I went to a comic store

[revat]

 

 

Here's what you can get for $5,800 a month (650 square feet) in an up and coming area of Brooklyn with hipsters who might buy comics (but not on a main street):

 

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/19612362/109-North-5th-Street-Brooklyn-NY/

 

Looks like I won't be opening a shop in brooklyn!!

 

There are so many things wrong with this listing it isn't even remotely amusing.

 

1 - Whole Foods still has not opened. They are supposedly sharing a building with Levi Jeans as well.

2 - Apple has still not finalized on a building plan and they have been saying Apple would be on Bedford and North 4th across from the Duane Reed for over two years now.

3 - This area still specializes in boutique shops and overpriced junk that people like to browse through. Go take a look at the nonsense that is sold in trays and the clothes hung up by the Taco Truck on North 7th and Bedford by the Dunkin and the Starbucks. The 'non-hipsters' call it the rejected eBay stuff.

4 - Selling comics in this area would be VERY tough. The kids are not buying comics at $4 a pop here in the city. I rarely see kids at Forbidden Planet and places around NYC. However, here, you would have the hipsters. The hipsters like to sit around in coffee shops all day and hang out. Unless you are having them pay at the door your comic book store on N5th and Berry would be a soon to be out of business library.

 

Now this is not directed at Blob, but something toward everyone. It is not enough to create a great store in a great location. Would the local population support your business? If yes then you roll, if not then it's a no go.

 

I personally see a lot of turnover in this area and places around here do not last long unless they have some ownership in the building.

 

Can I get a four month lease with a pop-up store and just sell anti-Trump hipster gear there? hoodies, man purses, flannel, tanktops, fake tattoos, mason jars, shoe laces, water bottles, bicycle seats/helmets, beard trimmers, etc?

 

*Note that this is not a political post, I just think that specific market would be RIPE for that type of merchandise.

 

 

Yesterday I saw one of them walking down Bedford wearing a red colored trucker style, "Make America Great Again" hat that was turned to the side. They are an odd bunch.

 

 

Dammit you're right, I forgot about the 'irony' factor. I'll incorporate that into my business model. But to catch the wider market, they should be able to be used/worn ironically OR un-ironically depending on who you're with.

[Chaseman210]

 

Splitting wouldn't be bad. With other shops in competition, you'd definitely have to set your shop apart.

 

I can only imagine the rent in my area. I guarantee it's even cheaper than Myrtle Beach. I'd bet less than $900. There's only one shop here, and it's pretty rough. No back issues, can't buy multiple copies of an issue unless you pay $10 for the second copy, there's old toys and newspapers piled up all over the place. The guy isn't friendly.

 

It's a very small town, so I either think 1) I would run him out of business, 2) I wouldn't stay in business because he might have loyal customers, or 3) I'd need to market to newcomers in order to stay open and make it work.

Say what? Holy that guy is an with gold tassels and an honorary badge!

 

It's crazy. I remember the first time I went to buy two copies of Superior Spider-Man #1 when it was released. My brother was maybe 8 at the time, so I was buying my usual copy plus one for him. I went to pay, and he said if I bought both, the second copy would be $10.

 

On top of that, you have to PAY to have a subscription and then you only get a 5% discount after the yearly fee.

[MetalPSI]

I think the "work hard" principle is what is lost on a lot of people. Sure, easy things come easy, but to get what you want, you work hard. Or you belittle those you envy.

[Chaseman210]

If there was only one store in your area (within an hour radius) and you KNEW you could run a better shop, would anybody feel bad or think it's wrong to run a store out of business that had been there for years?

[revat]

If there was only one store in your area (within an hour radius) and you KNEW you could run a better shop, would anybody feel bad or think it's wrong to run a store out of business that had been there for years?

 

I wouldn't feel bad either way, free market. Don't need to run negative ads against the other guy or anything. Run the best shop you can and let the market decide, nothing wrong with that (I don't mind hearing some arguments if its a chain company moving in though). Maybe it'll inspire the other guy to make a better shop and customers get two good successful shops in the area instead of one sucky shop. That could be a win for everyone.

