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- CommentAuthorLee
- CommentTimeMar 12th 2010
No, not mine, but OK have loads. Dunno about postage costs, but you seem to be able to collect them from the shop quite easily... -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 12th 2010
hahaha good call! -
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CommentAuthorOK Comics
- CommentTimeMar 13th 2010
Now there's an interesting concept.
I don't need to point out that building up OK Comics has taken years, money, and some effort. Creating and running the website/forum is not something I could have done without help from some very generous people.
I know people who post here who are unable to afford to buy stuff in the shop and are buying from stuff listed here. So, the question is, and it's a serious question that I'd welcome honest answers to, the question is...
"Do you think it's right that OK Comics continue to allow people to use the OK Forum to advertise and sell comics, specifically targeted to existing OK Comics customers?"
A friend of mine was at a gig a few months ago. He stood at the merchandise stand and jokingly pretended to nick a CD. The girl behind the counter said something like "hey, that's stealing" to which he replied "I'll just steal it off the internet when I get home". -
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- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 13th 2010 edited
yes... sort of... tis complicated... currently no ones actaully slling anything over this forum, just posting ebay links, hmm... -
- CommentAuthorgreg75
- CommentTimeMar 13th 2010
comics pound each on e-bay free postage all of them under karbesam72. -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 13th 2010
Although I no longer live in Leeds and thus am not an OK customer anymore, most of the stuff I'm selling was bought from your good selves, so I didn't think it all that cheeky to post on here about it ;-)
Having said that, I would totally understand if you guys didn't want people advertising their wares on here and I'd abide by such a rule. As things are there are a lot of threads popping up saying "buy my stuff", could have maybe kept it to one single thread.
I think people who buy from eBay instead (or as well as) from the shop would do so anyway. The "stealing from the internet" analogy only really works for people who come to the shop, looks at stuff on the shelves and then download the comics, not quite the same as buying second hand. -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 14th 2010
in my revised opion I dnt see putting up an ebay link as using this forum to sell things, because your using ebay to sell things, its just a courtisty thing because you know that people here might be interested... -
- CommentAuthorgreg75
- CommentTimeMar 14th 2010
well said smiggy lol -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 14th 2010
that being said I have one bid on my comics, and thats on the free comic book day Sonic the Hedgehog issue, which I only ask for postage on... -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 14th 2010
Woah, this IS Jared's board and so what he says goes, you guys are coming over a bit disrespectful to him. No need for that. -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 14th 2010
no we're not, we're just giving our opions like he asked, being disrespectful would be something like this, "..."
what?, ya think id be that stupid really? lol -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 14th 2010
Putting an eBay link up blatantly IS selling things through the forum though, it's using the forum to advertise what you have for sale, to say it's not is wrong. And Greg even advertised IN this thread, which is what I meant is disrespectful. -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 14th 2010
you did it first :( -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 14th 2010
True, I did, but what's that got to do with anything? -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 14th 2010
its got everything to do with everything, I put my stuff up to try and boast it to buy your stuff... -
- CommentAuthorLee
- CommentTimeMar 14th 2010
Mr OK: although my initial post was a bit in jest and a bit facetious it was also a bit serious so I'm glad I wasn't the only person who thought it a little cheeky to be flogging various wares here. I mean, if it was rare or odd things, then maybe fine. But OK probably has most of these issues for 50p (I may be totally wrong about that so don't feel the need to correct me).
Having said that, and having started the debate in the first place, I'm generally against rules and restrictions online, and think that a happy board can moderate itself - we can buy from you, or from each other, and can not bother as we see fit. Nobody said when we registered that you can't advertise your eBay lists, so nobody has done anything wrong. Personally, I don't care, and I spend all my spare cash in OK so have nothing let for eBay anyway...
Was that totally fence-sitting? -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 14th 2010
if OK can provide Midnighters issues I would be most happy to purchase from there... -
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CommentAuthorOK Comics
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
Lee. I could see the seriousness of you post through the veil of humour. I'm glad you said it as I was starting to think it was only me who thought this...
