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.
I'd be willing to bet money that the free Heroclixs were actually free and the clerk was just trying to wring more money out of people. Despicable. I don't think he quite grasped the point of Free Comic Book Day. It's not to try and bilk people, it's to attract more people and thus, more business.
ReplyDeleteYou did the right thing.
hmmm... my daughter and I went to three comic stores today and I didn't even see the figures being offered. Either they went really quickly (which I kind of doubt as 2 of the stores are hardly popular locations), didn't get them, or just held them back to sell on ebay or something.
ReplyDeleteI dunno - I can see that measure being in place since free comic day is about creating a reason to support your flcs. Better to have the figure go to a comic buyer than some prick who will never shop there but just wants the free thing for eBay or whatever. Small hobby biz has it tough enough. I'd give them a break and the benefit of the doubt that it wasn't about greed.
ReplyDeleteI understand your frustration. Unfortunately, as a comics store manager, none of the free comics we gave away or the heroclix were free to us. We spent about $3,000 on the merchandise we gave away and donated to 10 local libraries. While its not an easy check to write in this economy, I just treat as advertising and it has thankfully become one of our biggest days of the year.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we didn't charge for any of them. Unfortunately the Heroclix were the most expensive item listed this year. Not that that is an excuse for losing a customer or causing disappointment to a young future customer. I know in our case we chose not to carry the 'clix this year because at the time it was solicited (october vs january for the rest of the items) we didn't have a successful tournament scene (we do now) and the cost (it seemed high). However, I was lucky enough to have another store we're friendly with send me some & I will giving them out (for free) to a list of people who gave me their name today on a first come, first serve basis. The key, as you know, is customer service. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money. Unfortunately, the reality is that many comic & game stores are not necessarily run by a business professional (not that I have any experience with your store, I live and work in KY).
FCBD is a wonderful idea, but its a hard day because for many of the people you see you might not see them again for a year or never again, but you should be trying to make an impression on them. Your also trying to help your everyday customers get the items they want, and in many ways reward them for their "loyalty". Its a real test of customer service skills and when foot traffic is up 1000% it can be easy to get caught up in "rules" & not in essentially a living commercial for your business and your industry.
Sorry it cast a shadow over you & your son's day. Something to keep in mind, if you know the owner or manager, consider going in & speaking to them about it this week (it's hard to mitigate a situation on a day like this). Maybe your feedback could help them realize their mistake & maybe there is more to the situation than you currently know.
I hope tomorrow is better, either way.
Sorry to hear this. This sort of thing tends to occur when the shop owners start to feel they are being taken advantage of and forget what the day is really about. I am aware they pay money for the 'free' comics they give out and I always buy something to help them have a good day. Well that and I love comics and can rarely visit a comic shop without spending money. I can see how the shop owner slips up, he sees people on Free Comic Book Day that he has never seen before walking away with stacks of comics that he has paid for without buying anything. I can see how that would make them cranky, but it does miss the point. Free Comics Book Day has Free right in the name, mess with that and you can lose in the long run.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear this also. I took my kids to Comics and Gaming in Gainesville Virginia and had a great time. They had several tables setup outside with all the various free books and had the Hero Clicks on one of them. (All my kids got the Thor hero, so don't think they were random.) They also had a moon bounce setup and pizza and other snacks in the store. All my kids came away with a bag of 6 to 10 free books and got some different titles that they don't usually see. We are regulars in this shop and have always been treated great by the staff and the owner.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm completely missing something here. To me "Free Comic Book Day Heroclix figures" are two separate things. "Free Comic Book" and "Heroclix figure". I would not expect to get a "figure" on "Free Comic Book Day", I would expect to get a comic book.
ReplyDeleteIf they didn't have any free comic books, only then I would be upset.
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Yes, you are completely missing something. The particular heroclix figures were offered by the manufacturer specifically for this FCBD event, complete with the FCBD logo on the boxes. They were only offered to stores with the understanding they were to be a free promotional item, just like the comics. Qualifying access to them, especially financially, was disingenuous.
DeleteApparently other stores were similarly hesitant to pass these things out. I didn't even know they were available until my third shop, when the guy in line before me asked for one; they were kept under the counter, given out only is specifically requested.
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ReplyDeleteThat sucks. I would have left, too.
ReplyDeleteI won't be shopping there.
And I'll spread the word to anybody I know that's into comics not to go there, either.
They're not the only place in town that sells comics.
I avoid Free Comic Book Day if I can. Too many folks that just show up for the free stuff, which I know is the point. It is just my opinion, but a lot of the folks grabbing free comics just read them once (maybe) and then slip them in mylar for their collection.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I do that too.
ReplyDeleteGenerally when there's a "Bait and Switch" I tend to put everything down and leave. I don't blast the clerks who have like zero say in it, but I do inform the manager if I can find him, or up to the top chain of command that I don't like that.
This is Dave Downey, owner of World's Best Comics and Toys. Sorry you were disappointed in my FCBD this year. I've reordered another batch of these THOR figures from my distributor, and they'll be in this Wednesday the 23rd. You're more than welcome to come in and pick one up for free if you like. I'll hold one behind the counter for you just in case......Dave
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAlso, just to clarify: for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY we gave 2 FREE comics to anyone who came through our door. If you bought ANYTHING (even a 15 cent comic bag and board) you got any FIVE comics. If you bought $10 worth of stuff, you got to pick any TEN comics PLUS the THOR figure.
ReplyDeleteI heard you came by the store Wednesday and wanted to speak to me directly. I will not be in again until Tuesday the 29th, from noon to 7pm. I'll also be there Thursday the 31st, same hours.
ReplyDeleteHello Dave,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your offer of the figure. My son received a figure from a friend so its all taken care of, though I do thank you for your consideration.