Tales from the comic book store...*cue scary music*

[Darthphere]

Am I the only person on here that is afraid to walk into their comic book store? Ever smell something odd but just pretend its the old comic book paper? Do you think the creepy guy standing in the corner who looks like hes 45 and hes really hairy reading Marvel Adventures is a serial killer? Share your stories.






P.S. If this has been done, sue me.

[MaskedManJRK]

I get you on the smell sometimes--I stopped going there on Saturdays when they have the teens do the Yu Gi Oh games--nothing like the smell of BO and hard paper to make you wonder if there is a God. :o

[PWN3R]

My shop is pretty clean, and they don't sell Yu Gi Oh.

But in the back issue room, they have a trash can that hasn't been emptied in years. It even speaks sometimes. And they have a huge cooler shaped like a coke bottle, and like little baby aliens or something is growing in there I swear....:(

[Elijya]

I hear horror stories quite frequently about comic stores around the country from the 'net, which leads me to believe I'm extremely lucky, as my LCS is fantastic. There's a huge selection of pretty much everything, there's a great sense of community from the employees and other regulars. the store is designed in such a way so as not to be geek exclusive. Mothers and their kids, as well as women, are all common. My only complaint is there's this one big, sweaty,creepy guy with some sort of mental deficiency who comes in every week (usually checks out the adult section), but hey, what're you gonna do about that? He has the right to shop there.

I've been to every store in my region, as well as most in Manhatten, and several elsewhere around the country, and I've never walked into a place and said "wow, I wish this was my shop, it's so much better."

[Darthphere]

I actually was at a new store today making a pull list( forgot a couple of titles) anyway, its a lot cleaner, and friendly than my old LCS, and closer to home as well. No more cigar smoke and apparently no sweaty guys, as of yet. I mustve written over 30 titles on my pull list and the guy was just staring on me, I dont know, I always feel weird walking into a new comic book store.

[PWN3R]

My shop is pretty friendly though, can't complain.

[MaskedManJRK]

My shop is pretty friendly though, can't complain.

Yeah, mine is super-nice to the customers. They've taken 10% off or so when I was just a dollar or so short of buying something. They even let you just read in the store.

They also have all these anime DVDs to rent, which is pretty cool. I was able to watch the entire Neon Genesis Evangelion saga for under 20 bucks. :up:

[The Question]

My store's actually quite nice. Very clean place. The guy's who work there are quite sociable, and alot of the customers are in and around my age group. We even get some female customers from time to time.

[PWN3R]

Yeah my shop has a wide range of people that come. Teens, middle aged guys, mommies, Dad's with their little boys, and omgz! girls!


But the guys who work they are really nice and help out with anything. Like I said, can't complain.

[Darthphere]

This new store im going to mostly deals with Anime but they have enough comics to appease me. I mostly get my back issues from under the table deals with the mob anyway.

[MaskedManJRK]

My store's actually quite nice. Very clean place. The guy's who work there are quite sociable, and alot of the customers are in and around my age group. We even get some female customers from time to time.

Yeah. Hell, on Free Comic Day, there was this one chick in this Star Wars cosplay thing...I think she was one of the dancer girls in Jabba's palace in Jedi, but red. She was, to be frank, in so little clothing that I'm surprised the police didn't close us down.

To say the least, I had a smile on my face the rest of the day. :o

[MaskedManJRK]

This new store im going to mostly deals with Anime but they have enough comics to appease me. I mostly get my back issues from under the table deals with the mob anyway.

My store is pretty half-in-half--literary, when you step in, the left side is devoted to comics, the right is devoted to anime, with other little things sprinkled along-side them.

[PWN3R]

My store is so anti anime, I love it. :O

[Darthphere]

My store is pretty half-in-half--literary, when you step in, the left side is devoted to comics, the right is devoted to anime, with other little things sprinkled along-side them.


Same. Most of the people there are anime kids, they look at the comic rack weird, and ask dumb questions, how do you read these stories, they dont go right to left, odd.

[Orko Is King]

Is it me, or are the shops that sell CCGs considerably geekier than other shopps that just sell comics?:confused:

[MaskedManJRK]

Same. Most of the people there are anime kids, they look at the comic rack weird, and ask dumb questions, how do you read these stories, they dont go right to left, odd.

