Contents

  1. DCBS
  2. Instocktrades
  3. Cheap Graphic Novels
  4. Organic Priced Books
  5. Barnes and Nobel
  6. Target
  7. Amazon

This question comes up rather often and there are quite a few excellent places to purchase collected editions online. Most of the retailers in this list are rarther niche and specialize in selling comics, so there’s a good chance you’ve not heard of them.

The first two options in this list are owned by the same company, however they offer slightly different services.

DCBS

DCBS is an excellent option with some of the best prices out there. Their service allows you to preorder far in advance, however your order should guarantee you receive a book. These orders have a cut off date which can be seen at the bottom of the site. If you order before that date, then your order should be included in the quantities that the printers receive. That’s the main draw to their service, if you know exactly what you’re after (and it’s an upcoming item), then this is the service for you. That said, they don’t offer returns on these products and you’re charged soon after the cut off date, so long before you’ll receive your items.

Pros:

  • Prices are often 40 to 50% off cover
  • Packaging ensures your books arrive without damage
  • Guaranteed to receive your order
  • Customer service is easy to work with

Cons:

  • Customer service can be a bit slow
  • No returns

Instocktrades

In stock trades is good if you’re looking for currently in print books. Prices are often 40% off cover and you receive free shipping with a $50 or higher order. However, their selection can be a mixed bag, which may force you to purchase from a different retailer to get every book in a series. The lack of preorders can also be an issue, because some popular books will sell out very quickly. They also do not accept returns.

Pros:

  • Prices are often 30 to 40% off cover
  • Packaging ensures your books arrive without damage
  • Customer service is easy to work with
  • Free shipping

Cons:

  • Shipping speed can be slow
  • Customer service can be a bit slow
  • Preorders are not offered
  • Selection may be a bit sparse for some books, especially popular new releases
  • No returns

Cheap Graphic Novels

Cheap Graphic Novels isn’t as good of a choice compared to instocktrades, but does check a few different boxes. Prices are usually not as good as the above two, but you’ll still typically receive at least 30% off of cover price. They also offer excellent packaging and their shipping is a flat 8 dollars no matter how much you order. This service does offer a better selection, because of their “Special order” service. Special orders are for items that are not currently in stock, but can be ordered from the distributed. Orders that contain a special order item do take a bit longer to fulfill.

One oddity is that they sell insurance to protect your items in transit. Personally I think that if the item arrives damaged, then it’s not something that the customer should be liable for, so I do think this is a bit unusual. That said, the packaging they use is good enough that I order without worrying and don’t purchase the insurance.

They also offer a preorder service, thus offering an overall service comparable to the above two retailers, but in a single site.

Pros:

  • Prices are often 30% to 40% off cover
  • Packaging ensures your books arrive without damage
  • Customer service is easy to work with
  • Flat rate shipping
  • Larger selection

Cons:

  • Shipping speed can be slow
  • No returns
  • They sell insurance to protect your items in transit

Organic Priced Books

Organic Priced Books is relatively new. They typically offer about 30% off and offer preorders as well as currently instock items. I have only placed one order with them so far and the item did arrive with excellent packaging. Note: they are selling insurance, just like Cheap Graphic Novels.

Barnes and Nobel

When it comes to B&N I typically don’t order off their website. Webstore orders are shipped with minimal packaging and usually arrive damaged. Instead I’ll call the store and request they order the item for pickup, these orders are sent in a different way and arrive in perfect condition to the store. B&N prices are almost always cover price, but it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a hard to find book. Those high prices mean B&N usually sells out later than other retailers. Note: B&N won’t ship to store for certain products, they are unwilling to send more expensive items directly to the store.

Pros:

  • Easy returns

Cons:

  • High prices

Target

Target can be a good choice, especially when they run their buy 2 get 1 sale. For preorders, their prices are typically list price, however once the item is available their prices are much more reasonable. Usually the books are sent without any packaging, but not always. You can expect most of your books to arrive damaged, but returns are as easy as going into the local store. Not a bad choice if other retailers are out of stock or if you want to gamble that your books survive the journey.

Pros:

  • Fast shipping
  • Easy returns; shipped or local
  • Buy two get one sales covering all titles

Cons:

  • High prices
  • Books almost always arrive damaged

Amazon

Amazon is by far the worst retailer on the list. Their prices are high and the items are shipped without packaging, thus almost always arrive damaged. This retailer is a last resort, good if you don’t have any other options.

Pros:

  • Fast shipping
  • Easy returns

Cons:

  • High prices
  • Books almost always arrive damaged