Lost of good posts here everyone.
It's really interesting to see what people see as acceptable or unacceptable behaviour.
A few questions...
1. If the internet didn't exist and you wanted to sell something, for example CD's, would you hang about in HMV with your CD's in you hand and go up to people telling them "Don't spend your money on that, buy these from me?"
2. If you were shopping for DC's and somebody came up to you in a HMV and said "Oh you like music eh, how about buying these" what would you think?.
3. On a scale of 1 to 10 how much do either of these differ from selling YOUR comics through MY forum.
As before I'd welcome honesty.
I'm not going to fall out with anyone, nobody's going to get booted off the forum. -
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- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
which is higher 1 or 10? thats a serious question too... the difference is that we're not standing in front of the comic shelves and trying to sell our stuff whilst wearing a big duffle coat... -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
Smiggy, saying "you did it first" is nothing to do with anything. Go back to the start of the thread and you will see that Jared was asking if it was ok to "sell or advertise", and advertising is what we are doing by linking to our eBay sales, I was simply pointing out that you were wrong by saying that's not what we are doing, because it's exactly what we are doing.
If the rules say we can't do that then that's cool and I'll abide by it without complaining. And naturally I would rather people went to OK and paid 50p for any comics I may be selling rather than spend more by buying them through eBay and paying postage.
As for the other questions, if the internet didn't exist I would do what I used to do and take my comics to a comic shop who would buy/trade them off me and sell them on themselves. However these days very few shops do that and I very much doubt the few that do would want much of what I'm peddling.
People have been swapping and giving away comics through this forum (and using the shop as a drop point), comics that could have been bought from the shop, which I think is slightly cheekier than using the forum for posting eBay links (although the argument could be made that swapping stuff in the shop with other customers at least gets people into the shop who may buy something, but they are likely to be going to the shop anyway).
If someone comes on here simply to try and sell something then that's a bit cheeky, but I don't think it's too bad from those who have posted on here for a long time. -
- CommentAuthorLee
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
But people who come on here just to sell include the inconceivably funny Zenthus of "sharp-edged Niagara Falls variant" fame, so surely we need to encourage that?! -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
very good point haha -
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CommentAuthorMike Infinitum
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
My take on it is this:
Although the posters on here chat about a multitude of comic and and non-comic issues, it must be remembered that it is a forum for a shop - a business - and is therefore a tool for OK Comics to connect with it's customers and hopefully increase business (I would assume!). Therefore I think it is reasonable not to expect potential business to be diverted away to other sources. To follow Jared's example, if there was a forum on the HMV website and folks started advertising their own CD's for sale then you can be assured HMV would come down on them like a ton of bricks.
However, I don't think there is a significant problem if the "advert" is not taking any custom away from OK.
My suggestion is thus:
Have a "sticky" post on the front page advising posters that any posts advertising (or directing people towards) goods for sale, must first be e-mailed to OK for permission. If the product is already available at OK - either in stock or can be ordered - then I guess Jared would politely decline the request to post on the forum. If OK know that the product(s) being advertised could not be purchased through OK and thus they are not losing any custom, then they can give the go-ahead. This also gives OK the first opportunity to buy whatever is being offered. -
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- CommentAuthorLee
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010 edited
And, as OK definitely don't stock whatever the hell it was that Zenthus was selling, comedy madmen would still be able to post. Good work, Mike. -
- CommentAuthorgreg75
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
I'd like to make a comment about the way comics are sold.I'd be interested for OK Comics to put their reasons across too I can buy an 80's comic lets say Flash 350 for arguments sake.I have been quoted by comic shops anything from £10 to £50 for this ONE comic.Is this why comic shops DON'T stock back issues in some places due to the fact that buyers can get it cheaper (try 80p on e-bay)now I understand that shops have overheads but isn't that slightly cheating the customers?I've spoken to dealers and shops who say that not one of them would buy a collection of eighties stuff for more than 10p a comic yet shops are quite happy to sell them for a kings ransom.Flash 350 being my case in point.Isn't the danger that now e-bay are selling even new comics for a fraction of the price of comic dealers and more and more people don't have as much money to spend nowadays that people will check on e-bay first before buying from a dealer?
