Whedonesque : Comments on 7377 : Nathan vents at Edmonton comic shop,

This site will work and look better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

July 28 2005

Nathan vents at Edmonton comic shop, Over at the official 'Versal boards, our Cap'n has posted a rather delicious rant about a trip to a comic shop. He says to copy and pass around, so click through "more" for his rant in its entirety.

Nathan_Fillion
Serenity Cast/Crew

Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Posts: 9

Posted: 27 Jul 2005 11:44 pm
Post subject: Captain Outraged! Edmonton, fall in!

It is times like these that I feel like Malcolm Reynolds. This is something that would surely get you kicked into an engine. I just went to a comic store to purchase the Serenity comic for my mom. The sweetheart that she is, gave her issues (with her favorite character on the front) to relatives who were having trouble tracking one down. Please bear in mind that Canada is a wonderous place where the service industry is polite and helpful, and that this experience is not the norm. The store I chose, which shall remain nameless (Warp 1 Comics), at an undisclosed location (just off Whyte Ave), has the singlemost sanctimonious, condescending, dishonest a$$hole I've had the misfortune of meeting. My brother and I called ahead to find out they had one issue left, but upon arriving, found out they are gouging people $20 bucks for the damned thing! "That's what they're worth." he sneered at me. I asked him to show me a listing of some sort to back it up. "Well, I just know what I paid Dark Horse for it." He wouldn't show me that, either. I am aware that Dark Horse wasn't expecting these books to sell as well as they are, and that they are going into a second printing, but I just picked up three of them two days ago at cover price at another store. My brother piped up with a, "What an interesting attitude you have." Let me tell you folks, this fella had an attitude, and a smirk that you wanted to knock off his face with a baseball bat dipped in dog poop. Of course, my brother couldn't help letting this guy know who he was trying to hose by holding the issue next to my face. "This guy look familliar? This isn't some JoJo off the street! He knows what he's talking about!" Check this out- the reply of this one-eyed crap-catcher, who shall remain nameless (Darryl) was, (and imagine a dullards voice- how we make people we don't like sound in a story) "Well, then you can call Joss Whedon and ask him."
Wouldn't a smart business man ask me to sign an issue and sell me one at a fair price? Wouldn't that fetch a prettier penny than ripping me off for one issue? Congratulations, dude! You are now on the Browncoat $hitlist.
Never have I tried to wield power in this way, but if being Malcolm Reynolds has taught me anything, it's to follow my over-developed sense of vengeance. BOYCOTT WARP ONE COMICS! If you are in the neighborhood, drop by to tell "Patchy" that Browncoats don't take $hit from anyone. Tell your friends not to shop there, and lock 'em in the airlock if they do. Copy this post and e-mail it to fellow Edmontonians. Bump it to keep it alive.
Thank you. Thank you for letting me rant. If you feel I'm overboard, please feel free to, as Joss would say, contemplate silently.

The Captain

The One True b!X | Cast&Crew | 08:05 CET | 70 comments total | tags:

I wouldn't want to be that guy tomorrow. Fans were quick to discover that the comics shop has a website, with a Contact Us link...

C. A. Bridges | July 28, 08:19 CET

That guy is SO fired.

orphea | July 28, 08:22 CET

Delicious rant indeed. Wow. How incredibly dense of said nameless (Darryl) assistant. How could any self-respecting comic book store assistant not know who Nathan F was? I guess the key words are "self-respecting" . . .

And I finally got my pre-ordered ish 1, all 3 alt covers and all. Lovely.

SoddingNancyTribe | July 28, 08:30 CET

Jealous SNT!!! I'm still waiting for mine (it better come tomorrow or else TFAW!).

Anywho, I love to see that Nathan is such a regular guy and he was outraged like this and reacted just like I suspect a lot of people would've reacted! Good for him!

I would've loved to have been a fly on the wall for all that just to see the guys face when Nathan held up the cover next to him to show him who he was talking too!

How great is that that they are selling like crazy! Wonder if that's why I'm still waiting for my long ago pre-ordered one? If it's a sign that the movie is going to do well then I can be patient (as long as I get it tomorrow!)