[Chaseman210]

If there was only one store in your area (within an hour radius) and you KNEW you could run a better shop, would anybody feel bad or think it's wrong to run a store out of business that had been there for years?

 

I wouldn't feel bad either way, free market. Don't need to run negative ads against the other guy or anything. Run the best shop you can and let the market decide, nothing wrong with that (I don't mind hearing some arguments if its a chain company moving in though). Maybe it'll inspire the other guy to make a better shop and customers get two good successful shops in the area instead of one sucky shop. That could be a win for everyone.

 

I could see if a chain shop opened like you mentioned, but I was thinking more along the lines of another local owned shop. I could give a list of how this shop is, and anybody on here could think of a million things to do in a better way. In fact, I will in a follow-up post if anybody is interested.

 

And I know rent here would be really cheap, especially if split with a co-owner or something. I just didn't know if people would think it's wrong or not.

[techtre2003]

If there was only one store in your area (within an hour radius) and you KNEW you could run a better shop, would anybody feel bad or think it's wrong to run a store out of business that had been there for years?

 

I wouldn't feel bad either way, free market. Don't need to run negative ads against the other guy or anything. Run the best shop you can and let the market decide, nothing wrong with that (I don't mind hearing some arguments if its a chain company moving in though). Maybe it'll inspire the other guy to make a better shop and customers get two good successful shops in the area instead of one sucky shop. That could be a win for everyone.

 

I could see if a chain shop opened like you mentioned, but I was thinking more along the lines of another local owned shop. I could give a list of how this shop is, and anybody on here could think of a million things to do in a better way. In fact, I will in a follow-up post if anybody is interested.

 

And I know rent here would be really cheap, especially if split with a co-owner or something. I just didn't know if people would think it's wrong or not.

 

Absolutely not, I think Revat nailed it.

[OldGuy]

If there was only one store in your area (within an hour radius) and you KNEW you could run a better shop, would anybody feel bad or think it's wrong to run a store out of business that had been there for years?

 

I wouldn't feel bad either way, free market. Don't need to run negative ads against the other guy or anything. Run the best shop you can and let the market decide, nothing wrong with that (I don't mind hearing some arguments if its a chain company moving in though). Maybe it'll inspire the other guy to make a better shop and customers get two good successful shops in the area instead of one sucky shop. That could be a win for everyone.

 

I could see if a chain shop opened like you mentioned, but I was thinking more along the lines of another local owned shop. I could give a list of how this shop is, and anybody on here could think of a million things to do in a better way. In fact, I will in a follow-up post if anybody is interested.

 

And I know rent here would be really cheap, especially if split with a co-owner or something. I just didn't know if people would think it's wrong or not.

 

Not a thing wrong with that.

 

There is one LCS where I live. I get 10% off the comics I buy there. Under the previous owner that 10% off was for any comic, TPB or hard cover in the store. The new owner changed it to just comics, not TPBs or HCs. I let him know that as much as I like supporting a local business that I wanted to continue to get my TPBs and HCs at a 10% discount. He said no. I told him he could sell them to me at 10% off or he could lose 100% of the sale. He said fine. So now I order my TPBs and HCs on-line at 25% off.

 

If there were another local option I'd be there on opening day to see if they were willing to treat me better.

[mrmyst]

 

 

Here's what you can get for $5,800 a month (650 square feet) in an up and coming area of Brooklyn with hipsters who might buy comics (but not on a main street):

 

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/19612362/109-North-5th-Street-Brooklyn-NY/

 

Looks like I won't be opening a shop in brooklyn!!

 

There are so many things wrong with this listing it isn't even remotely amusing.

 

1 - Whole Foods still has not opened. They are supposedly sharing a building with Levi Jeans as well.

2 - Apple has still not finalized on a building plan and they have been saying Apple would be on Bedford and North 4th across from the Duane Reed for over two years now.

