Comic Store Experiences

[Crazz]

I was wondering if anyone had a particularly good or bad experience at either their local comic store or just one that they had visited? I'm just curious if I am the only one who notices that many of the people who work in a comic shop do a horrible job of helping people out, especially females or people who aren't in the key demographic range.

I would love to hear some of those stories.

[Donald M.]

I've never had a bad experience, but I'm the sort of person who rarely seeks help when shopping for whatever.

Even if I have no clue about what I'm shopping for I prefer to browse and resort to asking for help only in the most dire of circumstances.

The guy at the shop I go to is always friendly and helpful when I have the chance to talk to him, but then I am pretty much the key demographic.

[Prelude]

I've always sensed that some comic shops don't offer the same quality of customer service to non-target market customers as they would otherwise. Then again, some shops don't offer much of any real quality service to begin with. You would think owners or employees would be nicer to women and younger children since these two groups may be pumping "new" money into the hobby at that particular moment as well as in the future.

The lady employee at my first comic shop (Foster and Ravenswood) and the employee at Windy City (Addison and Western) were always nice to me when I was just an elementary school child who didn't spend much money with them. The hobby is much more enjoyable when dealers make you feel like your money is important.

Crazz, can you PM me if you're talking about any specific shops in the Chicago area? I'm familiar with most of the city and suburban shops.

[clayholio]

I was kind of annoyed with my visit to a comic shop recently (not my usual shop, either). I'm not sure anyone said two words to me the entire time I was there (probably about 20 minutes). I mean, yeah, I know what I'm doing, but if I'm going to spend some money in your store, at least give the effort to say hello and ask if there's anything I'm looking for. If that's standard customer service for a fast food restaurant, it's probably not too much to expect from a comic shop and any of the three employees that were working at the time.

[Bright-Raven]

Here are a few:

*** I walk into the shop and the clerk asks, "Can I help you?" I ask, "Yes, do you have any PEANUTS?" He replies, "This is a comics shop, stupid! We don't serve food in here!"

*** At another comics shop, I walk in and ask, "What's new this week?", and the retailer replies, "Well, Batman #blahblah came in, X-Men, Superman (you get the jist)..." I stop him and say, "No, sir. Those are all thirty to sixty year old concepts. I asked you what was NEW this week?"

:eek: <-- Expression on owner's face because he's too stupid to actually know if he has anything new in his store.

*** Here's another one for ya. Buying my comics stash at a store on comics day. Guy's complaining about KNIGHTFALL or DEATH OF SUPERMAN or DEATHMATE or whatever the hell crossover of the time it was (1993-1994?). I tell the guy, "Hey, y'know, if you're really not enjoying the books, don't buy them. I'll be more than happy to help you find something else that you do like." The retailer starts screaming at me in front of fifteen people. "How DARE YOU! DON'T YOU MESS WITH MY SALES! I ORDERED THESE DAMNED BOOKS AND PEOPLE ARE GONNA BUY THEM!"

There's other horror stories. You'd be amazed how pathetic the scene can be.

[Jake V]

Here are a few:

*** I walk into the shop and the clerk asks, "Can I help you?" I ask, "Yes, do you have any PEANUTS?" He replies, "This is a comics shop, stupid! We don't serve food in here!"

*** At another comics shop, I walk in and ask, "What's new this week?", and the retailer replies, "Well, Batman #blahblah came in, X-Men, Superman (you get the jist)..." I stop him and say, "No, sir. Those are all thirty to sixty year old concepts. I asked you what was NEW this week?"

:eek: <-- Expression on owner's face because he's too stupid to actually know if he has anything new in his store.

*** Here's another one for ya. Buying my comics stash at a store on comics day. Guy's complaining about KNIGHTFALL or DEATH OF SUPERMAN or DEATHMATE or whatever the hell crossover of the time it was (1993-1994?). I tell the guy, "Hey, y'know, if you're really not enjoying the books, don't buy them. I'll be more than happy to help you find something else that you do like." The retailer starts screaming at me in front of fifteen people. "How DARE YOU! DON'T YOU MESS WITH MY SALES! I ORDERED THESE DAMNED BOOKS AND PEOPLE ARE GONNA BUY THEM!"

There's other horror stories. You'd be amazed how pathetic the scene can be.
Are these horror stories in terms of the employee's experience or yours?

[Buried Alien]

Here are a few:

*** I walk into the shop and the clerk asks, "Can I help you?" I ask, "Yes, do you have any PEANUTS?" He replies, "This is a comics shop, stupid! We don't serve food in here!"

