Unprofessional Sales Practice at a Comic Con

[The Kaptain]

I just had a bad experience with a specific dealer at a comic book con recently. Today actually.

 

It wasn't a huge deal, but I just found it very annoying.

 

The guy had a few copies of the The Dark Knight Returns, issues 3 and 4, in a long box. One of the copies had a sticker on it that said $3, which is a great deal. The other copies, two of them identical to the $3 book, had no price on them.

 

I showed him the copy with the $3 sticker and asked if the others were priced the same.

 

He then proceeded to say that he meant to re-price the $3 book and he wanted to look at MY Overstreet Price Guide to price the others. I of course refused to let him use my price guide to price his own books. He then threw the one marked $3 at me and said, in a clearly annoyed tone of voice, that I could take that one for $3, but not the others.

 

At that point I just told him to keep them and I calmly walked away.

 

Does anyone else find this dealer's sales practices unprofessional and ridiculous?

 

Also, has anyone had any similar experiences at a Con?

[MagnusX]

 

[font:Book Antiqua]Potential this thread had...[/font]

 

[JazzMan]

It hasn't happened to me but this is not good business practice - you're supposed to want to have repeat business. You see all kinds out there.

[Jimmy Linguini]

I would have let him use my Overstreet guide only to demand a discount for allowing him to use your Overstreet when he gives it back.

[mrwoogieman]

All kinds is right. No one needs a license or any experience to set up as a dealer at a show; just contact the sponsor and plunk down your bread for the space and suddenly you're a "dealer". With that kind of low barrier to entry, you never know what kind of "customer service" you're going to get.

 

Stick with the name dealers for a better, more professional experience. Even then, poor customer service abounds in this hobby.

 

 

[Columbia Comics]

That's sad to hear. I would have done the same thing...there's just no excuse for what happened.

 

Come buy from us...we'll never treat you that way and guarantee you'll be happy!

[youfoundjake]

out em..

[Twistty1]

I'm unclear as to why you refused to let him use your overstreet?

[mangbus]

I'm unclear as to why you refused to let him use your overstreet?

 

If that dealer was going to use Overstreet as a method of pricing, he should probably own one himself.

 

 

[Twistty1]

I guess but why not just help him out and say sure you can use it quickly, but it would be nice if you could give me a bit of a deal on the books afterwards. I dont think it should've been an issue. Just my

[vacantpassenger]

He was most likely going to use Kap's own OS to reprice it and try to upsell him.

 

Kap: "I'd like to buy this book."

Seller: "Oh, that's a mistake. Can I see your OS?"

Kap: "Sure."

Seller: "Ah, see should be $15. You can have it for $10 since you pointed it out."

 

Fnck that noise.

[vacantpassenger]

Of course this is just an assumption.

 

Me personally, I would have let him use it, but would have expected the get the $3 priced issue at that amount, not necessarily the others that were unpriced.

[Wilson3d]

I was annoyed by Mile High Comics booth at San Diego. One was because they had signs that said "50% off Today Only" which actually worked on me thinking - better go through them today. Then of course the signs were up the entire convention. I thought it was really cool that they had grade stickers on them too...just wished I would of actually looked at the books to see if it they were even close to what the sticker said. Then to top it off they must of been priced when the market was stronger. Stupid me for not having my price guide with me because even with the 50% off I was still paying premium.

 

To sum up though, this is just my experience and I don't mean any disrespect to them. If I would of payed more attention to the actual condition and not the sticker and also checked the prices before buying I would of been playing it safe and only picked up a few books. As it was I was pumped to hit the con floor with all my cash screaming to be spent. Dropped about 200 bucks and will not buy from them again in any form.

[Twistty1]

I agree and the dealer said he could have it for 3 just not the others. Your scenario sounds fair to me. He's there to make some money too and it seems like a good deal on that one book.

[Columbia Comics]

If you're a dealer, you have to have your own OSPG and not rely on anyone else.

 

Asking a customer to "borrow" their guide b/c you're about to sell a book way too cheap, in hopes of repricing higher, is lame and amateur. He should have said yeah, take'em for $10 total and I guarantee you he would have had a happy (and repeat) customer!

[MedicAR]

The good Kaptain did the right thing.

[thehumantorch]

I guess but why not just help him out and say sure you can use it quickly, but it would be nice if you could give me a bit of a deal on the books afterwards. I dont think it should've been an issue. Just my

 

 

I don't think the dealer acted well and yes, he should have his own Overstreet but telling him he can't use yours escalates the situation and is a clear and unnecessary middle finger.

[MedicAR]

I guess but why not just help him out and say sure you can use it quickly, but it would be nice if you could give me a bit of a deal on the books afterwards. I dont think it should've been an issue. Just my

 

 

I don't think the dealer acted well and yes, he should have his own Overstreet but telling him he can't use yours escalates the situation and is a clear and unnecessary middle finger.

 

But isn't it just a return of the initial middle finger offered by the dealer? If they know their stock is incorrectly priced, why put it out to begin with? And if they know it's priced incorrectly and intend to mark it up, why not have their own OPG handy? It's just sloppy and poor salesmanship.

[Twistty1]

I guess but why not just help him out and say sure you can use it quickly, but it would be nice if you could give me a bit of a deal on the books afterwards. I dont think it should've been an issue. Just my

 

 

I don't think the dealer acted well and yes, he should have his own Overstreet but telling him he can't use yours escalates the situation and is a clear and unnecessary middle finger.

 

+1 hi Dave

[The Troll King]

I could probably guess who the dealer is in less than 3 tries. Unfortunately there are several dealers like this even though many people like them (including myself in some cases).