aren’t at a certain price point. So that NM could be a low NM for all they care. Then there are just defects in general. I assume someone initially grades a book but its it’s mishandled after that they don’t bother to confirm it’s still that grade. I received a Blank Supergirl with a noticeable large dent on the front and rear cover and it was sold as NM. It wasn’t damaged in the shipping process, it was sent out that way. I’ve also run into several instances where there were dents, and imperfections on the rear of the cover which had me wondering if when they do grade if it’s all done with the comic in the sleeve and not actually being fully looked over (If it isn’t some expensive key issue) I’ve asked places like mycomicshop and midtowncomics if there is a service that can be paid for to have someone check over the issues ordering for the grade looking for and both places are completely against it. To be clear on that request I would pay EXTRA MONEY to get the issues I’m looking for. I can’t see what I’m buying, I can’t look it over so I have to trust your business that you aren’t just trying to offload less-than-ideal copies and selling at a higher grade price than is deserved. I’m so used to the laziness of these places I’ve come to expect about 25% of the issues won’t be what was sold as is. It’s frustrating and disappointing.
LikeLike
I know this is an old thread, but just had a 2017 experience to share. The grading is STRICT. Ridiculous strict. I regularly send comics from the 1980s and 1990s to CGC. I can spot a 9.8 or 9.6 (MAYBE a 9.4 or once in a blue moon a 9.2). I had 100 comics I sent, all 1980s. I only marked 10 of them “NM” and even then I marked them as “VF/NM” or a 9.0. My highest grade was a 9.0. Keep in mind, if I had these CGC’d they would be 9.8s or 9.6s. Easily. These were PERFECT copies.
They were grading as Fine. ONE was graded as VF. Wow.
On the flip side, if you BUY a VF or NM, you know you are getting a 9.6 for sure!! LOL.
LikeLike
No you don’t. I have more than once ordered NM or VF comics from them and had them show up with dinged corners or other defects. Once, I actually received a “NM” comic that had several pages fall out when I opened it.
Once, I even conducted a test. I ordered a comic from them. When it arrived, I carefully unpacked it and bagged and boarded it. Then it sat in a box for awhile. I then resubmitted it in a trade order I’ll be damned if they didn’t grade it one level lower than the grade in which I purchased it from them.
I have strongly suspected that they have one group to grade comics that come in (and they grade very strict) and then have a second group to grade comics for sale (that are not so strict). It’s an easy way to lowball sellers and get a premium from buyers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
bought a comic from them online. they sent it in great condition except the jerks put a sticker with the mycomicshop information on the cover of my comic! As a collector this pisses me off to no end.
LikeLike
Wow! That is unacceptable customer service. Thanks for pointing out that issue, Lee.
LikeLike
I buy from them every week, have for YEARS. Always get what I want. Never had any problems
LikeLike
I ordered from them for my first time at the beginning of the month and they said I’d have my order by the eighth, but they messed up with who to ship it to and now It’s in Texas… I’m probably going to finally get it by the third of May. Their prices are so low though that I’m still going to buy comics from them, providing that I even get this one.
LikeLike
I have made numerous orders from them with no real issues. It seems like most people have a problem with their buying practices. Unfortunately, a 2.50 comic from the 90’s is worth .50 – 1.00 today and so it must be bought a .10 – .25. As for religious leanings, that is up to the individual. I haven’t bought any higher end books but I have been looking at several lately and I would like to hear feedback as to their grading. When buying on ebay I usually take at least 1/2 a grade off and then compare that value. It is probably a good idea to do that most of the time for any online purchases.
LikeLike
My comic shop has bogus tracking. You don’t know where your stuff is.
LikeLike
Basically, they low ball you and re-list it on ebay/ there website. They just listed my comic for $8 on ebay and they gave me a $1 for it. One of the girls let it slip that the owner (hint, hint!) approves all sales. I think he has a target range that he wants to hit: 75%.
75.74% return with the top rated discount=$5.15 profit off ebay, “when” it sells. I’m not sure his shipping supplies cost factor so you would have to add that in as well as a negative, but he ships with cheap cardboard, plastic rolls, which he probably gets relatively cheap by bulk. He is no idiot.
So, he’s return target is 75% and that’s how he calculates his offer for your comics. There’s a spreadsheet I’m guessing.
Now, if he would have given me $2, I would have been happy, that’s still doubling his money, a $1 and re-listing it a day later is a slap to my face. The question is “when” will someone buy it. He also pays very slowly. Basically he’s shop/ customer base is too big and he doesn’t want to hire or pay more workers/healthcare to provide accurate customer service. His negative feedback on ebay should have kicked him off the site long ago but his volume is so large he can beat the feedback system so far. As for his consignments, it’s a great place to consign! I like his model for consignment. He’s buying practice is just too cheap for my blood, but remember he’s paying workers, insurance and warehouse up keep as well. If I sell on ebay, I don’t have that overhead personally. As for his religion and crusade on comics, I really don’t care, he’s still in business, he’s a business man. Think of him as a business man running a business, he’s going to make money off you no matter what cause that’s his job.