People have actually asked you that? And you didn't slay them? :o

[KevanG]

I have 3 nearby (2 within 100 yards of each other) and none of them are that bad, except for one on saturdays when all the high school kids gather to play Magic and Yugioh (is that how you spell that?). Theres even this one guy from I knew back in high school, he was a bit older than me then and I graduated last year and he dropped out and he calls himself "Dumpster Hobo"... (I'm still WTF???ing about that), he still plays yugioh and he's around his mid-20's. Other than that the shops nearby aren't that bad.

[deathshead2]

Well my store is great everyone is nice and my friends with the owner and one of the guys who work there. Everynow and then when I don't have enough money that will give me another 20% off or let me pay later.And free stuff I got GI:Joe number 1 signed by the writer.:up: There used to be an old guy around his 40s from the way he looked who would play yugioh only against kids 10 and under. I don't think that guy has been around the store in 2 years.He was creepy.

[KingOfDreams]

The comic shop I go to isn't grungy at all. I did used to go to one that was but it's closed down now. The employees were grungy.

[Elijya]

Is it me, or are the shops that sell CCGs considerably geekier than other shopps that just sell comics?:confused:
It's just good business, really. NO store can survive just selling comics, there's not enough money to be made. Selling CCGs, or RPGs or miniature games are ways of divirsfying one's business and making it healthier and more lucrative.

[WOLVERINE25TH]

Th' most I ever had was I'd be missing a comic or two from my pull list, an' rarely would they get it. Otherwise, my store rocked.

[Darthphere]

People have actually asked you that? And you didn't slay them? :o


No, but ive seen kids open the comics back page first.

[KingOfDreams]

Same. Most of the people there are anime kids, they look at the comic rack weird, and ask dumb questions, how do you read these stories, they dont go right to left, odd.

That's pathetic. Haven't these kids read a real book before?

[MaskedManJRK]

No, but ive seen kids open the comics back page first.

...

I would have slapped them up-side the head, quite frankly.

That's pathetic. Haven't these kids read a real book before?

Exactly! Now, were these, like, little kids that would do this, or were they teenagers/adults?

[Darthphere]

...

I would have slapped them up-side the head, quite frankly.



Exactly! Now, were these, like, little kids that would do this, or were they teenagers/adults?


Id say they were like 8-9 years old.

[Mee]

This one store I go to doesn't have a comic the day it comes out 9 out of 10 times. I go in, can't find it, ask if they have it, and I get: "no sorry, come back next week." Really ticks me off. I wouldn't go there except it's 30 minutes closer than the good store. No stupid kids or smelly weirdos that I've seen.

[Darthphere]

This one store I go to doesn't have a comic the day it comes out 9 out of 10 times. I go in, can't find it, ask if they have it, and I get: "no sorry, come back next week." Really ticks me off. I wouldn't go there except it's 30 minutes closer than the good store. No stupid kids or smelly weirdos that I've seen.


Pull list. That solves all your problems. I used to hate going to the sotre for a comic and getting thsi response "we only have enough for subscribers."

[Electro UK]

Well when I'm going through the back issue section of a store near me... I have to keep looking behind to check the owner isn't about to kidnapp me or... violate me... he's just that scary. :(

Maybe its me, but walking into a smoke filled shop with extremley loud heavy metal music ain't the brightest of ways to enter a comic book store. Especially if you feel like the guy's going to claim your soul if you don't buy anything.

[GNR]

My store is very clean and gets very packed on Wednesdays.The owner is really nice and so are the employees.Wednesdays are just in and out due to the number of people who frequent.They have a real selection when it comes to statues and action figures.

[MaskedManJRK]

Id say they were like 8-9 years old.

So the type that don't know jack s**t about the real world? Okay, I'll accept that.

However, if they were teenagers or ADULTS...I would have beaten the s**t ouf of them, and then leave them in the sun. If they survive, the natural selection still has a use for them. :o

[Lord Valumart]

i like my comic shop....it smells of apples due to this plug int thing near the door. one time this group of like 12, 13 year olds came in and were looking for anime:mad: they found it, but i heard them say "screw this place, otakar's has a better selection", or something like that...anyhow...i saw them later with big bags that looked to be full of anime....it makes me sad that the UK has come to me wishing that otakar's would explode:( last time i was in there all i could find was a few x-men tpb's, star wars tpb's and like 12 shelves of anime.....i cried:(

still...i can get the Doctor Who magazine in my comic shop no problem....he says there's only about three people who buy it from there so there will always be enough:D

[KingOfDreams]

Pull list.

