How not to run a comic shop

[ratzo]

"Since September 2004 I have worked in a small neighborhood comic book and toy shop in Brooklyn. One night this week I rearranged the comics shelves, which had been in a state of disarray for weeks. Working by myself, past closing hours, I grouped the comics by both character and by imprint, making it easy to tell at a glance which books could be found where and saving a significant amount of time on both my part and that of the customers. It was tedious work, but I took pride in it. How was I rewarded for this task?

"I was fired."

MORE (http://cwn.comicraft.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?column=chicksandromance&page=50)

[Shellhead]

That sucks, but it's a lesson learned. Being proactive at work can be a good way to get ahead, but it's important to check with management before implementing any kind of change. There may be factors involved that you weren't aware of, and getting approval first will ensure that you are not punished for any problems that might result. When somebody gets a great idea on how to change things for the better, they should write up their idea, showing pros and cons for the change, an analysis of the impact, and a specific plan for how to make the change. Then show the plan to management and give them time to decide. Otherwise, they may decide that you're a loose cannon who can't be supervized, and no business wants that kind of employee.

[Donald M.]

That sucks, but it's a lesson learned. Being proactive at work can be a good way to get ahead, but it's important to check with management before implementing any kind of change. There may be factors involved that you weren't aware of, and getting approval first will ensure that you are not punished for any problems that might result. When somebody gets a great idea on how to change things for the better, they should write up their idea, showing pros and cons for the change, an analysis of the impact, and a specific plan for how to make the change. Then show the plan to management and give them time to decide. Otherwise, they may decide that you're a loose cannon who can't be supervized, and no business wants that kind of employee.

That's good advice, though honestly it seems to have little relevance to the specific situation discussed in that article.

[SMKSPY]

I hear a lawsuit knockingI can't wait to be a lawyer.

[Donald M.]

I hear a lawsuit knockingI can't wait to be a lawyer.

Yeah, I'd love to hear the owner's precise reasoning for firing that guy.

[Slam_Bradley]

I hear a lawsuit knockingI can't wait to be a lawyer.


That's funny. I'm a lawyer and I see nothing resembling a cause-of-action here.

[Huh?]

"Since September 2004 I have worked in a small neighborhood comic book and toy shop in Brooklyn. One night this week I rearranged the comics shelves, which had been in a state of disarray for weeks. Working by myself, past closing hours, I grouped the comics by both character and by imprint, making it easy to tell at a glance which books could be found where and saving a significant amount of time on both my part and that of the customers. It was tedious work, but I took pride in it. How was I rewarded for this task?

"I was fired."

MORE (http://cwn.comicraft.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?column=chicksandromance&page=50)That sucks, but Shellhead is right on that. Unfortunately getting approval is important. Firing you is a bit harsh, he could have just made you put it all back the way it was.

[Solaris]

That's an amazing article, with a lot of fine detail on why some stores are not only failing, but give the industry a black eye.

So was the guy in the article you, Ratzo? If so, dude, you need to open a shop of your own... and it'd be poetic justice if you did so very near his shop. You'd steal all his customers w/in a month, tops!

The firing really sucks. The problem with someone like this Bill is that they're so narrow-minded and controlling, they'd rather the ship sink while they bemoan the icebergs, rather than simply steering around them, because steering is "too much trouble, and not how *I* want it done."

[Slappy san]

Sounds like the kind of thing that would happen at the shop I worked at. Yep...that's Dan all the way.

[Michael P]

Note to self: Avoid that store.

[darkkeeperjr]

Ratzo,
You took over the man store! :eek: the man had a business and you walked in and took over with your new fangled ideals.you say he didn't want to give up control he wasn't suppose to.this is his place.he put his money in it.it's not a place for you to give away $25 for guessing a cover.It's not up to you to tell him how to spent his money you must had thought you were a partner.
Anyway i feel your pain. cause i guess i would had done the same thing.anybody that has a love for comics couldn't have done different.working in a comic book store is a dream for some. I hope you get to do it again working for yourself or for someone that reconize your love and talent of comics.too bad for him.he had a puppy dog(store) that he didn't know how to take care of.you pet the dog took it on walks,wash it,deflea it,and all that other stuff and when you both walked in the yard the dog would run to you.he had to get rid of you if he wanted to call the dog his.It really pisses me off to see someone take his comic book store and shit it away :evilangry

[Slappy san]

Sounds like the kind of thing that would happen at the shop I worked at. Yep...that's Dan all the way.

Ok...maybe not.

[Matt Algren]

I took it upon myself, therefore, to restore order to the shelves. I gave his way a chance, but it was hurting the store and it was bad for business and it made us look like crap, like we couldn't be bothered with making it easier for the customer to look for a book. So I put the titles back in order. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I believed the good of the store was being served by this act and I don't regret it. And the next day I walk in and Bill fires me for it.See, here's the problem. This employee was acting like he was the boss. If you're going to something like rearranging the whole store, you at least get permission, for God's sake. It wasn't the employee's place (sorry if it's you, Ratzo) to take things upon himself. "I gave his way a chance" should be the standard operating procedure. He'd already tried rearranging things, and was told, albeit in wishy-washy terms, to butt out. I feel for him, but he shouldn't usurp the boss's role and expect nothing to happen.

