Warp 1 Comics Boycott?

[caribou_gen]

Interesting rant from the Captain:


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 wondrous 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 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." I had to tell this purplebelly that I was being sarcastic when I thanked him for his excellent service, and I don't think he knew what sanctimonious meant!

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 "the Buttress" 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

Edited to be less cruel, and to mention how wonderfully my dear mom was treated at HAPPY HARBOR. Thank you, staff and owners at Happy Harbor. You made my mom's day. Turns out, Warp One tried to hose her, too, by telling her that the Jayne covered issue was a rarity. Love you, Adam B. You ARE a rarity. Nothin' agin you. But will these butt-tards stoop so low as to steal from a woman? For shame, Warp One, for shame.

Edited to reflect the current Browncoats post.

Comments

[hubris2.livejournal.com]

Sounds completely valid to me. If they want to be rude and gouge customers, why give them business?

[buhrger]

so are we boycotting all the warps, or just warp 1? i'd been planning on looking for the serenity comics at warp 3.

[oldgoldalsatian.livejournal.com]

One-eyed Darryl is, if I recall correctly, the proprietor of all the Warps. But I'm not boycotting any of them, as decribed below.

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

The corollary to this is that you must tell them that you're boycotting them and why. That way they might change policy rather than just carrying on and ignoring you, or going out of business for a reason they don't understand.

Good luck on getting them to play fairer!

[frabjousdave.livejournal.com]

I had planned on stopping by today to find a copy, after failing to locate one at my neighborhood shop (Nathan's mom already snagged them all). Guess I'll be looking elsewhere, now.

[lindylousmith.livejournal.com]

:) I'd boycott it if I ever bought comics ...

Where did he post this, then?

[hubris2.livejournal.com]

He posted it on the Browncoats forum....you have to sign up to read messages.

He's since edited it to tone down the post a bit....and he found a comic from Happy Harbour.

http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com

[oldgoldalsatian.livejournal.com]

I think I'll keep going to the Warp outlets. Maybe I'll make a special trip.

Yes, Darryl's generally a nasty and unpleasant sort-- and I've been shopping there since he had both his eyes-- but at least he's a miserable shit to everybody equally, famous actors and less attractive types such as your oldgoldalsatian. (I usually ask anyone but him for help, these days.) The comics and memorabilia industry bases its pricing on fads and fashions among the fans. come to think, so do people who make movies. Twenty bucks for a comic book is probably reasonable, given the circumstances-- and given that many people buying comic books now are speculators, motivated by anticipated resale profit rather than by any desire to read storytelling in sequential art. (Is Nathan Fillion suddenly working for scale? You charge what the traffic will bear, in both cases.)

Yes, Darryl might have been smart to get Fillion to sign one, and pose for a picture, but he didn't. So he's not smart. Okay, fine.

Failure to fawn doesn't seem to be grounds for a boycott.

[hubris2.livejournal.com]

I don't think failure to fawn is necessarily the issue.....he tried to pull the celebrity card and it didn't work. Before that occured, your proprietor was being as you call it "a miserable shit". If customers have the choice of going to a store where people are treated with respect, or another where (all other things being equal) they are treated poorly, why wouldn't they vote with their wallets?

I know 'collectable' items are subject to market value. I remember when the Mazda Miata came out.....MSRP of 20K, most dealers charged 30 because they were in demand. There was some outcry just like this.

How about we change the original statement. Rather than a blanket statement of 'boycott Warp I'...how about we state 'Be aware, you will be treated like a miserable shit if you go to Warp I, so unless you have a reason to shop there, consider looking elsewhere'?

[kelc42.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to Warp much lately for various reasons (no longer into comics, closer gaming store with much better selection) but I had been going there since the late 80s. I have never once had a problem with Darryl in all those years. One time after I hadn't been there in a few years I ran into him and he said hello (and asked why I had not been in for so long). If I have need of comics or collectibles Warp is still OK by me, no matter what some put-out star says.

It comes down to the fact that in Darryl's store Darryl can sell Darryl's merchandise for however much Darryl wants, and Darryl doesn't have to tell anyone what he paid for them. If you don't want to buy at that price you can go elsewhere. And yes, if you attack his prices he might get a bit defensive.

I'm also not sure calling Darryl "Patchy" was appropriate, maybe we should boycott Nathan Fillion?

Here Here

[amerald.livejournal.com]

Darryl's store--yup, yup, yup!!!

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

I agree that the "Patchy" comment was juvenile - I see that he has edited it to read "the Buttress" instead which is only a little better. Still, I'll be taking my business elsewhere. I had already decided that a few months ago when I was looking at buying some graphic novels and found Warp One was 1.5 to 2.0 times more expensive than other stores.

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

I agree that the other staff at Warp One are good, but I won't pay the prices they charge. I had already decided that a few months ago shopping for graphic novels when I found their prices to be 1.5 to 2.0 times greater than other stores. Other stores in Edmonton are selling the comics for cover price so I'll buy from them.

