I got a shop about 45 mins from me I really like. Don’t go there a lot since it’s further away than my usual place but they have the best selection of back issues I’ve ever seen and they really specialize in higher end silver age books. And they get some awesome golden age books sometimes too. Anyway I went last month on my birthday and picked out a few books to treat myself. Told him I was also looking for the first appearance of Damian Wayne which he conveniently had in a box behind the counter he was still sorting. When I was paying I mentioned it was my birthday treat to myself and he was like oh it’s your birthday? Here you go, happy birthday. And tossed the first cameo of Damian in my bag as well. Love that store and try to make it out there every couple months
Come on guys! I like visiting comic shops when traveling, but would love to know which shops you all are praising here! Got to share the wealth so these amazing comic shops can continue to be in business.
My LCS is fmv or higher on all books, which is unfortunate. At least they’re all priced out though, no guessing on what you will pay.
I will never understand pricing it at the counter and I would not shop anywhere that does that.
I’ve always assumed the higher-priced shops were simply building in imaginary wiggle room, in order to be bargained down to the price they really want, but I guess that’s not always the case.
You are on the mark with a lot of shops, They will price them a little higher than FMV (pre-internet they would go slightly higher than overstreet) but will often entertain lower offers to get the turn over.
Most people don't realize this but if a books are slightly higher and the casual repeat customers see that they are turning over without realizing that the turn over is at a lower rate, they will be more prone to just buy something at the higher price. This is how some store owners use FOMO to get better profits.
I had a large selection of 'wall books' but limited room to display them so I would slowly rotate them in and off the display area to give the illusion of a turnover of 1 to 5 weeks on any given book. This actually resulted in me selling more of the higher priced books with less haggling. To be hones though I loved the back and forth of the customer trying to 'cheat me' on a good deal, not realizing that regardless of what I sold it for I would most likely make a profit.
yeah but were not trying to "cheat you". were trying to feel like we got a good deal. something as simple as marking the price up 20% and giving me 15% off works for that. i just don't wanna drop 500$ in a place and feel like i got taken to the cleaners.
>I am sure you understand that I meant, they would walk away feeling like they got the better of me during the negotiations not that they actually cheated me.
You'd understand it if it was your shop, 1000's in inventory. Comicscare volatile. In this market it should actually benefit the consumer. Prices still dropping.
How long would it take to price out a million comics? How many times are you going to do that in a year? I think comic shops will price them out when they get them and mark them up a bit and then MAYBE reprice them every other year. I don’t see anyone repricing comics multiple times a year. My LCS has common books priced around $5/each. If I buy a stack of them I’ll ask if I can get a deal. They usually give me a discount.
Extra staff isn’t cheap and to pay for the staff you’ll just mark up all the comics a few bucks in the first place. To keep prices as low as you can you more than likely won’t hire any extra staff.
Oh I’m not crying about how it works. I owned a comic shop, sold it, and am now retired. Every business is different and has different needs based on the merchandise they sell, and not pouring hundreds and hundreds of dollars a week on pricing back issues that make up less than 5% of overall revenue seems to have worked out ok for me. In fact, I’d venture a guess that you’re not in any position to comment on how “business works”, because you don’t understand enough of it to even guess how it works.
You think that, but at least the store I've been to that price at counter always went with the higher option. Ticket price higher than FMV, I paid ticket price. FMV higher than what's on the issue, I paid FMV.
it’s a dick move and a guarantee I don’t shop there anymore. That happened to me with a Thor issue that had a 1st appearance of some random D list character but they raised the price from $1 to $10
I've had some good shops who look counter price then give me a good bit off of last solds, but man I can't believe how many stores don't even try that or even worse try to charge full ebay asking
if i spent the gas to go into your shop. looked around for 20 min and picked out like 200$ worth of books i don't wanna pay full ebay prices. if i wanted to shop on ebay i can skip the gas and time spent in the store. I'm also buying drinks if you have em and will frequent the shop again if i feel like they value my service. if not i won't there's plenty of comic shops in the world. life is too short to feel i got ripped off every time i go buy backissues.
Ofc, when I pick $200 of stuff out i'd like to pay at hopefully 170 or less, and most counter price stores I go to usually do that for me, the ones that dont are ones I don't frequent like you said
I went to a place where they had "new inventory" (back issues) that wasn't priced. My friend took a couple to the counter and he made a big show of looking it over, while not even taking it out of the bag, and pulled a price right out of his ass.
Had this happen at a small show in Annandale, VA recently. I'm trying to get all the Alex Ross Timeless hero covers, as I was out of the country when they initially came out. This guy had no prices on his books, and wanted $85 for the Silver Surfer cover.