I'm not saying I disagree with the employee, by the way. He may well have had a better way of doing things. But if someone did that in my hypothetical store, where I pay the bills, pay the taxes, bear the liabilities, and live or die (financially) on its success, I'd have done the same thing.

[Alex]

That's funny. I'm a lawyer and I see nothing resembling a cause-of-action here.
Oh stop it, you lawyers are always lawyering everything, what with your suits and fancy pens.

[howyadoin]

Oh stop it, you lawyers are always lawyering everything, what with your suits and fancy pens."That's why you're the judge and I'm... the law-talkin' guy."

[Naldo]

I don't know about New York, but California is what's called an "at will" state.

Meaning if I own a store, and you work for me, I can fire you at will, on a whim, no reason needed. Conversely, you can quit for any reason you like at any time.

No lawsuit here.

The real tragedy is that here's a guy who's obviously passionate about the store and comics and wants to work hard and do a good job and this dork of an owner won't hear of it.

I'd say he's got a lot of issues, most likely because of his disability that he has yet to address and unfortunately it comes out as anger and unreasonable unprofessional behavior. Be that as it may, it's his shop and if he wants to run it out of business then that's his choice.

I hope this guy that got fired finds a good spot in a good store with good people. Come out west young man, we could use you out here!

[darkkeeperjr]

[QUOTE=Naldo]I don't know about New York, but California is what's called an "at will" state.

Meaning if I own a store, and you work for me, I can fire you at will, on a whim, no reason needed. Conversely, you can quit for any reason you like at any time.

No lawsuit here.

I think it's like that in most places.

[mgs]

when i was living in park slope, i visited that store. yeah, i walked around a bit and walked out. it was pretty disorganized and the 'sense' of the store was confusing. was it a comics store or a kid toy store?

that's one place that needs to be bought and done right, not be an embarassment to comic books.

[ratzo]

Okay, first of all, this is indeed me. The link is to a column I write.

I wouldn't say I took over the store. Far from it. I made it clear in the column that everything I did, I discussed with my boss prior to the final act that got me fired. Like I said, maybe I shouldn't have done it, but it was a case where my ability to do my job well was being impaired and my boss either could not or would not see that. I mostly wrote this to get my anger out about it because I had to talk about it somehow.

[Typo Lad]

New York is an At Will State, and even if this guy is running his business to the gorund, he coudl fire you for any reason.

He could also, if someone brings it to his attention, possibly sue you for that article. Just sayin'.

[Naldo]

Ok Ratzo, dis is da way it woiks see?

Yous give me JSA 1 - 60 in NM condition or I squeels to your ex boss see?

(sorry, couldn't resist...and something about the name Ratzo brought out the Warner Bros. cartoon mob voice in me)

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I think you really wanted to change and make the store work. But Bill Is In his mid 40's and Is someone who has had control of his own store for years & years. He doesn't want some young kid to come In and unseat him. I'm sure thats part of the reason.


Look at It this way. He has had 2 strokes and Is partly dis-abled. He may have felt you were pulling what little control he had left from him. I'm sure he felt angry and sad that he can't do what he used to do. And his store Is slowly being changed.

I've seen It In some old owners. Guy used to run a Restraunt up the street from where we lived. He ran It for a decade with his wife. He slowly got old and the hours hit him. The place did pretty well but he fought a lot against the Town and County for trying to make his little restraunt have non-smoking section . ( Picture a real small country restraunt. How It could have a smoking and non-smoking section Is hard. )


Well he decided to rent the place out and offered It to my dad. My dad had no clue about the business and declined. Well another guy took It and tried running It on a rental basis.

What was hard was seeing this old pro settin there wanting to be the " Boss " but having some young dude doing It. The 2 clashed numerous times and finally the old guy at the advice of his wife sold the place out.

He told my dad this: " I had the place for years and It was just hard to see some young guy come In and start changing the way I used to run the business. "

I think you should go and talk with Bill and his family. Don't start a fight. Just tell him what you wanted to do and how you wanted to Improve his business. Maybe you'll see that the old guy Is just someone fighting for what little control he has left In his life.

[Solaris]

I still think you should open up a competing business nearby. For one thing, it'd be nice for the customers. :)

[Matt Algren]

He could also, if someone brings it to his attention, possibly sue you for that article. Just sayin'.Yeah, you might want to edit a few things out of it.

[Huh?]

Yeah, you might want to edit a few things out of it.Like the name of the store and the owner. Call it S**tty comics, owned by Crabby McA-Hole. ;)

[Smell]

I can't get over that Ratzo has a real name!

Dom

smells nomenclature

[Spike-X]

I wouldn't say I took over the store. Far from it. I made it clear in the column that everything I did, I discussed with my boss prior to the final act that got me fired.

True, you did discuss it. And you were told flat-out not to do it.

This is what I mean about him wanting control.

Well of course he wants control - it's his store, duh! Yes, it sucks that he ran it the way he did. Yes, it sucks that you were fired. But the bottom line is, you asked if you could do it your way, were told no, then you went over your employer's head and did it anyway. That's insubordination, and it is indeed grounds for dismissal.

It sounds like you have a lot of good ideas about how to run a store. I hope you're able to find the means to do so - it sounds like it would be a store worth visiting.

[Deathstroke]

Man, my comic shop is awesome!

Heck, I'm going to be there helping out at FCBD and everything.

Think I'd do that if it ran anything like that shop?

NOOO!