Earlier this month I posted about North Carolina retailer Silver Bullet Comics closing down their physical store and moving to strictly online sales.
Since then, a few of our readers have posted comments about ordering comics from Silver Bullet, being charged and never receiving their books. Inertia is one of three people to comment on it:
I actually placed an order with them online on July 30, received confirmation that my credit card was charged and the order processed on the 31st, and I still have not gotten any shipping notification nor have I gotten what I ordered. Two emails to their support/feedback addresses have gone unanswered so far. I can’t recommend that anyone do business with them in their online incarnation either… I will update this if I ever receive any response from them.
I tried to visit their site this morning (to find an email address and get their side of things) and received an error. If someone from Silver Bullet would like to drop me an email about the order delays, I’ll gladly add an update to this post. Update: You can read the response form the store’s owner, W, Alan Davis, here.
EDIT: I should add that Silver Bullet Comics, the retailer, shouldn’t be confused with Silver Bullet Comics, the news site, which features news and columns from Park and Barb Lien-Cooper, Brandon Thomas, Beau Smith and Tim O’Shea, among many others.
August 28th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
My two cents: I used them briefly and was very dissatisfied with their ordering system and customer service. It sounds like things have gotten even worse ….
August 28th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
I used them once and it took ranting and raving how terrible they were on all the comic boards to get a response on where my order was. Once bad experience was enough to know they suck
August 28th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
I see their gossip guy hasn’t posted since San Diego. Oh well.
August 28th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Just checked out the news side of the site and it appears to be live. Some of the postings were a little moldy but some were from yesterday and today, fwiw….
August 28th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Rich: Silver Bullet Comics (the retailer), not Silver Bullet Comic Books (the comics news/commentary site).
August 28th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I own Ssalefish Comics in WS and I have received most of their former customers. They were all very unhappy.
The worst thing I heard was a customer of their’s was made to prepaid for his comics (in the store, not the website) and they just closed up shop without notice and kept his money. He’s been to the police to file a civil suite since Allen doesn’t seem to want to give him his money back in a timely fashion (read: not at all).
On one hand, I’m happy to have the extra business, but on the other, I fear that retails stores and sites like Silver Bullet make the entire industry look bad (read: crooked).
Regardless of the company, if you are getting ripped off, report it to your credit card company or to the authorities.
August 28th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Well, never mind then. Sorry!
Still, did the gossip guy get drunk in Tijuana and never come back? Did Herb Alpert kidnap him? Is he still at Dirty Dick’s? Or what?
August 28th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
They probably sold him off to the government to cover back taxes.
August 28th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Steve (the gossip guy for SBC) has been dealing with some stuff including a recent move and very spotty internet connection as well as getting sick all at once, so hopefully he’ll be back soon.
And as clarified above, Silver Bullet Comics and SBC (the comics news site) are completely separate entities.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
I was one of the store customers and now am at Ssalefish. On their site the forum post were realtime updated and constantly had complaints. The few who made sure things ran sorta well are probably not with the company any more, ergo why the store shutdown.
I left early and avoided the true bad service, but I know the Wilkesboro store had credit card issues years ago.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I would also like to state that http://www.silverbulletcomics.com, the news portion (which features columns, reviews, etc., including an occasional column by Darick Robertson) is run separate from the store. I am in charge of content, but I have nothing to do with the online store save updating images and dates from time to time.
That said, I can’t speak on behalf of site/store owner W. Alan Davis. I was told orders were being caught up, and I have spoken personally with some customers who have received their late orders. I will make Alan aware of this post so he can speak for himself if he so chooses.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I’d also like to add that the site went down this morning, and last I heard Alan was speaking with the hosting company to determine the problem.
