tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post110511454585376808..comments2023-10-02T09:40:54.779-04:00Comments on Yet Another Comics Blog: No Previews-o-Rama This MonthDave Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12392905720500587211noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1105981358915292932005-01-17T12:02:00.000-05:002005-01-17T12:02:00.000-05:00Don: Thanks for posting your side of the story. Fr...Don: Thanks for posting your side of the story. From everything I've heard, observed and read, it seems that you are more interested in running gaming stores with a comic business on the side. That's fine, if that's where your retailing heart is, but it's definitely a step down from the full-service comic store that Underworld used to be. I'm sure that you looked at the books when you acquired the store and said, Hey, this comics business is losing money! There were two ways to go, either cut back on the comics, or put effort into making the comic side work. Given that you're more interested in running a gaming store, you made the obvious (though unfortunate) choice.<br /><br />If I could make a recommendation to you: You need to improve communication with your customers. The only reason I knew that the store had a different owner was that I saw a different store name on my credit card slip. I had to hear about the changes being made second-hand. You have the email addresses of nearly everyone with subscriber accounts--how hard would it have been when you first became owner to send out a message to all the subscribers, introducing yourself and telling us about the changes? Certainly no harder than taking the time to post a lengthy comment on this blog post! By not communicating well with the store's previously loyal customer base, you serve only to alienate them. If you cannot offer low prices, you *have* to have great customer service.<br /><br />Anyway, I hear tell that the gamers in Ann Arbor are quite happy with the changes being made at the store. I'm an occasional gamer myself, so I'll probably stop in from time to time; it just won't be a regular Wednesday comic stop for me anymore.Dave Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12392905720500587211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1105720484455654102005-01-14T11:34:00.000-05:002005-01-14T11:34:00.000-05:00Oh, hey Phil. I always wonder who is lurking aroun...Oh, hey Phil. I always wonder who is lurking around here!<br /><br />Which online retailer are you using?Dave Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12392905720500587211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1105624328925631462005-01-13T08:52:00.000-05:002005-01-13T08:52:00.000-05:00Hey David this is Phil
I must agree the store is ...Hey David this is Phil<br /><br />I must agree the store is in bad shape.I am going the way of a Online shopper. Their is no good store in the area anymore. It is to bad they had to ruin a good thing but I knew a long time ago the store was doomed. I enjoy your blog and have lurked for a while.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1105312044728612952005-01-09T18:07:00.000-05:002005-01-09T18:07:00.000-05:00Don't give up on the brick-and-mortar store altoge...Don't give up on the brick-and-mortar store altogether. At least talk to someone calmly who will care. Better yet, write them a firm but polite letter that they can pass on to their chain bosses. Although ditching them may be better for you in the short run, comics are already barely available in public for new young readers to stumble onto. If the chain loses business like yours and goes under, it hurts the industry in the long run.<br /><br />Of course, easy for me to say. I have seven comic shops within a reasonable biking distance to choose from.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1105157597336051492005-01-07T23:13:00.000-05:002005-01-07T23:13:00.000-05:00I can't really trust the other stores in this area...I can't really trust the other stores in this area to have the titles I want on Wednesday, so I figure I'll still go there, but read more than I buy.dwinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09145178934916187865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1105156366497080432005-01-07T22:52:00.000-05:002005-01-07T22:52:00.000-05:00Yeah, that was the shop I frequented when I lived ...Yeah, that was the shop I frequented when I lived in Ann Arbor as well, and I've often held it up as an example of a store that does things (mostly) right. It's a shame.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12669027321400410838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1105130408847177692005-01-07T15:40:00.000-05:002005-01-07T15:40:00.000-05:00I agree with you completly. I was also a subscrib...I agree with you completly. I was also a subscriber at that shop and the new management seems very uncustomer friendly to me. Not telling a customer who had been with the store since the paint was still wet they were going to take away our discounts, I dropped about $150-$250 a month depending on the season, and pull service is just wrong. I have not been in since about 3 weeks after the change in ownership since I smelled rat from almost the word go. <br /><br />I had no idea Jen was gone but it wouldn't surprise me if they clean out everyone who was part of the old system so they can not have to hear complaints about customers leaving.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com