The comic store I go to doesn't do a traditional pull list. But I think that's because of the sheer amount of titles they have in stock and the amount of customers. It's a fairly big store. You wouldn't know it from looking at the outside though. Anyway, they will set aside specific stuff for you if you ask though.

[Dwarf lord]

Pull list. That solves all your problems. I used to hate going to the sotre for a comic and getting thsi response "we only have enough for subscribers."

My comic shop owner would take it out of a subscriber's box for me.

My store's great. The owner is in his mid to late 50s and he really doesn't read current comics anymore, but I love getting into conversations about classic comics with him. He always loves talking about the way comics used to be. His assistant, is a college kid. He's nowhere near a classic comic geek and I always try to come in when he's working. He's really fun to talk to. But yeah, I've never had a problem and when he misses a comic, it's always in my box the next week.

[KingOfDreams]

My comic shop owner would take it out of a subscriber's box for me.

There's another store I go to that's done that for me.

[The Leaguer]

My store is infested with dinosaurs.

It's f***ing awesome.

[arachnid-guy]

My store is great. The dude there is so cool. He 'reserves' comics for me even if I don't have a subscription.

We even have long chats on the way things are going in the world of comics...he even recommends more obscure titles (generally good). But I always feel weird when I don't buy anything.

Oh and there's another owner there sometimes (brother i tihnk) and he's a *******. Kicks you out if you spend more than 15 mins looking. Luckily he doesnt come in too often.

[Elijya]

The comic store I go to doesn't do a traditional pull list. But I think that's because of the sheer amount of titles they have in stock and the amount of customers. It's a fairly big store. You wouldn't know it from looking at the outside though. Anyway, they will set aside specific stuff for you if you ask though.
that's kind of nuts. Midtown Comics in Manhatten is like 4,000 square feet, and they still do pull lists

[Mee]

Yesterday I was in the store and a guy came in and tried to make his girlfriend read V For Vendetta. And she's like...

"but I've seen the movie..."

guy: "The movie is about socialism! This...is about individualism!" (or maybe it was the other way around)

gf: "And it's really thick...I'm a slow reader...it'll take forever!"

guy: "sigh...fine you don't have to. Put it back.

*gf puts it on the shelf*

guy: Not like that! Straighten it, make it look nice.

She "made it look nice" and they walked off. I thought it was pretty funny. (maybe you had to be there)

[Xofenroht]

Well, once I went into my home shop and the guy and his boss were talking about hot-highschool girls in their cheerleading uniforms. They sell pop, porn, used books, vinyls, and comics/comic merch at that place. So the cans they took from the pop would be donated to the local girls highschool sports team. That guy was a perv, but really cool...too bad he got fired. The new guy doesn't know a thing about comics and all he does is watch soap operas and wear hawaiian shirts and straw hats.
The one I go to near campus though is pretty cool. Fairly recently I ran in there looking for the rest room only to find that it was locked. I ran to the back door and tried to go outside, but it was locked too and I was starting to pee on myself. So I just ran downstairs and peed on their stairs. The guy said "Hey just go out the backdoor." I said "No, I'm sorry, look, I'll mop it all up if you want." "No" he said. "Just LEAVE!".
Think I should give them a few extra bucks for compensation?

[Darthphere]

Yesterday I was in the store and a guy came in and tried to make his girlfriend read V For Vendetta. And she's like...

"but I've seen the movie..."

guy: "The movie is about socialism! This...is about individualism!" (or maybe it was the other way around)

gf: "And it's really thick...I'm a slow reader...it'll take forever!"

guy: "sigh...fine you don't have to. Put it back.

*gf puts it on the shelf*

guy: Not like that! Straighten it, make it look nice.

She "made it look nice" and they walked off. I thought it was pretty funny. (maybe you had to be there)


Its better that she didnt, its clear the guy didnt know what he was talking about.