This one was funny and sad at the same time. It's near parodic.


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Bright-Raven]

Jake:

Oh yes, I'm the horror to the retailer because I actually have a brain and refuse to have Marvel and DC's redundant crap shoved down my throat the minute I walk into the store.

I'm the horror to the retailer because I actually have the brains to get their customers to remain interested in comics they'll enjoy, rather than listen to them complain incessantly while in store about how much they HATE the books they're buying.

*shakes head*

[Jake V]

Jake:

Oh yes, I'm the horror to the retailer because I actually have a brain and refuse to have Marvel and DC's redundant crap shoved down my throat the minute I walk into the store.

I'm the horror to the retailer because I actually have the brains to get their customers to remain interested in comics they'll enjoy, rather than listen to them complain incessantly while in store about how much they HATE the books they're buying.

*shakes head*
Ok cool. I just wanted confirmation.

[Bright-Raven]

You think those were bad?

In college, my then girlfriend, who was rather chesty, came into the store and collected the books I normally picked up for her on her own. The clerk DROOLED ON HER BOOKS staring at her.

[Crazz]

Those are some great examples of what I was looking for. Bright-Raven, you said you had some more, I would love to hear them........all that you are willing to share! :)

Here is a sad but true tale of poor service. An older friend of my wife's from work asked to me recommend a trade to send to her son-in-law who is in Iraq. After talking with her about what he liked, I suggested she try sending him Fables as a safe choice that he might find interesting. I was working for a comic shop at the time and I suggested she go to one of our other stores that was closer to her, which she did.

This lady, being older and definitely not a fan, forgot the exact title of the book and came into the shop and after waiting 20 minutes without help or acknowledgement from the guy, finally asked him for a copy of Aesop's Fables.

He begrudgingly looked up from the comic he was reading and said "We don't carry that here!" She then walked out and called me to help her, which I did by buying it myself and she then paid me back.

Now, the saddest part of this is that she is an obvious mark as someone who isn't really part of the target demographic and is obviously not knowledgeable about the genre. Instead of thinking about this and trying to find something for this woman, he just says he doesn't have the item and ignores her.

This was a lady who was ready and willing to buy, but this idiot either has just as little knowledge of what's currently being published or no skills on how to help the customer.

My fear is that this is a common theme.

[Fabian]

I came into this store once and I asked if they had anything good and they showed me some X-men titles and they got angry at me because I don't like X-men and wanted something that wasn't from the big 2 and actually good and not just what they serve me. The entire time they also asked me to wear one comic book related article of clothing or else they don't want my business

[Rob Imes]

To be fair, comics shops aren't like going to a restaurant or going to Best Buy or something. They tend to be owned by one guy who has just one store, not part of a national chain. It's like going to a used record store, where you can expect it to be a bit cluttered and the music playing too loud.

I remember there was this one hardware-type store in my hometown that had been around for years and years. The only people you ever saw in it were the same old people. In fact, a few of these old folks would be sitting around talking in their chairs in the middle of the store, the first thing you saw when you walked in. And if you were a young person, they'd give you this cold stare so that you knew immediately that you were unwelcome. I remember when I was around 22 years old going in there, seeing them all look up and give me the unwelcome stare, and I pretty much immediately turned around and left. I'm sure that there must be locally-owned markets and donut places and such where if you don't wave and shout for help, you will wait forever to get served.

[twilight]

My last phone call to my LCS;

Twi:Hi there,I was wondering if you had all six copies of 'Villains united' in stock?
Guy:No
Twi:Oh.Any idea when you'll be getting more copies
Guy:No
Twi:I see
Guy:There should be a trade coming out

And then I said goodbye and hung up.

[Fabian]

You guys have gone to some awful stores. I have never had a bad experrience in a comic store.

[eJm]

Here are a few:
*** I walk into the shop and the clerk asks, "Can I help you?" I ask, "Yes, do you have any PEANUTS?" He replies, "This is a comics shop, stupid! We don't serve food in here!"


If someone doesn't know what PEANUTS is, they should never work in a book store never mind a comic shop.

[Kid Omega]

My last phone call to my LCS;

Twi:Hi there,I was wondering if you had all six copies of 'Villains united' in stock?
Guy:No
Twi:Oh.Any idea when you'll be getting more copies
Guy:No
Twi:I see
Guy:There should be a trade coming out

And then I said goodbye and hung up.

What in particular was wrong with this exchange?