Don't get me wrong whenever I go on holiday the first thing I do is ask if theres anywhere in the vicinity (sorry been watching too much TJ Hooker) that sells comics. -
- CommentAuthorLee
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
I'm never sure if OK aren't missing a trick here. I bought about 54 WildCats issues from them (the first run stuff by Alan Moore and Travis Charest amongst others) for £25. I'm sure that in some stores they'd have been individually bagged and sold for a small fortune. Jared seems to not be predisposed to ripping people off (he regularly tries to talk me out of buying awful Marvel titles...) and sells comics because he likes comics. OK isn't a corporate entity - it's mostly Jared and Oliver and Other Guy in a small (Eisner nominated!) shop in Leeds.
Personally, if the choice we're making is between OK being like OK is and asking people not to advertise cheap comics on eBay on the Forum, or between letting people flog stuff on eBay via here and OK slowly turning into Forbidden Planet, then I'm for the former.
Jared - do you have a copy of Flash #350?
Greg - what happens in Flash #350? Why would anyone part with £50 for it? -
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CommentAuthorMike Infinitum
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
It's simple market forces: If a comic shop has, for example, Flash #350 for sale at say £20, one must assume that's because they know someone will buy it for that. That someone may well be able to buy it for 80p on Ebay - but if they don't know that and are prepared to go into a shop and fork out £20 for it, then why would the shop sell it for less that £20?
Also rememeber that a lot of stuff on Ebay is people just trying to get rid of stuff. That's why you can pick up bargains on there, and why people don't always put a reserve on an item - they aren't that bothered about getting "the market value" of the item, they just want it sold ASAP (for as much as they can get). Whereas a shop may be prepared to play the long game and let an item sit there for several months if they know it's going to go for what they are asking for. -
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- CommentAuthorLee
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
I should add that whilst not trying to rip people off, Jared does need to make a living! -
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CommentAuthorOK Comics
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
There are a few ways that a shop, or ebay seller for that matter, can come to the retail price of a comic.
The price could be based on what the shop has paid to obtain the item, just the same as with new stuff. A business has a set percent that they mark all their goods up by, in order to have enough money to pay the rent/staff wages/electricity bill/refuse collection/loan repayments/music licence/phones/fire extinguishers etc I could go on...
Or.
The price of the comics could be based on what the Overstreet Price Guide says they're worth. I know some businesses who base their pricing structure on this and often advertise their prices as 'less than guide'.
Or.
The price could just be based on what the retailer thinks people will pay.
Or.
A combination of all of the above.
OK Comics buy back issues, usually in large quantities, and we sell everything for 50p per issue. We buy regularly and sell the stuff fast. We're quite open with people and let them know that we pay rock bottom prices, because we intend to sell them cheap.
If a comic retailer is selling a particular book for a premium price, for instance Flash 350 for £10, perhaps that's because they just paid out £100 for a collection, most of which is worth 50p and will take ages to shift.
If you've sold Flash 350 to a shop for 50p and then see it on their shelf for £10 you may think that they've ripped you off, but remember, if the book is still on their shelf, for whatever price, they're still 50p down on the deal.
I don't think we've got Flash 350 in stock at the moment, though with a loft full of back issues, more added every week, it's hard to know exactly what we've got.
But if we do have a copy, it'll be 50p.
There is no doubt that amateur ebay sellers have vastly effected the value of back issues. They've brought them down in such a way that professional dealers can barely compete any more. -
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CommentAuthorMike Infinitum
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
Another thing to bear in mind is that, for me at least, price alone is not the only consideration. If it was I would buy everything off the internet. I choose to go to OK and buy from the shop, accepting that I am paying more than I would on the internet, because the shop offers things that online stores or ebay does not - large stock to browse at my leisure, staff able to answer any queiries I have (in fact just friendly staff to chat to in general in a massive plus over ordering stuff from the internet), chance to get involved in shop-related activities (library service, doodle-booze), buying and having the comics there and then (handy on a Saturday when I can then nip to a pub and read the latest releases, instead of having to get up at the crack of dawn to get down to the Royal Mail collection office), and more besides.
