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[Semjaza Azazel]

I just mailed this off to the distributors/representatives for Marvel comics:

Hello,

I've been trying to find the proper channel to relay this message to. From all I can gather, this is the best place to reach representatives.

I live in Chicago, Illinois. Around here, one of the major comic book shops is Graham Crackers Comics (http://www.grahamcrackers.com). I've been going there for quite some time now as they are one of the better places in general.

However, their practices as of late with Marvel comics have been absolutely maddening. When Astonishing X-Men #1 was released, they had it on their shelves. I managed to make it to their shop when it opened with the intent of picking up one of the two variant covers. None were on the racks. Instead, I found them up front: the Del Toro variant for $30 and the Cassaday variant for $70. Basically, they completely bypassed their customers and set a price with absolutely no backing. There was no chance for anyone outside of the shop to purchase these issues at a normal price. This has continued with other variants. Most recently the Astonishing X-Men #4 variant cover, which was going for $14.99 as soon as it was released. I have absolutely no idea where Graham Crackers pulls these values from considering they didn't even have time to accumulate any value. Even worse, this particular issue was admitted to be a surprise variant that they were unable to order more of. Why are they allowed to price gouge like this?

Now, I've talked to various people around the country over the internet. Most specifically a friend of mine in Florida who visits his own comic book shop. He spoke to the owner about Graham Crackers policies and was told that this was not something comic shops were supposed to be doing. According to him, representatives tell them that a certain percentage of each comic should be placed on the shelf and time should pass. He seemed appalled that my store even did such a thing.

Graham Crackers is effectively bypassing collectors and creating artificial demand for products for no reason other than to profit in ways that just aren't right. They spend the market value on a comic and instantly mark it up for sometimes as much as a 2,000% profit. Is this ethical? I'd say not. It honestly doesn't even seem legal. I have been unable to acquire any of these comics by conventional means due to their practices.

I want to know what can be done about this. I'm very concerned about this as well as completely fed up with my comic shop.

Thank you for any response

Basically, what I want to know is this:

Does your comic shop do this? Is it "standard practice" and accepted? I want to know if I am alone here because this is really annoying me.

 

[Matlock]

I dunno about that, but I know that one comic shop sold Deadpool out of my pull box the first day it was available to pick up....and then one "changed distributors" and never got my comics for three months.

 

[Semjaza Azazel]

I realize the Cassaday was a dealer exclusive... but I don't believe the other two were.

 

[jecclr2003]

My local comic shop does this shady ass practice. LAnd of Cran comics.. in Canton.

If it weren't for the convenience facotr of WHERE it's at, I'd never go. The people who work it are rude as fuck and they have EXTREMELY high prices on their back issues.

If I had any idea I'd never get caught I'd pound that smary look off the register jockey. Hell, I'd beat him like he owed me money. Damn them and their security cameras.

Your best bet is to delve off and find a smaller store... usually ran by just one guy and NO ONE ELSE. These are the places wher eyou can build a relationship and get the stuff you want.

It's a nice feeling to have a first name basis with your shop keeper. I have a small hole in the wall shop next door to my office building, but he has crazy hours.. so getting my weekly pulls isnt going to happen. But he's a great guy and stocks every thing that the others don't.

 

[Matlock]

My local comic shop does this shady ass practice. LAnd of Cran comics.. in Canton.

Haha, fucking awesome. I knew (haven't talked to her in quite a while) a girl that worked there. Nursing student, kinda cute. Into D&D...

But wow, awesome that that gets referenced.

 

[Saint Cornelius]

I miss Comico. <3 The Elementals, Mage & Grendel

sorry, I'm tipsy

 

[mightynine]

Not only does the store I go to NOT do that, they leave a couple of back issues on the rack for a while before putting them in the long box.

So I don't have to go every week, and chances are I can still get caught up on whatever title I'm buying.

 

[john tv]

And you wonder why the American comics industry has gone to shit over the past 10 years...

 

[jecclr2003]

As for the comic industry going to shit again.. I blame Marvel.. FAR too many books again.. with Bends (as good as he is) writing what seems to be half of them. Hes great when hes focused on one thing, but the man seems to be stretched really thin as of late.

Whats the deal with Marvel's "directors Cut" comics.. does anyone truly buy those things? The shop here has about 15 copies of Avengers #500 DC on the shelf collecting dust.

Now for the variant covers.... two words for ya Marvel.

FUCK YOU!

Ths is the same shady shit tha they did back in the day with numerous covers, holofoil, chromium, as flavored paper, etc ad nauseum. All in a feeble atempt to get you to buy more than one copy of the same freaking book! And then you have the dealers artificially inflating the prices on them. SHENANIGANS!

And don't even get me started on the whol CGC comics grading thing and how terrible THAT is...

 

[Cooper]

Geoffrey's Comics in Gardena CA used to do this kind of thing back in the Death of Superman days. I stopped going there then and have never been back. Plenty of other comics stores out there, including some that actually respect their customers. Graham Crackers Comics can't be the only store in Chicago. I'd drop them like a hot potato.

 

[shoplifter]

When my shop gets special variant covers in, they go to the people with those titles on their pull lists, without fail. He doesn't get them in too often for a lot of titles since it's a really small shop, but they ALWAYS go to the people who buy those books on a regular basis.

Sounds like your shop sucks dick, being in Chicago it shouldn't be hard to find a new one.

 

[sonatinas]

the american comic book market and sports memorabilia market are basically the same thing to a lot of people now and if they jsut relased normal shit people would buy them, but i feel people buy the shit and then pray to god it will gain value

 

[nomoment]

Now for the variant covers.... two words for ya Marvel.

FUCK YOU!

It was DC who brought the variant covers back first. See Batman #619.

And no, my shop doesn't do this. But A LOT of shops do, so the best you can really do is find a new retailer. I myself, don't agree with this practice of "ratting" out shops.

Unless you've spoken to your retailer regarding these concerns previously, that is.

 

[Willco]

My LCS does not do this.

 

[Semjaza Azazel]

And no, my shop doesn't do this. But A LOT of shops do, so the best you can really do is find a new retailer. I myself, don't agree with this practice of "ratting" out shops.

Unless you've spoken to your retailer regarding these concerns previously, that is.

Eh, I can't really feel bad about it. They're already screwing over their customer base as it is. It's something that has been brought up to them in the past, so it's not like I'm going behind their back. I basically just want to know why this is allowed and why their representative apparently has said nothing to them about it.

To sit by and allow something that from all I can gather is frowned upon by the actual comic companies is a bit strange, I think. I'm not willing to let them screw over the fans who these variants are actually made for. They're not made so comic shops can jack up the prices the second they unpack them.

I've been trying to find another comic shop, and while I've found one I like, none are as convenient. You'd think there'd be a lot more, but strangely there aren't.

 

[Flynn]

If you don't buy superhero books you never have to worry about this problem.