Anyhow, best bet is ebay for selling, that’s why he is on ebay!!!. for consignments mycomicshop.com for books valued at a few thousands..as for his auctions.. they don’t pull in a lot of money for the customer..I basically get what I paid for back or less, it’s a gamble…
…they also track your IP address (hint hint) ..
For high end, there is heritage and a few others that take a huge cut..
***also: if you do sell comics and send some in he didn’t approve and he’s selling for $1 on his site and “currently buying”…he will offer you $.02 for each comic but currently offering $.40/$.50 or more to buy from you in your condition !! yes, you were just robbed..oh and if you send in the wrong comic and he’s not buying it, he keeps it anyways and gives you $0.00 for it! that’s right you were just robbed again!! If you want your item back, it’s $4-5.00 or something..sorry to say isn’t that stealing???? I guess I should call the police, he didn’t pay me for it..that is stealing!
Also to ship back media mail would be $2-3 roughly, send the comic back and take it out of the customers pay. do not steal the comic! ….people make mistakes..
LikeLike
Adding to my comments from last August….
So, Buddy “sold” his last 2 brick & mortar Lone Star Comics stores to one of his longtime employees (don’t even get me started on that one). The rumors were that Buddy was trying to get under the employee minimums in regards to Obamacare. While I wouldn’t find that out of the realm of believability, I tend to believe he really did just want to concentrate on mail order.
The only consequence of this for me is that now Buddy & co has ended the “pick-up” option. I had been getting my orders shipped to one of the stores and picking them up there (at no extra cost). But now, despite the fact that I live 15 miles away from their offices, I have to pay $5 (because they did away with their free shipping). And even that wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but it takes them several days to get the order pulled and packaged and then picked up by UPS/USPS. AND THEN, because of the way shipping works, my comics go about 20 miles north to a processing center, then about 15 miles west, and THEN it gets to my house.
I know the layout of the MCS compound and it would not be difficult to set up a pick-up window for local customers. But no, they would much rather have us pay more money and wait an extra 3 or 4 days.
And I still get comics that are lower than the grade I purchased and my trades get graded lower than what I think.
I’ve started using DCBS for new stuff (it’s cheap and I’ve been very happy with the service and shipping). I still use MCS for stuff I can’t get through DCBS (and I use my trade credit), but I can’t recommend MCS to anybody that is concerned about accurate grading.
LikeLike
I’ve placed orders with them since the 90s. It’s only recently I’ve had some problems with them. One package contained several comics that when bundled together creased the corners. When I emailed them about the damage, I never got a reply. Another time, my credit card was billed twice for the same order. When I called them about it, they said they could not do anything and that I had to dispute it with my card company. And now it seems like they have done away with the free shipping option. I put together an order totalling over $100 and had to pay for the slow, cheap shipping. They’re still far, far better than Mile High (who won’t get my business after screwing me over a third time some years ago), but I get most of my stuff from stores or dealers at cons these days.
LikeLike
It’s always a pleasure to find little gems of information like your blog post, Eric. Found it after discovering a book in wanted at MyComicShop, then searched for a review of that outlet to see if they were legit. Your efforts here are appreciated, as well as those of your commenters. Just wanted to give you a shout out from one tiny cork bobbing on infinite waves of the Internet. Thanks!
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
I placed an order with them on 2/26/14. At first, when I would check on it, it said est. shipping 3/3/14, which was disconcerting enough. It is now 3/4/14, and the website now tells me that it will ship on 3/6/14. I have placed numerous orders with these guys over the last year, but my business is about to go somewhere else. I’m not cool with them taking 8 days to ship an order of 25 books Not cool at all.
LikeLike
I’ve placed a couple dozen orders with MCS over the past 5 years or so and have only had one issue, really. I paid $9 for a NM copy of a book and received it with 2 or 3 obvious creases on the front cover. I shipped it back and got a credit (don’t remember if they actually paid the return shipping at all, but who’s got time to worry about everything) as they didn’t have the issue I paid for in the actual grade I paid for.
I live in Texas and although they do take a few days to process and ship orders I usually receive them a couple days after that. I really don’t think the processing time is too bad as I’m sure they do have quite a number of orders to process all the time simply due to their massive amount of back issues, clarity in what grades their books fall under, decent prices for most series, etc.. but when I find other folks like “Comics 4 Less” through ComicCollectorLive.com who will literally ship my books out the same day or the following day, it’s pretty awesome. Their secure shipping is pretty nice too, though I do agree it can be a little bit of a hassle to unpack them.. it’s worth it.
