Mile High Comics ripoff late and damaged shipments, charges customer for employee mistakes Denver Colorado

I had dealt with Mile High in the past. For two or three years, I ordered back issues from them on a fairly regular basis. I had few problems during that time. Once or twice an order was mistakenly canceled or I received the wrong book but it was always rectified quickly.

Since the nearest comic shop was over fifty miles from where I live, I started a NICE account (New Issue Comics Express) with MHC in January of 2005 so that I could receive the new issues through the mail.

The problems began immediately but were simple enough. Rather than receiving all of my issues in one shipment at the end of the month as requested, I was mistakenly put on a bi-weekly schedule which meant I had to pay shipping and handling twice per month. I called about this and was assured that the problem was resolved. The next month, I found I was on a weekly schedule...

This was corrected after a couple of calls and my account was given credit for the amount of shipping and handling I had overpaid.

For the most part, things were smooth until September of 2005. In mid-September, I placed a back issue order and sent in the payment. A week later, I received an email notifying me that the order was processed and would be shipped out within the next few days. I didn't receive the order. Nor had I gotten my September subscription.

In mid-October, I emailed Mile High to ask what was holding up my books but I did not get a response. I called a week or so later. The person on the other end said that there had been computer problems but assured me the problems were fixed and I would be getting my issues in the next couple of weeks.

I didn't receive them.

I called again in early to mid- November. I was told once more that the problem was resolved now and I'd be getting the books within a couple of weeks. Late November, I still had no books. I also did not receive my November subscription.

The above repeats at least twice more. In December, the person who answers the phone actually tells me that I don't have enough money in my account to cover three months of subscriptions and the back issue order!!

As if I was expected to continue sending them a timely payment for books I wasn't receiving!

I'll admit that I got upset and rude with him. He agrees to send me all of the ordered books now and I could send in the difference later.

A few days later, I received all of the books. But-- there's always a but, isn't there?-- one of the issues (INCREDIBLE HULK #87) arrived with a ripped page. I called immediately. I was promised that I would be given a replacement copy FOC when the next month's issues were sent.

Foolishly, I placed another back issue order with them on January 4 and sent in the balance due plus the difference for the issues shipped in December (with a reminder about the replacement I was promised). On the money order, I included the invoice number of the back issue order.

On February 3, I received an automated email notifying me that the order had been canceled due to non-payment. I emailed them about it but once again did not receive a response so I called on February 8.

I spoke first with the back issue department. I was informed that the money order had been applied to my NICE account. I explained to him that the money was for the back issues (and even had the invoice number printed on the m.o.). He apologizes but says that the NICE shipment has already been sent so there was nothing to be done. The remaining balance would not cover the back issues.

Based on that, I asked if he could remove a few of the issues from the order and ship the remaining single book to me. He says that isn't a problem. I then ask about the replacement copy of HULK #87. He says he has to transfer me to the NICE dept. for that information.

While speaking with the NICE representative, I learn that a new NICE order has NOT been shipped. I ask him if he could cancel that shipment (until I sent in money FOR the NICE account) and apply the money back to my back issue order. He says that isn't a problem.

When he pulls up the back issue order which, of course, is now missing a few issues. I explain to him the conversation with the back issue representative and ask him to please put the removed issues back on the order. I gave him the title, number, conditions, and listed prices of the books, which would add up to precisely the amount of the money order minus what I sent in extra for the December shipment.

He places me on hold and a couple of minutes later the back issue representative comes on the line. He tells me that he cannot put the issues back on the order because I asked to have them removed.

I reminded him that I did so based on information he had given me-- information which turned out to be false. Still, he insists that the books cannot be put on once removed; I could still get them but I would have to pay the higher, current price.

I ask to speak to a manager (Greg). I explain the situation in full to him and he tells me the same story: to get the issues, I have to pay the higher, current price. He says that the computer cannot invoice it at the previous price now that it's been removed.

In my opinion, whether the computer can invoice it correctly or not, I should get the issues at the previous price. It was his employee's mistake which got us to this point.

But Greg insists that despite the fact the issues had been removed, I would have to pay more money to get the issues I ordered-- even though they were removed because his employee gave me false information!!

Needless to say, I closed the account. I also demanded my money returned and the replacement of HULK #87 (for which I would not pay S&H).

The next day (Feb. 9), I received an invoice listing the remaining issue as Out-Of-Stock and the computer tried to charge me $4 for shipping. I called and reported this to Greg. He assured me that I would not be charged.

As for HULK #87, I finally received it... on February 28. I had called several times and each time I was given an excuse for the delay. At one point, Greg didn't know where the issue was because he didn't have a UPS tracking number for it. (The computers were updating, you see...)

On March 3, I received a letter from Mile High. It was the invoice for $0 for the back issue order. Apparently it was vital that Mile High mail that to me...

Jonathan
Hamilton, Alabama
U.S.A.