FAQs & Contact
What is a distro?
A distro is, simply, a distributor or independent shop. The term started many decades ago to make it known that you had a random assortment of independently-produced goods. Most of the distros we ordered from as kids were a good split of zines, music, and random things, so we try and cultivate that all-in-one mentality. You can also just think of this distro as an online store, that seems to be easiest for most folks who are unfamiliar with the term.
What is a zine?
A zine (pron.: /ˈziːn/ Zeen; an abbreviation of fanzine, or magazine) is a self-published, small circulation, non-commercial booklet or magazine, usually produced by one person or a few individuals. Zines come in all shapes, sizes, topics, and formats. They can include personal essays, political discussions, fiction, craft or do-it-yourself advice. Articles or reviews about music, movies, comics, poetry, are also a common trait.
Who/Where is the Ms Valerie Park Distro?
We’re based out of Portland, Or. and Olympia, Wa. It was started in tribute to writer & filmmaker Valerie Park and is ran by Joshua James, Chask’e Lindgren, and a small group of friends. We mainly distro artists, writers, zinesters, musicians, and small record labels from around the Northwest part of the United States. This is not everything by any means, but most things.
How do I place an order?
Click on the Add to Cart button next to the items you want to order, then it will be in your shopping cart (which is located under where it says "search our inventory"), your shopping cart will have a selection of Shipping within the US or Shipping Outside, once you’ve chosen one of those, it will calculate the total cost. Our site currently only accepts Paypal, if you wish to pay with a credit card visit our Etsy Page. Questions about other forms of payment can be found in the Mailorder section below!
Mailorder, Can I?
We know Paypal isn't for everybody. Some of us yearn for the era of distro catalogs that you'd send away for in the mail. Sadly, these days, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for us to solely do it that way, but it doesn't mean we don't do it! Within the U.S. you can send (well-concealed) cash to PO Box 42081 Portland, Or. 97242 with a list of what you want and money for shipping (which you can calculate on the site!) and those things will be on their way as soon as we get your letter. If you'd prefer to write a check, send us an email.
When can i expect my order?
We get all orders out within 1-5 days. Most weeks, we do shipments Monday through Friday. Our shipping costs cover standard First Class, Priority and Media Mail shipping (depending on the order), within the U.S. All orders outside the U.S. ship standard International First Class
Shipping times will vary, depending on your distance from Portland, Or. Orders within the U.S. typically take between 2-14 days after being shipped. International orders typically take between 1-5 weeks for delivery. If you're looking for Domestic Priority Shipping options, please email us first.
What if my order doesn't arrive within the quoted time frame?
Send us an email with your order info and we can try and troubleshoot. If it just doesn't seem like it's going to arrive, we're happy to discuss resending or refunding your order.
Do you do wholesale orders to stores and libraries?
Yes, we love them. But it is best to email first with a list of what you're interested in, especially if you’re ordering multiple copies since most items are stocked in limited numbers. We can also do wholesale rates on store orders. Email us and we can set it up for you.
Do you accept submissions?
Yes, if you are interested in us carrying your work, you are more than welcome to send things to the address below. We generally sell on consignment, are very particular, and are always a little backed up with submissions. In regards to what we look for when looking at zines or books: longer zines that are either somewhat personal/literary/political/historical or kitsch/humor/novelty/pop culture commentary generally do best with us. We generally don't consider mini-comics and are picky on comics in general, as well as poetry (though we do love both genres).
Contact
Here's some ways to contact & connect with us:
Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, Our Blog, We Make Zines, Last.fm, and Bandcamp.
Contact form: www.msvalerieparkdistro.com/contact
Email: msvaleriepark(at)gmail(dot)com
Mail: Ms Valerie Park Distro PO Box 42081 Portland, OR. 97242 USA
Other things of interest: Bestsellers, Current Distro Update, Wholesale List