Yesterday was a very difficult day.
After being shopping with the same chain of stores for over 25 years, I ended my pull list.
Once upon a time, everyone knew my name. The clerks would make recommendations and ask for my opinions on the books I was buying. We'd have conversations as they were ringing me up about the quality of ongoing storylines. They'd ask me if there was anything they missed from my list. Oh, and I received a 40% discount.
About 6 years ago, they reduced the discount to 30%, and you had to buy an annual subscription. Renewals are only $7.50 and the general public receives 20% discounts. I was lucky enough to be grandfathered into receiving 30% - based on my time with them and the size of my purchases.
The store I frequented shut down about 3 years ago. Still in the same chain, and it's even a bigger store. Same 30% discount, but the experience is void. Now all the bags are sealed up - even the new issues. So there is no browsing permitted. Ugh.
After 3 years, the regulars don't know my name. Most don't know where my comics are kept (again, being grandfathered, I'm kept in a different section). I began to change my shopping schedule to reflect when my favorite clerk worked there - she was from the old store. But even then, there's no real discussion or content to our interaction. At least she knows who I am and smiles. That means a lot more than I thought.
About a year ago, they informed me that now I would only receive my 30% for items on my pull list, and anything else would only be 20%. I'm big on impulse buys, and I virtually always bought anything that they'd pulled for me. As I drove home, I considered the cost implications. Maybe I'd spend another $30 to $40 a month. Ugh.
So I wrote a letter to the manager and explained why I was cancelling my subscription. I started to talk myself out of floppies altogether. I looked at he average amount of time it took me to read a comic (about 12 minutes) and looked at the cost. The strictly financial value seemed to be ever-diminishing. Especially with being able to get graphic novels for anywhere between 30 to 50% off online.
I started to dabble in DCBS for the months prior to my cancellation. Wow...some great deals.
The manager called me and explained the policy changes (people were coming in and buying 10 copies of a book for the discount, only to resell them later). People weren't always buying stuff from the their pull list. In the new location, based on their part of town, the sealed books on the shelves meant that casual readers couldn't damage their product. He even explained to me why the other store had to close down.
And he offered me the 30% across the board. I really appreciated him taking the time to call me, and I was taken aback by the whole experience. Maybe things weren't as bad as I thought...although, it was kinda weird hearing him being so cool when in general, he's always been a bit terse and direct with his staff. I signed back up and they updated my pull list so I didn't miss a thing.
I could no longer adjust my schedule to go when my favorite clerk worked, so I went on weekends (much like your story here, Bob). The letter apparently circulated amongst the staff, and it was made evident that the fact they didn't know my name (based on my tenure and the volume of books I buy) had to change. I felt a cool distance from several of the clerks. Like I had busted them. I felt guilty when I saw them. Not a good feeling to go into the store and capture that vibe. It was almost like they snapped to attention and dropped everything to scamper back and get my books. I am *so* not that guy! But, maybe the store manager is. Ugh.
However, over the past year, I've encountered other clerks, who've been there for years, who once again, don't know who I am. I come in every other week and engage them in some way. Try to make a connection. Hey, it's a two way street...I get that. So, now it's not the same guilty feeling I was having, but it's back to the disengaged feeling that doesn't really work for me either.
Yes, I read this and understand that this is all a bit "emotional." I am passionate about my hobby and have been attending Comic Con since I was 12 years old (I'm 36). I have no friends into comics, yet despite this, I remain a loyal fan. I get decent deals at the store, but on almost every level, it's become less of a draw.
Now with DCBS that can deliver TO MY DOOR, and with the cost of gas, and frankly, my time...I've been mulling over online ordering for a good 6 months. So, yesterday I told them. Yes, my wife's business just shut down and she's now unemployed. I could have used that as an excuse...a reason. But I felt that I should let them know why I'm leaving. So I did - the cost savings of online ordering.
I gave 2 months notice, because of how ordering via Previews works. It just so happens that I gave notice to the clerk who gives me the vibe like I got her in trouble. So this is the 2nd time I've said I'm done. Made the experience all the more uncomfortable for me.
I've considered the financial implications of comics collecting, but I've also exampled the intrinsic value of the books. I don't wan't to be the guy who waits for the trade. I want to be engaged while it's going on. I want to support monthly titles. I was promoted earlier this year and received a significant pay increase. My time is now more valuable than anything else. I can set up my pull list through DCBS and click. No more 20 minutes to the store, 10 minutes in the store, 20 minutes back home. No more $ on gas.
I really think it's a win/win for me...so why do I feel so guilty?
An end of an Era - LCS no More
Moderator: JohnMayo
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mikemclarty
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Great story, thanks for sharing!