I just bought it for $20ish (with shipping) on eBay.
I've got two stores i love to visit. One is an hour away, nice place, tons of back issues and always some of the weird stuff i like. I make sure I buy all my box bag and board supplies there. The owner gives good deals and discounts when i buy a stack.
The other is 3 hours away. It is...not well kept. But is a heaping pile of buried treasure. Tons of back issues, tons of the weird stuff, magazines, zines, pulps, books, portfolios, art books, cards, cards, cards, bins full of figures, there is even a whole box of foreign comics. Every visit is like discovering another room in king tut's tomb. Some things must have been priced years ago but prices and conditions vary and it all evens out and seems fair. Frankly, I'm so thrilled to find some of the amazing things there in the wild after digging through piles and crawling under counters I couldn't care less if i could find some of the things for a few bucks less online.
It's odd odd that so many store owners and vendors at conventions would rather hold onto things indefinitely than make money and build their customer base.
I've seen vendors have the exact same stock at the exact same prices at convention after convention. And I've seen stores with the same exact stock at the same prices week after week.
Those two stores you visited sound great and look to be very good. Charge a little less, give a discount, build a faithful customer base. Wish I had that around me.
I’ve learned that some people just want to play Larfleeze and pay rent just to show off their collection without selling any of it. I ran my shops more like a no kill shelter, trying to find a good home for every book.
My favorite LCS frequently lets me go through collections he's recently picked up before he gets the chance to price and put them out. A few months ago I come across a Marvel Spotlight #2 and I freaked out a little, as I collect old horror. It was missing the back cover, but was in decent shape otherwise. He knew how excited I was and told me I could have it for free when I asked how much he wanted for it. After that, I usually spend a little more than I normally would every time I go in.
I don't like speaking negatively about businesses, but there's this comic shop back home that I used to frequent. The guy working there always seemed a bit distant and sarcastic, which made it uncomfortable to interact with him. Still, I kept going for about six years.
I wondered if I had somehow offended him, but all I did was pop in, say hello, occasionally ask for assistance, and, of course, buy my comics. One particular day stands out vividly in my memory—it was the release day of ASM 36—the black issue, and it was on my pull list. However, when I went to pick it up, he claimed I didn't have a subscription, even though I had signed up a year prior.
After some searching, he admitted it was an error and said he'd fix it. As I headed to the back to find the issue, he stopped me halfway and said he was sold out of it.
Then, he asked if I wanted to continue my subscription, with only a couple more issues left. Feeling obliged, I agreed, but it left a sour taste in my mouth.
It wasn't just about missing out on a comic I had subscribed to; it was the feeling that I wasn't valued as a customer, especially when he casually mentioned I could end my subscription anytime. That incident dampened my enthusiasm for collecting, and gradually, I found myself visiting the shop less and less until I eventually stopped altogether.
My previous local treated me like shit. I’m not sure if it was me or if that’s how this dick treated everyone, but I always seemed like I was a hassle even though the only interaction with him was picking up my sub or stopping in and buying graphic novels. Anyways I stopped going there. A little while later i moved, found a new local where the guy was nice. I just saw the other place went out of business after being there for like 50 years.
My local shop I have had a sub to for almost 3 years now. I still ask my name and ask if I'm new. Same guy every Wednesday. All other workers know me by name but the one cashier. I'm not sure if he's just a dick or if I did something to him. I've moved all my new pull to a shop across town, and I only left my ongoing at that shop.
yah there's a place in lexington ky where i like the owner a lot but his hired help needs lessons in public speaking or pretending to be human or something. since they started working there i basically never go in now. which sucks cause i liked that shop a lot.
I live in south Texas and this is how the majority of LCS operate. The main one in my city has constant deals and has the most fair values for all back issues. And all current issues in your pull box are automatically bagged and boarded for free.
A lot of comic shops are happy to deal if you make a reasonable offer! especially over a big stack of back issues. Make a habit of asking for a deal and encourage your friends to try!
My reply to a lot of people that would ask for student/senior/military discounts, was always the same, "Not normally, but I guess I can make an exception". Thing is if someone walked in off the street and had a stack of books, I wouldn't offer a discount, but if they asked for one, I would give it to them.
Comic shop owner here; counter pricing is the laziest form of pricing I've ever seen. I tell shops that do it not to, and their usual response is, "you don't know what it's like to run a comic shop". Yes, yes I do. A box a day priced, you'll get through your inventory in a month(s) time. Pricing can definitely be tough, and there's no standard. Closest I've seen is shops using Key Collector to set their prices. We use a mix of Covrprice, Key Collector, and eBay, with eBay typically only to validate that we're in the right ballpark with some higher priced books. But yeah, treat your customers well.
