tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620417008960069715.post8633793887426578487..comments2024-01-20T10:19:12.985-05:00Comments on Martin's View: Shop AroundMartin Maenzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08640466353011569116noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620417008960069715.post-16342971010409408482008-06-09T11:16:00.000-04:002008-06-09T11:16:00.000-04:00I had a similar experience to Mike.Even when my cu...I had a similar experience to Mike.<BR/><BR/>Even when my current store misses something, it's there the next week. I like driving all the way out to Keith's mainly because I don't need to go every week (I collect so few books now it could be monthly for all that) but i go every other week and just pick up stuff from the rack that looks interesting. Sometimes I've been pleased, sometimes not so much, but at least that's my choice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620417008960069715.post-86109898133562042952008-06-08T08:57:00.000-04:002008-06-08T08:57:00.000-04:00Mike, I'm thinking the same thing. My pull-list i...Mike, I'm thinking the same thing. My pull-list is shrinking any way so it might not be too long before I drop monthlies all together. We'll see.Martin Maenzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08640466353011569116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620417008960069715.post-8126087559596333502008-06-07T23:42:00.000-04:002008-06-07T23:42:00.000-04:00Loyalty is admirable, definitely, but sooner of la...Loyalty is admirable, definitely, but sooner of later, if a retailer isn't taking care of customers, the only thing that's going to get them to change their ways is when they start losing customers.<BR/><BR/>In San Diego, I had a little shop that was almost walking distance from mine and Aaron's apartment. I could barely move around in it, it was so small. But the owner was a nice enough guy, and it was convenient. But problems started. First, he started changing his rules with credit cards. He claimed that it was all the credit card company's fault, of course, for raising their rates on retailers so much, but he chose to keep raising the minimum purchase amount. Soon it was $25.00. I wasn't buying all that many books, so often I wasn't buying $25 worth in a week. So because he felt shafted by the credit card company, I had to make an extra stop at a cash machine, or remember to bring my checkbook, just so he could pass his frustration on to us? Did he think that was somehow going to sway the company, like I was going to call them and demand they change their rates so San Diego Comics would lower their minimum? There was that, and I started having the "whoops" factor from them, too, with books not being pulled, and they ordered so few books that the big ones always sold out. If it did sell out, their attitude was "maybe we'll have it as a back issue soon".<BR/><BR/>I finally got fed up and looked into Russ's store, which was up the hill by my work. MUCH bigger shop, much bigger selection. I was checking it out my first time in there and asked the girl (Sarah, who I'd come to get to know well) if there was any credit card minimum. She looked at me like I was high and said, "No, why would we turn down your money?" Ah haaaaaa. Good question... I always got my stuff pulled right, and they had a good discount, and they had enough ordered so I could browse and try new stuff on the shelf...and if I liked it, buy up the previous several issues because they were still up there. And if something sold out that I asked for, they immediately got on the phone with their other store and had it driven over so it'd be in my saver the next time. I stuck with them right up until I moved (and made them a ridiculous deal on my, like, seven years of comics that I didn't want to move all the way to Sac).<BR/><BR/>I say give the new joint a try. This is a zero guilt situation. It's not "show friends", it's "show business". Go where they treat you right, my friend.Michael O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10327334599246216082noreply@blogger.com