I do order stuff from the internet but usually old stuff that OK doesn't have, or bargains (although for decent stuff that's rarer than you would imagine - I've seen people pay way over the odds on Ebay simply because they don't want to "lose" the auction!) - but if I don't support my local comic shop (in this case OK Comics) then it goes out of business and I won't have any choice, I would have to buy everything online. -
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- CommentAuthorgreg75
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
Very good points everyone thanks for your thoughts.Mike some places sell for that much because (sob)it was the last issue. -
- CommentAuthorNimbus Thitherward
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
I think it escalates beyond reasonable or mildly acceptable when it gets to a point where people are joining the forum just to sell items. -
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CommentAuthorMike Infinitum
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010
Agreed. -
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- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2010 edited
im overwelmed by all this now and have completley forgotten my point, has a conclusion been reached then?
actaully my prices are all wrong, wonderfull, stupid confusing postage rules. Will change them for a short auction in a couple of days.
Not the stupidest thing though, I once put £50 bids down on 6 items in a row without realising because the box saves what ya've typed so I was just presing 5 n not realising id forgotten the decimal point. Ended up getting banded for wivdrawing so many bids. Had to set up a new account, but won them for 20p each anyways.
Then I did it again last year, luckily people stopped bidding after £3. -
- CommentAuthorNimbus Thitherward
- CommentTimeMar 16th 2010 edited
I'm going to wade in feet first with regard to JM's question.
I list books on the forum. I give these away. They are free. And out of courtesy I check with JM first to ensure that
i) he doesn't mind that I'm listing a freebie and
ii) that he doesn't mind that I leave it for collection from the shop.
If he said no I wouldn't offer it. No argument. I respect the owner of the shop and it's staff too much for that. It would go to a charity shop.
Now all those of you either listing comics or offering links to their ebay listings ~ hands up who checked that JM would mind. Never mind arguing amongst yourselves, if you didn't where's the respect or courtesy to the guy that offers you those two things every time you walk through the door of his shop.
More to the point this is the OK Comics forum. Run by a shop. I don't agree with the listing of comics for sale unless it's done by the shop for the shop. I don't agree with the posting of links to comics you have for sale elsewhere. And I definitely have no truck with the one post wonders who join this forum with the sole intent of listing comics for sale.
'Nuff Said. -
- CommentAuthorLee
- CommentTimeMar 16th 2010
Nimbus possibly meant to say "one post wonders except sharp-edged Zenthus"... ;-) -
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CommentAuthorMike Infinitum
- CommentTimeMar 16th 2010
I second that post.
The one by Nimbus, not Lee! -
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- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
Speaking only for myself, I didn't ask because there was never any rule to say "don't sell", thus I (perhaps naively) assumed it would be ok to, as others had done in the past (of course I wasn't then expecting loads of other people to do the same straight away). Perhaps in hindsight this would have been a good idea. I honestly don't think it's any worse than giving stuff away for free though, when that is also stuff that is available in the shop.
In the end it's up to the guys at the shop, it's their shop and their forum and if they feel that certain rules need to be enforced then that's the way to go. -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010 edited
does this mean I have to stop bidding on midnighters stuff? -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
hahaha not to sound self serving, but no one here can stop you bidding on anything from anyone on eBay. -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
they could threatern to bar me from the shop... -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
I very much doubt they would do that as it's bad for business and I can't imagine the guys ever doing anything like that, unless you ran naked through the shop throwing comics everywhere. -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
so thats what you get up to then is it... -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
It's why I was thrown out of Leeds -
- CommentAuthorNimbus Thitherward
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
The other thing that's bad for business is people listing or linking to items for sale on the forum. -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
you already said that... -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
Or giving away things for free that could have been bought in the shop.... I can be just as snide. -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
or saying that The Spirit is a good film... -
- CommentAuthorNimbus Thitherward
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010 edited
Oh Midnighter! You'll have to point out where they have The Wire book. Or the Star Trek books that Smiggy was trying to blag. Or even the Bladerunner book that Smiggy was again trying to blag.
