5 Types of Comic Book Shop CUSTOMERS 

I am the guy who is a run filler of silver and bronze age books of certain series.

I'm the whale and need to cut back.

I'm like combo man I have all these powers 😂

I would fall into the digger category except I read what I buy and don’t sell that often

Honorable mention: The grandma taking the 10 to 15 year old Timmy.

"dirty flipper"- LOL

I turned 60 yesterday and I’ve never bought a comic book I didn’t want to read and have never bought a comic because of any future value or collectibility.

Hmm….so I’m the guy that’s been collecting comics since the 70’s that has no interest in new books only back issues. I’m not gonna have a pull list of any kind. I get super excited when you just bought a collection of dusty long boxes and they’re sitting there waiting for me to go through them like Xmas morning. I’m the Bronze Age nerd

Guess I never saw myself as a whale I always buy 30 or more a week at times variants and preorder my books 3 months ahead I thought I was just a normal collector

Another type is the guy who doesn’t really buy weekly comics and rarely appears in a book comic store but when he does it’s because he’s in the neighborhood at some restaurant with his wife, and he asks the shop owner if there are any new Alan Moore titles and hey btw, what has Moore been up to the last few years?? This guy is trying to show that he’s a sophisticated comic reader because he’s asking about Moore.

Great video! I've probably been all of these throughout the course of my collecting life. I know I used to frustrate the Hell out of my old (now closed) LCS being #2 in particular. Nowadays, I guess I'm a casual? My local shops don't really cater to my collecting or social needs anymore, which is fine. I only really get excited to visit comic shops when I'm out of town now, as I really enjoy seeing how different people approach running theirs.

I used to be a whale at my local LCS. I was in the shop every Wednesday for my pull list, dropping on average $200 a week. I would check the previews months in advance. I stopped doing that when I realized I couldn’t read all those books and accumulated long boxes of unread books that were rapidly losing any value. I finally came to my senses and now am the guy who orders a handful of books online each week and have them shipped to me once a month.

Loved the video!💕 Just started my comic book collection and found Toon Haven. They offer a huge variety of digital comics for every genre, and lifetime updates too!😍

Im the whale 🐳 of comics, video games, movies & figurines but mostly of TMNT

The new wall display looks awesome!

I think you missed the type that only buy one vintage title. I buy only volume 1 Batman. So I’m that guy and will travel every comic shop in hopes to complete my run.

Deal/digger here, basically I’ve been to every local shop in my area and have been known for a while since I used to work for one of the old shops in my area which is no longer around. I’m always just buying for my PC and I always spend big to get a big deal, so maybe that makes me a small whale of sorts. Idk, you tell me lol 😂

I'm a digger but not a flipper. I loved comics as a kid but didn't regularly buy. Then in 04/05, I got back into comics and started buying a lot of current stuff. I fell off again in 2010 as I was beginning my career and had to focus on other things. When I go to shops now, Im diggin through to find issues from not only familiar runs but also to taste test other things I had missed out on at the time, like recently I got a lot of the solo adventures Hawkeye and Hawkman's 80s run. So, sometimes we dig because we just want to find new stories to read :)

Thanks for sharing this, truly excellent content!

What about the online shopper, that's me. I preorder online, because it's way more convenient, but then I show up every other week and buy 1 or 2 books at the LCS that I want to check out, but didn't preorder. I also buy the random stickers or Pop.

Ah shit! I’m the dirty digger/flipper/“let’s make a deal” guy 😂

Great video, appreciate you sharing it!

I'm not sure where I fall.... I dont buy 30 books a week. But i have a weekly pull. I often leave with more than my pulls. They say hi to me by name when I come in, and I often hear, see you next time, my friend, when I leave. So I'm that guy. 😂

Thanks a ton, this was super helpful!

I think you missed the "Vintage Collector". I would fall under that category. I think you are otherwise spot on!

why did you seem to have fun with the last one with the lets make a deal guy. Made me laugh hard.

Good video! I guess I'm kind of casual, I have a small pull list (mainly to get the back issue discount) and go in once a month or so. But my LCS has a great silver and bronze selection plus awesome $5&$10 boxes, so when I go in I drop $100-$200 on that stuff. The owner keeps it stocked for me, lol.

I am a regular that only collects a few series and the shops puts them in my pull box but while I'm in the shop I also look around and other random things.

