spazdog
Def-Con 1
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| 04/14/2007 3:16 AM |
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| When I first started seriously collecting in the mid to late 80s, one of the criteria for a good comic book store was the depth and breadth of their back issues. That was before ebay. Do back issues really matter now? You can get full runs and single issues on Ebay for less than guide prices? You are no longer restricted by the local selection of back issues. Have the selection of trades and graphic novels replaced back issues as the criteria for what makes a good store? |
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Dr Noah Drake
Def-Con 1
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| 04/14/2007 5:25 PM |
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| I could go on ebay & buy whatever back issues I wanted, but for me the traveling to the stores & rifeling through the back issues is one of my favorite parts of collecting anything, , it makes it just that more satisfying when I finally track it down. If I really can't find what I'm looking for I can always turn to the internet, but for me the thrill is in the hunt! |
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spazdog
Def-Con 1
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| 04/15/2007 2:22 AM |
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Posted By Dr Noah Drake on 04/14/2007 5:25 PM
I could go on ebay & buy whatever back issues I wanted, but for me the traveling to the stores & rifeling through the back issues is one of my favorite parts of collecting anything, , it makes it just that more satisfying when I finally track it down. If I really can't find what I'm looking for I can always turn to the internet, but for me the thrill is in the hunt!
But does the size or breadth of back issue selection affect your impression of the store? What are back issue "must haves" that every store should have?
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Dr Noah Drake
Def-Con 1
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| 04/15/2007 12:47 PM |
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| Back issues selection is good & all, but I pick what store I go to off how they treat me when I'm there, which is why I prefer Atomic, plus, they have a great back issue selection |
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Dr.Mid-nite
Def-Con 1
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| 04/16/2007 12:26 PM |
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Backissues are a huge part of a store. I have a huge collection of titles that not everyone would want and part of the fun of this collection is piecing it together from my comic crusade around the valley. Ebay is too impersonal. plus why pay the shipping of 5.00 on a 2.00 copy of suicide squad 36 or ambush bug 2?
Plus a large backissue collection makes me feel like a store isn't some flash in the pan shop that is subsisting off variants and ebay. How would I get into the old justice society if I walked in and the store had no backissues and I don't want trades? |
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Atomic Stephanie
Def-Con 1
Posts:39
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| 04/18/2007 2:39 AM |
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You'd be surprised how well back issues due.
People on E-bay are always looking to inflate..so at Atomic, you get real...low prices. not only that...but you don't have to wait 2 weeks to read what happend in you'r favorite comic. Just stop by he store and pick it up. We will help you find what you want. Keep in mind...the employees are neards themselfs...we know what happends when a customer doesn't get his "Fix". We'd do the same!
Plus..you get a great experience coming into a comic book store. It's alot of fun. |
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-PV's frikkon ninja- |
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Patrick
Def-Con 1
Posts:28
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| 04/18/2007 9:18 AM |
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| I hate Lady Death... and Red Sonja... unless it's the Brigette Nielson movie, in which case, I love it. |
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spazdog
Def-Con 1
Posts:0
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| 04/19/2007 2:21 AM |
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Posted By Atomic Stephanie on 04/18/2007 2:39 AM
You'd be surprised how well back issues due.
People on E-bay are always looking to inflate..so at Atomic, you get real...low prices. not only that...but you don't have to wait 2 weeks to read what happend in you'r favorite comic. Just stop by he store and pick it up. We will help you find what you want. Keep in mind...the employees are neards themselfs...we know what happends when a customer doesn't get his "Fix". We'd do the same!
Plus..you get a great experience coming into a comic book store. It's alot of fun.
Back issues are 10-15% of a comic book shops business according to the retailers I've talked to nationwide. Depending on the square footage that is devoted to it, it may or may not make business sense.
Take the red pill.....E-bay does not necessarily inflate prices....a quick scan shows:
Spider-man Family #1 (1st) Atomic $10 E-bay $8.90 w/shipping
Amazing Spider-man #539 (1st) Atomic $8 E-bay $6.99 w/shipping
Civil War Initiative (1st) Atomic $10 E-bay $9.95 w/shipping ($6-$7 avg w/shipping)
Captain America 25 Atomic had better prices, but mainly because the Phoenix market is staturated on this book due to most shops selling it at cover until they sold through.
Buffy Season 8 (1st) E-bay had most of the first issue bundled with the second issue at the same or lesser price per issue including shipping.
Marvel Zombies 1 (1st) Atomic $8 E-bay (avg) $5.99 w/shipping.
Also, you might want to read the fine print on the Atomic pull subscription contract regarding price fluctuations or availability on "hot" books.
If you are shopping for Silver or Golden Age, AABC or Samurai have a larger selection.
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lostboyrufio
Def-Con 1
Posts:54
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| 04/19/2007 7:49 PM |
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Posted By spazdog on 04/19/2007 2:21 AM Posted By Atomic Stephanie on 04/18/2007 2:39 AM
You'd be surprised how well back issues due.
People on E-bay are always looking to inflate..so at Atomic, you get real...low prices. not only that...but you don't have to wait 2 weeks to read what happend in you'r favorite comic. Just stop by he store and pick it up. We will help you find what you want. Keep in mind...the employees are neards themselfs...we know what happends when a customer doesn't get his "Fix". We'd do the same!
