I've been a customer of Worlds Best Comics in Sacramento California since the 80's. After today's incident I won’t be returning.
According to the Free Comic Book Day website -
"Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May each year - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. *Check with your local shop for their participation and rules."
Today, my son and I went to Worlds Best Comics and Toys (2608 Watt Ave. Sacramento, Ca.) for "Free Comic Book Day", when I asked if they had any of the Free Comic Book Day Heroclix figures, the sales clerk stated that they did but we had to buy $10.00 worth of merchandise in order to get one for free.
I can understand a one per customer rule or a first come first served rule, but to make someone pay for the privilege of a free item seems to me a serious breach of the spirit of the entire event.
"The sales clerk said that the figure was "free", we just had to spend $10.00 in store to get it.
I put the comics I was going to purchase back on the shelf and my son and I left without the Heroclix. It wasn't about the money, over the years I have spent hundreds of dollars there, it was the principle.
As a father it was difficult to see the disappointed look on my sons face, but I also felt it was an important lesson for him, about sticking to a principle.