Me, snide?
Smiggy ~ could you point out where I've previously stated it was bad for business?
And I think you're both missing the point ~ I check with the shop, whether it be a comic orientated freebie or some other genre.
By the way Smiggy that last point I've stated previously. -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
I thought your general point was that its bad for buisness... -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
I'm talking about in general, people have swapped or given away things on here before with not a word said.
As for missing the point, see my comment in the other thread, I already said it maybe it would have been an idea to ask first, but pointed out why I didn't. -
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CommentAuthorMike Infinitum
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
Fight! Fight! Fight! -
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- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
I like a good argument on the internet, but I also like to try and have a level headed discussion.... but which is best? There's only one way to find out .... -
- CommentAuthoraydins
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
I did join this forum recently specifically to sell some comics. (although a reader of comics for 30 years really enjoyed reading other posts). This is your forum so you can set the rules how you wish, however successful forums are very open by their nature to
attract the widest audience possible. Business reasons for doing this are to more widely promote your brand/shop and use it to sell your products to a wider customer base. To exploit this you would need to good website where you can easily sell customers outside you local market, and if very successful in attracting forum members you could in addition sell advertising space/links on your site to create additional revenue streams (though realise the comic fan base may be a bit limited).
Your business you decide whether you are genuinely loosing existing customers by letting people sell comics here, or you could aim to become the next forbidden planet (who don't have a great website but I have bought off it) -
- CommentAuthorLamont Cranston
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
I’m not sure why such a fairly simple point as the one Nimbus is making keeps being missed/misconstrued. He’s saying - Ask First. That’s it. That’s all. Nimbus gives stuff away but he asks first. I have given stuff away but I have asked first. The point is not the act of giving stuff away/selling in and of itself, no, the point is the act of giving stuff away/selling once permission has been secured. There’s really nothing to argue about there at all.
Y'know, there’s no rule on this Forum that says I shouldn’t hunt down anyone who continually posts here refusing to acknowledge the genius of Frank Miller’s Will Eisner’s The Spirit and tap on their windows in the night hours with a stick upon the end of which is a clay replica of Richard Stilgoe’s face. But I don’t. And if I did - I’d have asked first. -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
and you'd be wrong to do so, we're is the brilliance in the clones... -
- CommentAuthorLee
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
Lamont, if you ask if you can do that after I point out that Frank Miller's Will Eisner's The Spirit is worse than Michael Pressman's Eastman & Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret Of The Ooze, I'll say yes, of course you can. -
- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
The point Nimbus made about asking hasn't been missed, it's already been answered. I feel this is getting a bit out of hand and it's up to the guys in the shop to decide, no one else. -
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CommentAuthorMike Infinitum
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
"you could aim to become the next forbidden planet"
Comdey gold. -
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- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
Visuals Good...
Inna Monologues Good...
"Somebody get me a tie! I don't care what kind, it sure as hell better be red!", Good
and gotta love a hero with cats...
this is a proper question now, but is the film too toungue-in-cheek, or is it supposed to be and I just missed the point, which only makes it slightly better, if people were expecting more of the seriousness of Sin City... -
- CommentAuthoraydins
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
why would anyone one want to be forbidden planet and have a £4 million plus turnover -daft isn't? -
- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
because they put all there long boxes on the floor, as if the back issue hunters are animals... -
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CommentAuthorMike Infinitum
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
@ aydins - Portsmouth FC have a £70 million plus turnover and look at them! If I want a souless shopping experience, overpriced tat, or some toys, or some movie posters, I'll go to Forbidden Planet. If I want comics I'll go to OK thanks.