Firefly Flanatic | July 28, 08:36 CET

Ok, I contemplated silently. And then I had to comment quietly: Might Nathan have written this in the heat of the moment and regret posting it later? It's true that the comic dude was a jerk, but that rant, though amusing, made Nathan sound a trifle...full of himself. (Don't hit me) I love the man, he's provided me with endless hours of entertainment, and I understand celebrities are people, too, but I just think if he is going to use the awesome power that he must know that he wields, it ought to be about something a little less....petty. Am I wrong?

[ edited by aver on 2005-07-28 06:40 ]

aver | July 28, 08:38 CET

I respectfully disagree Aver. I think it is very appropriate to rant about someone trying to rip off the fans with such outrageous price gauging. The comic cost less than $3.00 at the TFAW website and he's trying to charge $20 for it. I see Nathan feeling protective of the Browncoats and being outraged at someone trying to blatantly rip us off.

[ edited by Firefly Flanatic on 2005-07-28 06:43 ]

Firefly Flanatic | July 28, 08:41 CET

HeeHee. I was highly amused, and would've boycotted the shop if I lived in Edmonton. I fully agree with the Capt'n. That guy sounds like a real jerk, akin to the "Browncoats" who rip off fellow fans on eBay.

non sequitur | July 28, 09:01 CET

I read that and thought, someone hacked his username. Is that real? How can that be real?

Succatash | July 28, 09:07 CET

Aver, I totally agree with you. However, I'm still very amused. And the comic shop jerk totally deserves to take some serious heat for trying to pull a fast one on the lead actor of SERENITY. I mean, come ON.

orphea | July 28, 09:09 CET

I honestly don't see how it makes Nathan sound full of himself. This store guy was an unprofessional(there we go again) ass. If you have a store and you get customers there's ways to act and things to do, and then there's ways NOT to act and things you SHOULDN'T do. Great rant. Hell, it sounds like how I sound when I meet morons like that!

The comic cost less than $3.00 at the TFAW website and he's trying to charge $20 for it. I see Nathan feeling protective of the Browncoats and being outraged at someone trying to blatantly rip us off.

Yeah, ripping people off to boot! 20 bucks?? Even at the Comicon where they jack prices up, I got mine for only 5 bucks! 'I know what I paid Dark Horse' my foot, you lying piece of....argn.

I gotta say I've always heard horror stories about some comic stores in the USA or Canada. The worst I've encountered here myself is bad service in the sense that they're kind of slow or not too polite, but generally it's not been too bad. (Although I did get shafted and paid full price on something that said '50% off' and found out too late, but that was more stupidity then evil intentions.

I now go to Golden Apple on Melrose. They say Sam Jackson, Keanu Reeves, Nic Cage and the like have shopped there but I've yet to see anyone like that! They're nice enough though, maybe Nathan should hop over for issue 2. And announce it so I can be there too, hehe.

EdDantes | July 28, 09:14 CET

I just hope that Darryl is the owner, cuz then the boycott would be fully justified. I hope he isn't just some schmo clerk who just got his boss a lot of grief!

Rogue Slayer | July 28, 09:19 CET

I have to agree with Aver. I can just picture Mr. Fillion holding a Serenity comic up next to his head and saying, "Don't you know who I am? I can't believe you don't want my autograph."

Wow. That's not a pretty picture.

That comic book guy has a limited edition print on his hands, selling like hotcakes. So he decided to charge 20 dollars for the last copy. Sounds like he didn't like being put in his place by a celebrity, either.

Part of me still isn't sure this rant is real...

Isn't there a James M./Smallville thread nearby talking about the importance of "rising above it" when it comes to classy Internet publicity?

Succatash | July 28, 09:24 CET

Isn't there a James M./Smallville thread nearby talking about the importance of "rising above it" when it comes to classy Internet publicity?

Yes, but most of us came to the conclusion that there was no need to "rise above it." If someone is abusing you, you don't bend over and say "Please, sir, I'd like some more!"

Nebula1400 | July 28, 09:31 CET

I don't think Nathan sounded full of himself either. It was his brother who held the comic up beside Nathan for nameless's (Darryl) benefit, lot of good it did (though no doubht it must have been satisfying). If there had been Browncoats at the store, I'm sure they would have done the same (and then some).

plunk | July 28, 09:44 CET

Succatash, the conversation about the price seems to have gone on for a bit before Nathan's brother (not Nathan) held up the comic next to Nathan's face.