Some of the single issues of VU are sold out at Diamond, and the trdae will be out in a couple of months.

If you're asking for a full Six Month's worth of a popular title, you can't be surprised if the guy can't help you...

-a

[Kid Omega]

"At another comics shop, I walk in and ask, "What's new this week?", and the retailer replies, "Well, Batman #blahblah came in, X-Men, Superman (you get the jist)..." I stop him and say, "No, sir. Those are all thirty to sixty year old concepts. I asked you what was NEW this week?"

Wow.

I don't even know what to say.

-a

[Davideaux]

I've usually had good experiences. The owners have been friendly and their employees mostly a little standoffish, which I don't mind since I like to shop in private.

[twilight]

What in particular was wrong with this exchange?

If you're asking for a full Six Month's worth of a popular title, you can't be surprised if the guy can't help you...

I expected that but i'd prefer to be told "Sorry sir we don't have any of those in stock" rather than the way he said "no" like I was a piece of crap.

And also wouldn't telling the customer when the trade is coming be better than just saying that a trade is coming.

You think when you're in a dying business you'd be a little nicer to the customers you do have.

[eJm]

I usually go to Forbidden Planet, but there is a small shop nearby who was nice enough to show me where Forbidden Planet is.

I still regret that :(

[Kid Omega]

I expected that but i'd prefer to be told "Sorry sir we don't have any of those in stock" rather than the way he said "no" like I was a piece of crap.

And also wouldn't telling the customer when the trade is coming be better than just saying that a trade is coming.

You think when you're in a dying business you'd be a little nicer to the customers you do have.

Ahhh... his inflection was not evident in your post.

In his defense though, the trade has only just been solicited.

Not that I'm defending shitty salesmanship, but come on, if you call a store and ask for a long-shot request, don't be surprised if they can't help you.

Comic shops or otherwise.

[Crazz]

To be fair, comics shops aren't like going to a restaurant or going to Best Buy or something. They tend to be owned by one guy who has just one store, not part of a national chain. It's like going to a used record store, where you can expect it to be a bit cluttered and the music playing too loud.

I think that what you say above is absolutely true. I am not saying this was your intention, but you sound as though you are excusing these scenarios and actions because comic shops aren't run by a chain or corporation.

I think the above is one of the problems in this industry/genre. There is no hard data to support this, but I think that most people who own a single comic shop open it thinking with misconceptions about what its really like. How many times have we heard stories of fanboys who open a store based on a huge, kick-ass personal collection they have thinking this will allow them to have a dream job of being paid to read comics?

The reality of the situation is it's hard work and requires a person to be very business-like in order to make it successful (meaning the most $$$ possible). Like any business this means catering to your customers, increasing the number of people who do buy from you, and focusing on customer service so that the first two items are large and loose with their wallets.

From my perspective I am seeing stores, both single shops and even local chains, that are run/owned by people who just don't get it. While it is very possible that you have a store that does well, chances are that if your customers are only fanboys, you will fail or make very little money beyond what it takes to keep the store afloat.

Comic shops are very unique in that you get three different types of customers that come in. One, the fans of the genre who don't usually need any help in understanding what's in the store, Two, someone who has never been into comics but for some reason is in your store, and Three, someone who was into them in the past but for some reason stopping reading.

What do I see happening most of the time? Most stores focus the majority of their efforts and attention on customer one and ignore customers two and three. I would think that realistically they should be devoting less of their energies to someone who is hooked and motivated to come in and instead put that energy into helping customers two and three understand the product and why it would be very enjoyable for them to buy.

What do you guys think, am I off base here?

[i_mmmchocolate]

I've only had one bad comic store experience and that's at this place called Comics Warehouse- more like shoebox, if you ask me.

Anyway, one of the full-time employees is ALWAYS on the phone. The two times I wanted to ask him a simple 3-second question, I've had to wait 20 minutes for him to get off of the phone. It's not like he's having an important conversation- one time he was talking about some television program.

Then, another time I went in there, the 50ish year old manager jipped me. First, I asked for bags and boards. He politely informed me that they were not free. I've never had to pay for bags and boards ever at my regular comic shop. I didn't want to seem rude, and I figured I'd never go there again, so I just paid for them. When I left the store to look at my stuff in the bag, I realized that he gave me cardboard, dented shit. It WAS cardboard. I've never in my life seen a board like it- I'm used to the good quality white board. This was pure crap.

