Since previous stores I have gone to wouldn't have gotten the older material back and taking the day off to travel hours to a new store just in case they had what I was looking for wouldn't be feasible, I began searching for online stores to shop from. I limited my search to those in state to make it easier to calculate things like sales tax and shipping costs. I quickly found one in Louisville that looked promising. It had been around for a long time, a large online store, and a secondary location. Between their two locations, I was able to find every issue I was missing, in some form. Some were available in both places, but in different variants. Some were only found at one location, and not in the least expensive form. One issue was only available in a variant over twice as expensive as the regular cover. Still, I went over each store's selection and made out a list. Whenever possible, I would get the cheaper version. While this would mean two separate orders, it would make my total costs slightly lower than just getting almost everything at one spot, with only one or two from the other.
After double checking my lists, I started the order with the secondary location in Florence. As soon as I clicked the first issue, I was instructed to start an account. No big deal. It took a few tries getting, as my computer kept messing up the password memorization process, but I persevered. I continued my order and went to checkout. Typed in my address and card information, no big deal. I was finishing up when I came to shipping options. I was given the choice of pickup in store, and nothing else. Now, in my research, I confirmed that they did ship throughout the country, but even after I went further into checkout, I wasn't given the option. I logged out, without continuing or even closing out my cart.
When reading the welcoming email a little later, I found out the bad news. The stores were moving their inventory to a new online sales portal, so shipping would be halted for the moment. I have the worse timing. Fortunately, the email mentioned the possibility of shipping. I replied to them about my situation and some questions about how to order. They responded somewhat quickly. It turns out that the Louisville location was actually the satellite store, with Florence being the primary one, and that Louisville doesn't really handle shipping. The Florence store does pick up product every few weeks, though. Since one of my titles was only found there, this was encouraging. All I had to do was send in my list. Easy enough, I just had to include which variants I would find acceptable. Next, my shipping address. Sure thing, my store as I have to delivery to my place and PO Boxes were a hassle to pick up from, if even acceptable. Finally, I would need the email address associated with my PayPal account.
Now, I do have a PayPal account. I had to set one up to place some order years ago. However, I never set it up with my bank accounts, just my rechargeable debit card. Part of it is safety reasons, another is laziness. Since my card has only a limited amount of money on it, I would need to now the total costs before giving them that information. I emailed them this, along with my list of comics, with a note about how one was only found at Louisville. I emailed them again when I realized I forgot my address. The next day, I sent them a final email, with my notes, a final list with one extra title, and my store's address. They haven't responded to my emails yet. Now, they are closed on Sundays and Mondays, (I've found that many comic books stores, and even book stores, are closed on Mondays. Never felt like this was a thing, as none of the places I've been to were ever closed on Mondays. Definitely nothing around here, including my own book store.) so they might need some more time, but I'm getting restless.
As of right now, I'm prepared to give up on Florence, but I would be unsure of what to do next. The only other online comic book store I've found in Kentucky so far is in Owensboro. That's a little further away than I was planning on going. I can always try the Lexington store again, but they would only have the most recent books, as I've already gotten the older ones there. I'm thinking about going back to Wise on morning, but that might be another week or two away. Page 3 GameZone is getting closer to opening. They've already started getting in product, but not comics yet. I can't be sure if they will get back the comics they previously ordered for February and March. (They hadn't had time to order anything for April or beyond before the flood.) They might be able to get those comics back; they might not. The odds are higher for more recent comics that just came out though, so I might have a shot at those. The first trade paperback collections start coming out next month. I hate having to pay so much for just one or two comics I hadn't read yet, plus a bunch I already had, even at the wholesale rates I get for having a store. I've done it before, though, whenever I missed a comic. I just hope nothing happens to the store before I can get them all. (More on that in the coming weeks.)
I just wish I knew something. I've got other things I want to buy, and I can't until I can just get one simple email. [An online store has been pestering me that I haven't bought anything lately, and they are running a massive sale this week. Other possible purchases as well.] The waiting is the worst part.