Comments on: Shop talk http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/ Spending too much on comics, then talking too much about them Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:01:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Cligunsanna http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-13732 Cligunsanna Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:43:56 +0000 http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-13732 There's some special secret Sale link on Amazon, EBay, etc. where you can find very good discounts: http://bargains-hunter.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-find-bargains-at-amazons-secret.html [url=http://bargains-hunter.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-find-bargains-at-amazons-secret.html]Bargains Hunter[/url] I've seen discounts there as low as 75% off sticker Price. There’s some special secret Sale link on Amazon, EBay, etc. where you can find very good discounts:

http://bargains-hunter.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-find-bargains-at-amazons-secret.html
[url=http://bargains-hunter.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-find-bargains-at-amazons-secret.html]Bargains Hunter[/url]

I’ve seen discounts there as low as 75% off sticker Price.

]]> By: Tapeleg http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12700 Tapeleg Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:01:00 +0000 http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12700 Comic Reader - Make sure you go to Green Brain Comics in Dearborn, MI (outside of Detroit). Great comic shot that knows how to run a business, and treat customers well. Comic Reader - Make sure you go to Green Brain Comics in Dearborn, MI (outside of Detroit). Great comic shot that knows how to run a business, and treat customers well.

]]> By: Comic Reader http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12660 Comic Reader Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:43:25 +0000 http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12660 Do comic shop owners read blogs like this? I hope they do. Everyone I go to in Michigan practically breaks all six points mentioned above. Check out the storefront to this comic shop: http://www.galaxycomicsonline.com/images/storenew.jpg See the longboxes on the right? That pic is about two years old and they're still there. The window on the left has goten worse - the store owner has no clue what those windows are for. If I owned that shop, I'd put my goods in the window, showing how fun and interesting comic books can be. Instead, passer-bys have no sense of what's sold in there. For all they know, it's a warehouse. Do comic shop owners read blogs like this? I hope they do. Everyone I go to in Michigan practically breaks all six points mentioned above. Check out the storefront to this comic shop:

http://www.galaxycomicsonline.com/images/storenew.jpg

See the longboxes on the right? That pic is about two years old and they’re still there. The window on the left has goten worse - the store owner has no clue what those windows are for. If I owned that shop, I’d put my goods in the window, showing how fun and interesting comic books can be. Instead, passer-bys have no sense of what’s sold in there. For all they know, it’s a warehouse.

]]> By: Red Stapler http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12633 Red Stapler Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:41:34 +0000 http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12633 I'm happy to say that most of the big stores in NYC have a lot of women on staff, and even a lot of the smaller ones, too. (I myself put in some time in two easily-recognized stores.) I’m happy to say that most of the big stores in NYC have a lot of women on staff, and even a lot of the smaller ones, too.

(I myself put in some time in two easily-recognized stores.)

]]> By: davidpwelsh http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12627 davidpwelsh Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:12:47 +0000 http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12627 It's almost always a good sign when a comic shop has women on staff. I've never encountered any of Midtown's in the few times I've visited, but I might have been too distracted by the handsome shelving and in-stock Fanfare books. It’s almost always a good sign when a comic shop has women on staff. I’ve never encountered any of Midtown’s in the few times I’ve visited, but I might have been too distracted by the handsome shelving and in-stock Fanfare books.

]]> By: Katherine Dacey-Tsuei http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12625 Katherine Dacey-Tsuei Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:45:19 +0000 http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12625 Hiring knowledgeable female employees is a big plus, too. One of the reasons I started shopping at Midtown Comics (besides its Barnes & Noble vibe) is that they have a number of female staff members who are really passionate about comics. It makes a world of difference, especially when seeking help or recommendations. Hiring knowledgeable female employees is a big plus, too. One of the reasons I started shopping at Midtown Comics (besides its Barnes & Noble vibe) is that they have a number of female staff members who are really passionate about comics. It makes a world of difference, especially when seeking help or recommendations.

]]> By: Joe Williams http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12620 Joe Williams Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:22:02 +0000 http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12620 Clutter and a general air of filth are the worst. Too many comic shops resemble Fred Sanford's junkyard and are not inviting to women and families who are used to chain bookstores and malls. I'd also suggest keeping a few less T&A posters and trying to put up more displays featuring characters that appeal to people other than the hardcore spandex and capes crowd. Also, I love cats but many people, especially many hardcore comic book readers, are allergic to them and cannot shop in a place that has cats! And I know some people resent the implication that not all comic shop workers and owners are friendly and helpful, but I've been in enough shops to know it's true. I even heard one guy chortle when asked if he had any Eric Stanton books and then reply "he's the bondage guy, right?" He said he didn't and left it at that- no offer to order anything, no going to his small, dusty and cobwebbed adult section and seeing if he had anything similar, etc. Clutter and a general air of filth are the worst. Too many comic shops resemble Fred Sanford’s junkyard and are not inviting to women and families who are used to chain bookstores and malls. I’d also suggest keeping a few less T&A posters and trying to put up more displays featuring characters that appeal to people other than the hardcore spandex and capes crowd. Also, I love cats but many people, especially many hardcore comic book readers, are allergic to them and cannot shop in a place that has cats!

And I know some people resent the implication that not all comic shop workers and owners are friendly and helpful, but I’ve been in enough shops to know it’s true. I even heard one guy chortle when asked if he had any Eric Stanton books and then reply “he’s the bondage guy, right?” He said he didn’t and left it at that- no offer to order anything, no going to his small, dusty and cobwebbed adult section and seeing if he had anything similar, etc.

]]> By: Brigid http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12617 Brigid Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:51:08 +0000 http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12617 I'd like to expand on your first point a bit: I like to go to Borders and Barnes & Noble because they are pleasant and inviting: Big windows, spacious aisles, comfy chairs, smell of coffee in the background. The last comics store I visited was clean but cluttered. The books were displayed on wire-grid racks and the lighting was greenish flourescents. Basically, it looked like a liquor store but with comics instead of beer. Plus they had toys hanging on the racks so it was hard to take down a book without knocking something over. For me, going to a chain bookstore is a treat; going to a comics store is just an errand, and an infrequent one at that. If I could find a really nice comics store, one with the comfort of my local chain but better selection, I'd go there instead. I’d like to expand on your first point a bit: I like to go to Borders and Barnes & Noble because they are pleasant and inviting: Big windows, spacious aisles, comfy chairs, smell of coffee in the background. The last comics store I visited was clean but cluttered. The books were displayed on wire-grid racks and the lighting was greenish flourescents. Basically, it looked like a liquor store but with comics instead of beer. Plus they had toys hanging on the racks so it was hard to take down a book without knocking something over.

For me, going to a chain bookstore is a treat; going to a comics store is just an errand, and an infrequent one at that. If I could find a really nice comics store, one with the comfort of my local chain but better selection, I’d go there instead.

]]> By: Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Sept. 17, 2007: The jingle of a dog’s collar http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12610 Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Sept. 17, 2007: The jingle of a dog’s collar Mon, 17 Sep 2007 07:31:06 +0000 http://precur.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/shop-talk-5/#comment-12610 [...] David Welsh ponders how to build a better comics [...] [...] David Welsh ponders how to build a better comics [...]

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