[arachnid-guy]

Fairly recently I ran in there looking for the rest room only to find that it was locked. I ran to the back door and tried to go outside, but it was locked too and I was starting to pee on myself. So I just ran downstairs and peed on their stairs. The guy said "Hey just go out the backdoor." I said "No, I'm sorry, look, I'll mop it all up if you want." "No" he said. "Just LEAVE!".

I think this is a sig-worthy commento!

But character restrictions prevent it's full glory!

[JLBats]

Am I the only person on here that is afraid to walk into their comic book store? Ever smell something odd but just pretend its the old comic book paper? Do you think the creepy guy standing in the corner who looks like hes 45 and hes really hairy reading Marvel Adventures is a serial killer? Share your stories.






P.S. If this has been done, sue me.

Holy ****, I thought I was the only one.

[hippy fascist]

My store has a grat selction. It's like, take the diamond list and mulitply by 10 and add about 25 more copies of the hot titles. I have a ridiculous pull list though (55 titles per month and growing) and they still won't give me a discount. I pay £2.15 for a standard book and £2.85 for the $3.99 books. That's the equivalent of about $3.50 and $4.75-$5 (i'm not quite sure on the maths here). I'm new there though so I figure I'll keep my list going for six months, ask for rhe discount again and if not get my books online, prefer actually going into a shop though... :(

[Darthphere]

Holy ****, I thought I was the only one.


Youre afraid of your comic book store?

[Phaedrus45]

Back in the 90's, little kids infested the comic store I used to go into. And, it would take me a couple months for me to get my pulls; so, I'd walk away with about 150 comics. Those little twerps annoyed the hell out of me. They'd be asking me all kinds of questions, like "How many comics do you have?" or "How much does all that cost?" I would tell the owner to make sure they aren't near me, because I didn't want people knowing back then my personal business or get the idea to rip me off.

Today, I have my new hang up: The really nerdy guys that can't stop talking to the guy behind the counter. If I'm having my comics checked out, a friggin' customer should understand that it's time to stop talking about whatever damn thing interests him, and that cashier should be focusing on nothing but my comics and me. The past two times, I've had to hear the same guy talking about how he's a wrestler and is going to win the belt, and how people want to follow him around, like in Entourage. (Bragging pisses me off, too.....but, it's really annoying when you've only seen the guy twice, and he's still talking about the exact same crap as before.) In fact, last week, the cashier and owner didn't even have a chance to acknowledge my existance, because the fool wouldn't stop talking. Even when I said, "Thank you, see you next week," they didn't hear me over the constant babble.

[hippy fascist]

sHouldn't let **** like that bother you. I used to work in a supermarket and generally people who chat to the cashier endlessly...they do it cause they don't wanna go home to their empty appartment and empty life. The guy's a sad loser so just say forget it and move on.

[Elijya]

well, a comic store's a social place, it's not like any retail place where people do it just because it's a job. GEnerally the people who work at comic stores love comics, and they like talking about comics. I have conversations in my store all the time. It makes the place have a friendly open environment, you hear interesting stories, you hear about books you're not reading and might be interested in, etc.

[Darthphere]

well, a comic store's a social place, it's not like any retail place where people do it just because it's a job. GEnerally the people who work at comic stores love comics, and they like talking about comics. I have conversations in my store all the time. It makes the place have a friendly open environment, you hear interesting stories, you hear about books you're not reading and might be interested in, etc.


Thats cool and all, but I understand where hes coming from. Its like yeah youre standing there at the register waiting for these guys to finish up their conversation, you know being polite and all but the main focus of the store is to you know, sell comics. When they dont notice you until you pretty much have to interrupt them, pretty bad IMO and annoying.

[Elijya]

nono, of course a store owner should balance his attention. But all things given, I'd rather have an LCS employee who engages in interesting conversations than one who just sits behind the corner real surly like, probably reading, and doesn't say a word to you except your total when he rings you up.

[hippy fascist]

well, a comic store's a social place, it's not like any retail place where people do it just because it's a job. GEnerally the people who work at comic stores love comics, and they like talking about comics. I have conversations in my store all the time. It makes the place have a friendly open environment, you hear interesting stories, you hear about books you're not reading and might be interested in, etc.