Great show guys, thank you

I’m none of these. I mostly shop online. Go in shops like once every 3 months to see if there’s anything that catches my eye

As a "let's make a deal guy" I just don't want to pay for overpriced comics. Of course, every shop is different, but there's a lot of that still going on especially when you take into account for the grade. I think anyone who went through the comic book crash of the 90's keeps this in mind.

I used to be the whale. Now I’m the dirty digger MWAHAHAHAHA

you are spot on with these customers...

I'm a digger. I'm "lets make a deal" at cons and shows, in the store, not so much, unless it's clearly overpriced and been sitting for awhile. Once it's been in the store over 60 days it is definitely much easier to get a discount.

Lmao gem mint call out

Not sure what mine would be. Always digging but looking for issues to finish runs. Also only in once a month because the closest shop is 50 miles away and not getting much for new titles every month.

I'm type 6. The habitually late to the party or not tuned in guy. Comics are my biggest hobby but I never know a book is hot until it's sold out.

Fantastic vid!!! Thanks a lot!

ill definitely try that, thanks!

I guess I blow water out of my head then….

I’m a split between the digger and unpredictable regular.

Sticky Tool back with a great vid.

Good job taking off all your slabs on your wall. To me Raws display better!!! You’re a great RU-vidr!! One of my favorites!!!

A snipers guide to haggling: 1. Don't haggle every time you buy something. 2. Don't haggle anything under $60 3. $60-$100 haggle based on condition and your knowledge of the comic or run in question. Expect $5-15 if that's not good enough don't ask. 4. $100-$300 now it's getting tricky this is where margins can be getting thinner for shop owners. $20 is a win here but timing on a book that's sitting can drive that up. 5. Don't haggle on hot books, just setting your self up for disappointment. 6. Cash is king 7. If you are at show fuck'em haggle the shit out of everyone.

wow, great video. thanks so much

Through my 30yrs of collecting, I've been all of these at different points of life, except the deal guy.

Can I be an unpredictable whale digger? When I was able to go to the LCS, I was coming in once a week, but I was getting what I wanted for books. I would be consistent with my choices until I didn’t like the story, Art, writing etc. then I would drop the book. I would also pick up books that caught my eye to see if it was worth putting further effort into reading that book. When given a choice of cover, I pick the one I like. I also will dig through back issues looking to fill gaps in my stories. Before I moved 1300 miles away, the store I visited for nearly 35 years had random 15 book boxes. I would pick one of these up occasionally to see what is the stories. One such box had a book that was relatively new, within the previous two years, that I did not pick up the first time. The story was amazing and led me to be the digger for all other parts of the story. I guess my reason to visit a store is to find more of the story I want to reader. I am the collector, not a flipper.

I used to be a whale but then my comic shop of 20+ years got a new guy to handle the Savers. Kept getting g junk that I didn’t want. Asked them politely to stop and they wouldn’t. Been to two shops since and they couldn’t hold my business for a year.

Can't wait to start my collection

Like a whale, I research the solicits and let my shop know what I want well in advance. But my pull list is modest (8-10 issues a month) and I rarely splurge on something unexpected. Basically, I'm a steady, dependable customer for my shop.

very helpful, worth the watch

I've been/am all of these

Glenn and Corey deserve some royalties for the shot. Plus neither of them, is indicative of one of your 5 types. Glenn is the GOAT store owner !

So what am I? I collect everything by only two artist. Chris Ware and Charles Burns. No comic shops want to even talk to me.

I’m not any of these. I’m a regular. Go in weekly for my pulls, maybe 6/7 titles. Always pick up impulse buys, maybe some variants. But always only buy comics. I don’t haggle. I don’t dig. I’m a loyal steady regular.

I am probably the guy the shops hate, but I am starting to be more consistent with the books I buy. Usually anything Indie Horror has my attention

I hate all Comic Book Shops. 😂

I’m a let’s make a deal guy but I don’t think you owe me something and I do know how a shop is run.

I’m the casual 😂😂

lol. I am definitely a digger. I start with the $1 bins looking for key issues whether they are bronze age or modern. I normally don't pay cover price for modern keys unless it's a book I really want and know will run out before even hitting the $1 bins. I don't have loyalty to one particular store and will travel to different shops to see which ones have the best value. Some stores are really good at certain categories of value than the other so that's where I go. Sometimes I wonder if my habits are even profitable for the shops because whenever I ring up the register, the customer before me who are buying comic books and games spend close to $100 while on average I spend less than $20. One time I found a gambit toybiz action figure selling for $5 which normally retails towards $30 and also picked up some $1 bin comics, the clerk kind of made a remark and said "wow snagging up all the deals." lol. I don't know if I should be categorized as let's make a deal because I do look for deals but I never try to haggle or drop the price the store is asking for and pay whatever they price it knowing its a good deal for me.