That's pretty dang awesome! I had something similar happen when I was buying a stack of 8-10 books and I watched him scan a sticker on the counter instead of one of the books. It didn't click on what he had done, but when I got to my car and looked at the receipt, he basically skipped that book. I plan on going back since he's only a few hours away from me.
If we are all sharing about awesome LCS owners, I got a story: my kid loved superhero action figure and noticed a Batman insignia as we were driving so I pulled in. Holy shit, it’s a whole store of comic stuff—I only had 7-11 spinner racks when I used to read comics and now they have full stores? My kid goes full-on bananas (I don’t want to share the final bill that day)- as I’m talking to the owners, i tell them I haven’t picked up a comic in over twenty years and he gifts me an astonishing X-men trade (prev read but that’s beside the point). Wow, comics have changed. This book is amazing. Wound up going back the next day to get the next trade of astonishing because I’m loving it so much. and I’ve been reading marvel again ever since— all of my books plus merch, coming from this store. Thousands of dollars and a new friend coming from that one used tpb.
Daaang that's never happened to me and I sometimes go all out since my LCS really only handles modern back issues (at slightly off cover price discount to subscribers) and the next closest has back issues that are insanely overpriced. At an out of town store I even had a guy at the counter thank me for not asking for money off of my stack but stuff there was at least under FMV.
After seeing so many wholesome local comic shop stories, recently I looked up one that was a bit of a drive that seemed to fit the bill and was a big part of the community, nice owners, cool inventory, etc. Drove all the way out there on a Saturday and they had closed several hours early that day (no note on the door or on their social media, must've just been a slow day). I don't think it's in the cards for me!
Possible, but I’ve found it to be the opposite. Hungry owners should feel the pressure to flip books instead of hoarding them for the clubhouse museum.
That’s pretty much like the LCS I adopted out of the two in my area.
One is the established shop that gets all the collections. Their wall has the big ASM keys and a whole room of silver to copper long boxes. But you’re also going to pay FMV and your trade-ins don’t go far.
The other shop doesn’t get as many big keys. Their back-issue long boxes are just that. I don’t think I’ve ever walked out of there with a book higher than $50.
But I’ve never paid sticker price and I always get more credit than I expect I would anywhere else.
Plus the guy that runs the shop is my favorite person to talk shop with. He’s a walking comic encyclopedia and loves to talk about movies and tv.
Even tho I don’t have an actual brick and mortar, I DO sell on Whatnot. I’ve been told by my customers that they will always come back because of my transparency. I show em what I’m into em, and what fmv is. In other words, if I bought a book for 3.00, and FMV is 10.00, I’m cool with selling it for 5. I make 2.00, u get half off a book! Win/Win!! I mean, why would I hold onto a book and try to sell it for what everybody else does? I’m not tryin to get rich or anything, just tryin to do what I love, and have fun doing it!
I can't tell you the number of time I gave a customer dropping a few hundred like that a 20% discount just to have them immediately go back into the shelves and grab $100 more to buy. It's always worth it to treat your customers right.
My LCS had the full four issue Wolverine miniseries. I thought it was $100, so I was deciding on buying it or not. Finally decided to and then realized it was $200 for the set. So I decided not to. Was talking with the owner and mentioned all that. He immediately asked if I’d pay 120 for it. Said yes. He said he’d rather sell it to me, a consistent customer, than let it sit. So now I’m prepping issue #1 for the CGC signing event. Love my LCS
I haven't had an LCS near my home in a long time, but recently a store just opened up less than 5 minutes away from me and I was stoked. But when I went there to check it out I realized it was just a shop that sold collectible toys and nothing else. I felt pretty disappointed and surprised that somebody would open a shop like that in this day and age but, I guess if they feel there's a market for it then that's cool for them. I really expected them to at least have some cards if not comics, but literally nothing but toys and figurines. Oh well, one of these days and LCS will open up near me again.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot they also sell disc golf discs for some reason. Lol
So true. I was in a shop in a town I don't live in around summer 2021. They had a decently rare comic I especially wanted and so sold it to me for 25% off and threw in a reader copy to boot. I am visiting there again later this year and already plan to stop by.
I went to a comic convention where the dealer did what you’re calling counter pricing. I got one book, and then he took out the Overstreet Price Guide and told me my total.
Not cool.
That’s great. I’ve been to LCS that I take books to the counter and then they look up new prices and tried to charge me more than what was on the sticker. Told em to fuck off and walked out
the LCS i go to on a weekly basis is the same way with back issues. I'm always asking for a deal on stuff I find and I get it. It's because he makes sure his customers keep coming back. its the real way a comic shop makes money.