Totally agree, the only reason I go to my LCS is to discuss the weeks issues with the guy's there. I can 25% off the cover minimum on all books and trades if I shop online. I pay that extra 25% for the conversation, the recomendations and simply because I like dealing with a human I can interact with rather than an automated system.

(maybe I shouldn't really be saying this since I work for a web-development company but hey...)

[lifepawn]

I don't mind the guy talking to the cashier all that much as long as the cashier doesn't ignore a waiting customer. It only bothers me when that guy tries to talk to me. I'm a private person and don't care to have someone questioning me about my purchases. Or recommending me stuff he likes. I actually had someone once stick a Cerebus book open in front of me and tell me to read the page. Apparently he thought there was no chance I wouldn't enjoy it as much as he expected me to. I skimmed it and nodded/fake-smiled then did my best to put distance between us. Not to knock Cerebus, but I'd read some before and it didn't interest me.
Now, if I'm really not in the mood to deal with the socializers I just leave my headphones on and listen to music while I'm in the store up until the point I go to pay for things.

[Phoney Bone]

My comic store smells like cigerette smoke but that's the worst. Everyone is real friendly towards me and are always helpful.

So no, no horror stories from my store ever.

They're pretty big, and carry everything. Toys, back issues, manga, anime, CCGs, shirts, RPGs.

They'll let me pass if I'm a dollar short.

They do have games going on, but sensibly, those are confined to the back room, as to not interfere with the others in the store.

[Deathlok2001]

My LCS has these noteable designations
2006 EISNER NOMINEE FOR RETAILER OF THE YEAR (http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_main.shtml)
2006 CANADIAN RETAILER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP (http://shusterawards.com/story.asp?storyID=69)
2006 EDMONTON'S BEST COMIC STORE RUNNER-UP (http://www.happyharborcomics.com/news_articles/may_25_06_see_bestof.htm)


http://www.happyharborcomics.com/ (http://www.happyharborcomics.com/news_articles/may_25_06_see_bestof.htm)





(http://www.happyharborcomics.com/news_articles/may_25_06_see_bestof.htm)
This is what my LCS look slike. Its very cool.




http://www.happyharborcomics.com/page_remodeled_store.html

[Darthphere]

Nice.

[hippy fascist]

My LCS has these noteable designations
2006 EISNER NOMINEE FOR RETAILER OF THE YEAR (http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_main.shtml)
2006 CANADIAN RETAILER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP (http://shusterawards.com/story.asp?storyID=69)
2006 EDMONTON'S BEST COMIC STORE RUNNER-UP (http://www.happyharborcomics.com/news_articles/may_25_06_see_bestof.htm)


http://www.happyharborcomics.com/ (http://www.happyharborcomics.com/news_articles/may_25_06_see_bestof.htm)





(http://www.happyharborcomics.com/news_articles/may_25_06_see_bestof.htm)
This is what my LCS look slike. Its very cool.




http://www.happyharborcomics.com/page_remodeled_store.html


I hate you with the intensity of 1000 suns

[Darthphere]

I really dont give a **** what my store looks like, as long as they got what I need.

[arachnid-guy]

My LCS has these noteable designations
2006 EISNER NOMINEE FOR RETAILER OF THE YEAR (http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_main.shtml)
2006 CANADIAN RETAILER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP (http://shusterawards.com/story.asp?storyID=69)
2006 EDMONTON'S BEST COMIC STORE RUNNER-UP (http://www.happyharborcomics.com/news_articles/may_25_06_see_bestof.htm)


http://www.happyharborcomics.com/ (http://www.happyharborcomics.com/news_articles/may_25_06_see_bestof.htm)





(http://www.happyharborcomics.com/news_articles/may_25_06_see_bestof.htm)
This is what my LCS look slike. Its very cool.




http://www.happyharborcomics.com/page_remodeled_store.html


My LCS beats your LCS.

Ner-ner-ner.

(no it doesn't...)

:(

[UK_Stu]

I thinK I've been to the two extremes of comic book stores, but mine is some where in-between.

While on holiday in New York I visited Midtown comics - massive, clean, bright, huge selection of comics, books, toys, collectables etc etc.