The people want a sticky G vid everyday!!

New to comics (1yr), really not certain what I am. I have ten books on my pull list, love compendiums and omnibus.🤷🏻‍♂️

I don't think I fall into any of these categories, I'm one of those that will collect based on favorite character or favorite artist, I do not follow writers and I do not buy slabbed books, comics are meant to be read and stored away to read again later on. I also like to draw which attracts me more to comic book art.

The owners childhood friend😂

I honestly will buy a copy to read and buy a copy or two if it’s an anticipated comic because it may rise in value. I’m a reader but I will sell an issue or two but I won’t buy 10 cover a’s of 1 issue to sell. As a comic fan, collector and I guess “flipper”, it can be a way to help afford other books. I also do purchase FCBD books from my LCBS and hand them out for free at Comic Cons when I exhibit. Also, comics is a VERY minuscule part of my business as I’m not a comic shop, just a collector.

Back Issue Digger, but for reading and collecting, not a flipper

I don't really get the "dirty flipper" stuff. They provide liquidity to the market, and help collectors find the random minor key that was sitting in some LCS's back issue bin. They offer a place to sell runs and books you're no longer in love with, and help them find new homes. Keep digging in those bins, duders.

Can you provide a link to your top loader cases? that are on your wall?

A variation of the back issue guy I call the dollar comic guy. This guy I've seen at LCS around our valley, he buys only dollar books, which helps out the store selling their bulk, and he pops up at library comics cons & local comic & baseball card shows selling the same $1.00 books for $3.00, adding a bag & board. Problem is we've all seen this guy when we pickup our books, or heard about him from other LCS store owners at the same local cons!. Needless to say he doesn't do well at the shows.

SG. You had an honorable mention. I have a dishonorable mention. The thief. Might buy some but will steal. And will usually steal the great stuff. However they do it. Hide the book or switch the book and pay $3 for a $100 book. It happens They work very hard at it. I pray for them. They don’t know how much they hurt people. They probably don’t care. I pray for them. Btw. Your shirt. Daniel I don’t think you are a tool!!! Peace out.

I'm a whale variant. As much as I want to help my local shops they are just not organized to the level I need them to be. So I buy pull subscriptions from several online sites and everything else I get from stores or conventions.

First I was an unpredictable regular (kid on a budget), then I was a comic shop owner, then I was a whale. Now, I'm an unpredictable irregular and subject to whim (whatever catches my eye when I wander into a shop).

I'm definitely the unpredictable regular. So much so that my comic shop guy gave me his personal cell number and told me to text him when I want something.

Loll I’m the casual guy, ummm…”so wats good…” guy

Dad you crack open all your slabs or did you just switch the wall books with raws?

I’m a bit of a hybrid but depending on the store I can be the Let’s Make a Deal guy, and I feel like I need to defend us. I do think you left out some categories too… because I’m the avid collector guy who is the customer version of the old school comic shop. I like to talk comics. I like to exchange stories about the old days of collecting. I hope I’m not annoying like you said the Let’s Make a Deal guy is, but I can get a vibe. I’m enthusiastic about talking comics and I think some people love me for it but I know when the conversation isn’t wanted so I back off. In defense of the Let’s Make a Deal guy… wouldn’t you rather get an offer than sit on a book? Not everything flies off the shelf. If I see something goes for less on eBay, I’d rather give my money to a comic shop because I want them to stay in business but I can’t justify buying a back issue for $60 when I see it on eBay for $45. Incidentally I hate it when the store owners retort is, “yeah, but you’d have to pay shipping. You have to include that.” Yes, but you’re not shipping it to me, so why should I pay you shipping? Also when I do eBay I look at all the books, I try to buy as much as I can to maximize shipping. And also, just as a matter of good business, if you’re amiable to make a deal you might see me looking at your other books. If the price is fair and close to eBay I’ll probably just pay it. Maybe I’m annoying because you’re very busy, I get that. But a lot of places I think pad their prices in expectation of Let’s Make a Deal. In the world of conventions and flea markets haggling is almost always expected. Comic shops are often similar. Anyway, I buy regularly, but very little new though I do buy a few new books every week. No pull list except an occasional book I’ll ask for but the lack of a pull list is only so I can pick what covers I want. I’m like the speculator in some ways but I’m more of a collector because there are nonkey books I’ll buy because I love them, I collect them or they have sentimental value. In my heart I want everything but my budget disagrees. I search for comics regularly though like the speculators. I go to comic shops and comic conventions everywhere I find them as well as flea markets, garage sales… basically I shake every tree to see if a comic book will fall out. A store owner might see me as a casual if I’m not from the area, unless I stop for conversation. You can’t know unless I open my mouth that I probably went to two other stores and a few flea markets the same day.