And, yes, we are all aware of who Nathan is because we're Firefly fans but I guarantee you most probably don't know who he is and Nathan seems very much aware of that so I don't see it as him throwing his celebrityness around at all. The comic book store clerk/possible owner was taking advantage of a potential customer regardless of who he turned out to be. This may have been the last comic he had in the store but he certainly can (and most likely did) order more. I wouldn't expect any store selling Firefly goods to suddenly jack up the price because it is, say, the last copy of the Firefly DVDs that they happen to have just as I wouldn't expect any store to do that with the comics. Stores often run out of stock, especially when it unexpectedly sells better than they expected and they order more.

[ edited by Firefly Flanatic on 2005-07-28 07:54 ]

Firefly Flanatic | July 28, 09:47 CET

Seems to me, like it or not, the comic book guy has every right to put his last Serenity comic under a glass display and put a $20 price tag on it. It could easily sell for that much on Ebay.

I used to be a waiter in Vale, Co. Sometimes rich people would snap their fingers at me and say, "Don't you know who I am?" and I would make sure to give them the worst service in the world.

It's quite a stretch to say that the comic book guy was abusing Nathan. The comic book guy could easily make the claim that he is the victim, especially after Nathan's post. I know Nathan is joking, but he actually encourages us to kill people who shop there. WOW! I bet Nathan wakes up with a hangover.

Succatash | July 28, 10:02 CET

Actually the employee downright lied by saying that it's worth 20 dollars, and that while he doesn't have a listing, he knows that's what he paid Dark Horse for it.

Seems to me the comic store guy was being a jerk about it, and that Nathan called him on it, and I don't think his brother went too far to say that he would know how much it's worth considering he's on the comic's cover.

The guy tried to rip him off, Nathan posted an angry rant about it, I would do the same thing.

[ edited by rabid on 2005-07-28 08:09 ]

rabid | July 28, 10:08 CET

Of course he has every right to do what he wants to do and Nathan has just as much right to complain about the ridiculous price the guy is asking for and the rude treatment.

I'm not trying to change your mind. Obviously people are going to see this differently. I didn't get the same impression you did obviously and people will make up their own minds which way they lean on this. So if the majority feel the same way you do they will gladly shop at this store and pay $20 for a $3 comic whereas those of us who agree with Nathan will shop elsewhere and save a bundle!

But I do get why you may feel this way after what you've had to deal with some celebrities. I kind of thought it was an over blown news story of Oprah not being allowed to shop at some French store while in France and it was turned into her being shunned when the store was closed at the time even though there were still some people in the store. A lot of shops will put up a closed sign and let the customers who are still in the store finish shopping while not let anyone else in. To me, that was a case of a celebrity trying to take advantage of who they are. I don't get that vibe with Nathan at all though.

Firefly Flanatic | July 28, 10:11 CET

Nathan's intense and sensitive and maybe a little innocent. All of which help to define him as a character and actor. I don't for a single moment believe he's full of himself, as others have pointed out. His brother helped stoke Nathan's boiler, I think.

And 'Tash, where's that imagination I know you have. He didn't suggest anyone "kill" anyone. He distanced that idea by putting the incident in the Firefly universe. It's a joke.

Everything else aside, I think he ought to edit the post some more and not give away too much detail, and let the incident be more entertaining. But I think he really felt the principle of good service and standard of treating others as you would have them treat you were practically destroyed in this incident. And no one should have to put up with such bull.

Drifter | July 28, 10:21 CET

I've learnt to my cost from years ago "never post when angry, it has consequences".

Simon | July 28, 10:24 CET

I'm a fellow Edmontonian and I have no problem with Mr. Fillion's attitude. Around here we don't take celebrity too seriously. For what it is worth, Mr. Fillion hasn't had much press locally and I doubt Darryl knew that Mr. Fillion was a local. What I object to is the fact that the comic book clerk seemed to know who Joss Whedon was and was taking full advantage of the Whedonverses' ability to sell merchandise and hose their customers. I've seen Diamond Select figures sold for three times their regular price at certain stores and that is not the norm. As a consumer, I welcome Mr. Fillion's rant. I don't feel that any store has the right to sell merchandise for that outrageous a markup or, for that matter, treat any customer so shabbily. I have no intention of visiting Warp One Comics anytime soon.