@Smiggy - Sin City was serious!? Back issue hunters AREN'T animals!? -
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- CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
im not even gonna justify that... -
- CommentAuthorgreg75
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
Shame ok haven't given their views...but at the end of the day it is their forum.But on the other side it's OK's responsibility to say what goes and what doesn't -
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CommentAuthorOK Comics
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
Hmm. Some interesting stuff here...
I don't totally love it when people list stuff, or link to lists of stuff, that would potentially take money from my till. I pay the rent here (shop premises and website). But I don't mind so much when it's people who post here regularly of other topics, and are regular faces in the shop (I include Midnighter in this, though it's been a while, and we genuinely miss you).
It is a bit annoying when people join up and instantly try to make money here, but those people are welcome here too, hopefully they'll stick around and contribute fun stuff like everybody else.
I think that maybe we'll have to isolate the comic selling to one thread. I'll have to have a think about that...
It is nice when people give the shop a quick call, or drop me an email to check they're not treading on anybody's toes when making their stuff available though OK Comics. But I'm not going to make it a prerequisite.
As for making Free Stuff available, I can only think of a couple of occasions where I've been bothered that people were getting something free while I've got the same thing sat on my shelf, and, you know what, it doesn't really matter that much because it adds to the sense of community. Mike Infinitum touched on it and I think it's an important part of OK Comics.
There are no rules on this forum. We've never needed them. Everybody here tends to play nice and seems to "self police" quite well. I would hope that people who are thinking of constantly listing comics for sale would reach a point where they'd think "hang on, I'm taking the Pzzz here".
That said, there are no rules preventing people from listing there entire sales list here, with prices, shipping costs and payment details. There are also no rules about writing dirty poetry, or using the forum for your weblog, or getting advice about homework... but none of those things are acceptable, so people don't do them.
OK Comics is primarily a high street shop. The main purpose of the website is to show people who haven't been to the store what it looks like, and get a feel for the place.
It's also good for visitors to Leeds to locate us before they come here. There are surprisingly a lot of tourists in Leeds.
And there are features like the 'What's New' page that are only really used by local customers.
Hypothetically, if a company has a turnover of £4 Million, and has annual outgoings of £4.1 Million. Is that good? Hypothetically?
I personally would never measure success by financial gain. If I did, I wouldn't have chosen to sell comics for a living.
Aim to be the next Forbidden Planet eh? Well I'll keep my thoughts to myself about that.
I was the manager of fp Leeds for almost as long as I've owned and run OK Comics. I know how much that shop used to 'turn over' and I know how much we 'turn over' here, and I'm perfectly happy with the situation.
And I have much more fun now.
Nobody has ever been banned from OK Comics, Smiggy, so I'm not going to start now.
We have had naked people in the shop, and not just after hours. Once a teenage german soccer team got one of their players so excited that he took off all his clothes, stood on the couch and pressed himself against the glass. He's welcome back any time.
So. Should we isolate the selling of comics on the forum to one thread?
Should we allow it to continue at all?
What should we do about random 'one post wonders' pimping their comics here?
You decide. -
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CommentAuthorOK Comics
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
Oh, one more thing.
If you get something for free from another forum member, probably a good idea to post a quick note of thanks. -
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- CommentAuthorMidnighter
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
The one thread idea would probably be a good idea, and any time a new poster appears who wants to pimp their sales they could be directed to the thread and, more importantly, be welcomed to the forum and be encouraged to join in other threads, as a lot of these people seem to be from other parts of the country and wouldn't be shopping in the shop itself anyway.
I've only just realised how long it's been since I've actually been to the shop, which also makes me realise how long it's been since I've been to Leeds itself, other than Thought Bubble and Leeds/Bradford Airport. Hopefully one day I'll be through to Leeds for a day and will pop in, but even though Leeds is so close it's also so far when you are self-employed, bills seem to go up every month and only just managing to scrape through in these hard times. But I digress.