You forgout about the Strap On Guy.

Before watching video I'm guessing the customer who always asks for thd one comic the store doesn't have

I’m 2, 3, & 4? I go every 2 weeks w/ my kids, got my pics saved in my phone, & find any Magik related covers, all variants. My eyes went 👀, thinking you were talking about me 😂. Making sure no creases visible & etc. I just don’t understand the 1 of 25 thingy. They put out 25 comics on shelf and 1 is the variant?

Silverage, Kirby and Ditko collector.

I was an unpredictable regular and my shop owner was not happy that I did not buy everything on my pull list. I was not aware he could not sell or return the books I did not want. It turned into an awkward situation and I ended up buying my books online. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Comic shop = loose action figures for me. Also my comic shop guy makes me a deal.

Rule #1 both buyer and shop owner: don’t be a dick

I really enjoyed the video keep them coming Im pretty much a character collector

I'm kind of a digger, but I collect for me. I go to my LCS and I'll look around for a few hours, knowing what I'm looking for or maybe just happen upon something I think's really cool (one time found the first and second appearances of B'wana Beast). I've been going to my shop for well over 10 years now, so he automatically gives me a 25% discount. I bought a Phantom Stranger #4 for $16 there and he's like "You always find the good stuff. You have really good taste."

Lol there definitely is the troll-like archetype 😅

I'm the "full of questions" buyer

I hate it when "diggers" take the # 1s and/or keys from the $1 bins and they leave the rest of a "complete run" sitting in the bin. It's sad.

I’m the guy who if he has a good experience there, either in that moment or the next time I go. I ask if I can film for my YT channel. Then I kinda transcend from being a customer to some kind of local celebrity. From then on out, the store pays me to attend, I cut the ribbon opening new stores, take photos with people, shake hands and kiss babies etc. Full disclosure, this is satire but this has happened to me on 6 occasions.

I think I would be considered the whale lol. My pull list is huge every week. But I don't buy the statues and stuff just to keep my budget. I gotta keep it under 150 a week usually

Says a lot about comic book shops now days when there is no category of "consistent reader" at all mentioned. Someone just reading the comic arcs/books they know they like.

My man Goose.... never stops throwing those jabs. Dude, you could have been a comedian and saved Mrs. Goose all this comic book headache :P

My LCBS is trash so I’m definitely casual. I wander in sometimes out of boredom but usually only buy a few books. They are usually already out of anything fresh because they have zero idea what they are doing and will buy like 5 copies of the hottest book that week. No idea how they stay in business at all except it’s a chain.

“Give me the good guy price”

❤ Thanks for all the information.I don't think i'm A whale, but I think I'd buy what I want. And that's about it once in a while. I will buy some extra books if they're on sale. But I don't. I always try to be honest with everyone I will buy extra books that I will resell at my yard sales. That's how I get to, Khan and I will tell somebody that so if there's reprints or something, I could do I will do that. And tell everybody that it is a reprint.And is not the actual regular book I've been a comic book fan forever and will remain so I don't think I fall to any of your categories.What do you think

I think your missing the data guy that tries to say this should Be this price cause it reflects currents sales

Do types of employees!

im the guy who only buys online because I live in the middle of nowhere and my nearest comic shop is 110 miles from me. I never been inside a comic shop. hope one day I get to. been collecting since 2020. my first spec was Punchline and Strange Academy. not a bad spec for a new comer of the time rite..

I'm the guy that comes in from out of town, because i live nowhere near a comic shop. I buy as many back issues as i can find. I buy a few new books. Maybe a tpb. And something my kid likes or wants.

Casual here. I go in like once a year, maybe.