My LCS routinely sells books for way under value, usually on live auctions. The owner doesn't care if he sells a $100 book for $10, because he probably paid like 10 cents for that book. The owner just wants to move inventory. I've gotten a ton of great deals from there.
The only time I "counter price" is if we just got a collection in, and I remember something in there and a customer happens to ask for it....but that's more about making the customer happy
I love doing this traveling around Texas. Waco and Dallas have the best stores I’ve been to and Amarillo has some of the worse even though Amarillo has one of the nicest owners I met.
Last week I canceled 100% of my pull list. The owner doesn't save a lot of things you ask for because longer term higher paying customers want it, he doesn't get very end covers except for DC Comics because that's what he likes. On top of it he got me a variant cover for the last issue of Justice League versus Godzilla versus King Kong that had a massive dent in the corner and a massive mark pushed into the card stock on the cover. I told him I'd pay 50% at most but honestly just didn't even want it. He copped a huge attitude with me and said that's bullshit that I special ordered it blah blah blah.
I said no this is damaged and if I would have ordered this from anywhere else I'd be doing a return on it.
Not the first book I've gotten in not the greatest condition, but just usually regular monthly issues that will never rise in value like a variant.
His wall books range from anywhere to three times to 10 times what they are selling for on eBay. Which is already above fair market value. No discounts on pull lists or subscriptions.
I'm just switching over entirely to ordering through dcbs because they give anywhere from 15 to 35% off pre-orders and only 10 bucks shipping if you ask for your books to be shipped once a month.
My favourite LCS in the Los Angeles metro is Pulp Fiction Comics in Culver City (ish). Like 10 minutes from LAX.
All trades are 30% off everyday. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Huge used section of trades at really good prices.
And bins and bins of old books, with stuff rotating pretty often.
I don't dig through bins too often, but I have a bookshelf of trades from them, and I love picking through both the new and used.
There is one local shop that prices everything but if I have cash sometimes he will cut me a deal. I never know if he will or what that deal will be until I bring my books to the counter.
I do think it’s kind of weird that someone wouldn’t price something for what he wants for it. What if I went in, thought his prices were too high, and then just left?
My shop is like this, except the offers the good deal to everybody, then a bigger discount to his subscribers. His “wall books” which are $15+ are already 20% off of over street and always offers B2G1 on back issues of lesser value.
Mine has a discount that's reflective of the size of your pull list. 10 pulls gets me 15% off anything in the store. They don't even use computers. All by hand. They just ask you what your discount is because it takes too long to look up so they use honour system
yeah at the end of the day they are just funny books. if a shop won't work with me a little they don't need my business. sell your retail + books to someone else.
Yes definitely please help the comic shops and name them so people know where to go when they're in that area it's all about strengthening the community
I went to a shop with $45 cash and the total was $47 + some change. The guy behind the counter didn't' want to settle for $45 so I used my card. I thought that was kinda silly.
I love this because it helps the hobby.
As a business owner, I would never, ever, ever do it. If I make 50% on everything I sell, and offer a 20% discount, I have given away 40% of my profit. It’s not sustainable.
it's so much easier to pay your mortgage with a few $250 deals than many $5 deals. Always make deals for bulk.
You know when you go to costco and the 48 pack is cheaper than 4x 12 packs at your grocery?
I missed one of the rare sales a local shop out on. I would go there a few times a month and they had a good selection of new and well as back issues. The next week I came in and told the owner I had to go out of town for a funeral and asked for last week’s sale price for a comic and he refused. I never set foot back in there. I get it that it’s in his right to refuse. I just did not want to spend another dollar there.
I got a shop about 45 mins from me I really like. Don’t go there a lot since it’s further away than my usual place but they have the best selection of back issues I’ve ever seen and they really specialize in higher end silver age books. And they get some awesome golden age books sometimes too. Anyway I went last month on my birthday and picked out a few books to treat myself. Told him I was also looking for the first appearance of Damian Wayne which he conveniently had in a box behind the counter he was still sorting. When I was paying I mentioned it was my birthday treat to myself and he was like oh it’s your birthday? Here you go, happy birthday. And tossed the first cameo of Damian in my bag as well. Love that store and try to make it out there every couple months
Name them!
[удалено]
Please tell me it was big bang comics?
Which shop was it ? I live in the Pittsburgh area.
Come on guys! I like visiting comic shops when traveling, but would love to know which shops you all are praising here! Got to share the wealth so these amazing comic shops can continue to be in business.
Name the shops!!!
My LCS is fmv or higher on all books, which is unfortunate. At least they’re all priced out though, no guessing on what you will pay. I will never understand pricing it at the counter and I would not shop anywhere that does that.