Anne 5_by_5 | July 28, 10:26 CET

It's actually not that I think Nathan was trying to use his celebrity at the comic store so much as it was kind of an abuse of his considerable power on *that* website for a less than glorious cause. I mean, we've all been condescended to and treated badly by customer service representatives, (Hell, I wanted to smack a Pier One clerk for his indifferent stance just yesterday), but we call their manager or write a letter to their corporate office. By broadcasting this on a Browncoat forum, it gives this minor offense major heft and it just doesn't seem worthy of rallying the troops for. Again, I love Nathan, but I question the worthiness of this cause.

aver | July 28, 10:41 CET

It appears a couple of Edmontonians have posted that Darryl's behavior is par for his business practices. Mr. Fillion's unfortunate run in with him is apparently not uncommon.

Anne 5_by_5 | July 28, 11:42 CET

I think it's a good idea for people to alert comics buyers when some of these shop owners price-gouge. Everyone who's into comics has had the experience of seeing hot comics get marked-up when they're only weeks old and couldn't possibly have gone up in value that quickly. And then sure 'nuff a couple of years later, you look in Wizard or the Price Guide and the issue that was supposedly worth 20 bucks is now worth about dollar more than the original price. Or try to sell it back to them in a couple of years and see if they agree it's worth 20 bucks. "Oh, that. That's not really much in demand anymore." Sound familiar?

So good on Nate for outing this guy. His voice will be heard and he took advantage of that. It's about time some (and I emphasize "some"; there are a lot of good shops out there) of these Simpsonesque Comic Book Guys got theirs.

batmarlowe | July 28, 12:10 CET

Nate can be a fiery, passionate person (and also, the idea choice for Mal). When you see message board postings from him, you realise 'Hey, this is a person, who isn't actually Mal'.

I'm with him on this one 110%. They are ripping people off. He told people, as he's in a position to.

gossi | July 28, 13:03 CET

Well, if *I* were to buy this comics, this would probably cost me $20 or more... with the change tax and the shipping to france...

Does anyone know how I can manage to buy this comics in the euro-zone (at least, this would cancel the tax change, if not the shipping cost)?

Le Comité | July 28, 13:35 CET

Le Comité: I did a quick search on Google and if you click on the link below, this particular UK store still has the first issue for sale.

Serenity comic book for sale

It would appear they ship to France.

Or you could wait for the trade paperback collection, which I reckon will be out in December or January.

Simon | July 28, 13:46 CET

Yes, but it is still out of the euro-zone (you know, britain and euro, a long story ;) ). This means that the tax change I'll pay will be nearly equal to the cost of the comic book!

By "euro" I meant the money, not europe.

Or you could wait for the trade paperback collection, which I reckon will be out in December or January.

Yeah, that's what I thought I would do first... but since the comics is supposed to make the link between Objects in space and the movie, I thought it would be better to read it before the end of september.

Nevertheless, you gave me an idea: I will look for shops in ireland (which is, if I'm not mistaken, in the euro-zone; well, not "your" ireland, simon, "the other" ;) ).

Le Comité | July 28, 13:57 CET

Don't be all down on Nathan. He did the right thing. Darryl got off easier than the crappy clerk somewhere who sold me crappy overpriced DVDs recently. My words about their quality and the store's quality were much harsher. Some people have a problem when you let others know how you feel about an issue, especially a business one or an iffy ethical one. I'll save face and not rant about how wrong it is to stand around quietly and smile and and politely agree while one is being taken advantage of. In closing, I agree with Nebula1400: "If someone is abusing you, you don't bend over and say "Please, sir, I'd like some more!"

WhoIsOmega? | July 28, 14:13 CET

Bugger I forget about the eurozone, ah in Europe but not part of it. There is a Forbidden Planet in Dublin from what I can remember.

