Saw a guy at the LCS in Austin argue with the owner for 20 minutes about a variant cover being overpriced

It was last Saturday at Austin Books and Comics. This dude was holding a foil variant of some Spider-Man issue and insisted the $30 sticker was a rip off because he could get it cheaper on eBay. Owner just stood there and said 'then buy it on eBay.' The guy kept going and going. I was just trying to flip through the $1 bin and it got so awkward I left without buying anything. Has anyone else had to bail on a shop because of one loud customer?

3 comments

3 Comments

jenny58022d ago

Calling out @the_mary because she nailed it. That guy probably thought if he complained long enough the owner would just give in to shut him up. But comic shop owners hear that all day and they know their numbers. If the cover is $30 in the store and $25 on eBay after shipping that's basically the same thing. Plus on eBay you don't know if the book is mint or if some seller just took a blurry photo. I get why you bailed though. Nothing kills the vibe faster than one person making a scene. It turns the whole place awkward and suddenly you feel like you're in the middle of someone else's drama. Hope you find a better dollar bin somewhere else.

the_mary22d ago

Did he really think the owner was gonna cave after 20 minutes of that? That's like arguing with a cashier about the price of milk because you saw it cheaper at the store down the street. I would have just walked out too, honestly. Some folks forget the shop has to pay rent and employees, not just whatever eBay sellers are dealing with. But yeah, that kind of awkwardness makes you want to grab your stuff and disappear. Hope the dollar bin had something good at least.

gray_schmidt822d ago

Yeah that whole thing is just part of a bigger pattern where people forget a business is not a negotiation floor. @the_mary had it right, it's like arguing over milk prices at a gas station.