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Post by Icctrombone on Apr 28, 2016 4:59:37 GMT -5
I hate that most comic shops are creepy towards women. I have a lot of female students who are comic fans, and of the three comic shops near me, there's only one they can go into where they don't get leered at and treated strangely. That really makes me angry. No public space should feel like that, and especially not one trading in a commodity that's traditionally been devoted to ideas of justice and heroism. In the time between my first and second wife I used to go into comic shops with various women. They were good looking women and I enjoyed some of the gawking.  |
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Post by Warmonger on Apr 28, 2016 5:45:27 GMT -5
Here in the South, a ubiquitous feature of comic book shops is the groups of people seated in the back playing Magic: The Gathering, which is totally cool, except that it always, always includes every member of staff. There is never anyone manning the counter or on the floor, such that customers invariably have to interrupt the game to make a purchase or ask about an item. If you're lucky, they'll hold up one finger and help you in a moment. If you're unlucky, you get the eye-roll and the most cursory, grudging "assistance." I avoid them like the plague. Conversely, Amazon, ComicLink, and MetropolisComics are always delighted to see me. Haha This Exactly how it is in a lot of comic shops in Hampton Roads, VA. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2016 5:51:44 GMT -5
This is my biggest one as well. There was one dealer at the Buckeye Comicon this weekend who only had about half of his books priced (out of about 10 long boxes). I started looking through the first box and I guess I made a face when I ran across a few books with no price sticker. He noticed and immediately said "Don't worry. Anything without a price, I have a guide back here and will look it up." I walked away and didn't go back the rest of the day. See, sir, I will worry about it. First off, I don't have the patience to look through these boxes, pull books that I'm interested in buying, wait for you to look each of them up, and then determine which, if any, of them I still want to buy after you quote a price. Secondly, I have worked in multiple comic book stores, as well as having been a serious collector for well over three decades, and know how to grade comic books, and the last thing I want to is get into an argument over your instantaneous grading of these books. I'll go spend my money with a dealer who has done his work upfront so that I can judge based on the price sticker if I want to negotiate with him or just pay the asked price. Sorry Captain, but I have to call you out. You wrote recently about going to a warehouse and going through thousands of boxes and then have the seller price them as you waited. I don't think I could have bought anything under those circumstances. Or maybe it's different given that it wasn't a con , but still. I think there is a slight/major difference between going to someone selling their private collection off by appointment and shopping form someone who is attempting to sell to the public as a business. Even at a con, you are a business, and in a shop you definitely are. You are competing for the customer's time and attention. If you are selling a private collection by appointment, it's an entirely different scenario. If I make an appointment to go see a collection and might possibly be interested in buying something if it is for sale, I accept what is, but if you are putting goods out for the public to browse and purchase, they should be priced and ready for purchase. -M |
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Post by The Captain on Apr 28, 2016 8:24:49 GMT -5
This is my biggest one as well. There was one dealer at the Buckeye Comicon this weekend who only had about half of his books priced (out of about 10 long boxes). I started looking through the first box and I guess I made a face when I ran across a few books with no price sticker. He noticed and immediately said "Don't worry. Anything without a price, I have a guide back here and will look it up." I walked away and didn't go back the rest of the day. See, sir, I will worry about it. First off, I don't have the patience to look through these boxes, pull books that I'm interested in buying, wait for you to look each of them up, and then determine which, if any, of them I still want to buy after you quote a price. Secondly, I have worked in multiple comic book stores, as well as having been a serious collector for well over three decades, and know how to grade comic books, and the last thing I want to is get into an argument over your instantaneous grading of these books. I'll go spend my money with a dealer who has done his work upfront so that I can judge based on the price sticker if I want to negotiate with him or just pay the asked price. Sorry Captain, but I have to call you out. You wrote recently about going to a warehouse and going through thousands of boxes and then have the seller price them as you waited. I don't think I could have bought anything under those circumstances. Or maybe it's different given that it wasn't a con , but still. You're absolutely correct in quoting my statement about my experience with the warehouse, as well as your point about it being different because of it being a con. mrp very accurately summarized my thoughts on the matter. With a con, there are multiple vendors there competing for my dollars, and as the con is only open for a set number of hours, I only have so much time to pick through boxes and make my purchases before they close the doors. As such, I cannot expend valuable time waiting for someone to grade and price books on the fly, hoping that our opinions match up. With the private seller, I knew what I was getting into up front. I had blocked out my entire day for the sole purpose of picking that collection, and there were no competing interests for my time or dollars. In regard to the grading issue, this private dealer is an Overstreet pricing advisor and had worked for CGC, being the one who graded the 10.0 Thor #156 (which I knew going in), so I was not about to argue grading with this guy. I went not only for the comics but also the experience of hanging out with this guy and talking comics with someone with his vast knowledge of the hobby. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Apr 28, 2016 16:13:34 GMT -5