Hopefully we can all get back to talking about comics, hating on Liefeld and being amazed at the different ways Lamont can convince people to read The Spirit ;-) -
- CommentAuthorCaptain Si
- CommentTimeMar 17th 2010
Captain Si spills his brains (so this wont take long)...
I've only done the freebie thing once, and i asked nicely, following Nimbus example. It only seemed right - and well, respectful, to be honest. I've been a customer of Jared's since his days at FP and I like the lengths that both he and Oliver (and all the others over the years) have gone to make the place a friendly environment (aside at this point: me and my friend Dan were walking through Thornton's arcade and he was commenting on how intimidating it can be going into some of the smaller retailers where it is just you and the shop staff, so well done on OK for avoiding that horrible stuttering awkwardness you sometimes get!). And, on the odd occasion I have sold comics on fleabay, I've never thought of advertising here as it just didn't feel right to me.
As stated in the post by OK up there (*points*), its hard to begrudge familar faces and regulars from adding links, but as Midnighter noted, is does seem to have started a rash of similar pimpage - mercifully, this forum is largely free of random one post wonders flogging their tat - which does make me feel that whilst this is a public forum, it does also belong to a business and if it gets to the point where folk are routinely listing stuff for sale - everyone needs a clearout once in a while, but there's a difference between that and coming on like you're driving potential business away from OK.
Now, if this was a general comics forum on something like Comic Book Resources or whatever, then I think thats fair enough - they aren't tied to a business that relies on your support.
That is my thoughts.
Thank you. Love and Hugs, Captain Si (orbiting the Earth with his six invincible space cats!) -
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CommentAuthorOK Comics
- CommentTimeMar 18th 2010
Thanks Si.
One thing I would like to add before we hopefully move on... Some people have mentioned that they think it's OK to sell their stuff here because OK Comics doesn't have the exact same thing in stock.
Comics aren't an essential part of human survival, like, say, food and shelter. Comics are a luxury, like DVD's, video games, CD's, books, lapdance clubs etc. And as such, comic shops are in competition with all these places for your disposable income. The money you're hoping to spend on that new computer game, well, it's my job to get you to spend it on a new graphic novel.
We may not have the exact same back issues for sale as people selling on ebay, neither do we have cheap DVD's, but I don't expect HMV to post links on our forum.
Does that make sense? -
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CommentAuthorMike Infinitum
- CommentTimeMar 18th 2010
Yes it does. Good point.
Although you are a bit too good at making me spend my disposable income on new graphic novels!
[Lapdance clubs - essential part of human survival or luxury? Discuss] -
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- CommentAuthorCaptain Si
- CommentTimeMar 18th 2010
Lapdance Clubs..hmm... well, I've never been to one (really!), but a mate of mine goes to them with alarming regularity so I guess he needs them to survive!
There was a heated debate in lousy free sheet Metro the other day, and this wimmins lib lady became a little unstuck in her argument because she seemed to be confusing lap dancing with prostitution. Or at least making the inference that the two amounted to the same thing - the exploitation of women. Which I thought was odd, as I didn't think Lapdance Clubs (which are legal) were run by pimps (who are not). Plus, it does seem to be a fairly lucrative sideline if you are young, female and very attractive. And confident enough to jiggle about to er, relive gentlemen of their money. -
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CommentAuthorMike Infinitum
- CommentTimeMar 18th 2010
"Plus, it does seem to be a fairly lucrative sideline if you are young, female and very attractive."
I'd be loaded, but I seem to be just short of the 3 requirements. -
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CommentAuthorOK Comics
- CommentTimeMar 18th 2010
Though you are willing to jiggle about...? -
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- CommentAuthorCaptain Si
- CommentTimeMar 18th 2010
I bet he is! dance for me Mike! Dance! -
- CommentAuthorLee
- CommentTimeMar 18th 2010
I have seen Mike dance and you WOULD pay to see it, though not for lapdancery reasons... -
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CommentAuthorOK Comics
- CommentTimeMar 19th 2010
I've started a new permanent thread for swapping, selling and freebies. -
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