Some Comic Shop Etiquette

Alright ComicBookMovie Readers, it is time for another slightly warped editorial from my mind and this time I take aim at the relationship between the consumer and their comic shop. I realize that a lot of people do online downloading or even continue the direct delivery of their books to their home. These pointers are not directed to you however, I think variations can be applied to other areas of shopping as well.

Firstly, it is the new informational age, take advantage of it. From my experiences bumming around a few comic shops in the New York Area, I have run into this scene a few times:

"Longtime reader or collector comes into the store looking for a issue that is either hyped or has some significance. When told by employees that the book is sold out or that it is reserved for regular store members that have it on their lists, shopper blows their stack in anger."

The solution to this situation is pretty simple to apply if you can spare 30 minutes and have computer access. There are comic sites all over the net that give looks into what books are coming out 1-3 months ahead of time. Make yourself a personal list of what you might be interested in along with the expected date of release. Make a duplicate of this list and give it to your comic shop. If this is done ahead of time, your LCS (local comic shop) has time to adjust their order to accomodate you. After all, comic shops want your business badly in this climate and would not you to go home without the book you want. They want you happy so you can return to shop there again.

Secondly, and this is one crime that I find myself guilty of is:

"New comic day and you are shopping in your comic shop. A customer asks for your opinion on a particular book. You launch into a passionate diatribe as to why you have stopped collecting said book for whatever reason. Said diatribe causes other people in the shop to act weird around you or put book back on rack."

Now, I have often said that I love comic shops because they are one of the few places where as long as you do it with respect. However, just because you do not like the current direction of a particular book does not give you the right to "speak" for everyone. Just like everything else in the world, the book would not be out there if the market did not have at least a niche audience for it. I know that I have to constantly remind myself of this when I suffer "runaway mouth disease" about certain books. Business is business after all and it isn't the "Red Scare" or the "Spanish Inquisition". We can't kill those who love Greg Land or Chuck Austen...yet..

Finally, keep in mind that a comic book shop is a place of business first and foremost. No matter how comfortable you feel in its confines, the owners/employees need to keep the atmosphere and things looking as good as possible. So try not to:

Bring food or drink into the store. (These are comics after all where natural oils in your fingers can break down ink, much less water and crumbs.)

Bend books forward while searching for ones you want. (Common sense and comic book etiquette people. Think about it, would you buy a bent / creased comic at normal prices?)

***Following this idea, if you have little kids you are bringing to the shop, make sure they know this too or better yet, head straight to the young kids section first and get them a book to keep their attention. This avoids them going all "hurricane / natural disaster" on the stock.***

On rainy days, keep your umbrellas away from the books. (You'd be surprised how many times my local comic book shop has to remind folks of this one.)

***My personal practice is to carry a folded up plastic bag in my jacket pocket on these days. This way upon entering the shop, I can cover up the umbrella and limit the dripping.***

Those are a few of my pet peeves, bad habits, and solutions. I know that you folks have seen a lot more crazy things at your stores. If you care to share below feel free. I'll be getting ready for AfroNerd Radio Presents The Comic Shoppe tonight at 7pm EST. So until next time ComicBookMovie Readers, Keep Fantasizing!