3 - This area still specializes in boutique shops and overpriced junk that people like to browse through. Go take a look at the nonsense that is sold in trays and the clothes hung up by the Taco Truck on North 7th and Bedford by the Dunkin and the Starbucks. The 'non-hipsters' call it the rejected eBay stuff.

4 - Selling comics in this area would be VERY tough. The kids are not buying comics at $4 a pop here in the city. I rarely see kids at Forbidden Planet and places around NYC. However, here, you would have the hipsters. The hipsters like to sit around in coffee shops all day and hang out. Unless you are having them pay at the door your comic book store on N5th and Berry would be a soon to be out of business library.

 

Now this is not directed at Blob, but something toward everyone. It is not enough to create a great store in a great location. Would the local population support your business? If yes then you roll, if not then it's a no go.

 

I personally see a lot of turnover in this area and places around here do not last long unless they have some ownership in the building.

 

Can I get a four month lease with a pop-up store and just sell anti-Trump hipster gear there? hoodies, man purses, flannel, tanktops, fake tattoos, mason jars, shoe laces, water bottles, bicycle seats/helmets, beard trimmers, etc?

 

*Note that this is not a political post, I just think that specific market would be RIPE for that type of merchandise.

 

 

Yesterday I saw one of them walking down Bedford wearing a red colored trucker style, "Make America Great Again" hat that was turned to the side. They are an odd bunch.

 

 

Dammit you're right, I forgot about the 'irony' factor. I'll incorporate that into my business model. But to catch the wider market, they should be able to be used/worn ironically OR un-ironically depending on who you're with.

 

[Real Elijah Snow]

Yeah, among other things. I've been on the road so much the past few months. Been home maybe 7 days this month alone. I will be coming by sometime soon though. I expect a cake, and you have to have on a party hat.

There's a shop here in GA owned by a guy that still lives with his parents. His wife has a decent job. He sits on his fatazz all day and barely moves. He orders tons of new books, and most of them go into longboxes that go into the back because he doesn't even order properly. He's been in business for years. I consider Jabba to be lucky. I'm sure there are 1000 guys who have worked really hard to open/keep open a shop to this one slug, but there are always exceptions. I was contacted recently by a multi millionaire that's putting together a shop for his loser brother who's never done anything with his life. That guy isn't working hard. His brother did. He was just lucky enough to have his hard working and rich brother feel sorry for him, and buy him a business. I know plenty of guys who have worked their arse off to eek out a living doing what they love, but there are examples of lucky slugs too.

As someone loaded with OCD, this store drives me especially crazy. It's just another example of someone with a store who doesn't deserve one.

 

Please don't take this the wrong way, but why do you always come off as so bitter like this?

...because I want a shop. I want a shop like Chris' (Junkdrawer). There's nothing like it for miles down here and the "regular" comic shops here all suck save for one. I know for a fact I can do a better job than most of the yahoos out there. I lack the funds, end of story. The fact that places like the one in this thread (and the ones around here) exist just rubs me the wrong way. It's all luck, and I grow tired of seeing it whenever it pops up.

 

Most of the shops around here I wonder HOW they stay open. Hell, even the guys at the flea markets I wonder how...even assuming they have other jobs. I just don't get it all, and that makes me depressed.

 

My god, are you ever gonna learn? It isn't luck. Not a shred. It starts with a dream and then hard, hard work to open a shop.

 

If you really want to open a comic store find a job, perhaps two jobs, and work your socks off. Live as cheaply as possible and save every penny you can. Buy collections and sell at flea markets or local pop culture/comic shows or online. Build an inventory. Dream big and work you butt off to get there.

 

Quit whining and feeling sorry for yourself and quit running down people who have opened stores and accomplished what you seemingly can't.

 

 

 

Good, honest advice. There's no such thing as luck. Luck is just where preparation and hard work meets opportunity

you still haven't even stopped by my shop...too busy hanging out with garth ennis?