Simon | July 28, 14:23 CET

Even though the UK did not adopt the Euro (thank god) we are still in the free trade area. There will be no extra tax for shipping within Europe, you will have to convert the price in UK Pounds into Euros and see how much it comes to, even countries within the Eurozone can have different prices. Check with your credit card company if they charge for foregn currency purchases, some do, some dont.

zz9 | July 28, 14:36 CET

Just e-mailed that store and suggested that Darryl needed either a serious attitude adjustment or a new job in a back room where talking to the public isn't an issue. Bet they're getting a lot of similar comments, as well they should. Actually, I enjoyed the rant...ripping off people pretty much deserves it :-)

sandyg | July 28, 15:18 CET

Well, if *I* were to buy this comics, this would probably cost me $20 or more... with the change tax and the shipping to france...

Just roughly checked their AGB, but blackdog.de is a halfway decent source. I don't know if they will restock on the first issue, the webshop sucks and when they were short of supply they increased the price to €5. If an abo is possible outside of Germany you get a nice discount and pay €2.14 for the comic (and at least inside G. shipping is 1.50 instead of 2.50). Requires a CC, though.

But... are you absolutely sure there is not a single store or online shop in France that is selling them? I assume you already checked here

Trienco | July 28, 15:21 CET

Thanks all for your advices.

zz9: yes, my CC company charges for change (for example, I have been charged when I bought the FF DVD on amazon.co.uk).

trienco: yes, I have searched for shops in france, but most of them do not update their website frequently and they do not seem to propose online shopping easily.

I have however figured a way to make things simplier: I'll try to get one of my friends living in paris to find it for me (there are in paris much international comic shops than elsewhere).

Le Comité | July 28, 15:51 CET

I had no problem with Nathan's post, just as I loved reading William Shatner's claim in "Get a Life" that he was making a point to walk through dealer's rooms at conventions and pointing out, loudly, any autographed Shatner merchandise that he had never actually autographed.

The clerk had every right to charge what the market will bear. But I think he was eight kinds of fool. When a celebrity comes in your shop, particularly one whose celebrity has made you a lot of money, you don't owe him or her anything but you're an idiot to miss the opportunity, much less treat the person poorly. He should have given Nathan whatever he liked, and then gotten pictures/autographs/whatever. How much would it be worth for him to have a picture of Captain Mal standing in front of his shop?

C. A. Bridges | July 28, 17:12 CET

I'm glad I'm not the only one who hasn't gotten my comic yet, Firefly Flanatic. Misery loves company... and your threats to TFAW made me laugh out loud.
I got an email from them on Monday saying that my comic (that I pre-ordered well before July 13) was being prepared for shipping. Prepared! And now it's almost time for the second one to come out.
This will be the first comic I've ever read, and so I'm very anxious to receive it.

On the subject of Nathan's post - I am a bit surprised that he would post something like this. That said, I understand. It's just human nature to want to share when something upsets us. Hence my own rant about TFAW.

obsessed | July 28, 17:17 CET

I think a lot of what he said was unnecessary. Admittedly some of it was funny but it's the first thing I've ever read from a Whedonverse actor that has made me feel uncomfortable. I don't think the store or the individual should have been named. There is a genuine problem about comic book overpricing and ripping off fans but I doubt this will help.

Simon | July 28, 17:23 CET

Eh, didn't bug me. The guy sounded like he was being a tool, but to his regret he found he was being a tool to the wrong guy that day.

TVsBrent | July 28, 17:26 CET

Oh don't get me wrong, what the retailer did was plain darn wrong and really had a David Brent feel to it. Thankfully the comic book shop where I shop at has some very nice assistants.

And hi to the lurkers from various comic book message boards and forums. No doubt this'll end up on Newsarama, Comic Con's The Pulse, Comic Book Resources, Heidi's 'The Beat', Ellis' mailing list and for all I know Wizard Magazine.

Simon | July 28, 17:46 CET

I believe the named indiviual actually owns the store in question, if anybody hasn't noticed already.

To be clear: if you are going to charge 10 times the going rate for a comic, that's a little risky. You risk something like this happening. The store owner probably doesn't care as he can still make a quick buck, though.

Nathan speaks his mind online, which I actually LIKE. You know when all those fans rip the shit out of Buffy actors and they say nothing? Those Buffy actors are still pissed off. So one of them acts pissed off, and that's bad? Nah. If somebody was selling access to Whedonesque, I'm sure we'd all tell them where to go, and mention that people shouldn't be paying like that. Nathan likely has the money to pay those kind of prices, but he doesn't want to see the people supporting the work (ie you guys) to be blatently ripped and lied to. You could argue he could have posted a 'Hey, don't shop at this store' message - but, you know, being a PR person online to please some people ain't his job.

