J C Comics Inc — Attraction in North Plainfield

I want to start this by saying that I used to enjoy this store a lot. The manager is a bit rude at times and very passive aggressive with this comments and methods, but I figured...He is human...WITH THAT SAID....That same Manager, who happens to be the owner is too interested in making money rather than providing a pleasant customer experience. I went into the store after calling to confirm that they had a release that I had been looking for. After confirming they had it, I took a trip to the store (About 40 minutes). I had been to the store several times. I purchased statues from there, as well as comics and always visited their booth at NYCC. In any case, when I got there I asked again about the issue and they pointed me in the right direction. I grabbed about 4 different covers for issue one (How dare I be a collector?). When I made it to the checkout, the owner looks to another worker and says "This is the one right?" To which the worker answered "Yup" He (The owner) then proceeds to tell me that I can only get One per customer WITH A PURCHASE of something else in the store... He tells me it is "For the customer" (Keep in mind that there was no sign on the shelf or anything pointing this out UNTIL they found out about the popularity of this issue, and they had about 6 copies of each cover). He took the opportunity of seeing that I wanted these issues to try to upsell me by making me purchase something else from his store. When I asked him about this dirty tactic, he said to me "It is for the customers, not for the money". The guy couldn't even look me in the eyes while saying this... I understand that we live in an era where scalpers have ruined many fandoms, and I get it that you have to cap inventory. HOWEVER, the fact that he was using this as a scummy way to get me to buy more stuff from his store, once he found out it was a hot issue, that is what is unacceptable and disgusting. Then he insults my intelligence by telling me "It is for the customers". Later that week I contacted Titan Comics (The Publisher), and they told me there was no limit on these issues provided by them, so it was probably a store decision. I called several stores and none of them had a cap on them or an upsell gimmick. Beware of the underhanded tactics used by this man and his crew to get you to spend more money, taking advantage of your fandom. Ironically...He was the worse...

I've been to this store several times over the last two years driving about 50 minutes because I appreciate their huge selection of toys and collectibles. BUT the customer service is HORRIBLE. The owner of the store, Joe I believe, is incredibly rude, condescending, and thoroughly disrespectful. He will not acknowledge you unless you're a regular of his with whom he'll even yell across the store while completing your transaction. I have made several big purchases from his store and he has the nerve to tell me about how he runs a small business but has ZERO idea of how to practice proper customer service and general etiquette towards his clientele. I attempted to buy a keychain after making a purchase only for him to rudely point to his cash register showing me a sign that mentioned a minimum and that he's running a small business as if I'm trying to take advantage of him. Before you tell me about running a small business think about as a owner what does a small business entail and how customers are extremely pertinent to keeping your business afloat. Then on one of my purchases I asked very kindly to split the transaction on two cards; he rolled his eyes at me and with much exasperation agreed only for him to charge one of my cards and not pick up the second card I had put down for him to charge the remaining. I asked him if he charged it and he said you can take it back. So I legitimately thought he had charged both cards only for him to ask me 5 minutes later when I was walking around a bit more in his store to give me the remaining money. He proceeded to be rude to me and argue with me that I did not give my second card; I'm sorry but for someone who comes to your store and at times spends close to $100 each time why would I all of a sudden try to cheat you and steal or walk away with only paying half

Honestly you should really work on how to talk to people and not just your "preferred" customers; I can tell you right now your "small business" just lost a customer. You're even so callous to little children and I've been privy to that while in your store....

The selection is not bad, but it’s just a no frills run of the mill comic book store (Which are pretty much disappearing). There are comic books on shelves and in boxes, and a small selection of random retro toys, etc (that stuff seems like an afterthought). I prefer to order my comics online and get discounts/bonus swag from places like TFAW, but I also get the need to support local businesses; my bf has been a regular customer for over 20yrs, and has a monthly order of several series that they pull and have ready for us each month, which is convenient. It would be nice if they offered regular customers a discount card of some sort-most online stores offer discounts for regular subscription orders- the comic prices are just average, and the prices for the Toys/statues/etc are often too high. Also, they have weird hours (some days they don’t open until noon/they aren’t open every weekday), and it’s not the easiest place to park or get in/out of. If there is a karate class in the place next door, forget about getting a spot at all (there are only a handful in front of the tiny strip of stores). I think this store just keeps chugging along because of the small number of regulars who can’t be bothered to break the habit of buying from them, half out of loyalty and half...