[Chaseman210]

If there was only one store in your area (within an hour radius) and you KNEW you could run a better shop, would anybody feel bad or think it's wrong to run a store out of business that had been there for years?

 

I wouldn't feel bad either way, free market. Don't need to run negative ads against the other guy or anything. Run the best shop you can and let the market decide, nothing wrong with that (I don't mind hearing some arguments if its a chain company moving in though). Maybe it'll inspire the other guy to make a better shop and customers get two good successful shops in the area instead of one sucky shop. That could be a win for everyone.

 

I could see if a chain shop opened like you mentioned, but I was thinking more along the lines of another local owned shop. I could give a list of how this shop is, and anybody on here could think of a million things to do in a better way. In fact, I will in a follow-up post if anybody is interested.

 

And I know rent here would be really cheap, especially if split with a co-owner or something. I just didn't know if people would think it's wrong or not.

 

Not a thing wrong with that.

 

There is one LCS where I live. I get 10% off the comics I buy there. Under the previous owner that 10% off was for any comic, TPB or hard cover in the store. The new owner changed it to just comics, not TPBs or HCs. I let him know that as much as I like supporting a local business that I wanted to continue to get my TPBs and HCs at a 10% discount. He said no. I told him he could sell them to me at 10% off or he could lose 100% of the sale. He said fine. So now I order my TPBs and HCs on-line at 25% off.

 

If there were another local option I'd be there on opening day to see if they were willing to treat me better.

 

I've never thought about having a discount on TPBs and HCs. I wonder how many shops do that? What margin of profit would an owner have after the initial cost of ordering?

[Real Elijah Snow]

Nope. He's not hurting anyone. My only point was that he's been fortunate to have people taking care of him. He's not a hard worker, or successful business owner. Not everyone works hard to get what they have. He's an example of that.

There's a shop here in GA owned by a guy that still lives with his parents. His wife has a decent job. He sits on his fatazz all day and barely moves. He orders tons of new books, and most of them go into longboxes that go into the back because he doesn't even order properly. He's been in business for years. I consider Jabba to be lucky. I'm sure there are 1000 guys who have worked really hard to open/keep open a shop to this one slug, but there are always exceptions. I was contacted recently by a multi millionaire that's putting together a shop for his loser brother who's never done anything with his life. That guy isn't working hard. His brother did. He was just lucky enough to have his hard working and rich brother feel sorry for him, and buy him a business. I know plenty of guys who have worked their arse off to eek out a living doing what they love, but there are examples of lucky slugs too.

As someone loaded with OCD, this store drives me especially crazy. It's just another example of someone with a store who doesn't deserve one.

 

Please don't take this the wrong way, but why do you always come off as so bitter like this?

...because I want a shop. I want a shop like Chris' (Junkdrawer). There's nothing like it for miles down here and the "regular" comic shops here all suck save for one. I know for a fact I can do a better job than most of the yahoos out there. I lack the funds, end of story. The fact that places like the one in this thread (and the ones around here) exist just rubs me the wrong way. It's all luck, and I grow tired of seeing it whenever it pops up.

 

Most of the shops around here I wonder HOW they stay open. Hell, even the guys at the flea markets I wonder how...even assuming they have other jobs. I just don't get it all, and that makes me depressed.

 

My god, are you ever gonna learn? It isn't luck. Not a shred. It starts with a dream and then hard, hard work to open a shop.

 

If you really want to open a comic store find a job, perhaps two jobs, and work your socks off. Live as cheaply as possible and save every penny you can. Buy collections and sell at flea markets or local pop culture/comic shows or online. Build an inventory. Dream big and work you butt off to get there.

 

Quit whining and feeling sorry for yourself and quit running down people who have opened stores and accomplished what you seemingly can't.