August 28th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
I ordered from them once… once was enough.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:26 am
I talked to Alan earlier this evening and he read me the very long and detailed email he sent in to JK around 2-3 this afternoon completely explaining the situation. So rest assured SBC did in fact contact the writer of this post.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:45 am
Help! I paid for my comics on 8/6/2007 from silverbulletcomics and have not received any books or had any response to my e-mails.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Chad, read the response from store owner Alan Davis a few posts above, it explains about the lateness.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:34 am
I am in the same boat as all of you – Well over $50 in orders, and not a single book to show for it. SEVEN unanswered emails later, Im wondering why this place even exists. GIVE ME A BREAK! What, you can take my money, but you cant email be back?
September 3rd, 2007 at 11:31 pm
I don’t buy it. I sent multiple emails from local bellsouth account, tried to leave multiple messages on the phone, sent private messages through their message boards and got no response save one from Brant Fowler saying that he’d let WALAN know. However, still no response from WALAN. I was charged a setup fee and then charged for my initial order and still have received nothing. That is pitiful service (and I’m 40 years old). SSalefish, here I come!!!
September 10th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Still nothing….:-( Anyone else having any luck? Im a week away from initiating chargebacks on my card.
September 12th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Well if W, Alan Davis is reading this please send my order it is order #9639 you stole my money on july 28 and now no response tried to call but your memory is full on your voice mail. this company is to be avoided
September 15th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I am also having these same issues. My order was placed on August 1st, Order# 9717 (In case Mr. Alan is reading) This is the second order in a row that they have totally botched. The first one at least had a reason, but of course they never informed me and it took months and many emails and PMs to just get an answer. Now this time I have again sent multiple emails and gotten nothing. They even tried to blame my last time that my email was filtering them, yet I had provided 2 different emails, both with no filters at all. Plus now their forums are not even up anymore, they say to PM them yet my last PM still is unread. As was said in another comment I could care less about these half-assed explanations about moving your store. You either blame that, your email, or the customer is some 17 year old that can’t read. Well I am certainly am not that and will use this opportunity to inform everyone to NEVER deal with them. It is not worth it.
September 16th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Same boat. Paid on July 29. Still have not received product. Considering contacting SAG office.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
I too ordered at the end of August, making a sizable order of comics (around $150). I’ve sent 4 e-mails to their support e-mail address and they’ve all gone unanswered. I guess it’s time to contact my bank. Damn. The only reason I ordered from them over Mile High or Midtown was that I simply needed some freakin’ comic dividers and they were the only professional-looking website that had any in stock. Guess that’ll teach me to not do research on every online company I do business with.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:38 am
Over 150$ here as well. The comics were for my wife who has been in the hospital for various things. She was looking for the rest of the S.K. dark tower series. I guess she will not get them. I am disappointed. I filed at bbb so we shall see….
September 20th, 2007 at 2:03 am
walan@silverbulletcomics.com
September 20th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Yup, me too. Order #9869 placed August 15, 2007 for $26.99. MANY e-mails to them have gone unanswered.
What gives?
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:55 pm
I’m still waiting for orders placed back in May. E-mails are no longer answered, and their answering machine memory is always full. They told me my three outstanding orders were shipped – one finally arrived datestamped many weeks after it was supposedly shipped.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
I placed an order at the beginning of August and never received an e-mail notification saying my order had shipped. I have emailed numerous times — which they never responded too. Most of the time their answering machine is full and cannot accept messages, but one night I got through and left a message, but they never contacted me.
I am pissed!!! That is not how you run a business!!! I am contacting my credit card to make sure that I am not charged for that order.
To hell with Silver Bullet Comics! I — and all the others here — deserve more respect that we are receiving!!!
September 25th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Another unhappy customer. I placed my order (#9871) on August 15 and my card was charged but my order has yet to be sent. I have emailed twice and tried to call numerous times but their voicemail is full. I feel horrible for some of you who spent a lot of money. At least my order was only around $20. I was happy with all my previous orders with them but seeing first hand how horrible their customer service is I don’t think I will be using them again in the future. I will try contacting my bank to reverse the charges.
September 26th, 2007 at 6:31 am
I forgot to mention, in my post, yesterday evening, that my order is #10066.
I don’t understand why they don’t have the common courtesy and decency to admit there is a problem with the way they are doing business, attempt to rectify the problem, or allow people to cancel their orders.