One final comment, it was Nathan's brother that brought up the celebrity status, not Nathan himself. Not saying that he might not have played that card if his brother hadn't been around, but it seems unfair to just assume it.

[tellitslant]

Oh, psh. The first run of the Serenity comics sold out practically day one. If Darryl still has some, then I'm not surprised he's charging $20 - that's probably the starting price on eBay. I'm a Warp One member and Darryl has never been anything but sweet to me.

Me, I'm just pissed that I decided not to hit Warp yesterday. So close!

[nlindq.livejournal.com]

Actually, not so much.

Copies of issue #1 are starting at $2.99 USD, and I found listings for all three covers together for $6 USD.

There are currently no listings by Canadian sellers.

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

I've actually received good service at Warp One, but I found their prices to be 1.5 to 2.0 times greater than what I've found at other stores. I'm opting to send my business elsewhere.

[frabjousdave.livejournal.com]

As a long-time comics buyer, I deplore the speculators, especially when they are the shop owners. It hurts the consumer and the industry as a whole, turning off people who could become regular buyers if they weren't overcharged. The more this sort of thing happens, the more marginal comics become and the higher the cover price on comics rises.

Comparisons with eBay prices make me more unhappy with the situation, since your friendly neighborhood comic shop should not become an auction house when it suits the owners. At least, if it does, it's no longer friendly or my comic shop.

I wouldn't boycott the place because Darryl was rude to Nathan Fillion (although I would stop shopping there if he were rude to me, or to someone in my presence), but I will certainly not shop somewhere that gouges the customer. Instead, I'll go to Happy Harbor, which is closer to home, staffed with at least one friendly and professional geek, and who gave me a 10% discount for no particularly good reason (it goes to 20% if I become a boxholder, and with a much simpler protocol than I saw at Warp when I visited).

[buhrger]

any chance you could pick up a second copy for me? or at least lemme know where to find this so-called happy harbour?

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

Happy Harbor Comics & Toys
10112 - 124 St, Edmonton, AB T5N1P6
(780) 452-8211
(780) 452-8211 (fax)
http://www.happyharborcomics.com/

[frabjousdave.livejournal.com]

The nice geek girl told me it would take a week or two if I'd like to order a copy. Would you like me to order two? I will likely stop by today or tomorrow.

Happy Harbor Comics.

Their Comics Talk flyers are what twigged me to the shop. Unfortunately, I have conflicting engagements on all three of the upcoming dates, but I may try to fit one in during the Folk Fest or the BG marathon.

[buhrger]

Would you like me to order two?
please do, thanks. is this the first issue, or the second? (i don't have either)

[frabjousdave.livejournal.com]

It is the first, and I'll put in a standing order for the rest of the miniseries, two copies of each issue.

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

Uhm, make it three?

[frabjousdave.livejournal.com]

I shall.

[buhrger]

you're a sweetie! {smooch}

[frabjousdave.livejournal.com]

I so am, but I'm still not kissing you until you shave.

[buhrger]

did these ever come in? if so, (a) how much do i owe you? (b) when's good for me to collect them?

[frabjousdave.livejournal.com]

Not yet, or at least I haven't got the phone call. I'll visit them this afternoon.

[thegreymouser.livejournal.com]

What is this thing, comic books, that you speak of?

I can't believe the comic book industry is still flopping around. I mean, $20 for a couple pages of print? Post the damn story on the web, and I'll gladly pay a reasonable amount to read it. That way, I don't have to cut through the throngs of nerds and pay an hour's wage for a 5 minute read. Comics were meant to be read and enjoyed, not collected...

[ex-coloneld.livejournal.com]

Comics were meant to be read and enjoyed, not collected...
Operative term there is, of course, were... The industry has changed as all are wont to do; hockey (et al.) cards have evolved in the same way.

Is this a good thing? I don't care to comment. However, to say it's a bad thing because "that's not how it was meant to be," well, that's thumbing your nose at progress, isn't it?

[dawnsinger.livejournal.com]

says the one who has a pile of Transformers comics still in their original dust jackets hidden away in the computer/junk room, lol

[puppytown.livejournal.com]

That must have been very embarassing and frustrating for Nathan, but that rant is childish and unprofessional.

I've never dealt with the owner at Warp One, he sounds like a ripe asshole. I don't like giving my money to assholes, if I can help it. So I guess I'm inadvertantly boycotting, anyway.

[suzulan.livejournal.com]

So if this guy is so rude, and is such a poor business man that he prefers to show a TV Star that he is not impressed over making the most out of a valuable moment of serendipity when he sees it, how has he stayed in business when so many around him have fallen?

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[kelc42.livejournal.com]

You should have kept the unedited post, I think the unfiltered rant gave me a much clearer view of Nathan Fillion.