[Alan2099]

I've never had bad experinces like that. In fact my old comic shop (now closed) was a really great place. After you'd buy your books, they'd give you one of those previews magazines and a couple of trading cards fro free. Keep in mind, this was in the 90s when every comic out seemed to have a set of trading cards.

[TinMan]

I can't really recall a bad shop experience that I've had other than stores that treat their new issues like shit so they're all beat up when you're lookin to buy some.

The store I frequent every week though is actually a pretty cool little place, kind of a hole in the wall, but apperently gets a LOT of business. Everytime I go in there I end up BS'ing with the owner or one of the employees about comics, movies, games, tv shows, or some other random geekiness. They also bag and board every new issue that comes in, so you never have to worry about buying bags and boards for your new issues (I've never been to a shop that has done this, so its great to me!).

[Crazz]

I know that most of us have been chiming in about bad experiences, but I would also like to hear about some of the GOOD experiences people have had, because I know they are out there.

Let me know these too!

[Shades0077]

I can give you a good experience.

The comic shop I go to is fantastic. The owner is really friendly, no matter who comes into the store. I've been going there, let's see, over a decade now. I've got such loyalty, that I will even wait until the weekend, when I go back home from school, to pick up my books from him, as opposed to finding a new place to shop at in the city.

Of course, I don't need to do that. The owner is so cool, that for a time he was mailing my books to me while I was at school, and wasn't coming home that often. I send him my list each week, based off the Diamond Ship list, and he puts aside my books for me, or in that case, he mailed them out. Just a really cool thing for him to do.

[king mob]

You think those were bad?

In college, my then girlfriend, who was rather chesty, came into the store and collected the books I normally picked up for her on her own. The clerk DROOLED ON HER BOOKS staring at her.

I can top that.

About 10/11 years ago i was still working for some friends who had a shop and we had taken tables at a big comic convention in Glasgow.Anyhow, seeing as i'm from there i went up with my then girlfriend for a holiday built round this convention.

So the convention comes and we're doing what you do at these things (sell comics and get drunk) and my G/F was behind the table happily serving away.Then i noticed the chap she was serving was, shall we say, engorged in the trouser area and talking to her breasts, not her face.Something of a feat as she was barely five foot tall and this chap was over six foot.

Anyhow, i got behind the table, did my big scary act and the geezer duely pissed off limping his way elsewhere.

So back to the topic; bad experiences first of all.

Went into a shop about 4/5 years ago asking for the latest Love & Rockets.Was treated to a overwhelming wave of "what?" and was pointed toward a small shelf of tatty books with the phrase "the black and white shit is over there mate".
"Bye" was my reply.

Good experience...

Went into a shop trying desperately to find a copy of IDW's 24 special as a birthday present for a friends boyfriend.The shop never had it as they'd sold out (it had sold out everywhere by this point) so they said they'd order one for me after i explained why i was so desperate for it.
Not only did they manage to get me a copy, but they wrapped it in funky wrapping paper and they'd called to confirm they had it.

[TinMan]

I know that most of us have been chiming in about bad experiences, but I would also like to hear about some of the GOOD experiences people have had, because I know they are out there.

Let me know these too!

I once had a dream where my g/f and I went to a comic store and when she leaned over a box of comics I commenced to "have my way with her". Does that count? hahaha :D

[Prelude]

Here are a couple of good experiences.

My dealer knows I like Archie-related comics from all eras. He had a small stack of late Silver and early Bronze, but knew they were lower than the grade I'm accustomed to ... so he just gave them to me. It was win-win situation for both of us since he doesn't have anyone in his customer base that would buy them for his asking price.

It's always memorable when a dealer takes his or her time to seriously talk about my collecting goals and give me advice. An employee once talked to me for about 20 to 30 minutes discussing a run I'm chasing. We went online for a bit, looked at prices in the Overstreet and figured out what I would really have to pay, and lightly researched if there were any pedigree issues in the run. All of this, even though the shop didn't have any inventory that would've helped me.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

My recent comic experinces have been pretty awesome with my current store. The guy had issues 1 & 2 of the OMAC Project and I needed them. He just gave them to me saying he could re-order or wait on TPB to come out. He didn't have to. But he did for me. He'll usually pull me a lotta stuff I don't buy but he does it to see if I want it.

My store also has started giving away bags and boards with our comics. Which is freakin sweet to see. :)

[clayholio]

When I go to my usual store, it's always a pretty good experience. They're really friendly, make good suggestions, etc. I wouldn't go back to somewhere that didn't meet those criteria. What bothered me about my bad experience is that the shop I went to is really well-regarded in general.