I think you feel guilty because you have years of great memories and associate your LCS with being a vital part of supporting your hobby. I'm sure you also worry that you're abandoning a small business owner at arguably the toughest time for him.
Totally natural to feel that way; but I think you've made the right decision. Ultimately I have no interest in keeping inefficient businessmen in business for the sake of it. I DO however have a great interest in keeping the comics publishers solvent enough to produce great comics for me to read. DCBS and other online services mean I can buy 2x as many comics for the same $$$ I would spent locally; and that means the industry is getting 2x the cash flow they would've from me. The publishers benefit; and that's what matters.
I think you feel guilty because you have years of great memories and associate your LCS with being a vital part of supporting your hobby. I'm sure you also worry that you're abandoning a small business owner at arguably the toughest time for him.
Totally natural to feel that way; but I think you've made the right decision. Ultimately I have no interest in keeping inefficient businessmen in business for the sake of it. I DO however have a great interest in keeping the comics publishers solvent enough to produce great comics for me to read. DCBS and other online services mean I can buy 2x as many comics for the same $$$ I would spent locally; and that means the industry is getting 2x the cash flow they would've from me. The publishers benefit; and that's what matters.
I don't think this was too passionate at all. And as someone who has also been there, I found it relatable to a large degree. This is one place you can be serious about your comics, and what you want from them, I think there are a lot of passionate fans posting here.
Welcome to DCBS and all that. I think, if you haven't already, you will find it to be a pretty pleasant experience. Which is more than you were getting from your LCS. I stayed with my shop for a very long time.... too long, hoping I could recapture or maybe add some of what I wanted in an LCS. I don't think it is all that possible to do. I think those people with a great local shop should count their blessings. Discount or not.
I think you will find that the guilt will be less than what you would have had to go through staying with a shop that wasn't even truly the one you have enjoyed for the majority of your comic buying.
Welcome to DCBS and all that. I think, if you haven't already, you will find it to be a pretty pleasant experience. Which is more than you were getting from your LCS. I stayed with my shop for a very long time.... too long, hoping I could recapture or maybe add some of what I wanted in an LCS. I don't think it is all that possible to do. I think those people with a great local shop should count their blessings. Discount or not.
I think you will find that the guilt will be less than what you would have had to go through staying with a shop that wasn't even truly the one you have enjoyed for the majority of your comic buying.
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BobBretall
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Thanks for sharing that story!
It was very similar to my own, and I do place a value on the "community" feel you get from a really nicely run LCS. I agree with Tim (FreakyTiki) on that point, however, like you, when that kind of comic shop experience is not available locally, the tough soul-searching decision to go on-line is almost inevitable, given time. Usually, once you start seeing the wrinkles, it's just a matter of time until you reach some kind of a tipping point and make the decision to go for a change.
I still stop in at LCS stores and pick up "impulse buy" stuff as well as just checking out the racks, but that is now once or twice a month instead of every week.
Hopefully you'll be happy with DCBS, I know I have been.
It was very similar to my own, and I do place a value on the "community" feel you get from a really nicely run LCS. I agree with Tim (FreakyTiki) on that point, however, like you, when that kind of comic shop experience is not available locally, the tough soul-searching decision to go on-line is almost inevitable, given time. Usually, once you start seeing the wrinkles, it's just a matter of time until you reach some kind of a tipping point and make the decision to go for a change.
I still stop in at LCS stores and pick up "impulse buy" stuff as well as just checking out the racks, but that is now once or twice a month instead of every week.
Hopefully you'll be happy with DCBS, I know I have been.
When I hear stories like this it makes me Thank God for my LCS. Everything you said that was happening in your LCS is the exact opposite of my LCS. I have never not seen the clerks greet somebody who walked into the store, whether they be a new customer or an regular. When someone asks for help finding a book they check the computer to see if they have it in stock then go find the issue in the racks or in the back issue bin.
The clerks have the power to increase your discount on the fly or give you a temp increase if you are buying a lot.
They have no problem of pulling extra stuff and putting it in your subscription box if they think you might like it, which you are not obligated to buy it.
I've seen the owner pull issues out of his box and give it to customers how forgot to put it on their pull list. No matter how valuable that issue is going for. (Like Cap #25)
Bob has told me how great DCBS is and I'll be honest if I my LCS treated me like yours I would switch in a heartbeat. And I would not even feel bad about it.
So I think you did the right thing, you went way beyond the call of duty.
The clerks have the power to increase your discount on the fly or give you a temp increase if you are buying a lot.
They have no problem of pulling extra stuff and putting it in your subscription box if they think you might like it, which you are not obligated to buy it.