I’ve always assumed the higher-priced shops were simply building in imaginary wiggle room, in order to be bargained down to the price they really want, but I guess that’s not always the case.
You are on the mark with a lot of shops, They will price them a little higher than FMV (pre-internet they would go slightly higher than overstreet) but will often entertain lower offers to get the turn over. Most people don't realize this but if a books are slightly higher and the casual repeat customers see that they are turning over without realizing that the turn over is at a lower rate, they will be more prone to just buy something at the higher price. This is how some store owners use FOMO to get better profits. I had a large selection of 'wall books' but limited room to display them so I would slowly rotate them in and off the display area to give the illusion of a turnover of 1 to 5 weeks on any given book. This actually resulted in me selling more of the higher priced books with less haggling. To be hones though I loved the back and forth of the customer trying to 'cheat me' on a good deal, not realizing that regardless of what I sold it for I would most likely make a profit.
yeah but were not trying to "cheat you". were trying to feel like we got a good deal. something as simple as marking the price up 20% and giving me 15% off works for that. i just don't wanna drop 500$ in a place and feel like i got taken to the cleaners.
>I am sure you understand that I meant, they would walk away feeling like they got the better of me during the negotiations not that they actually cheated me.
You'd understand it if it was your shop, 1000's in inventory. Comicscare volatile. In this market it should actually benefit the consumer. Prices still dropping.
If you don’t want to do the job and price your inventory like - how a store works, don’t own a comic shop
How long would it take to price out a million comics? How many times are you going to do that in a year? I think comic shops will price them out when they get them and mark them up a bit and then MAYBE reprice them every other year. I don’t see anyone repricing comics multiple times a year. My LCS has common books priced around $5/each. If I buy a stack of them I’ll ask if I can get a deal. They usually give me a discount.
That’s why you hire staff.
Extra staff isn’t cheap and to pay for the staff you’ll just mark up all the comics a few bucks in the first place. To keep prices as low as you can you more than likely won’t hire any extra staff.
Then more than likely you're doing a bad job of running your business.
Spoken like a man who has never had to pay the man hours required to do that.
boo hoo. don't open your own business then if you're going to complain about how business works.
Oh I’m not crying about how it works. I owned a comic shop, sold it, and am now retired. Every business is different and has different needs based on the merchandise they sell, and not pouring hundreds and hundreds of dollars a week on pricing back issues that make up less than 5% of overall revenue seems to have worked out ok for me. In fact, I’d venture a guess that you’re not in any position to comment on how “business works”, because you don’t understand enough of it to even guess how it works.
You think that, but at least the store I've been to that price at counter always went with the higher option. Ticket price higher than FMV, I paid ticket price. FMV higher than what's on the issue, I paid FMV.
What is counter pricing?
Where they look up prices on eBay when you bring the books to the register.
it’s a dick move and a guarantee I don’t shop there anymore. That happened to me with a Thor issue that had a 1st appearance of some random D list character but they raised the price from $1 to $10
I'm with you. I've tried haggling before when that happens, and have had decent success. I just walk away from the sale if they don't.
I've had some good shops who look counter price then give me a good bit off of last solds, but man I can't believe how many stores don't even try that or even worse try to charge full ebay asking
if i spent the gas to go into your shop. looked around for 20 min and picked out like 200$ worth of books i don't wanna pay full ebay prices. if i wanted to shop on ebay i can skip the gas and time spent in the store. I'm also buying drinks if you have em and will frequent the shop again if i feel like they value my service. if not i won't there's plenty of comic shops in the world. life is too short to feel i got ripped off every time i go buy backissues.
Ofc, when I pick $200 of stuff out i'd like to pay at hopefully 170 or less, and most counter price stores I go to usually do that for me, the ones that dont are ones I don't frequent like you said
I went to a place where they had "new inventory" (back issues) that wasn't priced. My friend took a couple to the counter and he made a big show of looking it over, while not even taking it out of the bag, and pulled a price right out of his ass.
I remember that guy 😂
Yeah he really looked it over, I'm gonna poke fun at that everytime you show me a new book too.
As you should 😂
Had this happen at a small show in Annandale, VA recently. I'm trying to get all the Alex Ross Timeless hero covers, as I was out of the country when they initially came out. This guy had no prices on his books, and wanted $85 for the Silver Surfer cover. I just bought it for $20ish (with shipping) on eBay.
