Star Trek XI Countdown Comic Help

[balls]

Hi, I preordered the 4 issues of the countdown from IDW Publishing. I choose the standard 1st class USPS shipping. I received the first issue approximately 10 days after IDW emailed me that they shipped it. Issue number 2 was sent on 2/28. As of today, 3/14, I still don't have it. The shipment would come from Oregon and I live in New York. It shouldn't take more than a week if it's first class. I have a brother who is a sales rep for the USPS and he said that even if the USPS dragged their feet, it would be no more than 4 business days.

Has anyone else had a problem with IDW? Any suggestions of other places to buy from? I don't read comic so I don't know how widely available these prequel comics would be in local comic book stores.

Thanks.

 

[Kelso]

Try it again using my address. I'll let you know if it worked.

 

[balls]

Try it again using my address. I'll let you know if it worked.

Thanks. I'll do that.

 

[Shikarnov]

I've experienced similar delays with IDW, however I wouldn't be so quick to fault the company.

Years ago I used to work as a trainer for a Neopost dealer in Connecticut. Through my interactions with hundreds of clients, I've found that the USPS is a notorious pain the cubes when it comes to anything that's out of the ordinary -- and thousands of first class mail pieces are certainly out of the ordinary. What's more, large shipments of any kind are often at the mercy of the local postmaster, and his or her interpretation of the ever changing, 1800 page, Domestic Mail Manual.

So the delay could, very well, be a hold up at the local post office in Oregon as the bureaucrats there take turns debating whether or not to reject the shipment instead of just sending it on. IDW, having delivered the mail to the postal facility, would be correct in noting that they had "shipped" your package.

ETA: The delay could also be political in nature. I've been in the position of quoting chapter and verse from the DMM to a know-it-all postal bureaucrat who then told me, not so politely, that he wouldn't send my package for me if it was absolutely flawless (which he contended, it wasn't). If IDW found themselves butting heads with their postmaster, all of these delays could be fallout from that.

 

[miraclefan]

You live in New York correct? How come you just don't go down to a comic shop?

 

[Therin of Andor]

I don't know how widely available these prequel comics would be in local comic book stores.

My memories of New York tell me you're in a great location to buy comics. Wander into a few comic shops, tell the guy behind the counter you're having trouble obtaining IDW Star Trek stuff - they'll probably offer to hold the copies for you, unless they have a minimum order requirement for standing orders. Failing that, they can tell you the due dates of the next issues.

Issue #1 sold out, due to excellent sales, so many shops may have been asked to put more of the next three issues aside than usual, leaving less copies for the open shelves.

Also, there will be a graphic novel reprint omnibus coming out to coincide with the movie. This volume will also be in general bookstores, not just comic shops.

 

[M'Sharak]

I don't know how widely available these prequel comics would be in local comic book stores.

My memories of New York tell me you're in a great location to buy comics.

Going by his Location, he's in Rochester, which is clear at the other end of the state from New York City, but there still ought to be a least a couple of decent comic shops there. (Try these.)

I think also that he should try contacting IDW to see if they can track his order or ship a replacement for what's apparently gone missing. I find this e-mail address for them: store@idwpublishing.com and if he has an active account or a confirmation number, there may be other means of following up.

 

[balls]

I don't know how widely available these prequel comics would be in local comic book stores.

My memories of New York tell me you're in a great location to buy comics.

Going by his Location, he's in Rochester, which is clear at the other end of the state from New York City, but there still ought to be a least a couple of decent comic shops there. (Try these.)

I think also that he should try contacting IDW to see if they can track his order or ship a replacement for what's apparently gone missing. I find this e-mail address for them: store@idwpublishing.com and if he has an active account or a confirmation number, there may be other means of following up.

Thanks. Yes, I live about an hour east of Rochester. I actually called the first two on the link you gave me earlier today as I know they are the bigger ones in Rochester. They're all out of #2 but say they'll be getting #3 in. I did contact IDW and they said they can't track these ones. They suggest that I change my shipping to UPS with tracking. They also told me that the date they told me they shipped it, 2/28, actually they just prepped it to ship and brought it to the post office on 3/2 which is a Monday. I indicated in my earlier post that my brother is a sales rep for the USPS (in Buffalo). He's the first to tell me of the problems that USPS has. However, even if the post office got it on that Monday and dragged their feet for a few days, I'd still have it by now.