I've seen the owner pull issues out of his box and give it to customers how forgot to put it on their pull list. No matter how valuable that issue is going for. (Like Cap #25)
Bob has told me how great DCBS is and I'll be honest if I my LCS treated me like yours I would switch in a heartbeat. And I would not even feel bad about it.
So I think you did the right thing, you went way beyond the call of duty.
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BobBretall
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Sorry to hear that the customer service at the store had dropped like that.
I don't expect much from a comic book store but if I'm a regular customer and I'm getting a bunch of book each and every week, I expect the staff to know my name and to be nice to me. Nother major, little things like not having to ask my name every week when they get my pull list and that sort of thing.
Not being able to flip through current issues would frustrate me. And make me less likely to impulse buy. Not getting the same discount on impulse purchases wouldn't encourage me to do much impulse buying either. And, really, I'm an easy sell on comics so impulse purchasing is something that a store should encourge as much as practical. While I understand where the store owner is coming from, he has to understand that his policies might impact sales.
I will say that it is a major point in the stores favor that the manager called you. The local store here in Texas that I shopped at before switching to DCBS probably could have kept my business if they had tried to keep my business. It took longer for the owner of the local store to email me in reply to my letter cancelling my subscription. By then I'd already received my first shipment from DCBS.
And I've had a similar vibe at times at the local store here in Texas that I used to shop at that there was some expectation that I should be treated better because I got so much each week. Personally, I think that every regular customer should be treated well.
I don't think you are being to emotional or passionate about this at all. You were a loyal customer of the chain for 25 years and the chain took you for granted. You gave the store a chance to retain your business and it failed to do so. Heck, giving that two months notice seems very generous.
Don't feel guilty about this. While you are going to save money by switching to DCBS, your justifications for the switch go well beyond that. The time savings and convenience are both solid reasons for the switch. But, to me, the bottom line is that the store took you for granted and made you feel unwelcome. If the experience of shopping at the store isn't worth the additional cost then stop shopping there. And that is exactly what you did. After pointing out the issues and giving them time to fix those issues.
Keep in mind that you may well still shop at that store on occassion for impulse purchases and things that you found out about late.
I agree with Wood that supporting an inefficient business for the sake of doing so isn't worth doing. If you get something out of such a situation, great. But I know that I'm not about to pay another $60 a week to support a local comic book shop, particularly one that doesn't value me as a customer. (And one store found that out the hard way.)
That having been said, I never seriously considered getting my comics online (or mail order) back when I had a comic book shop I was happy with. I enjoy going to comic book stores and the sense of community that a store can have. And while I'm willing to pay for that experience, I'm only willing to pay so much for it.
I don't expect much from a comic book store but if I'm a regular customer and I'm getting a bunch of book each and every week, I expect the staff to know my name and to be nice to me. Nother major, little things like not having to ask my name every week when they get my pull list and that sort of thing.
Not being able to flip through current issues would frustrate me. And make me less likely to impulse buy. Not getting the same discount on impulse purchases wouldn't encourage me to do much impulse buying either. And, really, I'm an easy sell on comics so impulse purchasing is something that a store should encourge as much as practical. While I understand where the store owner is coming from, he has to understand that his policies might impact sales.
I will say that it is a major point in the stores favor that the manager called you. The local store here in Texas that I shopped at before switching to DCBS probably could have kept my business if they had tried to keep my business. It took longer for the owner of the local store to email me in reply to my letter cancelling my subscription. By then I'd already received my first shipment from DCBS.
And I've had a similar vibe at times at the local store here in Texas that I used to shop at that there was some expectation that I should be treated better because I got so much each week. Personally, I think that every regular customer should be treated well.
I don't think you are being to emotional or passionate about this at all. You were a loyal customer of the chain for 25 years and the chain took you for granted. You gave the store a chance to retain your business and it failed to do so. Heck, giving that two months notice seems very generous.
Don't feel guilty about this. While you are going to save money by switching to DCBS, your justifications for the switch go well beyond that. The time savings and convenience are both solid reasons for the switch. But, to me, the bottom line is that the store took you for granted and made you feel unwelcome. If the experience of shopping at the store isn't worth the additional cost then stop shopping there. And that is exactly what you did. After pointing out the issues and giving them time to fix those issues.
Keep in mind that you may well still shop at that store on occassion for impulse purchases and things that you found out about late.
I agree with Wood that supporting an inefficient business for the sake of doing so isn't worth doing. If you get something out of such a situation, great. But I know that I'm not about to pay another $60 a week to support a local comic book shop, particularly one that doesn't value me as a customer. (And one store found that out the hard way.)