 

 

 

Good, honest advice. There's no such thing as luck. Luck is just where preparation and hard work meets opportunity

 

this guy might be 'lucky', but at some point SOMEONE had to work hard to get the money for the shop, and he had to put in the effort into finding, marrying, and staying married to the 'right' person, which can be A LOT of effort (and isn't as easy as Kate Hudson movies would have us believe).

 

So if his parents worked hard so the son can live his dream of owning a comic shop, I don't have a problem with that. I doubt he's forcibly turning out his wife on the corner so he can break even having a crappy comic shop. He's not harming anyone by having a poorly run shop. His lazy business practices don't produce unsafe safety railings or poisonous baby formula, they just result in him selling less comics than he otherwise might.

 

When you see someone doing something procedurally or common sensibly wrong, learn from it whatever you can and move on, especially if doesn't actually affect you or you can't impact the result or it doesn't hurt anyone. Take what you've learned apply it to whatever's coming next. That's how you keep moving forward. Life's already tough enough with all the wrong things that actually affect your life.

 

.

[youmechooz]

Nope. He's not hurting anyone. My only point was that he's been fortunate to have people taking care of him. He's not a hard worker, or successful business owner. Not everyone works hard to get what they have. He's an example of that.

There's a shop here in GA owned by a guy that still lives with his parents. His wife has a decent job. He sits on his fatazz all day and barely moves. He orders tons of new books, and most of them go into longboxes that go into the back because he doesn't even order properly. He's been in business for years. I consider Jabba to be lucky. I'm sure there are 1000 guys who have worked really hard to open/keep open a shop to this one slug, but there are always exceptions. I was contacted recently by a multi millionaire that's putting together a shop for his loser brother who's never done anything with his life. That guy isn't working hard. His brother did. He was just lucky enough to have his hard working and rich brother feel sorry for him, and buy him a business. I know plenty of guys who have worked their arse off to eek out a living doing what they love, but there are examples of lucky slugs too.

As someone loaded with OCD, this store drives me especially crazy. It's just another example of someone with a store who doesn't deserve one.

 

Please don't take this the wrong way, but why do you always come off as so bitter like this?

...because I want a shop. I want a shop like Chris' (Junkdrawer). There's nothing like it for miles down here and the "regular" comic shops here all suck save for one. I know for a fact I can do a better job than most of the yahoos out there. I lack the funds, end of story. The fact that places like the one in this thread (and the ones around here) exist just rubs me the wrong way. It's all luck, and I grow tired of seeing it whenever it pops up.

 

Most of the shops around here I wonder HOW they stay open. Hell, even the guys at the flea markets I wonder how...even assuming they have other jobs. I just don't get it all, and that makes me depressed.

 

My god, are you ever gonna learn? It isn't luck. Not a shred. It starts with a dream and then hard, hard work to open a shop.

 

If you really want to open a comic store find a job, perhaps two jobs, and work your socks off. Live as cheaply as possible and save every penny you can. Buy collections and sell at flea markets or local pop culture/comic shows or online. Build an inventory. Dream big and work you butt off to get there.

 

Quit whining and feeling sorry for yourself and quit running down people who have opened stores and accomplished what you seemingly can't.

 

 

 

Good, honest advice. There's no such thing as luck. Luck is just where preparation and hard work meets opportunity

 

this guy might be 'lucky', but at some point SOMEONE had to work hard to get the money for the shop, and he had to put in the effort into finding, marrying, and staying married to the 'right' person, which can be A LOT of effort (and isn't as easy as Kate Hudson movies would have us believe).

 

So if his parents worked hard so the son can live his dream of owning a comic shop, I don't have a problem with that. I doubt he's forcibly turning out his wife on the corner so he can break even having a crappy comic shop. He's not harming anyone by having a poorly run shop. His lazy business practices don't produce unsafe safety railings or poisonous baby formula, they just result in him selling less comics than he otherwise might.

 

When you see someone doing something procedurally or common sensibly wrong, learn from it whatever you can and move on, especially if doesn't actually affect you or you can't impact the result or it doesn't hurt anyone. Take what you've learned apply it to whatever's coming next. That's how you keep moving forward. Life's already tough enough with all the wrong things that actually affect your life.

