Subscriptions, Anyone?

[patio]

I've been getting some subscriptions lately. Has anyone else tried this? What were your impressions?

I have a long essay about it, but it doesn't seem to want to post, so I'm going to try this to see if I can get the thread started.

[patio]

My essay seems to be too long to post, so I'm going to do it in parts:

Being out-of-work/underemployed for over a year, I started looking for ways to save on money without giving up my addiction to comics. I decided on "upgrading" from a pull list to straight up direct subscriptions. I chose the books I liked the best (yeah duh) and was pretty sure I wasn't going to drop (not out of slavish devotion, but because they were sure bets).

[patio]

So, being more of a Marvel guy already, I went to their website and found a good deal: $24 for the first, $22 for each one after that. So I signed up for New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Ms. Marvel (yeah oops), Ultimate Spider-man, Captain America, Runaways, Ultimates (another oops), X-Men First Class, and Thor. Plus 36 issues of Spidey for $50. I paid my whomping big bill, secure in the knowledge that I had saved a chunk of change in the long run.

Then I waited in anticipation. And waited. And waited. When I subscribed they told me that I would get an email saying which issue number my subscriptions would start with. And that didn't happen. So I kept buying at the store until my first issue came. I only ended up doubling up on one issue and I was able to sell that back. But after that, things went pretty smoothly. I got the issues on or before the Wednesday that they came out. Every day was like Chirstmas morning. What would I find in the mailbox? I began to seriously consider tipping my mailman.

[patio]

After the first couple months, some problems arose. X-Men First Class never came and when I contacted them about it, through some kind of mix up my subscription was cancelled. I've gotten some comics as early as the Friday before their release date. This is a thrill. It's like getting into an exclusive club or backstage passes. Other times the books have been delivered a week late. An issue of Runaways never came and I had to ask them to resend it and I got it two weeks later.

All-in-all this works for me. I rarely get to the store every week anyway because I'm loyal to a guy that's across town. But there are times when I have really been tempted to go out and get the new New Avengers when it was a few days late. It's especially hard when it's a buzz book and I feel left out.

[patio]

But apparently I didn't learn my lesson. Because of a special deal for subscribers, I ended up re-subscribing to X-Men First Class for $20 plus adding Wolverine First Class. Then I caught sight of another deal. Wolverine, Uncanny X-Men, and X-Men Legacy for $50, or in the other column for $38. Which was it? I called up and gave them the coupon code and I got it for $38. That's almost a buck an issue! 1988 prices! Now granted, I probably wouldn't have bought those otherwise, but Wolverine has turned out great so far, and even though I'm a little on the fence about the other two, for the price I'm happy as a clam. Also, this time they did send me an email that told me what issue the subscription would start with, and it was golden.

[patio]

It's interesting how I feel a bit differently about my comics now that they come to me instead of me going to them. For one, the connection to paying for them is removed, so it almost feels like each issue is a gift from a kindly relation (who looks a lot like me and has a slightly larger credit card bill). I pick up my mail, throw the bills, parking tickets, and foreclosure statements into the "later" pile, and dive right into the latest from Bendis & co. It's a wonderful little escape. And since the books usually just come one or two per day, I get to savor them a bit more since they're not a part of a big new pile.

And don't worry, I still go to my LCS. I still support him. With the money I've saved, I even figure I can now-and-then add in something that I wouldn't have before. Besides, I gotta get my DC books, my independents, back issues, Secret Invasion and the tie-ins and such. It's win-win the way I see it.

[patio]

Overall I'm feeling good about my subscriptions. I'm happy with the choices I made. Even Ms. Marvel and Ultimates, which have been disappointing overall, have given me some enjoyment. I'll see how I feel in six months and if I'm ready to drop down another big chunk of change for another year. But for now, please Mr. Postman, won't you make my mail Marvel?

ok, that's it. Sorry this is so long and in so many parts. I didn't realize there was a length limit.

So what are your thoughts about subscriptions?

[cam-]

My only experience with subs is through my brother.

He had some subs for marvel books but recently cancelled them due to shipping problems. He received some issues out of order, which if he'd been paying more attention wouldn't have been a problem but he was frustrated after reading an issue (x-men I think) and saying "this doesn't make any sense" then getting the previous issue two days later. Too much straw for his back ultimately.

[jimski]

I did this with some Marvel books (Ultimate Spidey and one or two others) years and years ago. I had a decent experience, but the arrival of the books was... unpredictable, to the point where I opted to go back to the shop just to make sure I got them. This was circa USM #15, mind you; a lot may have changed since then.

How do they arrive now, in terms of condition, packaging etc?

[patio]

Ah, the condition is pretty good. They come with a cardboard backer and a plastic sleeve. Nothing is protecting the back, but I generally haven't had any problems. My mailman sometimes folds it even though it says DO NOT BEND in bold type and it fits fine in my mailbox without being folded!

If you're concerned about comics being in NM shape this wouldn't be a good option, but they're always fine for reading.