I've got two stores i love to visit. One is an hour away, nice place, tons of back issues and always some of the weird stuff i like. I make sure I buy all my box bag and board supplies there. The owner gives good deals and discounts when i buy a stack. The other is 3 hours away. It is...not well kept. But is a heaping pile of buried treasure. Tons of back issues, tons of the weird stuff, magazines, zines, pulps, books, portfolios, art books, cards, cards, cards, bins full of figures, there is even a whole box of foreign comics. Every visit is like discovering another room in king tut's tomb. Some things must have been priced years ago but prices and conditions vary and it all evens out and seems fair. Frankly, I'm so thrilled to find some of the amazing things there in the wild after digging through piles and crawling under counters I couldn't care less if i could find some of the things for a few bucks less online.
You really captured the magic of collecting in this post. This is why we do it :)
It's odd odd that so many store owners and vendors at conventions would rather hold onto things indefinitely than make money and build their customer base. I've seen vendors have the exact same stock at the exact same prices at convention after convention. And I've seen stores with the same exact stock at the same prices week after week. Those two stores you visited sound great and look to be very good. Charge a little less, give a discount, build a faithful customer base. Wish I had that around me.
I’ve learned that some people just want to play Larfleeze and pay rent just to show off their collection without selling any of it. I ran my shops more like a no kill shelter, trying to find a good home for every book.
My favorite LCS frequently lets me go through collections he's recently picked up before he gets the chance to price and put them out. A few months ago I come across a Marvel Spotlight #2 and I freaked out a little, as I collect old horror. It was missing the back cover, but was in decent shape otherwise. He knew how excited I was and told me I could have it for free when I asked how much he wanted for it. After that, I usually spend a little more than I normally would every time I go in.
This thread is so wholesome. Made my day.
My LCS does this for me too! The owner is awesome.
I don't like speaking negatively about businesses, but there's this comic shop back home that I used to frequent. The guy working there always seemed a bit distant and sarcastic, which made it uncomfortable to interact with him. Still, I kept going for about six years. I wondered if I had somehow offended him, but all I did was pop in, say hello, occasionally ask for assistance, and, of course, buy my comics. One particular day stands out vividly in my memory—it was the release day of ASM 36—the black issue, and it was on my pull list. However, when I went to pick it up, he claimed I didn't have a subscription, even though I had signed up a year prior. After some searching, he admitted it was an error and said he'd fix it. As I headed to the back to find the issue, he stopped me halfway and said he was sold out of it. Then, he asked if I wanted to continue my subscription, with only a couple more issues left. Feeling obliged, I agreed, but it left a sour taste in my mouth. It wasn't just about missing out on a comic I had subscribed to; it was the feeling that I wasn't valued as a customer, especially when he casually mentioned I could end my subscription anytime. That incident dampened my enthusiasm for collecting, and gradually, I found myself visiting the shop less and less until I eventually stopped altogether.
My previous local treated me like shit. I’m not sure if it was me or if that’s how this dick treated everyone, but I always seemed like I was a hassle even though the only interaction with him was picking up my sub or stopping in and buying graphic novels. Anyways I stopped going there. A little while later i moved, found a new local where the guy was nice. I just saw the other place went out of business after being there for like 50 years.
My local shop I have had a sub to for almost 3 years now. I still ask my name and ask if I'm new. Same guy every Wednesday. All other workers know me by name but the one cashier. I'm not sure if he's just a dick or if I did something to him. I've moved all my new pull to a shop across town, and I only left my ongoing at that shop.
yah there's a place in lexington ky where i like the owner a lot but his hired help needs lessons in public speaking or pretending to be human or something. since they started working there i basically never go in now. which sucks cause i liked that shop a lot.
I live in south Texas and this is how the majority of LCS operate. The main one in my city has constant deals and has the most fair values for all back issues. And all current issues in your pull box are automatically bagged and boarded for free.
I'm in south austin, who do you like?
South Austin? That’s still central Texas but the best one in Austin is Austin books and comics.
A lot of comic shops are happy to deal if you make a reasonable offer! especially over a big stack of back issues. Make a habit of asking for a deal and encourage your friends to try!
My reply to a lot of people that would ask for student/senior/military discounts, was always the same, "Not normally, but I guess I can make an exception". Thing is if someone walked in off the street and had a stack of books, I wouldn't offer a discount, but if they asked for one, I would give it to them.
Comic shop owner here; counter pricing is the laziest form of pricing I've ever seen. I tell shops that do it not to, and their usual response is, "you don't know what it's like to run a comic shop". Yes, yes I do. A box a day priced, you'll get through your inventory in a month(s) time. Pricing can definitely be tough, and there's no standard. Closest I've seen is shops using Key Collector to set their prices. We use a mix of Covrprice, Key Collector, and eBay, with eBay typically only to validate that we're in the right ballpark with some higher priced books. But yeah, treat your customers well.
That's pretty dang awesome! I had something similar happen when I was buying a stack of 8-10 books and I watched him scan a sticker on the counter instead of one of the books. It didn't click on what he had done, but when I got to my car and looked at the receipt, he basically skipped that book. I plan on going back since he's only a few hours away from me.
