WHAT'S IN A SALE?
I've looked over the last month and some-odd days and found it daunting. On December 18th, 2013, although an agreement had been in place to catch up the store's back rent, on a day when I was feeling upbeat, the landlord came in with a deal changer. Feeling upbeat is a dangerous thing for me to feel, because every time I feel happy or enthusiastic, I'm beaten down, injured in car accidents, or threatened by bill collectors with notices of impending doom. Because of some problems within the management of the center, the landlord let us know he'd be stepping down, leading us to believe it would be January 2nd, 2014, and came to us with an offer for us to catch up the rent, but we needed to do it by December 31st or maybe January 1st.
So we started the Go Fund Me page and a huge sale. We set two goals. $3000.00 would catch us up with all rent, and $3000.00 more would get us some advertising, maybe get someone to come to the store for a signing event -- because pretty much no one is ever available to come to our store anymore, so I thought I'd look outside the immediate area -- and basically use that balance for foundation building. I'm trying to be proactive and positive. You know, the opposite of my normal personality.
We were able to pay $1300.00 towards rent, another bill and the water bill, which he also needed paid in full. Ashley and the landlord then negotiated a promissory note -- she's got a good head on her shoulders, really -- and we all signed off for the balance to be paid by February 15th, 2014. However, since January 2nd, despite many sales on back issues and graphic novels, I am unable to make any headway. With the additional problem of many subscribers backing off on paying their subscriptions -- for whatever reason is irrelevant in our situation, because we've paid for the books and order 2 months in advance -- we find ourselves back to struggling.
Whereas we were getting our product on time for 99% of 2013, and until last week, we have yet to get our new comics for this week. Sure, we'll be able to get them by either Saturday by 1pm, if a few people come through, or on Monday morning when credit cards hit the bank account, but by Wednesday, I'll have next week's books to pay for too.
Sounds like it's time to have another sale, right?
But you see, we're already HAVING a sale, with huge discounts each weekend in January.
Are there any new comics to look through? Yes!
Will people come and take a look at these new gems? Maybe buy some? I don't know. Will you?
SO, I've got this new collection of 1970's / early '80's comics. Really a collector's idea of a good time. No, there aren't any issues of Byrne X-Men or Amazing Spider-Man. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the guy went elsewhere first, sold the mainstream Marvel and DC books to another store, and that this is the 'scraps' of the collection, though they're still pretty damn good scraps nonetheless.
Most books are high grades. There have been some key first appearances, though it's stuff like She-Hulk, KISS (in Howard the Duck), Siryn in Spider-Woman and some Kirby stuff like Black Panther, Machine Man, 2001, Devil Dinosaur among other gems like What If and Star Wars. About 1000 or more Bronze Age comics. I've only sold a small amount though I've been offering some very good discounts. Hey, I'm not the competition. I actually give people discounts on new comics and offer great deals, only I spend a lot of time sitting here wondering where the hell people have gone off to. Hey, you either want good deals or you don't. I've got really good deals. I'm not some used car salesman selling bogus cars, I've got some really great comic books at even better prices.
Okay, okay, I don't have any *key* Silver Age books in stock right now (although I do have Brave and the Bold #28 in 'reading copy' condition). That's not to say I haven't had any at all, because I *did* and have had some great books throughout the last 7 years. I've had the 1st appearance of Doctor Strange, the 1st appearance of Silver Surfer, the 1st (and 2nd) appearances of Hal Jordan Green Lantern in Showcase. I've had great Silver Age runs of Amazing Spider-man, Avengers, Journey Into Mystery, Strange Tales and lots of DC's too, with many *key* issues. Of course, I sold each and every one of those great comics over the past 7 years. What can I say? People wanted them, and I have fair prices. They're not here to look pretty.
We're living in a world of "What have you done for me lately, Pat?", however, though "lately" I've had House of Secrets #92, until it recently sold, and some early Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man and FF's in the case, but not a ton of them by any means. Does that mean I have nothing of value? Of course not, I have a lot of great books, including some nice DC Silver Age, a bunch of Tower Comics' Thunder Agents, and some Golden Age comics like Dick Tracy and Planet Comics as well. But Silver Age isn't falling from the sky either. Because of that, I get judged harshly and unfairly as the store that has "nothing" when I have nearly 40,000 comics total in the store, which is nothing to sneeze at.
I'm also not the guy who can employ a half dozen people, obviously, but I grade and price as many comics as I can, when Ashley and I aren't invoicing customers trying to get subscriptions picked up, or doing the order form, or filling subscriptions. Please remember, she is now in her 2nd year of college at St. Pete College for her prerequisites in nursing towards her RN degree, so I can't impose on her and ask her to help me all the time, because that wouldn't be fair to her or to her education. She has to come first in my life, so she succeeds in her desire to become a pediatric nurse. Ashley's goals are far more altruistic than mine. I want to pay my bills by selling comics. She wants to become a nurse to help people, especially children, because she's a good person who cares about others and their well-being.