When I see a message like that on a forum, I think, my gosh Nathan's being a fairly normal online forum poster. And that's all kinds of neat. Can you honestly say you expect Sarah Michelle Gellar or David Boreanaz to pop online to have a quick natter with the fans about non-publicity related matters, helping people out?

[ edited by gossi on 2005-07-28 15:56 ]

gossi | July 28, 17:55 CET

There's a difference between what I post in a forum and what a film/movie star posts. My posts won't end up as a gossipy piece on TV Guide's website. We the fans know where he's coming from, whether or not the general public will is another story.

But I do like the fact that Nathan comes to the board and talks to the fans, it adds to the sense of community.

Simon | July 28, 18:05 CET

Yeah, I agree that Nathan possibly hasn't learnt how far these things travel yet online (although he is reasonably clued up on it). However, if he's willing to accept the responsibility, all power to the man I say. I am totally bias, however, as I cut the guy slack for being very very different to Boreanaz and co. This guy is a gamer, loves Halo, posts online, appears to be well clued on the show he was in and is generally sound.

gossi | July 28, 18:15 CET

... plus, he is canadian! :P

Le Comité | July 28, 18:17 CET

I don’t think Nathan was out of line at all. I had mixed emotions about some of the others cases that have been discussed lately, but none at all about this one.

It does not seem to me that it has anything to do with how he was treated as a celebrity. On the contrary it was the fact that he saw himself as being a representative of any ordinary fan walking into a comic shop. The representative of that comic shop tried to gouge that ordinary fan then lied to him, while smirking about it and treating him badly. In my mind that would be enough for any ordinary fan to get on the internet and tell everybody what had happened so that they would have fair warning about that establishment.

But there was another element to it. Although he was representing and was being treated badly as an ordinary fan, he was not. The representative of this specific comic shop, was using this particular customer’s own image to gouge people and to get them to come into the shop where they would be abused. In other words, imo Nathan has every right to feel even more outraged at how fans are treated and to take steps to protect them when his image is being used as the tool with which to abuse them.

There is a great big patriarchal theme in Firefly concerning taking care of those under one’s leadership as well as people taking care of each other as members of a family of any kind. Nathan’s leadership has been recognized and extolled by other cast members on the show. Although some may feel this is a petty way to use that leadership. i.e against a defenseless little shop clerk, I feel the opposite. It is the shop representative who is abusing their power and I do not have a problem with someone taking action to protect unsuspecting fans who are just looking for a comic book.

newcj | July 28, 18:32 CET

Sorry - I'd just posted that Nathan had edited his comments, which I think someone else has already brought up. Of course, I could be getting this board and 'versal's confused. My apologies...

[ edited by obsessed on 2005-07-28 17:08 ]

obsessed | July 28, 19:05 CET

See - the one thing no one has mentioned in these posts is that he was trying to find a copy for his mom. I'm betting that that was one of the things that really pissed him off.

Znachki | July 28, 19:11 CET

There's a difference between what I post in a forum and what a film/movie star posts. My posts won't end up as a gossipy piece on TV Guide's website.

Sorry, but if you own a store, then ripping people off and horrible manners can get you bad word of mouth. That's simply part of the business and that's all this really is. If anything gets him in trouble is being stupid enough to overcharge a $3 comic up to $20. That generally has the result of people taking their business elsewhere. And to warn others about that is perfectly within their rights.

We the fans know where he's coming from, whether or not the general public will is another story.

The majority of comic fans won't even be shaken by this. The general public who don't even buy comics will not care in the slightest. The only people that will make a difference here are the ones who buy comics, happen to come across this article, who like FF and live in this store's area! That's gonna be a very tiny group.

And if this guy gets a couple of angry emails because of this, well good. Maybe he'll learn some manners. Thought I doubt it.

It does not seem to me that it has anything to do with how he was treated as a celebrity. On the contrary it was the fact that he saw himself as being a representative of any ordinary fan walking into a comic shop.

Exactly.

