I’ve internally debated with myself if I should bring this up or not over most of the weekend. I wasn’t going to say anything, but then I thought that it’s something that needs to be addressed.
You all smell like fish.
No, that’s not it. I want to talk about something that happened to me on Friday. As you may or may not know, I live my life in the glamourous world of retail. Comics, Books, and other assorted paraphernalia to be exact. My store, The 4th Wall, is located in Montreal, Canada.
OK, so exposition aside, at The 4th Wall, we have always triend to maintain an air of accessibility when it comes to the comics and books we sell. We want and encourage people to come in, flip through the books, read a few pages and see what kind of stuff interests you. A lot of comic book stores keep everything wrapped in plastic or behind display cases, but we want to be open with our customers, and show them how great the world of comics can be.
So when a young man, about 13 years old came into the store, grabbed a Batman book and sat down on one of our chairs to have a look at it, I didn’t think much of it. Then 10 minutes later, his mother came in. She asked if he was “finished.” He said no, and continued to read. The mother then sat down in another one of our chairs and played with her phone for the next 35 minutes while her son read that book cover to cover. He then plopped it back down on the table where he got it, and the two left.
Now, like I say, we encourage people to look through the books and read a few pages. We want you to know what you’re spending your money on. But I find it very disrespectful for someone to come in, read an entire book, and then leave without some much as a “how much is this?” or “Boy, that was really good, do you have any others like it?” I was also dumbfounded by the fact his mother didn’t think that this was inappropriate. It’s disrespectful to the store, and to the person who is working in the store who has to sit and watch you read it to make sure you don’t walk out with it.
I hope this doesn’t sound like I don’t appreciate every person who walks through that door, because I really do. I am full of nothing but gratitude for everyone who comes in, checks the place out and says hello, even if they don’t buy anything. I’m here to make your comic-buying experience a good one, and most people are just as interested in making my comic-selling experience a good one too. All I’m saying is if you’re going to read, please read respectfully.
And that’s all.