In contrast -London about 8 or 9 years ago - I visited the smallest, smokiest shop you can imagine. The only thing in the shop were wall to wall wooden racks of comics, no tpbs, no toys, no manga, - just back issues. The owner was in this little booth reading a battered comic, smoking weed and there was a stereo which had the old 30/40's Batman radio serial playing. Strange place but the comics were good, the guy pleasant enough - i was the only customer in there though:confused: Unfortunately I think the place may have closed down since then.

[Arkady Rossovich]

The only shop where i can go to is in Great Britain,besides my personal dealer.Good shop,clean,has young people,it does have some older readers.But they are decent looking.Ive only seen women at my shop a few times..

[Darthphere]

The only real complaint I have about my store is that they underorder a lot of comics, so I end up having to wait. Titles like WW, that should have a big order.

[Spike_x1]

I was helping a couple of my friends move on Saturday (to Fredericton, NB, Canada), and after we had them settled in, a few of us decided to check out downtown Fredericton. Lo and behold, we found a comic shop tucked away in there, so we decided to check it out.

O.M.G.

The store clerk was fat, had a bowl cut, and had reverse-cross eyes :eek:. Anyway, once I found a couple things that I wanted, I made my way to the cash, but the clerk decided to ignore a waiting customer, preferring to scope out one of my friends, making sure that he wasn't stealing anything. The friend in question is really the nicest guy you could imagine, and he really was innocently minding his own business, just looking at what was on the shelves. But the thing is, the guy is really, really tanned (as in he looks like a black guy), and he was wearing a baggy hoodie sweater. Gangsta :cool:.

We laughed our asses off afterwards. :D :up:

[JustABill]

No horror stories about my shop. Nice guys work there. And oddly enough, I end up going in there and seeing the mass majority of the people are actually nice looking people. It's like ''WTF?! Why are we potrayed as ugly in the media? We be some nice looking *****es."

[Deathlok2001]

The only real complaint I have about my store is that they underorder a lot of comics, so I end up having to wait. Titles like WW, that should have a big order.

Dude, if a store wants to survive, they have to do this, its called sell through. If you really want a book, add it to your file ( pull list for your americans), A store should go for a 90% sell through in the 1st week. You cant keep dead inventory around & plan to be in business for long.

[Darthphere]

Yeah, it is on my pull list, and I still dont get issues on time.

[Deathlok2001]

bring it up with the store owner. I did. I am very honest, I bascially told the owner what he did not want to hear. I outlined some errors as I saw it & told him how to fix it.

I kept missing some alternatives. After a few years of this, I opened a file at another store & now get all my alternatives there. The message I send my store is, DO NOT TAKE MY business for granted!

I also wrote the owner a note outlining things that needed to change, or else I would leave.

[arachnid-guy]

bring it up with the store owner. I did. I am very honest, I bascially told the owner what he did not want to hear. I outlined some errors as I saw it & told him how to fix it.

I kept missing some alternatives. After a few years of this, I opened a file at another store & now get all my alternatives there. The message I send my store is, DO NOT TAKE MY business for granted!

I also wrote the owner a note outlining things that needed to change, or else I would leave.

Good on ya. dude!

[Darthphere]

You assume I haven't. Of course I have, I aslo bring up the fact that they should order a couple of extra copies for walk in business as well. And the fact is, I get most of my titles on time, its only certain titles I dont.

[twylight]

It's like ''WTF?! Why are we potrayed as ugly in the media? We be some *****es."

It's me.

I'm sorry, I try not to be ugly. :csad: :csad:

Anyway nothing horrible about mine except that my comics come in late once in a while and the store is mostly game driven.
Last week was the first time I'd ever gone in on a Weds. and actually seen another person buying comics. I chatted with him in passing, or..mostly they commented about me since I was smiling broadly, and bouncing around, excited with my pull list that week.

[PWN3R]

I never get Nextwave pulled for me(even though its on my list), that angers my inner Dirk Anger.:mad:

[KingOfDreams]

This is what my LCS look slike. Its very cool.




http://www.happyharborcomics.com/page_remodeled_store.html


Cool. Looks about the size of mine...

http://www.austinbooks.com/index.html

[PWN3R]

Cool. Looks about the size of mine...

http://www.austinbooks.com/index.html

dang, I really want an mp3 of that song in the video. Its like Futurama, JLA, Spiderman, Wonder Woman, Kill Bill all bunched up techno remix style.