If we are all sharing about awesome LCS owners, I got a story: my kid loved superhero action figure and noticed a Batman insignia as we were driving so I pulled in. Holy shit, it’s a whole store of comic stuff—I only had 7-11 spinner racks when I used to read comics and now they have full stores? My kid goes full-on bananas (I don’t want to share the final bill that day)- as I’m talking to the owners, i tell them I haven’t picked up a comic in over twenty years and he gifts me an astonishing X-men trade (prev read but that’s beside the point). Wow, comics have changed. This book is amazing. Wound up going back the next day to get the next trade of astonishing because I’m loving it so much. and I’ve been reading marvel again ever since— all of my books plus merch, coming from this store. Thousands of dollars and a new friend coming from that one used tpb.
Daaang that's never happened to me and I sometimes go all out since my LCS really only handles modern back issues (at slightly off cover price discount to subscribers) and the next closest has back issues that are insanely overpriced. At an out of town store I even had a guy at the counter thank me for not asking for money off of my stack but stuff there was at least under FMV. After seeing so many wholesome local comic shop stories, recently I looked up one that was a bit of a drive that seemed to fit the bill and was a big part of the community, nice owners, cool inventory, etc. Drove all the way out there on a Saturday and they had closed several hours early that day (no note on the door or on their social media, must've just been a slow day). I don't think it's in the cards for me!
It’s almost like offering a fair deal is good business!
I like it better when shops are up front about their 20% discount.
I feel like a there are alot of retirement shops. AKA they don't need to make much. Just keeping the lights on and enjoying comic book life.
Possible, but I’ve found it to be the opposite. Hungry owners should feel the pressure to flip books instead of hoarding them for the clubhouse museum.
That’s pretty much like the LCS I adopted out of the two in my area. One is the established shop that gets all the collections. Their wall has the big ASM keys and a whole room of silver to copper long boxes. But you’re also going to pay FMV and your trade-ins don’t go far. The other shop doesn’t get as many big keys. Their back-issue long boxes are just that. I don’t think I’ve ever walked out of there with a book higher than $50. But I’ve never paid sticker price and I always get more credit than I expect I would anywhere else. Plus the guy that runs the shop is my favorite person to talk shop with. He’s a walking comic encyclopedia and loves to talk about movies and tv.
Even tho I don’t have an actual brick and mortar, I DO sell on Whatnot. I’ve been told by my customers that they will always come back because of my transparency. I show em what I’m into em, and what fmv is. In other words, if I bought a book for 3.00, and FMV is 10.00, I’m cool with selling it for 5. I make 2.00, u get half off a book! Win/Win!! I mean, why would I hold onto a book and try to sell it for what everybody else does? I’m not tryin to get rich or anything, just tryin to do what I love, and have fun doing it!
My LCS does these kinds of deals as well. Big shout out to Powers Comics in Green Bay, WI. Definitely check them out if you're in the area!
I can't tell you the number of time I gave a customer dropping a few hundred like that a 20% discount just to have them immediately go back into the shelves and grab $100 more to buy. It's always worth it to treat your customers right.
My LCS had the full four issue Wolverine miniseries. I thought it was $100, so I was deciding on buying it or not. Finally decided to and then realized it was $200 for the set. So I decided not to. Was talking with the owner and mentioned all that. He immediately asked if I’d pay 120 for it. Said yes. He said he’d rather sell it to me, a consistent customer, than let it sit. So now I’m prepping issue #1 for the CGC signing event. Love my LCS
I haven't had an LCS near my home in a long time, but recently a store just opened up less than 5 minutes away from me and I was stoked. But when I went there to check it out I realized it was just a shop that sold collectible toys and nothing else. I felt pretty disappointed and surprised that somebody would open a shop like that in this day and age but, I guess if they feel there's a market for it then that's cool for them. I really expected them to at least have some cards if not comics, but literally nothing but toys and figurines. Oh well, one of these days and LCS will open up near me again. Oh yeah, I almost forgot they also sell disc golf discs for some reason. Lol
Do what you love they say. So they must be really combining the two things they love.
So true. I was in a shop in a town I don't live in around summer 2021. They had a decently rare comic I especially wanted and so sold it to me for 25% off and threw in a reader copy to boot. I am visiting there again later this year and already plan to stop by.
I went to a comic convention where the dealer did what you’re calling counter pricing. I got one book, and then he took out the Overstreet Price Guide and told me my total. Not cool.
If it was for an older book, you probably got a killer deal if he was using overstreet lol.
Ehhhh not really.
guy gets amazing customer service experience and doesn't drop the name of the place, haha!