Sorry Captain, but I have to call you out. You wrote recently about going to a warehouse and going through thousands of boxes and then have the seller price them as you waited. I don't think I could have bought anything under those circumstances. Or maybe it's different given that it wasn't a con , but still. You're absolutely correct in quoting my statement about my experience with the warehouse, as well as your point about it being different because of it being a con. mrp very accurately summarized my thoughts on the matter. With a con, there are multiple vendors there competing for my dollars, and as the con is only open for a set number of hours, I only have so much time to pick through boxes and make my purchases before they close the doors. As such, I cannot expend valuable time waiting for someone to grade and price books on the fly, hoping that our opinions match up. With the private seller, I knew what I was getting into up front. I had blocked out my entire day for the sole purpose of picking that collection, and there were no competing interests for my time or dollars. In regard to the grading issue, this private dealer is an Overstreet pricing advisor and had worked for CGC, being the one who graded the 10.0 Thor #156 (which I knew going in), so I was not about to argue grading with this guy. I went not only for the comics but also the experience of hanging out with this guy and talking comics with someone with his vast knowledge of the hobby. My hats off to you for having the nerve to wait while he rendered a decision on each comic. You gambled on his honesty and I guess you won. |
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Post by Red Oak Kid on Apr 28, 2016 18:39:44 GMT -5
Just wondering......has anyone been in a comic book shop that had music playing?
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Apr 28, 2016 18:41:07 GMT -5
Just wondering......has anyone been in a comic book shop that had music playing? Yes. All of my favorite ones do, and it's carefully chosen ambient music that doesn't cater to a specific taste and isn't likely to turn away anyone. |
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Apr 28, 2016 18:44:15 GMT -5
Midtown Comics in Manhattan plays a classic rock radio station
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Apr 28, 2016 18:46:37 GMT -5
Just wondering......has anyone been in a comic book shop that had music playing? Yes. All of my favorite ones do, and it's carefully chosen ambient music that doesn't cater to a specific taste and isn't likely to turn away anyone. Sounds like what was once referred to as muzak, or elevator music. I'd go crazy from it if I had to listen to it all day |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Apr 28, 2016 18:58:01 GMT -5
Yes. All of my favorite ones do, and it's carefully chosen ambient music that doesn't cater to a specific taste and isn't likely to turn away anyone. Sounds like what was once referred to as muzak, or elevator music. I'd go crazy from it if I had to listen to it all day No, nothing like that. Generically pleasing classic rock and modern pop stuff, mostly. Nothing edgy or niche. |
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Post by Action Ace on Apr 28, 2016 19:30:58 GMT -5
Just wondering......has anyone been in a comic book shop that had music playing? Mine usually has a DVD of something comic book related playing. Yesterday it was the new Justice League vs. Teen Titans cartoon. |
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Post by batlaw on Apr 28, 2016 19:48:20 GMT -5
Just wondering......has anyone been in a comic book shop that had music playing? Mine usually has a DVD of something comic book related playing. Yesterday it was the new Justice League vs. Teen Titans cartoon. One shop used to do that many years ago with a little tv in the corner and a vhs which I still think is a cool thing to do. Now that shop plays music... usually garbage and usually too loud. Not quite as offensive as say, Hot Topic for example, but still not pleasant imo. |
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Post by dupersuper on Apr 28, 2016 20:54:00 GMT -5
They don't give me my comics for free.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Apr 29, 2016 16:26:51 GMT -5
If you're frustrated by comics high on the wall of a store, just do this
That or carry a phone book with you
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 16:55:52 GMT -5
Well, Slam Bradley I take it you're not 5'5. You don't know what it's like fir us short people whenever I or other shorties go to a comic shop and we see the dreaded wall of overpriced back issues that are on that wall. The same wall where those back issues they're hung up or taped up on the wall really high. Even if I tried to stretch my arms to try to get at Those comics on the damn wall it's not enough. My height 5'5 plus arms stretched out at the limit where my reach would be about 5'7 I still couldn't reach the darn back issues on the wall when those back issues are on the wall they're up to at least 6 feet or God almighty at 7 feet. I'd love to be 6 foot something but do comic book shop workers have to be that cruel thing to just put up 30-40 year old "expensive" comics on the DNA wall right up the ceiling? Short people?? Try being 5'1" having the same issue. You have a few + inches on me. I can barely SEE what I want, I can just make out titles. One shop I go to has a stool for short people to stand on. I wish they all did. |
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