There is a great big patriarchal theme in Firefly concerning taking care of those under one’s leadership as well as people taking care of each other as members of a family of any kind.

That's funny. That's exactly what I said to my wife. This is very 'Captain Mal' of him when you think about it. He gets very protective of what he considers 'his' group of people.

EdDantes | July 28, 19:15 CET

I can’t believe I am actually defending someone who is dishonest. Yikes.

Am I the only one who thinks that calling for a boycott of a store because of attempted overcharging is somewhat extreme? This guy could loose his business and if he doesn’t, it sure isn’t for lack of intention. What if he has a family to support?

The shopkeeper should have thought of that beforehand then – true enough, but still. Shouldn’t trading standards deal with this via a fine or warning? Make the punishment fit the crime?

This all strikes me as very disproportionate and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Big difference between justice and revenge. Nobody wins here, everybody looses. I don’t like it.

miranda | July 28, 19:33 CET

Znachi - that was my thought too - it seems NO ONE messes with Nathan's mom which makes him even more adorable to me!

As for his rant - 10 years working at an enormous independent bookstore taught me that word of mouth is everything. Customer service reputations can make and break a business and obviously the owner doesn't seem to care that much about it. It's one of the last remaining arenas of power that we consumers have anymore - where we spend our money. I wonder how long that store will last now?

ruthless1 | July 28, 19:38 CET

I have to admit that shops are free to charge whatever they like for their products. But selling something still in production for many times the sticker price does not seem "right". Everyone accepts that if a shop had "Superman #001" for sale they'd want more than a couple of dollars for it, but a current issue...

And this guy really did miss a trick, as pointed out he could have given Nathan the comic free in return for a photo or signing a couple of items and been FAR better off!

zz9 | July 28, 19:48 CET

Yay! Just got my comic today!! Obsessed, you probably will too! Now off to greedily read it!

Firefly Flanatic | July 28, 19:50 CET

I do know that prices were gouged(or was it the buyers?) at the Comicon for various things, but no one really complains because you expect it there. (And to be fair, there were a lot of good deals too, but it's no fun buying something and then seeing it two stands own for half the price!)

As crappy as it is, this guy probably saw a big demand for the comic and had probably raised the price a few times to see what the market would bear. That's business. You try to get as much money as people are willing to pay. Sure, some folks are more honest than others, but I'm sure no one here would put something on Ebay and then insist the price not go higher than a certain amount. It's human nature to get more if you can.

That said, is it a full moon or something? What's up with these folks in the public eye reacting so...strongly(imo, of course)?! Can't we all just get along? No...probably not. That's not human nature either! ;~P Heck, I don't even agree with my hubby on this one!

Rogue Slayer | July 28, 20:05 CET

As crappy as it is, this guy probably saw a big demand for the comic and had probably raised the price a few times to see what the market would bear. That's business. You try to get as much money as people are willing to pay.

If he has the right to get as much as he can get for it, then customers have the right to be well-informed about that. And now thanks to Nathan a lot of people are. Isn't it peachy how we all got them 'rights' thingies?;-)

Heck, I don't even agree with my hubby on this one!

That's perfectly okay honey. You don't really need those footrubs right?;-)

EdDantes | July 28, 20:19 CET

Completely agree with newcj's comments so won't add to that here.

In response to Miranda's post I believe that in a capitalist economy then the consumer has the ultimate veto, i.e. the removal of our business, and that we should not be afraid to use it. It is entirely possible that the shop keeper is not actually breaching any trading laws (I am not a lawyer, or Canadian) but the combination of greed, lying (about the price at which he bought it) and apparent bad attitude make this one a prime candidate for losing business for the common law offence of Being Rubbish at Retail. This, I believe, will be the effect of Nathan's post. First person to open up a decent comic shop on that block stands to make a fortune :-)

Finally, we hear enough complaints that celebrities live in ivory towers so I am pleased that an actor I choose to admire has shown me that he deserves that admiration by sticking up for the little guy (which is my take on the affair) and his Mum!

Bill Door | July 28, 20:23 CET

That's perfectly okay honey. You don't really need those footrubs right?;-)

Hey now, that's not fair....