I emailed IDW today to let them know I still don't have it to see what they can offer me. I assume that they are probably sold out of it. If that's the case, I'll cancel the remaining orders and just buy the complete pack that Amazon will be selling. I just want it prior to the 8th.

 

[miraclefan]

^Sorry to hear that dude! If I were you I would just wait for the trade.

 

[Captain Randy Hall]

>>Yes, I live about an hour east of Rochester. I actually called the first two on the link you gave me earlier today as I know they are the bigger ones in Rochester. They're all out of #2 but say they'll be getting #3 in.<<

Don't be afraid to call the smaller stores. Some compete for the comics by getting some of the titles not produced by DC or Marvel. It sounds like they're not planning on ordering any more. Also, if you get a chance, check with Borders or Barnes and Noble. The worst that could happen is for them to tell you they don't have it.

>>I did contact IDW and they said they can't track these ones. They suggest that I change my shipping to UPS with tracking.<<

I"m sure they don't want to irritate customers, but I imagine that IDW is seriously busy as the film comes closer to being released.

A lot of stores send comics to people out of their area for a number of reasons. I take it you don't regularly buy comics, since I do and never miss anything since just about everything is listed in the distributors' big monthly catalog a couple of months ahead of time.

But I remember the bad old days when there was no way to tell what's coming and when.

Some retailers put a lot more into sending copies to people in other areas. I haven't done that in a long time, so I can't really recommend anyone.

 

[balls]

Well, TFAW just told me that they don't have any more of #2. They've refunded my money. I emailed them back and cancelled the preorder for 3 and 4. I'm going to get the version with all for issues from Amazon.

It's funny. I checked my shipment status on TFAW and it only lists issue number 1 as being shipped on January 30. It lists issue number two as "preorder" with no shipping status. It leads me to believe that they never shipped a thing to me.

 

[M'Sharak]

Sometimes a thing just falls through the cracks. Good to hear you got your refund, and perhaps you might be able to locate the individual issues at one of your local comics shops, if completeness is important. If it isn't, the TPB containing all four ought to cover things nicely.

 

[Captain Randy Hall]

Well, TFAW just told me that they don't have any more of #2. They've refunded my money. I emailed them back and cancelled the preorder for 3 and 4. I'm going to get the version with all for issues from Amazon.

It's funny. I checked my shipment status on TFAW and it only lists issue number 1 as being shipped on January 30. It lists issue number two as "preorder" with no shipping status. It leads me to believe that they never shipped a thing to me.

I don't usually recommend eBay, but there's a fairly good list of the first and second issues at this link:

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...7.l1313&satitle=Star+Trek+Countdown&category0=

What you might do is find a retailer who's close to Rochester and see if he or she can help you out.

Also, this week looks to be a busy one in Star Trek comics: the first issue of John Byrne's Crew, the third issue of Countdown and some ultimate hardcover.

If you don't find anything by Wednesday, I could be persuaded to send something your way. Hang in there.

 

[balls]

Well, TFAW just told me that they don't have any more of #2. They've refunded my money. I emailed them back and cancelled the preorder for 3 and 4. I'm going to get the version with all for issues from Amazon.

It's funny. I checked my shipment status on TFAW and it only lists issue number 1 as being shipped on January 30. It lists issue number two as "preorder" with no shipping status. It leads me to believe that they never shipped a thing to me.

I don't usually recommend eBay, but there's a fairly good list of the first and second issues at this link:

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...7.l1313&satitle=Star+Trek+Countdown&category0=

What you might do is find a retailer who's close to Rochester and see if he or she can help you out.

Also, this week looks to be a busy one in Star Trek comics: the first issue of John Byrne's Crew, the third issue of Countdown and some ultimate hardcover.

If you don't find anything by Wednesday, I could be persuaded to send something your way. Hang in there.

Thanks! I've ordered the trade from Amazon, so I'll be covered. I just liked the idea that I could get a little closer to the movie with each issue each month. I'm not a comic guy so TFAW isn't losing a repeat customer. I'm just bummed that I think they never actually sent it.

 

[balls]

Well, 31 days later, I finally got issue 2. I showed the mailing label and shipping info to my brother who is a USPS sales rep. He said that it clearly wasn't sent 1st class USPS. It doesn't matter at this point. I see that Amazon has pushed up the availablity of the complete Countdown to April 7. I should have that well before the movie.

Thanks to everyone that offered suggestions.

Balls