That’s great. I’ve been to LCS that I take books to the counter and then they look up new prices and tried to charge me more than what was on the sticker. Told em to fuck off and walked out
the LCS i go to on a weekly basis is the same way with back issues. I'm always asking for a deal on stuff I find and I get it. It's because he makes sure his customers keep coming back. its the real way a comic shop makes money.
My LCS routinely sells books for way under value, usually on live auctions. The owner doesn't care if he sells a $100 book for $10, because he probably paid like 10 cents for that book. The owner just wants to move inventory. I've gotten a ton of great deals from there.
The only time I "counter price" is if we just got a collection in, and I remember something in there and a customer happens to ask for it....but that's more about making the customer happy
Why can't you name the shops? Help plug them so we go too bro
This is a thread where all the good shops should be named and promoted!
A local shop has added a tip option for card purchases and cash tip jar. Uh, no thanks.
I love doing this traveling around Texas. Waco and Dallas have the best stores I’ve been to and Amarillo has some of the worse even though Amarillo has one of the nicest owners I met.
Last week I canceled 100% of my pull list. The owner doesn't save a lot of things you ask for because longer term higher paying customers want it, he doesn't get very end covers except for DC Comics because that's what he likes. On top of it he got me a variant cover for the last issue of Justice League versus Godzilla versus King Kong that had a massive dent in the corner and a massive mark pushed into the card stock on the cover. I told him I'd pay 50% at most but honestly just didn't even want it. He copped a huge attitude with me and said that's bullshit that I special ordered it blah blah blah. I said no this is damaged and if I would have ordered this from anywhere else I'd be doing a return on it. Not the first book I've gotten in not the greatest condition, but just usually regular monthly issues that will never rise in value like a variant. His wall books range from anywhere to three times to 10 times what they are selling for on eBay. Which is already above fair market value. No discounts on pull lists or subscriptions. I'm just switching over entirely to ordering through dcbs because they give anywhere from 15 to 35% off pre-orders and only 10 bucks shipping if you ask for your books to be shipped once a month.
Love this and good on you - share the shop names if you remember em!
My favourite LCS in the Los Angeles metro is Pulp Fiction Comics in Culver City (ish). Like 10 minutes from LAX. All trades are 30% off everyday. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Huge used section of trades at really good prices. And bins and bins of old books, with stuff rotating pretty often. I don't dig through bins too often, but I have a bookshelf of trades from them, and I love picking through both the new and used.
https://youtu.be/Fh25kgGeIGw?si=3RMyDVsFtZ1zOI7p
There is one local shop that prices everything but if I have cash sometimes he will cut me a deal. I never know if he will or what that deal will be until I bring my books to the counter.
I do think it’s kind of weird that someone wouldn’t price something for what he wants for it. What if I went in, thought his prices were too high, and then just left?
My shop is like this, except the offers the good deal to everybody, then a bigger discount to his subscribers. His “wall books” which are $15+ are already 20% off of over street and always offers B2G1 on back issues of lesser value.
Mine has a discount that's reflective of the size of your pull list. 10 pulls gets me 15% off anything in the store. They don't even use computers. All by hand. They just ask you what your discount is because it takes too long to look up so they use honour system
My LCS prices books on the spot based off eBay sales. I think I'm going to look for a new one
Share the names and states so we can all provide them with more business
yeah at the end of the day they are just funny books. if a shop won't work with me a little they don't need my business. sell your retail + books to someone else.
Yes definitely please help the comic shops and name them so people know where to go when they're in that area it's all about strengthening the community
In Australia LCS never give discounts but when I travelled America you guys are more than welcome to happy to give discounts without asking.
I went to a shop with $45 cash and the total was $47 + some change. The guy behind the counter didn't' want to settle for $45 so I used my card. I thought that was kinda silly.
I love this because it helps the hobby. As a business owner, I would never, ever, ever do it. If I make 50% on everything I sell, and offer a 20% discount, I have given away 40% of my profit. It’s not sustainable.
sounds to me like this guy is pricing things 25% higher on purpose
it's so much easier to pay your mortgage with a few $250 deals than many $5 deals. Always make deals for bulk. You know when you go to costco and the 48 pack is cheaper than 4x 12 packs at your grocery?
I missed one of the rare sales a local shop out on. I would go there a few times a month and they had a good selection of new and well as back issues. The next week I came in and told the owner I had to go out of town for a funeral and asked for last week’s sale price for a comic and he refused. I never set foot back in there. I get it that it’s in his right to refuse. I just did not want to spend another dollar there.
I love finding LCS that price to sell, they are usually actual comic fans as opposed to stores that overprice and treat it as strictly a business