But I disagree that comic shops are somehow a different breed of retail shop. It's retail, plain and simple. If the people running a shop (of any kind) are somewhat friendly, know their product, and keep things organized, they will keep customers. That's a basic level of service that I expect, whether I'm shopping for comics, used CDs, or cheeseburgers. I don't think that comic shops should get some kind "get out of basic customer service free" card just because they're selling comics. I would argue that they actually need to be better than your average retail store to overcome how marginalized comics are in the public's opinion.

[Crazz]

But I disagree that comic shops are somehow a different breed of retail shop. It's retail, plain and simple. If the people running a shop (of any kind) are somewhat friendly, know their product, and keep things organized, they will keep customers. That's a basic level of service that I expect, whether I'm shopping for comics, used CDs, or cheeseburgers. I don't think that comic shops should get some kind "get out of basic customer service free" card just because they're selling comics. I would argue that they actually need to be better than your average retail store to overcome how marginalized comics are in the public's opinion.

I'm not sure who you were responding to there Clay, but let me be up front about my position on this. I definitely agree with you. Your statement really undescores my motivation about this topic. I hear more and more about how this is a dying industry, yet it seems we do precious little to improve relations with the customers, let alone with giving quality training to the employees.

I worked at a comic shop and they had absolutely nothing for new hire employees to refer to if they have questions about store procedures and policies. The worst part is that employees for this store almost always work alone, if something comes up the customer is usually the one who suffers.

I think this is the true crime of this industry, poor planning, poor service, and poor training that all to often lead to poor profits!

[Pól Rua]

And also wouldn't telling the customer when the trade is coming be better than just saying that a trade is coming.

You think when you're in a dying business you'd be a little nicer to the customers you do have.

I admit that he may have been somewhat terse, but comic shop guys aren't computers. We get a ton of stuff in every week, and to be honest, I barely know what's coming in THIS week much less the release dates of everything on our shelves.

[Prelude]

I would argue that they actually need to be better than your average retail store to overcome how marginalized comics are in the public's opinion.You know what's really sad? When I (as a customer) offer another customer better help or advice than the shop owner or employee. Usually it's someone who isn't a regular in the hobby and may be unaware of comic knowledge we all take for granted.

I feel like I'm a representative of the comic hobby whenever I spot a "newbie" in a comic shop. If the owner or employee shrugs off their questions, I jump in and try to make their brief journey into our world as pleasant as possible.

[king mob]

I admit that he may have been somewhat terse, but comic shop guys aren't computers. We get a ton of stuff in every week, and to be honest, I barely know what's coming in THIS week much less the release dates of everything on our shelves.

True but most shops have computers and copies of Previews knocking about.It wouldn't have taken much for them to say "let me stick you on hold and i'll find out" at least.

[macul]

I went to a shop the other day (not my regular) and noticed some annoying. This place removes all older issues from their new arrivals shelf. And maybe I'm not using the right words here, because what I said sounds like it makes sense, so let me try it another way.

I walk in to a shop and I see the second issue of the Ghost Rider mini. It just came out. Today. I'm intrigued. I look for the first issue, but the clerk has already taken it off the shelf for bagging/boarding and filed it in the back issue bin. That's annoying. The first issue is only a month old. Why not leave it on the shelf for another month or so instead of making me dig through back issue bins that may or may not be organized very well? I like being able to locate the last couple of issues of a series right on the shelf without going box diving.

[BoosterBronze]

My Local Comic Shop: UC Comics in Palm Desert, CA

Old Owner- Fat guy, the Mexican version of the Simpson's Comic Book Guy, always eating, never stoop up, usually watching soap operas on the broken ass TV or reading "Love and Rockets" out loud. The store was filthy, and the shelves were breaking. Oh yeah, didn't sell TPBs.

New Owners- Keep the place clean, hold all sorts of tournaments (Magic, HeroClix etc), always have superhero movies or scifi on the working TV, helpful (He went out of his way to sell me a box of lead D&D toys from his private stash to help me out), beutiful new paint job, great set up, new posters and things all the time in the window, and cross promotion with local theaters when superhero movies come out. Huge rack of TPBs and Role Playing stuff.

A complete 180 over the last year or two.

[Crazz]

True but most shops have computers and copies of Previews knocking about.It wouldn't have taken much for them to say "let me stick you on hold and i'll find out" at least.

Here's a bit of a surprising truth related to that situation; not all stores keep that information handy. And by handy I mean available without digging through 5 huge piles of papers, books, mail, and whatever.

