This guy's reputation is already laughable in the local comic community but this one made me laugh with a new tale of douchbaggery.

My Dad went comic shopping because he saw an ad in the Winnipeg Free Press for 50% off back issues at Comics America. He asked if I wanted to go but I said no as I know of Joe's dirtbag tactics and even warned my Dad not to waste his time.

So... a few hours later my Dad calls laughing about his experience.

He picked out about $150.00 worth of comics to fill in holes in his collection. Nothing fancy, just some Savage Sword of Conans and oddities like that. All comics were tagged with prices and hence my Dad knew going to the cash register that it would be $75.00 plus tax ( 12%) which would come out to $84.00.

Joe rings it up and tells my Dad, " That'll be $108.00" (after tax )

My Dad inquires how he came up with this amount as per the above.

Joe tells my Dad that he "reserves the right to change the prices."

Problem #1 - first tell your customer about the change in pricing before ringing it up and assuming that it's going to be fine with the buyer.

Problem #2 - see the quote from the Government of Canada website

The Retailers’ Promise of Price Accuracy.

When the item has a price tagged, the lowest price applies.

Here's the weblink ... Canadian Consumer Website

This tactic to change pricing at the cash register ( without informing the buyer first ) is another joke and deserves a good ol' fashion "outing "


Needless to say, my Dad simply said no thanks and let Joe sit there with his pile of overgraded and overpriced junk which will surely remain in the shop until the doors finally close for good.

This shop is legendary in these parts for being awful in customer service, grading and pricing. The internet will take another brick and mortar down with these types of examples.

Must still have a chip on his shoulder after Diamond ran him out of the distribution game for western Canada.

Sounds like this store owner needs a flaming cocktail through the window !
You know he doesn't have any insurance.
That is outrageous behavior !

That is why I only very occasionally buy new book or TPBs from him. Most of his back issues are over priced and I don't bother with them unless they are recent issues which were not big sellers and then you can usually buy them for less than cover.

I wouldn't go that far but I think spreading the word is better

OK...I was a bit drastic...

But, how does he stay in business ?

I would say the business is fueled more by "old money" then by a regular monthly income stream. Along with probably negotiating the building lease and other overhead at 1990 prices

Visually, the store is full of stuff that would take you a day to look over but I always thought the same thing when I'd walk out with nothing.

This shop also was selling the death of Captain America a few years back for triple digits the day it came out.

You'll never meet a more paranoid profiteerer in the business then he.

are his customers just not perceptive enough or is he the only game in town?

One way he stays in business is by bringing in almost everything in the Previews catalog. He also usually has some sort of sale on new comics and TPBs. Like I say I occasionally buy TPBs and the odd new comic from him but only two or three times a year.

How he gets or keeps regulars is a mystery to me though his back issues are way overpriced and I don't think he offers any discounts worth mentioning for his pull customers. His toy and other merchandise is also usually marked up well past MSRP.

All that being said I can't imagine he makes what he used to ... before his distributorship was crushed like a bug in the 90's by Diamond and Marvel.

He's certainly not the only game in town. Like Aaron mentioned, he does bring in a lot of "eye-candy" from the catalog but it's definitely marked up.
With the internet around now I'm sure it eats into all brick and mortar since the world is your shopping mall.
I bought a Spirit statue on eBay for $89.00 a few years back and he still had his priced above the $299.00 or $350.00 that was on the box.

The clietele is pretty young as far as I remember. I don't think they're old enough to shop on the internet yet.

...nothing like cultivating a devoted clientele.
He must churn 'regulars' at an amazing pace.

Yeah... he doesn't appear to have a "loyalty program" firmed up yet.

It's hard to believe that any comic shop has a clientele that young.

Mike

It's more like the main demographic of shopper is the young kids buying Pokemon and crap like that with huge margins.... You rarely will see a top notch collector in there buying anything since it can be found cheaper anywhere else.
He's always PO'd a few dealers at the Comic Con with his negotiating.

He sounds like a #1 Jerk-Off.

I just hope I never do any business with this guy. Sounds like a total jack-off! If I see COMICS AMERICA booth at the Wizard con in Illinois, I'll make sure I stay clear of him.

He doesn't do American shows. The only con I have ever seen him at is Winnipeg's rip-off of a show.