PREORDER MK1 USER GUIDE

+++ Already Using Manage Comics?  Please See the "Latest Learnings " section below for new info +++

MK1's comic subscription system in a nut shell:  We put aside copies of every new release comic that our subscribers request. When a new issue is released the MK1 website sends out a payment link to each subscriber that requested it.  Subscribers can choose to pay for that issue and get it sent straight away or they can choose to pay for the issue but have it held at the shop to be picked up instore or sent with a future delivery. That process repeats each time a new issue is released. 

The system that customer's use to make such requests via the MK1 website is an application called Manage Comics.  Manage Comics is also what MK1 uses to notify customers when preorders arrive - these notifications include a payment link to the MK1 website.

Customers can view upcoming titles and place pre orders from the PREORDER section of the MK1 website.  

 

MK1 MANAGE COMICS USER GUIDE

Signing Up:
If you have made a purchase via the MK1 site you will have a MK1 account already.  If you have forgotten your password you can reset it via the MK1 account page here https://mk1.co.nz/account/login 
If you haven't made a purchase via the site, but you are an existing MK1 comic subscriber then we have already created a website account for you - we just need to connect you to it.  Please get in touch and we will send a link to complete the process -  very quick and easy (message shop@mk1.co.nz or use the Chat With Us website messaging). 
New customers can open up an account here https://mk1.co.nz/account/register 

 

Pricing: In general preorder pricing is accurate for comics, manga and graphic novels.  Sometimes the data files that publishers provide Manage Comics have errors.  When this happens MK1 will requote the price and ask customers to reconfirm or deny their interest at the corrected price.  Sometimes the data files wrongly list covers as being available when they are not - again MK1 checks all preorders and will contact customers if their is an error ahead of final preorder commitment.

How to Place a Preorder:
Login to your Mk1 account and click on the PREORDER option via the menu.   .  From here you can browse available comics by using the Search function or filters (more info regarding the Manage Comics Filters can be found below).
When you find a title you are interested in click on the cover to reveal the available issues.  
EG : NIGHTWING:  
 
The first option listed is SUBSCRIBE TO SERIES.  If you click on this MK1 will put aside a copy of every new issue released from the next available issue on.  A pop up  box will allow subscribers to choose between subscribing to the A or B covers (or both).  Covers beyond A and B can not be subscribed but can be individually preordered by selecting the PRE ORDER COVER button.
The series info will display the next issue due for release up the top of the page along with available to order Variant covers. 
In some instances issues will display as   "No longer available for Pre Order"  because that issue's  Final Order Cut Off date has passed.  If you are still interested in obtaining this issue message MK1 (shop@mk1.co.nz or use the Chat With Us website messaging) and we will see if extra copies will be available or can be sourced.  
As you scroll further down the series page, issues and variant covers that can be preordered will have a PRE ORDER ISSUE button.  Selecting that button will place that issue or cover on order with MK1.  NB: If you preorder an issue that you are already subscribed to this will create a 2nd request - which will lead to multiple issues being ordered for you.  MK1 will do our best to look out for double orders but the easiest way to avoid this is not to preorder a title that you are already subscribed to.
 

 

MANAGE COMICS TERMS EXPLAINED  
Monthly Preorder Catalogues : The most recent Previews catalogues are showing in the banner section at the top of the SUBSCRIPTIONS page.  Each catalogue lists all issues available to preorder up to two months ahead of publication.  You can navigate the various catalogue publishers via the filter list on the right hand side of the page. 
 

MY SUBSCRIPTIONS : This button shows all current subscriptions for your active titles.   If you placed a preorder with MK1 recently your order may show in the Pre-Order Approvals section of My Subscriptions awaiting MK1's acceptance (we process these requests daily).  Pulled Orders = items that have arrived at MK1 this week that have yet to be invoiced to you.  Billed Orders = items that have been invoiced. 