Plus..you get a great experience coming into a comic book store. It's alot of fun. Back issues are 10-15% of a comic book shops business according to the retailers I've talked to nationwide. Depending on the square footage that is devoted to it, it may or may not make business sense. Take the red pill.....E-bay does not necessarily inflate prices....a quick scan shows: Spider-man Family #1 (1st) Atomic $10 E-bay $8.90 w/shipping Amazing Spider-man #539 (1st) Atomic $8 E-bay $6.99 w/shipping Civil War Initiative (1st) Atomic $10 E-bay $9.95 w/shipping ($6-$7 avg w/shipping) Captain America 25 Atomic had better prices, but mainly because the Phoenix market is staturated on this book due to most shops selling it at cover until they sold through. Buffy Season 8 (1st) E-bay had most of the first issue bundled with the second issue at the same or lesser price per issue including shipping. Marvel Zombies 1 (1st) Atomic $8 E-bay (avg) $5.99 w/shipping. Also, you might want to read the fine print on the Atomic pull subscription contract regarding price fluctuations or availability on "hot" books. If you are shopping for Silver or Golden Age, AABC or Samurai have a larger selection.
First off, ouch for you actually researching prices so you can put a comic store down.
Second, Atomic had the widest selection of any kind of book whether it being golden age, silver age, or current in the entire valley before a teenager ran her car into the Mesa location and damaged everything they had.
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Ah Crap Apples! Pumas Can Ride Yo Dick!
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spazdog
Def-Con 1
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| 04/19/2007 8:14 PM |
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| Lostboyrufio-
I'm not trying to put Atomic down.....I'm just try to point out in a fair and balanced way inconsistences in biased statements. I have no stake in AABC or Samurai, but I've shopped there and dozens of other shops in the valley over the past 20 years. I just think it's silly to market yourself as having real low prices. Why not be honest.....Atomic Comics is a mall chain with mall prices. Like other mall chains, they carry a large variety, but you may have to pay a premium to get what you want. It's a different business plan and one that has served Atomic well.
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lostboyrufio
Def-Con 1
Posts:54
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| 04/20/2007 1:45 AM |
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Posted By spazdog on 04/19/2007 8:14 PM
Lostboyrufio-
I'm not trying to put Atomic down.....I'm just try to point out in a fair and balanced way inconsistences in biased statements. I have no stake in AABC or Samurai, but I've shopped there and dozens of other shops in the valley over the past 20 years. I just think it's silly to market yourself as having real low prices. Why not be honest.....Atomic Comics is a mall chain with mall prices. Like other mall chains, they carry a large variety, but you may have to pay a premium to get what you want. It's a different business plan and one that has served Atomic well.
Our owner has been doing this for over 20 years and it seems like he's doing everything right. I have full faither in Mike Malve because he has taken his business from being the basic comic store to being a 4 store chain with a country travelling van. I could really care less if people can find books cheaper anywhere else. Atomic has great customer service and employees that will help you out no matter what you question or problem is. Also, it's not the store's fault if a book needs to go up in price because of it's rarity, it just means that we sold out of our other 600 copies.
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Ah Crap Apples! Pumas Can Ride Yo Dick!
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spazdog
Def-Con 1
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| 04/20/2007 3:17 AM |
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| If you re-read my last post, I said that Atomic has been successfully with their business model. It works for them, but to confuse that with real low prices would be delusional. |
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Chris
Def-Con 1
Posts:6
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| 04/20/2007 8:36 AM |
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| Yes, back issues do matter. While you may have spoken to some other retailers throughout the country and they said that back issues only accounted for 10% of their business that is not the industry standard. You have to also consider the effort that probably isn't put into back issues by the retailers you spoke with. The two largest comic book retailers in the US (Mile High and Lone Star) make the majority of their money on back issues. If a comic shops staff is well educated then they can offer something ebay can't, the ability to attract a customer to a new title based upon interest. Ebay is great for people who know what they want but not for those who are open to new books. Also Spaz Dog while Ebay may have quite a few "HOT" books cheaper than Atomic what other shops here locally have them? Not many right. Then the pricing is basic business the demand is high and Atomic has the supply so prices will increase. Comics aren't that different from gas. |
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Chris
Def-Con 1
Posts:6
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| 04/20/2007 8:39 AM |
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| On another quick note Samurai does not have that great of a silver age collection. |
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Jake
Def-Con 5
Posts:1020
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| 04/20/2007 1:55 PM |
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Okay, back to your respective corners. For the record, this is an open community. While Atomic employees and Atomic loyalists make up the majority of our ranks, that doesn't mean others are excluded. Your enthusiasm to defend Atomic is appreciated, but let's not see attacks where there are none.
By all means, let's get our dander up arguing why Civil War sucked (because it did) or whether Hulk could beat Superman in an arm wrestling match (current yes, Silver Age no) or why Wolverine's healing factor has gotten completely ridiculous (remember when it would take him a couple of days to fully heal from a stabbing?), but when discussions turn into comparisons of Atomic's business practices versus other retailers or eBay, we're all missing the point of this community. |
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GoTeamVenture
Def-Con 1
Posts:5
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| 04/20/2007 1:57 PM |
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Yes, back issues do matter for a store. I feel free to defend this agruement, but unless there are hard facts that say financially you would gain more by NOT carrying product that DOES sell, especially product that you may have anyway, then there is not much more to say. Back issues sell, profit is made, customers are happy. Good business if you ask me.............
Excess periods at the end of statements are fun...........
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