But, so long as everything else is getting rubbed, I guess my feet can go without for a while! ;~)

Rogue Slayer | July 28, 20:47 CET

Agree with comments supporting Nathan. Plus, I want to point out how awesome it is that he went to the comic book shop himself to get his mother (his mother) an issue.

ringworm | July 28, 20:49 CET

One point to bring accross... in the title of his post, he asks "Edmonton" to fall in.

He might not have expected the full Browncoat legions to write in to tell this guy what a dipwad he is...

Aurra | July 28, 21:01 CET

More reports over at the 'Versal Board indicate that Darryl is the owner of this and two other Warp Stores (Warp I, II, III) and that they are pretty much jerks to everyone.

So, the way I see it, what went around is finally coming around!

Znachki | July 28, 21:03 CET

I believe Nathan was well within his rights to post this.

Many shop owners and employees of shops treat customers badly thinking that there isn't much that the customer can do about it. Nathan has proved them wrong.

If the owner of the shop does not want customers telling people about being treated horribly in thier store, he HAS to improve customer service.

Mycroft | July 28, 21:16 CET

Great post from Nathan. I myself would have gone off on the clerk right there in the store. Bastard!

nychick | July 28, 22:06 CET

The issue isn't really how much the shop was charging...he can set whatever price he feels the market will bear.

The issue is that he misrepresented the value of the comic AND openly lied about the markup. I don't know about Canada, but in the U.S. that amounts to fraud and the guy would be lucky not to be slapped with a hefty fine.

Nathan was absolutely right to out this guy.

mnspnr | July 28, 22:18 CET

Ok, I feel less bad knowing this guy is the owner. I don't care so much about the pricing issue as I do that he was rude in a customer service position.

Rogue Slayer | July 28, 22:21 CET

Truth be told, if anyone else here had the same clout, wouldn't you use it if you were mightily ticked? Who hasn't wished that they could go on a pedestal and give the old "1 Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces" style rant at those in the past that said they'd never be a success? Look at Oprah, with her department store thing. Ok, best not to. :)

Mort | July 28, 22:29 CET

Note to self: Do not upset Fillion. Second note to self: a public upbriding by Fillion might be worth it just to get that close. Unless he says "You can call me Caleb" and is wearing a hefty ring. Then run.

Personally, I think it's funny. I imagine that particular Comic Book Guy will discover how mighty the 'Verse is soon enough.

GrrrAargh | July 28, 22:45 CET

If Nathan had started throwing things at the comic store owner (like Russell Crowe did at the Hotel desk clerk), then I could understand objecting to his behavior. But advertising that this store owner was trying to price gouge is perfectly within his rights, and within the dictates of good manners.
Now I just bought up the last copy of 'Serenity' at MY local comic book store, and they sold it to me for the cover price even though they were well aware that the comic is sold out and is going into a second printing. And of course in consequence I will happily continue to patronize my local comic book store.

embers | July 28, 23:30 CET

Good grief! Firefly Flanatic, this is just scary. I just checked the mail - and my comic is here!

obsessed | July 29, 00:02 CET

I can control the mail with my brain!!

Firefly Flanatic | July 29, 00:06 CET

BWHAHAH! Well, I sure am glad you can! Going to read now... :)

obsessed | July 29, 00:08 CET

I fully support Nathan's post - how arrogant of the owner to expect he can treat customers (celebrities or not) this way without consequences.

How much I would have paid to have seen that comic store scene I do not know. More than $20 ;)

I would like to point out that my local comic book store owner is a real gent and I have already received my Serenity #1 (all covers).

The Do That Girl | July 29, 00:22 CET

While $20 seems a bit steep (and I am not up on my Canadian exchange rates), by now I would expect to pay no less than $6-8 U.S. for the book. It seems to be causing a similar problem to Astonishing X-Men #2. However, I would like to think that my buddies down at the local comic book store would never treat anyone like that. They bend over backwards because it is more difficult for small stores in the new days of Ebay.

It was pretty cool when Serenity and the Freshman were released though, my store couldn't even fill their pre-orders for either title, and I am not sure that Serenity ever made it to the shelves because of such high demand.

rockchalkwatcher | July 29, 21:33 CET

You need to log in to be able to post comments.
About membership.

« Older Slayercruise 2007 Announced for Ju... | Spike's Necklace to be on eBay. Newer »