Comic Shop Preferences?

[captain_slinky]

Where do you prefer to buy your comics at?

(A) A clean, easilly accessable place with an eye towards the "Collectable" market and a limited selection of product not published by "The Big Three" as to not offend potential customers who might stumble in by accident when they're actually looking for the Frogurt Shop that's just two doors down in the Strip-Mall? The music they play there is whatever radio station happens to be popular an non-obtrusive at the moment, most likely the local "Alternative" station that plays all the bands that sound like Creed an Pearl Jam had a baby together.

or...

(B) A cluttered, somewhat secluded place in an older building (possibly even down and ally ar next to a seedy Tavern) with beat-up boxes of comics EVERYWHERE creating a grand treasure hunt of sorts where you could find anything from Conan #1 to the latest issue of a local X-Rated Fanzine if you just speant enough time searching? The music they play there is either stuff you've never heard of before mixed with Rammstein and Tool, or "Classic" Hard Rock like Iron Maiden, Rush and Led Zeplin.

These seem to be the two major classifications of Comic Shops, and I love them both for their own special unique qualities :)

Comments

[spazzychic.livejournal.com]

Depends on what I am looking for. If I am looking for something mainstream and very new, I hit the clean, suburban shop to get in and out and not leave spending way more than I intended like I do at type B. If I am looking for obscurity and have a couple hours and a few twenties to kill, then yeah seedy all the way!

[zannah.livejournal.com]

I've bought comics at both types of stores. My current shop - which I've been going to for 6~ years or so - isn't really either one of those. The most important thing for me is a good staff/owner. Are they approachable? Can I have a conversation with them like a normal person? Are they knowledgable about more than just the books they personally like? Can they make good recommendations? Etc.

I love my current store and haven't stopped going, even though there's another store that is is actually much closer (3 blocks from me).

[supernovame.livejournal.com]

my favorite shop is like cheers and i am norm. :) They always know my name, they are always glad I came... They call me at home if something new and cool came in and they want to know if i want it, or they just throw it in my bin and ask when i show up and offer to take it out if i don't. they get all the obscure comics for me in my bin, even if they don't stock them for the public. they often throw in something extra at no charge, maybe a pack of cards or heroclix, maybe a pin or magazine or something, usually when i make the once a month large purchase. if there is a newbie in the store when i show up, they call them out and point and say "there he is! that's the guy that is single handedly keeping the store afloat!" they let me save some comics for a month or two when i am short on money. they are knowledgable about the product. and they have some good sales.