I can, however, say that their buying system is total crap. I also use it just to get rid of books I don’t want and put the money towards something I do want, but their grading seems ridiculous. I’ve sent in a few books that were most definitely NM and should’ve received $3 for, but whoever looked at them somehow thought they were VF and due to their BS “supply/demand” would either give me $0.02 or I could pay THEM $4 to ship it back to me. I might as well throw everything I don’t want anymore in a shredder or just drop them off somewhere that will give them to kids.
And yeah, I remember just a year or two ago they did have a bunch of silver and golden age books simply for sell from MCS, but now it seems like nearly anything that came out before the 80’s is on consignment. I assume it’s because they won’t actually pay anyone a decent amount to buy them from the client, so they just get a slice of the pie. However, I wouldn’t take any of the prices on their consignment items as the “proper” cost for any book. I’ve found variants that were under consignment for $40 on eBay for $10. It’s kinda disappointing, but probably just a side-effect of having a totally crappy buying system.
I’ll continue buying back issues from them when I think they are priced decently (depending on the particular issue), but I keep my subscriptions at my LCS and always just to see if someone like Comics 4 Less has the books I’m looking for and if I can save money in the long run by ordering somewhere else.
LikeLike
Thanks for the feedback!
LikeLike
I have used mycomicshop.com for most of my purchases. They tout themselves as being the biggest online comic book store, which they may be, but they take entirely too long to process orders and get them shipped out. Case in point, I ordered some comics on 9-21-13, and they didn’t get mailed out until 9-25-13. They do seem to do a good job packaging, but cutting the large amount packing tape without possibly damaging the comics gets aggravating.
LikeLike
The amount of stuff I could say about Buddy Saunders and his company…
When I first started collecting as a kid back in the ’80’s, my favorite comic shop was a place called Fantastic Worlds. Buddy’s Lone Star Comics had been battling for dominance for years and then they put a store close to my FW and killed it within a year. Back in the days before internet, there wasn’t much a kid could do. So I was stuck with them. Every now and then, I’d find a different shop that I liked better, but inevitably, they couldn’t stay afloat and I was forced back to Lone Star.
It didn’t bother me a whole lot, since usually, the staff was cool and we could talk comics for hours.
I actually went to work for them in the early 2000’s and helped run the warehouse. Gotta tell ya… the offices and warehouse were a dump (still are for the most part) because Buddy is cheap as hell. And also a far right-wing Jesus freak Tea Partier. That wouldn’t really be an issue except that it influences his business practices. He’ll shred comics that he finds objectionable and pays very little. Of course, this means he has trouble keeping good employees and so those people grading your books are a regular rotating parade of people that wanted to work there because it seemed like it would be fun but instead found it to be more like a sweatshop.
I stopped going to the stores after they managed to run off the knowledgeable people and kept hiring in people whose knowledge begins and ends with comic book movies. I started getting everything shipped to me once a month, although most of my comics come in with corner knicking and other minor flaws.
And I’ve been selling off a bunch of my collection that I don’t care about and getting credit which I use to buy TPBs so I can sell back more individual issues (I don’t collect for investment, just for reading). And despite the fact that I was an overly strict grader when I worked there, more and more of my orders that I send in get lowballed. I’ve pretty much just stopped trying to guess and let them do all the work.
A few months back, I ordered a NM TPB of Garth Ennis’ “Unknown Soldier.” I realized before it was delivered that I already had one (my collection is in chaos after several moves and a lack of space to properly organize it). So, I took it, put it directly into a long box where it sat until I could trade it back. NM copy was what I was shipped and then I didn’t touch it except to unpack it and repack it. They insisted it was VF. I pointed out that it was in the exact same condition that I received it from them, but hey… whatever.
And then there were some horrible orders… most notably, a back issue that I ordered as NM and when I got it, the cover wasn’t even attached. And yeah, the customer service isn’t great. They’ll usually attempt some sort of appeasement if pushed, but they aren’t that interested in being overly helpful.
Anyway, earlier this year, some guys that used to run other comic shops in my area opened a new shop. It’s small, but it has the appropriate comic shop atmosphere and they actually bothered to learn my name (something the Lone Star employees hadn’t bothered to do for years). I get greeted cheerfully and they do very well when it comes to getting what I want (still some growing pains, but it’s getting there). So, I have pretty much stopped spending anything with Buddy’s place. If I can’t buy it with credit, I just won’t buy it from there.
Oddly enough, this new store just bought two of Buddy’s stores from him. Buddy has sold off or closed all but 2 of his brick & mortar stores to concentrate on the mail order business.