I am going to report them.
September 26th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
I just contacted my credit card company. They have put the amount in dispute, so that I am not charged, at this time. They are forwarding me some paperwork, and, if I have not received my comics within 30 days of the time I placed the order, I am to return that paperwork, filled out with details of the problem, and they will take care of everything.
Somebody needs to slap Silver Bullet Comics down the hard way. I will do everything in my power to get out word so that people do not purchase from them ever again. By their lack of responses to every attempt I have made to contact them, which seems pretty common based on what I am seeing from everyone else on this thread, it doesn’t seem like they care at all about “the cherished customers” they reference on their answering machine. Good riddance!!!
September 27th, 2007 at 5:52 am
I would like to offer my apologies to everyone on this board, as well as to Silver Bullet Comics, for my posts, in this thread. My experience with them, previously, was a very positive one, and I wish that I had focused on that and simply been more patient, as opposed to getting frustrated so easily. My posts and my behavior were not appropriate, and I regret them.
I am contacting my credit card company, this morning, and asking them to go ahead and make payment for the order. There could be difficult circumstances on the other end (computer and network problems, too many orders to fill at the same time, etc.), and I want to give Silver Bullet Comics the benefit of the doubt, as I have worked in retail before, and I know that can be a difficult and stressful situation.
Again, I apologize to everyone on this thread.
September 27th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
David- why are you apologizing? Did the store contact you about your posts? While your order isn’t that old, there are tons of customers who have been waiting for their books for months. It is safe to assume at this point that network and computer problems are not the issue here- the store is just not coming through for its customers, plain and simple.
October 21st, 2007 at 4:52 pm
I’d just like to say that anyone and everyone who pm’d or emailed me got a response, though there’s nothing I could do for them sadly as I have nothing to do with the store, only the news. I sincerely regret all of your ordering problems and wish there was something I could do.
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Sadly, the NC Department of Revenue took all of thier inventory and sold it to cover back taxes. I doubt any of you will receive your money. The store was run by crooks and I think your best bet is to contact your credit card companies regarding the transaction.
As a comic shop owner in the same city, I take these events as a wake up call to how things can really turn sour. Luckily, I don’t cheat my customers nor the government so I have nothing to worry about.
I’m doing my part to own and operate an honest business, I hope others follow suit.
March 31st, 2008 at 1:00 am
Sad to see that so many of you had such poor luck with SBC, but thought I would put in a word here for someone other than selfish comics Whoops ssalefish comics, there is also a very good comic store in Lewisville by the name of Classic Comics, Tim is the owner there and not as selfish as some, there is also a wonderful comic store in Winston Salem(ssalefish is NOT the only store in winston) by the name of Empire comics, at least at these 2 you won’t be called a traitor for shopping other stores and you won’t be told you can’t purchase but one copy of a comic that there a several of on the shelves, and that you didn’t want to take all of!! (by the way the comics at Empire and Classic are generally MUCH more reasonable), but anyway just my .02¢ sorry if it’s off topic….
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:30 pm
So thats it huh? Were all just screwed? I know I still, 6 months later, have gotten nothing. I should run a scam like this since it seems like he gets in no trouble at all for stealing thousands of dollars. If anyone has had ANY communication or shipments arrive from them, please email me at shaunhadley1984@hotmail.com
May 14th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
i am such a moron… i got all excited about death dealer and put an order in to silver bullet comics. the site said i would get a response in 24-36 hours… one week later and three e-mails to support, and still no word… on one hand my credit card has not been billed, but i cannot find a way to cancel my order… has anyone received word from the company or any merchandise in the last four months?? email me kevin_eckel@hotmail.com.
May 31st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Why is their web site still up? I was considering placing an order with them today. Thankfully, I saw this thread beforehand….
September 7th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
So that’s it. The site is gone and so is our money. Nice scam, Alan, nice scam.
April 17th, 2010 at 11:17 am
SSALEFISH, thanks for the advice. I think I will be needing it soon!