 

.

bunjee's?

[Dormian]

Yeah, among other things. I've been on the road so much the past few months. Been home maybe 7 days this month alone. I will be coming by sometime soon though. I expect a cake, and you have to have on a party hat.

There's a shop here in GA owned by a guy that still lives with his parents. His wife has a decent job. He sits on his fatazz all day and barely moves. He orders tons of new books, and most of them go into longboxes that go into the back because he doesn't even order properly. He's been in business for years. I consider Jabba to be lucky. I'm sure there are 1000 guys who have worked really hard to open/keep open a shop to this one slug, but there are always exceptions. I was contacted recently by a multi millionaire that's putting together a shop for his loser brother who's never done anything with his life. That guy isn't working hard. His brother did. He was just lucky enough to have his hard working and rich brother feel sorry for him, and buy him a business. I know plenty of guys who have worked their arse off to eek out a living doing what they love, but there are examples of lucky slugs too.

As someone loaded with OCD, this store drives me especially crazy. It's just another example of someone with a store who doesn't deserve one.

 

Please don't take this the wrong way, but why do you always come off as so bitter like this?

...because I want a shop. I want a shop like Chris' (Junkdrawer). There's nothing like it for miles down here and the "regular" comic shops here all suck save for one. I know for a fact I can do a better job than most of the yahoos out there. I lack the funds, end of story. The fact that places like the one in this thread (and the ones around here) exist just rubs me the wrong way. It's all luck, and I grow tired of seeing it whenever it pops up.

 

Most of the shops around here I wonder HOW they stay open. Hell, even the guys at the flea markets I wonder how...even assuming they have other jobs. I just don't get it all, and that makes me depressed.

 

My god, are you ever gonna learn? It isn't luck. Not a shred. It starts with a dream and then hard, hard work to open a shop.

 

If you really want to open a comic store find a job, perhaps two jobs, and work your socks off. Live as cheaply as possible and save every penny you can. Buy collections and sell at flea markets or local pop culture/comic shows or online. Build an inventory. Dream big and work you butt off to get there.

 

Quit whining and feeling sorry for yourself and quit running down people who have opened stores and accomplished what you seemingly can't.

 

 

 

Good, honest advice. There's no such thing as luck. Luck is just where preparation and hard work meets opportunity

you still haven't even stopped by my shop...too busy hanging out with garth ennis?

 

I started a store in the 90’s at a kiosk in the mall. The mall allowed you to rent a kiosk in weekly installments. I started the business with 500 dollars and decided if I made it past the first week I would keep going. After a year at the mall I moved to a store front outside of the mall. After five years and another location move I decided to close the store. All of my friends were becoming accounts, engineers and such so I sold the store and went back to school.

 

It wasn’t always easy. When I started I had a full time job during the day and would go to the mall and run the store until 9 when the mall closed.

 

Overall it was a great experience and I enjoyed the hell out of it.

 

[Real Elijah Snow]

I name no names.

 

[Real Elijah Snow]

The store name rhymes with "Fungees".

[Chaseman210]

About the LCS near me:

 

I will say first off, they bag and board EVERY new book so one can expect to find higher grade books here. Also, he didn't have orders for Nowhere Men, but he did order a copy for me with each release. So those are the positives.

 

It's been there a really long time. I remember it being open possibly years before I graduated high school, which was 2009. I didn't read comics then and only started once I was in college. I knew people who had been going to him for a long time, so I thought I would start going since my only other option was ordering online, which I wasn't accustomed to when just starting out reading monthlies.

 

The shop is pretty small, but like I said in a previous post, as soon as you walk in, there are stacks and stacks of toys, old newspapers, etc. The place is crowded. Right when you open the door, he is sitting in a chair usually with his laptop or in front of the TV. I'm not sure if he had surgery or something, but he has to use crutches to get around (he's an older man, probably 65 or older). Because the place is so crowded, you always have to wait until he gets up and slides his chair in order to squeeze by to get to the comics. It's always a little awkward.