That having been said, I never seriously considered getting my comics online (or mail order) back when I had a comic book shop I was happy with. I enjoy going to comic book stores and the sense of community that a store can have. And while I'm willing to pay for that experience, I'm only willing to pay so much for it.
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mikemclarty
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Hey everyone,
Thanks so much for all your positive responses. I'm glad that everyone's empathetic towards my situation. Sometimes the heart and mind have a hard time distinguishing between decision making. This was a case where my mind was at 95% certainty, and my heart at 75%.
But I think long-term comics fans are inherently loyal. I think of all the titles I kept collecting even though they'd jumped the shark. There was a run of Daredevil in the 90s that comes to mind! Heck, there are a lot of runs in the 90s that fit that bill! But, I'm likely to be supportive beyond the call of duty.
But like you said John, there are times when you have to make a decision.
Funny sidenote: I told my boss about it, and he was blown away. He's not into comics or any of my hobbies...but he knows what comics mean to me. To hear him pause and say, "...what?! I didn't even know that discontinuing shopping with your comic store was on the table?!" was kinda cool.
I'm not a difficult person to please. And having books shipped to my door and having the sense of community that I'm feeling on boards like this, make the transition all the easier.
Thanks again to everyone. I'll let you know what I end up buying through DCBS or Heroes Corner. It'll be interesting to see if I spend *more* money, but in doing so, getting more titles.
Wonder what the odds are?
Thanks so much for all your positive responses. I'm glad that everyone's empathetic towards my situation. Sometimes the heart and mind have a hard time distinguishing between decision making. This was a case where my mind was at 95% certainty, and my heart at 75%.
But I think long-term comics fans are inherently loyal. I think of all the titles I kept collecting even though they'd jumped the shark. There was a run of Daredevil in the 90s that comes to mind! Heck, there are a lot of runs in the 90s that fit that bill! But, I'm likely to be supportive beyond the call of duty.
But like you said John, there are times when you have to make a decision.
Funny sidenote: I told my boss about it, and he was blown away. He's not into comics or any of my hobbies...but he knows what comics mean to me. To hear him pause and say, "...what?! I didn't even know that discontinuing shopping with your comic store was on the table?!" was kinda cool.
I'm not a difficult person to please. And having books shipped to my door and having the sense of community that I'm feeling on boards like this, make the transition all the easier.
Thanks again to everyone. I'll let you know what I end up buying through DCBS or Heroes Corner. It'll be interesting to see if I spend *more* money, but in doing so, getting more titles.
Wonder what the odds are?
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BobBretall
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- Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:44 pm
One of the biggest transitions for me was having to wait the extra time to get my books each week.mikemclarty wrote: I'm not a difficult person to please. And having books shipped to my door and having the sense of community that I'm feeling on boards like this, make the transition all the easier.
Thanks again to everyone. I'll let you know what I end up buying through DCBS or Heroes Corner. It'll be interesting to see if I spend *more* money, but in doing so, getting more titles.
I could never go to Monthly shipping, I need my books more frequently, but, then again, I just get too much to get one GIANT box fork-lifted in once a month.
One thing to consider when going on-line is HC does not currently have a weekly shipping option, they do bi-weekly as most frequent. Just an FYI.
Can't image Bob's monthly shipment but here is an idea what his weekly shippment must look like...JLAFan wrote:
One of the biggest transitions for me was having to wait the extra time to get my books each week.
I could never go to Monthly shipping, I need my books more frequently, but, then again, I just get too much to get one GIANT box fork-lifted in once a month.
One thing to consider when going on-line is HC does not currently have a weekly shipping option, they do bi-weekly as most frequent. Just an FYI.
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BobBretall
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mikemclarty
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My first month of purchasing comics exclusively online
So, I made the switch and I placed my first orders. I went with the "Big Two," DCBS and Heroes Corner.
Some had better deals in areas than the other, and vice versa. So far the customer service and personal interaction at Heroes Corner has been awesome. The e-mails have character and all responses to my updates and questions happened within 2 hours of submission.
I went ahead and signed up for the bi-weekly shipments from both. I'll be tracking the overall genesis of the experience to see which vendor I'm going to go with. Who knows, I may still do a split if it works best in my favor.
Some had better deals in areas than the other, and vice versa. So far the customer service and personal interaction at Heroes Corner has been awesome. The e-mails have character and all responses to my updates and questions happened within 2 hours of submission.
I went ahead and signed up for the bi-weekly shipments from both. I'll be tracking the overall genesis of the experience to see which vendor I'm going to go with. Who knows, I may still do a split if it works best in my favor.