And then of course, there is the fabulous history of Buddy and his crusade against “mature” books: http://srbissette.com/?p=17606
LikeLike
My experience with them has left me so put off, I refuse to give them any more of my business. I literally had to plead with them to take my $320 order and got no response to over 5 emails. I had issues with them before and managed to work through it, albeit with unnecessary difficulty. But this time around, they just refused to respond. It was bizarre. My issue is that I can’t have packages shipped to my home address. Nobody is home and the post people, despite a number of request to not leave packages by my door, continue to do so. I’ve had 2 packages stolen this way. For some reason, their system will not allow your order to be directed to another address (in this case, my work address). In the past, they’ve taken my order via email and all went without a hitch. But for some reason, this time, after an initial communication with one of their customer service people, I got radio silence. I emailed them repeatedly, Referenced previous orders. No answer. No response. If an establishment is so indifferent to my business that it would ignore my correspondence rather than try to resolve my issue, I can’t justify spending money with them. I just don’t get it.
LikeLike
Wow, I’ve received enough negative reviews of the customer service, I’m glad my experience was as good as it was. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Well, They are ok to purchase comics from, but they are not worth selling comics too. They are a rip off, When it comes to grading your comics. It doesn’t matter how good of a shape they are in My Comic Shop will give them all a 1 grade. They only give you a tiny portion back on your shipping cost. Never sell your comics to those people.
LikeLike
Thanks!!!I was just about to buy a comic there!!!
LikeLike
Excellent! Let me know how your purchase goes to see if I need to update the review.
LikeLike
I used to do quite a bit of business with them until I had a problem. I ran into Beth, the customer service person who apparently is mad at the world. She never tried to understand my point, she just robotically stammered off policy and wouldn’t give me a chacne to speak. I will never order from them again.
LikeLike
Wow, I’m glad I haven’t had any issues the two times I’ve ordered from the site. Based on your and Rex’s experiences, I feel pretty lucky. Thanks for commenting.
LikeLike
I started collecting again about four months ago and immediately went to mycomicshop to start buying back issues. I based the decision on a few reviews and a “test order” for $50 that went off without a hitch. Since then, I’ve been mostly happy with them. The free shipping can’t be beat. Also, the ease in searching for what you want and knowing what they have in stock is a huge, huge factor in using them. I haven’t touched the auctions yet, mostly because I have no desire to blow exorbitant amounts on single books since I’m mostly filling in bronze/modern stuff. Still, my average monthly order with them is around $200. My local shops probably see another $100 a month since they sell a superior short box and carry my subs, not to mention a great selection on $1 bin books.
I’m mostly happy with the selection, grading accuracy and packaging. Customer service is where they’re lacking. I’ve had to email them a handful of times and Beth is the only person I ever get a response from. Another issue is that they’ve discontinued tracking with free shipping, which is somewhat annoying. When I questioned the lack of tracking numbers, Beth explained that they’re confusing to customers and that they caused too many problems. Really? Customers are too dumb to track their orders? When I asked if I could pay for tracking or simply upgrade from free shipping to get a tracking number, I never got a response. I suspect she’s the only person handling customer service chores and that folks like me are simply bothersome.
Another example of the subpar customer service: Two months ago, my order had a damaged book. I was credited for it even though it was clear from her response that she didn’t read my email in it’s entirety. This last order, I had over thirty damaged books and five that were blatantly over-graded. Don’t waste your time explaining anything to Beth because she obviously doesn’t have the time to go in-depth and will tell you that you simply have the option to send them back for a refund. Alrighty then, I guess I will. IF she read my email, she’d have realized that someone dropped two of the four bundles during the packaging process, shipping them to me anyway. So now I have to spend money to ship back almost half of my order because someone basically didn’t care. No apology…just send them back and we’ll refund you.
Will I continue to use them? Yes, but I don’t think I’ll be willing to tolerate many more future orders with this much damage. That was just plain irresponsible.
LikeLike
Thanks for the feedback and warning. I ordered again from them and it was an adequate experience–nothing overly great or bad.
LikeLike
I rarely order from them anymore. I wouldn’t say they “suck” now, but it’s nowhere near what they used to be. Years ago they had a tremendous selection, great prices, and great customer service. These days, nearly any comic of note or value is simply either sold “on consignment” which they then wack you for fees and shipping, or its available for auction. I basically cannot count on them for silver age comics anymore – what happened to the days when they were simply obtained by the store and sold at a fair price? And speaking of prices, whatever silver age stuff they do have pretty much seems to be at the same price point as mid-town and mile high, so I have no particular incentive to order through them anymore. These guys went from my go to store to basically an online library I can use to comparison shop with things I find on eBay. Very sad.
LikeLike
Thanks for the comment!
LikeLike