 

As I mentioned above, he bags and boards every new shipment of books, so instead of new releases on Wednesday, he's actually closed that day in order to bag everything. You can only get the new books on Thursday.

 

He's sometimes very standoffish, while talkative on other days. The shop is sort of closed off to children and not very welcoming. I don't even think they have FCBD :shrug: .

 

Back to my point about the place being crowded - there are NO back issues in the store. He apparently has a warehouse somewhere or something for older books. There are usually the last two or three issues of current titles on the shelves, but older than that and you have to wait until he can check his inventory. So I have NO idea what all the stacks of boxes and toys are doing in the store to take up room for back issues.

 

With the monthly subscription, first off, you have to be "invited" to sign up, which I never was. It's a $5 fee every year to save 5% on your pull list. I probably wouldn't have signed up anyway.

 

One situation occurred where I tried to buy the two copies of Superior Spider-Man and was told I had to pay $10 for a second copy. This makes no sense to me when I could get it less than cover online. I thought I was doing a good thing by supporting the business.

 

Another instance was with Batman, Inc. #8. The only DC title I ever purchased regularly was Nightwing, but when everybody was talking about the death of Robin, I wanted to read the issue. There were probably four copies or so still on the shelf. And if I remember correctly, the books were selling for maybe $8-10 so I wasn't trying to flip for a $4 profit. I walked up to the counter to pay (and this reminds me that he doesn't accept credit cards, and I never carry cash so this was a hassle) and handed him my books.

 

He then asked if I usually purchase Batman, Inc. and why I was buying it now. I kind of laughed it off and told him I wanted to see what everybody was talking about, etc. He responded saying, "This is why my orders get messed up sometimes. People buying books they usually don't read." It really made me angry, but I got my books and left. I haven't been back since. Over the past couple of years, the people who got me started going to his shop have also left because of his attitude, and they spent a lot more than I used to.

 

What's funny is that aggr1103 had read a previous post of mine and sent me a PM. He used to live in the same town I do and wanted to know if it was still the same old guy running the shop. He had had similar experiences.

 

All that to say is if I ever had the chance to open a small store or something, unless he had extremely loyal customers, he would probably end up closing down.

[OldGuy]

If there was only one store in your area (within an hour radius) and you KNEW you could run a better shop, would anybody feel bad or think it's wrong to run a store out of business that had been there for years?

 

I wouldn't feel bad either way, free market. Don't need to run negative ads against the other guy or anything. Run the best shop you can and let the market decide, nothing wrong with that (I don't mind hearing some arguments if its a chain company moving in though). Maybe it'll inspire the other guy to make a better shop and customers get two good successful shops in the area instead of one sucky shop. That could be a win for everyone.

 

I could see if a chain shop opened like you mentioned, but I was thinking more along the lines of another local owned shop. I could give a list of how this shop is, and anybody on here could think of a million things to do in a better way. In fact, I will in a follow-up post if anybody is interested.

 

And I know rent here would be really cheap, especially if split with a co-owner or something. I just didn't know if people would think it's wrong or not.

 

Not a thing wrong with that.

 

There is one LCS where I live. I get 10% off the comics I buy there. Under the previous owner that 10% off was for any comic, TPB or hard cover in the store. The new owner changed it to just comics, not TPBs or HCs. I let him know that as much as I like supporting a local business that I wanted to continue to get my TPBs and HCs at a 10% discount. He said no. I told him he could sell them to me at 10% off or he could lose 100% of the sale. He said fine. So now I order my TPBs and HCs on-line at 25% off.

 

If there were another local option I'd be there on opening day to see if they were willing to treat me better.

 

I've never thought about having a discount on TPBs and HCs. I wonder how many shops do that? What margin of profit would an owner have after the initial cost of ordering?