The store I used to work at was like that. We had this tiny little area behind the counter (think 3 foot x 3 foot) and just stacks of crap all over the place. I always found it embarassing whenever I tried to look something up. An extra copy of previews was never kept for answering questions either, which would have made perfect sense. Even though I would mention this, I was always told that there was "a list in one of the piles, you just have to dig for it!"

I'm sure that looked just wonderful to the customer. If as a worker I can't find or struggle with finding that, how much confidence will they have in my ability to handle their needs?

[king mob]

Here's a bit of a surprising truth related to that situation; not all stores keep that information handy. And by handy I mean available without digging through 5 huge piles of papers, books, mail, and whatever.


Oh i know, last time i worked in a shop it was like that.Which is why i started pinning up future shipping lists in the shop to make life easier.
even the shop i use now does this and it's only a small thing but it helps the customer and in turn, helps generate more money for the shop.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

I get annoyed when I go into a comics shop and the owner/clerk spends all his/her time chatting with one of the "regulars" and ignores me. Not that I need my hand held, but as I'm standing there with a stack of comics, ready and eager to drop a nice wad of cash in the store, is it really too much to ask that you interrupt your discussion to freaking let me pay for my stuff and go? More than once, I have simply dropped my stack of comics on the counter after a good long wait and said, "Why don't you total this up and file it under "Lost Sales?"

The lack of marketing/customer service in comics shops in general is astounding. I have had my share of good experiences, but more often than not, the employees are disinterested, bored, lazy, too-cool-for-the-room or all of the above. The stores themselves are so packed full of crap from floor to ceiling that it's difficult to move, much less browse. And, for the most part, little if any effort is put in at attracting new, and especially younger, customers.

It's easy to blame DC and Marvel for the decline of the hobby, but retailers are the ones with the most personal interaction with the customer and I find that, again in general, their efforts at marketing are lackluster at best.

[thik_3rd]

*** At another comics shop, I walk in and ask, "What's new this week?", and the retailer replies, "Well, Batman #blahblah came in, X-Men, Superman (you get the jist)..." I stop him and say, "No, sir. Those are all thirty to sixty year old concepts. I asked you what was NEW this week?"

:eek: <-- Expression on owner's face because he's too stupid to actually know if he has anything new in his store.

yeah. one time, i went to my shop, or should i say ex-shop, looked on the rack, and all i saw were spider-man, batman and x-men crap. so i grabbed them and started tearing them up and began yelling "fuck the establishment". and the owner had the nerve to ASK ME TO LEAVE. he even made a face like the one in your post. needless to say, i never shopped there again.

[BoosterBronze]

*** At another comics shop, I walk in and ask, "What's new this week?", and the retailer replies, "Well, Batman #blahblah came in, X-Men, Superman (you get the jist)..." I stop him and say, "No, sir. Those are all thirty to sixty year old concepts. I asked you what was NEW this week?"

:eek: <-- Expression on owner's face because he's too stupid to actually know if he has anything new in his store.


Doesn't that kind of make you the tool, since he gave you a perfectly good answer to your question, the way most people would understnad your question, and it was you who was phrasing his question in an uncommon, and seemingly intentionally tricky manner?

[elheffe]

Doesn't that kind of make you the tool
You haven't been around Bright Raven much, have you Booster?

Anyway, do comics need comic stores?
When I started reading comics, I didn't buy them from a speciality store, I bought them from the grocery store's spinner rack. There was no customer service, but then again there was no one telling me what to buy. The grocery store didn't care if I read every comic on the stand.
Sure, sometimes I'd miss an issue, or the comics spine was crunched because some one thumbed through the rack, but hell, that was part of the charm for me. If the grocery store started carrying comics again, I doubt I'd ever go to the comic store.

[Crazz]

I'm sorry you feel that Heffe, but for me that would be a huge step backwards. Think of the damage a move like that would make to small press and indy publishers. I also know I wouldn't be too keen on missing an issue because the local grocery/drug store ran out or misordered. But if that works for you, then go get'em!

[king mob]

Newstand distribution is an issue actually. Over here in the UK, most fans of a certain age (ahem) will remember buying their first comic in newsagents or a newstand.
It gave huge exposure of comics and yes, you'd miss issues or titles would no longer be shipped over to the UK and all matter of nonsense but it brought people into comics.
Now things are all direct market there's only the Panini Marvel titles putting American comics on news stands.

Thankfully we still have 2000AD so we still have a wideish comics readership but even that isn't what it used to be.