LAST CALL (FOC)
This is a weekly selection of FINAL ORDER CUTOFF comics - MK1's last chance to adjust our orders up or down. We ask that preorders are placed from this list by Sunday morning each week to give us enough admin time to organize the shipments.  
NOTIFICATIONS: 
You can see what MK1 has aside for you at the counter by viewing these links under the MY SUBSCRIPTIONS tab: PULLED ORDERS (most recent arrivals) and BILLED ORDERS (last invoice sent).   MK1 & MANAGE COMICS will also update customers whenever new comics arrive by email.  This email will include a link to your personal shopping cart containing all items currently aside for you.    This payment link will update as new comics arrive.  We do ask that all preorders are paid for at least once a month.   Payment can be made via the emailed link or in person at the shop.  If you are using the link please don't forget to choose delivery or a pick up instore indication.  
 

LATEST LEARNINGS:

PREORDER LISTINGS ONLY SHOW PRICES FOR THE COVER A of each comic.  The reason behind this makes sense for the App delvelopers as most comic shops in the USA having wildly different variant cover price policies - most charge a surcharge to recoup the extra admin costs involved. MK1 doesn't charge extra for non incentive  covers - our pricing is the same pricing conversion that we use for all our comics. Unfortunately variant covers with enhancements like cardstock covers etc are solicited with a higher USD$ retail price (in the case of the JUSTICE LEAGUE VS KING KONG VS GODZILLA Sound FX variants that price is very different!) The variant price doesn't display on site but will show in the preorder confirmation that lets you know MK1 has received your preorder. Where pricing is wildly different from the A cover we will follow up with an email to point it out - but if it is the usual $1USD or thereabouts difference for cover enhancements like cardstock covers etc we will leave it to the automatic notifications to convey this info.

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Shopify websites are hardwired to show the cheapest freight option first.  In the MK1 store that option is the $0.00  HOLD ASIDE - DON'T SHIP.  With comics deliveries arriving three times a week this is an extremely useful  shipping option for customers wanting to secure comics but bundle and send at a later date.  Unfortunately at a quick glance it can look like free shipping at the checkout - sadly we can't afford to offer that.  We have installed an app that allows us to change the order of the shipping options - but  from time to time the Shopify API changes and temporarily stops this method working - the site defaults back to showing the  HOLD ASIDE - DON'T SHIP option first.   As a reminder If your Mk1 checkout is showing $0.00 shipping - please review the shipping options before proceeding (you may need to push the down arrow at the checkout to reveal this option).

Mobile View

 

Desktop View

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MARVEL FOIL PRICING:  There is a problem with how Marvel is listing the foil cover pricing in the data files that applications like Manage Comics & Pullbox use to display the price.  Marvel are printing the Foil Covers with the price of the non-foil cover on the cover but are charging shops considerably more than the non foil cover price. Marvel cites the significantly higher manufacturing costs for foil covers - other publishers solve this by changing the cover price  - but not Marvel.  
What all this means is that the price showing on the preorder pages for Marvel Foil editions are incorrect.  Preorders placed for Marvel Foil Covers will be quoted back to each customer - price will need to be accepted via this quote.
 

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Marvel Comics Cover B warning: Marvel does not list cover variants in a predictable way.  This means that sometimes the cover B position in the publisher data files can be for a Stormbreaker cover, a connecting cover or an incentive cover. These are all covers that usually wouldn't be recurring within the same series, or may not be available to preorder.  We suggest that subscribers individually preorder the cover they want rather than setting up an ongoing subscription to whatever is designated as the B cover each month.     

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If you would like to order multiple copies of a single comic - you can adjust the qty on order once you have preordered an issue.  The steps are 

1. Place comic  on preorder. 

2. Jump to your MY SUBSCRIPTIONS record and adjust the qty on order under the My Subscriptions tab.  Qty will need to be adjusted before that issue's Final Order Due date.

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The subscription record says my next expected comic is a second printing that I didn't want? 
By default Manage Comics displays the title of the next shipping item in a series automatically. If that next issue is a 2nd printing that will be the title in the record. We won't order the 2nd printing for subscribers so customers won't automatically receive that issue unless specifically preordered. 
Please let us know if you have any questions.  We are still learning the system but have found MANAGE COMICS help desk to be very responsive and quick to fix or help with any issues. 

IMPORTANT: Please check the Manage Comics payment link carefully - especially your address.