 

I'm not sure. Maybe it depends on how much they order, like with single issues.

 

What I do know however is that you don't have to look very hard to find new TPBs and HCs on-line for 10-25% off cover.

[F For Fake]

If there was only one store in your area (within an hour radius) and you KNEW you could run a better shop, would anybody feel bad or think it's wrong to run a store out of business that had been there for years?

 

I wouldn't feel bad either way, free market. Don't need to run negative ads against the other guy or anything. Run the best shop you can and let the market decide, nothing wrong with that (I don't mind hearing some arguments if its a chain company moving in though). Maybe it'll inspire the other guy to make a better shop and customers get two good successful shops in the area instead of one sucky shop. That could be a win for everyone.

 

I could see if a chain shop opened like you mentioned, but I was thinking more along the lines of another local owned shop. I could give a list of how this shop is, and anybody on here could think of a million things to do in a better way. In fact, I will in a follow-up post if anybody is interested.

 

And I know rent here would be really cheap, especially if split with a co-owner or something. I just didn't know if people would think it's wrong or not.

 

Not a thing wrong with that.

 

There is one LCS where I live. I get 10% off the comics I buy there. Under the previous owner that 10% off was for any comic, TPB or hard cover in the store. The new owner changed it to just comics, not TPBs or HCs. I let him know that as much as I like supporting a local business that I wanted to continue to get my TPBs and HCs at a 10% discount. He said no. I told him he could sell them to me at 10% off or he could lose 100% of the sale. He said fine. So now I order my TPBs and HCs on-line at 25% off.

 

If there were another local option I'd be there on opening day to see if they were willing to treat me better.

 

I've never thought about having a discount on TPBs and HCs. I wonder how many shops do that? What margin of profit would an owner have after the initial cost of ordering?

 

I'm not sure. Maybe it depends on how much they order, like with single issues.

 

What I do know however is that you don't have to look very hard to find new TPBs and HCs on-line for 10-25% off cover.

 

Right, you can get pretty much any new HC or TPB through Amazon or TalesofWonder or whatever for 30%-40% off. My LCS offers 25% off on TPBS though, so I try to support them.

[Chaseman210]

If there was only one store in your area (within an hour radius) and you KNEW you could run a better shop, would anybody feel bad or think it's wrong to run a store out of business that had been there for years?

 

I wouldn't feel bad either way, free market. Don't need to run negative ads against the other guy or anything. Run the best shop you can and let the market decide, nothing wrong with that (I don't mind hearing some arguments if its a chain company moving in though). Maybe it'll inspire the other guy to make a better shop and customers get two good successful shops in the area instead of one sucky shop. That could be a win for everyone.

 

I could see if a chain shop opened like you mentioned, but I was thinking more along the lines of another local owned shop. I could give a list of how this shop is, and anybody on here could think of a million things to do in a better way. In fact, I will in a follow-up post if anybody is interested.

 

And I know rent here would be really cheap, especially if split with a co-owner or something. I just didn't know if people would think it's wrong or not.

 

Not a thing wrong with that.

 

There is one LCS where I live. I get 10% off the comics I buy there. Under the previous owner that 10% off was for any comic, TPB or hard cover in the store. The new owner changed it to just comics, not TPBs or HCs. I let him know that as much as I like supporting a local business that I wanted to continue to get my TPBs and HCs at a 10% discount. He said no. I told him he could sell them to me at 10% off or he could lose 100% of the sale. He said fine. So now I order my TPBs and HCs on-line at 25% off.

 

If there were another local option I'd be there on opening day to see if they were willing to treat me better.

 

I've never thought about having a discount on TPBs and HCs. I wonder how many shops do that? What margin of profit would an owner have after the initial cost of ordering?

 

I'm not sure. Maybe it depends on how much they order, like with single issues.

 

What I do know however is that you don't have to look very hard to find new TPBs and HCs on-line for 10-25% off cover.

 

I think that would be a good thing for shops. I would definitely purchase more in stores if they did that.