Sure, I'd love to be a big success too. I have a store *full* of merchandise. Whatever isn't priced, I grade and price on the spot. I never assume anything is 'NM-' / '9.2'. I always check carefully and give customers the benefit of my 31+ years of experience. When I see someone's not sure about making the purchase, I see if I can make them an offer on what they want so they don't have to walk away empty handed, because I appreciate that they took the time to come here to my store, spent the gas money to get here, and I want them to leave with a good experience and some great comics in hand.
Each weekend in January, I've offered a sale. I've advertised it, though no one has seemed to pay attention to it.
Yes, in December, many people came through for me during those 13 days between the 18th and 31st, and we did make a dent in the rent, and we appreciate all of you very very much, but there's still work to do. So to everyone who hasn't come to visit us: I have even *more* great comics to sell. Will you come in and take advantage of what we have to offer?
I've still got the sale going.
• 25% Off single Graphic Novels OR
• 40% Off each Graphic Novel if you buy FIVE at a time
• Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) on Recent Releases
• 60% Off Standard Back Issues
• 60% Off All Toys & Action Figures
Goody bin comic *deals* can be discussed on a case-by-case basis, *including* the new collection we got in. I can even do 20% off consignments. There are a lot of *new* back issues that have been added to the store, and there will be even more going out for sale as fast as I can get them out on the sales floor!
If you would like to be part of Comic World's future, please come and play a positive role in helping us have one. I can't put it any better than that.
Those who would like to see us fail, please stay home with your scythes, pitchforks and shovels.
We're not dead yet.
Any creators who would like to help us succeed by doing a signing, let us know when you might be available, when you might have a hole in your schedule, so we can book you.
We're a small store, but we've been around 31+ years. It took an auto accident, being struck from behind, screwing up my back and neck, causing nerve damage to kick me this far down. But I'm getting back up, slowly but surely. I've never been a quitter, even when I felt like it some days. I hope that stands for something in today's day and age!
I don't have a bottomless wallet funding me. Those who made donations last month, Ashley and I thank each and every one of you! For those who wanted some *bang for their buck*, well I don't blame you, which is why I have so many sales and deals going on for you.
Over time, for those who shop here on a regular basis, who buy their new comics from me regularly and pay timely, either weekly or twice monthly, I promise you I will save you money and make it worth your while. We're only two miles from our last location, and we've been here more than two years, yet some folks are reluctant to make the drive. Again, there are treasures lurking in the comic bins and on the racks; if you *really* look, you'll no doubt find something awesome to take home and enjoy!
"What's in a sale?" I began this missive, and I suppose the answer to that question is in the outcome.
Every "sale" we ring through brings us closer to our goals of being debt free, getting our product on time, staying on task by supplying you with all the new comics as well as back issues you can buy up to take home.
Every "sale" we run is money in *your* pocket. By that, I mean the money you save by buying back issues or recent releases at "a sale price" from me keeps money in *your* pocket that you can spend on a night out to the movies, dinner, or some other fun event. Why pay more from someone else when we'll save you money when you come here and shop with Ashley and me?
Of course, it's your choice.
We're by no means perfect or drama-free, as evidenced by our health, money, car and house problems. As we said in our Go Fund Me message, the accident in 2010 caused serious injuries. We incurred debt simply by not opening on time due to physical therapy, doctor's appointments, attorney meetings and just simply not being able to move as easily as before. We're only now trying to get the store open at an earlier time. We still fall short of our posted times and beg your forgiveness.
Then, in 2011, I had the retinal detachment that almost cost me what was left of my eyesight. One specialist believed the car accident itself may have caused "a micro-fissure behind the retina" that "began the process of the detachment" (his words), because my head met the headrest with significant force (!) after the seatbelt caught me and threw me back against it. If we hadn't been wearing seatbelts, we might have smashed our faces against the dashboard and/or steering wheel (we were just stopped at a stop sign, yielding to oncoming traffic).
Due to the accident itself and the retina issue, I have significant mobility issues, and can't lift or have any exertion that could cause the retina to detach. That's aside from the fact that I can't take the strain of lifting, standing overly long, sitting overly long or walking distances due to herniated discs and nerve damage. Plus, I have injuries to my right leg, as I had my foot on the brake when the impact occurred.
Then, this past year (2013), the air handler at home went out three times. Ashley ended up in the ER due to the results of dehydration. These were expensive AC bills. Then, the car went out for 16 days. Another huge bill (not to mention my putting four tires on the car on four separate occasions -- I even posted a picture on one of those jaunts to "Just Tires"). I also had doctor and prescription bills this past year.
No shortage of problems, culminating in our back rent situation.
Now, we hate drama as much as you do, trust me. But we're only human.
We can't help what has happened *to* us. All we can do is try to recover from it in as *positive* a manner as possible, by giving you the best deals we can, and hope you'll shop with us and let us grow once more into the great store we used to be.
We hope you'll join us, shop here, be part of *Team Comic World*, and shape the future of this store into something bright and joyful.
Thanks for listening.
Pat Potter
owner
Comic World
1901 West Bay Drive
Village Plaza
Largo, FL 33770
727-656-5000
Go Fund Me Campaign: http://www.gofundme.com/5v7og0
YouTube Page:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7v3vTz-1T4txLTN2EyXCrQ
Twitter: Comic World @comic_world_01
https://twitter.com/comic_world_01
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Comic.World.1
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