BOSCO'S — Local services in Alaska

The Spenard Location is larger and has a wider variety on mini's, games, and cards. They also have delicious cookies and their selection is good.

My issue is with some of the staff, I am very feminine presenting for context. When I was in the Spenard location yesterday, several staff members were discussing Three Barons Ren Faire with a customer. They were boisterious (understandable I also love the Ren Faire) but then the topic of being excited to "be able to call women Wenches" came up. At least one staff member was exclaiming with a customer about how its "the one time a year you can call them Wenches." And "They love it!" I was around the area and heard them speak on this for about a minute till the customer left.

This was happening at the front of the store. Loud enough to be heard from the first half of the store. After the "event" I stood next to the pins and stickers, where an employee who was engaging in the prior mentioned conversation, refused to even meet my eyes much less acknowledge I was there. I stood there for a moment, waiting to be acknowledged so I could ask a question, but never was. After I left the counter he then helped a young gentleman who took my place about a minute after.

There was around 3 people at the counter when I waited...

This isn't the first time I have failed to be helped at counters in the Spenard Location till my husband or someone else comes up behind me. And I get it, sometimes its awkward to talk to people. But combined with the loud conversation it was deeply uncomfortable and unsettling. Feminine presenting people already have an issue breaking into "nerdy" culture and to have staff not treat people the same. Or loudly exclaim about their excitement to call women names, even in "good fun" is not comfortable to hear when shopping.

The location at the mall is much better even if the amount of inventory...

Bosco's has been a place my husband and I have gone to for years. We love comic books and magic cards and basically everything the store has to offer. It's always been a pleasant experience. But today we both decided to stop visiting. I was mistreated by an employee concerning my mask. I was having trouble breathing (I have claustrophobia) so I pulled it down so my nose was exposed for a few moments. I was immediately attacked for this. I was told to leave. I calmly agreed (mostly because I couldn't breathe well anyway). I went to the checkout (where a different employee helped me) to purchase the couple items I had. And as I was paying, I was approached by the first employee and told, "If you are not going to wear your mask properly, don't bother coming back." I calmly agreed again. The woman continued to harass me until I told her to leave me alone because I was already on my way out. There was nothing more to say. (I was waiting for my items to be bagged). Very disappointed and sad for what Anchorage has become.

EDIT** In response to the owner's reply: Preaching about the city's mandate is not what should have been said. That's not what this was about. It was about how people are treating one another because of it. It was straight harassment. I was not putting up a fight when I was asked to leave. I was on my way out the door. Yet, your employee felt the need to belittle and make a spectacle of me. Because of this you lost two loyal customers and three additional people walked out after hearing what she said to me. "Taking a gentler approach in the future" doesn't cover the complete and utter lack of human decency at your business. Despite this, I wish you luck and hope Anchorage doesn't kill your business like it has...

I don't have as much of a problem with the clutter...most comic book stores look that way because of all the miscellaneous items they sell. New releases are easy to spot if that is what you are looking for. My complaint is the customer service. If you go into the store on a new release day, expect to be ignored and treated like an idiot. The first time this happened I came into the store at 2 and they were still going through the shipment. I asked for the 3 books I was looking for and instead of pulling them out of the box, this guy (may have been the manager) said I had to come back at 4 because they weren't finished "checking" the books in. One of the clerks must have disagreed because she grabbed them from the box. Took no more then 30 seconds, but tht want to take the time to make a customer happy. This happened a second time and the same guy said the book was there but hadn't checked it in, then proceeded to talk to the other two clerks (who were not doing anything) about how hungry he was. I didn't want to drive to A1 (which is on the other side of town) so I waited a few minutes and eventually he got to the book, but did not make any effort to prioritize finding it so that I could buy it and be on my merry way. I could have been there for a lot longer if it wasn't in the box he was looking at. But on a side note, the Dimond Bosco's is much better with the customer service, but the inventory is lacking due to the store...