β‘ B & J Comics Preorder Guide
Reserve upcoming comics, manga, graphic novels, and collectibles before release day β plus enjoy 10% OFF New Releases when you order on our website!
β° Final Order Cutoff: Monday 4:00 AM EST
All preorders must be placed before the FOC (Final Order Cutoff / βOrder Byβ) date listed in the product title or menu item.
Orders placed after 4:00 AM Eastern Time on Monday (the FOC date) cannot be guaranteed and will almost always be refunded, as distributors close ordering access once the deadline passes.
Availability After FOC: Sometimes books remain available for a few days after their FOC date depending on distributor inventory. If a book is still listed a week after FOC, youβre welcome to order β anything truly sold out will already have been removed from the site.
π¦ Important Note About Distributor Changes
All information about upcoming books comes directly from our distributors and publishers β and they may change anything at any time, completely outside of our control, including:
- Release dates & Final Order Cutoff (FOC) dates
- Prices, print runs & whether an issue qualifies as an incentive variant
- Allocations, shortages, stock availability, or title cancellations/delays
πΌοΈ Product Image & Listing Guide
The product image and title determine what type of item you are purchasing. Please review the 3 listing types below:
Item Should Be Physically In Stock
If the listing displays a real photograph of the book, we should currently have that exact item in our inventory.
Please DO NOT purchase a non-preorder book that is missing a picture, as we likely do not have it and will have to refund it. Message us first to confirm we have it before buying!
This Is a Preorder Item
If the listing uses a stock image and includes an Order By (FOC) date or In-Store date in the title, the book is a pre-release item.
Orders must be placed by 4:00 AM Eastern Time on Monday (the Order By / FOC date) to guarantee availability.
Back Issue Ordered From Distributor
If the listing uses a stock image and does not include an Order By date or In-Store date, the book is not currently in our physical shop inventory.
We will place an order through our distributor and must wait for them to ship it to us first (typically at least 1 week before shipping to you).
π Ordering by FOC Dates & Mixed Orders
We ship each order once, after all items in that order are in our possession.
If your order contains items with different FOC dates (or a mix of in-stock back issues and preorders), your entire shipment will go out only after the final item arrives, based on the latest Expected In-Store By date.
- Each order generates one shipping label
- We must ship all items from that order together and cannot split shipments
- Want items sooner? Place in-stock back issues in one order, and group preorders into separate orders by FOC date!
ποΈ Example Mixed Preorder:
- Book A β Expected In-Store By March 5
- Book B β Expected In-Store By March 12
- Book C β Expected In-Store By March 28
π Your package will ship after March 28 once Book C arrives. If you want Book A and Book B earlier, place separate orders for them!
π‘οΈ B & J Comics Preorder Refund & Damage Policy
π Preorders Are Final Sale
All preorder and presale items are final sale once payment has been processed. When you place a preorder, we immediately lock that item into our next distributor order specifically for you.
Because comic distributors require retailers to submit firm, non-returnable order quantities weeks or months before release, we cannot cancel, refund, or exchange preorders once submitted.
ποΈ Delayed or Cancelled Releases
Occasionally, publishers or distributors delay, reschedule, or cancel a release.
- Officially Cancelled Books: You will automatically receive a 100% full refund or store credit (plus shipping refunded if it was a single-item order).
- Delayed Books: If a release date is pushed back, your preorder remains active and reserved for you until the item arrives and ships.
πΈ Damaged, Incorrect, or Missing Items
We inspect all books before shipping and pack them securely. If your preorder arrives damaged, incorrect, or missing an item, contact us within 72 hours of delivery at info@bandjcomics.com or text 207-778-1569 with:
- Your order number
- Clear photos of the damage and packaging
Weβll work quickly to replace the item or issue a refund/store credit. (Minor manufacturing or printing flaws common in comic production do not qualify as shipping damage.)
β¨ Digital or Special Distributor Orders
All digital downloads, custom orders, or special distributor requests (including books without cover images yet or items not listed on our site) are non-refundable once submitted.
Please confirm details carefully before placing these orders β or talk to Tammie in the shop (`207-778-1569`) and sheβll make sure everything is set up properly!
β Preorder Frequently Asked Questions
β Whatβs a Preorder & When Do I Pay?
A preorder lets you reserve upcoming comics, manga, graphic novels, and collectibles before they release so you never miss an issue in your run.
Payment is collected at checkout. This holds your copy and allows us to order accurately from our distributors months in advance.
β° What Is the FOC (Final Order Cutoff)?
FOC is the final date shops can adjust their numbers before a title goes to print (strictly 4:00 AM EST Monday on our site).
- Most comics: 1β2 months before release
- Hardcovers, manga & collectibles: 3β6 months before release
π·οΈ Do You Offer Preorder Discounts?
Yes β 10% OFF New Releases on our website!
When you order upcoming new releases directly through bandjcomics.com, you enjoy 10% OFF! (Note: This discount applies exclusively to new releases ordered on our website.)
πΌοΈ Where Can I Browse Preorders (or Order Books Without Images)?
All open preorder listings are on bandjcomics.com. We only post items with official distributor images to avoid cover confusion.
If a book doesnβt have an image yet, Tammie can still preorder it for you manually β just understand the final cover, edition, or variant assignment may change.
π¦ How Does Preorder Shipping Work?
Your order ships once all items in that order are in stock β typically within 5β10 business days after the latest release date to account for multi-warehouse deliveries, variant schedules, damage replacements, and bagging/boarding.
π What Condition Can I Expect & Are Comics Bagged/Boarded?
Yes! Every comic (and larger items like manga, trades, and hardcovers) ships bagged and boarded.
We inspect each book individually and strive for Near Mint (9.4+) condition (though minor printer/warehouse handling ticks can occasionally occur).
π¬ Still Have Questions About Preorders?
Weβre a small, independent family comic shop and take pride in our honesty and transparency. If anything is unclear β or if youβd like help setting up preorders or requesting a book without a cover image yet β please call, text, email, or visit the shop!
Tammie will be happy to walk you through the process, make recommendations, and ensure your favorite titles are ordered well before release day.