Comparing 2 comic shops in Columbus was night and day for back issues

I hit up the two big shops in Columbus last Saturday, Laughing Ogre and The Soldiery. One had their long boxes sorted by title then number, the other just had a stack labeled "90s X-Men, dig through it." The organized one let me find the 3 issues I needed in about 15 minutes, the other I gave up after 40. Anyone else notice store organization makes or breaks a hunt for older comics?

2 comments

2 Comments

aliceharris11h ago

Elbow deep in a random box" is horrifying. I'd leave too.

the_faith23h ago

Honestly that "90s X-Men, dig through it" part hit me right in the gut. I've wasted way too many Saturdays doing exactly that, elbow deep in a random box, hoping I find the one issue I actually need. When a shop doesn't sort their back issues, it feels like they're saying they don't really care if you find anything, they just want you to keep digging and maybe buy something else. I totally get giving up after 40 minutes, at that point it's not a fun hunt anymore, it's just a chore. Good shops know that a little organization on their side makes you want to come back and spend more money there.