Epikos Comics and Games — Local services in Chattanooga

I would not recommend coming to Epikos for a pokemon tcg tournaments. I drove down from Knoxville to attend a league cup and did not feel very welcome.

When i walked into the store and approached the front counter. I politely waited a few minutes for the girl to acknowledge me, because she was busy with another customer. However, when she finished with them she proceeded to sit and look at her phone. I waited a few minutes and then asked if she was taking sign up for the pokemon tcg tournament. She quickly said "have you registered? You need to pay. It's $25" took my card handed it back to me and didn't say anything else. I looked at her and asked "where are they setting everything up?" She looked at me like i was dumb and said "in the back." Then went back to her phone. I told myself no big deal.

I started to walk to the back and the saw a spot over to the left side of store that had tables so I assumed that was it and went to have a seat. I tried to say hello to a few other players at the table, and strike up some conversations, but none of them acknowledged me either. Again told myself no big deal.

I pulled out my deck box and deck list checked over everything and then tried to find the person I needed to turn it into. I saw a man inputting information into a computer and assumed it would be him. As I tried to verify with him that my printed decklist was okay another player rudely jump in front of me to hand the man his list first. Again I brushed it off. Wait a minute then confirmed he was the guy taking decklists.

I went back to my seat where I left my stuff and found a few of the other player oddly hovering my things. I asked if everything was good? Or if I needed to move and they just said no and walked away. Not really sure, but I got the vib they were about to steal something.. I got pretty on guard at that point.

My first match went okay, I played against an older gentleman. He wasn't necessarily rude, but was kind of micro managing each of my actions as I played.

My second match I played against someone close to my age. Maybe a bit younger. He was pretty negative because he lost his first match. Towards the end of the match the judge and other player started hovering us. Normally I'm not someone that get claustrophobic, but these guys where uncomfortable close like breathing over my shoulders and I could hear them whispering about my hand.

Prior to my third match I am almost positive I heard my opponent say to one of his friends, "I am just playing one more to tank this guys record then I am dropping". I was like alright that's pretty unsportsmanlike. The guy then proceeded to be fake nice the whole match, and again i had the judge and players uncomfortable hovering me at the end.

I decided to drop after that. On my way out I checked to see if they were giving out packs for the entry fee and they gave me a single prize pack. I was pretty mad because my local shops in Knoxville give out a pack for each $5 spent on entry. I basically just paid $25 for a single prize pack. Oh and a sticker.

I feel like their community of players did not want me there and tried to make it very clear towards the end. Especially with the last guy I played. I likely...

I normally don't do reviews like this but I figured it needed to be said, I'm disappointed in Epikos.

I recently brought in a collection of Mad Magazines and while admittedly are a lot more niche and hard to sell, it doesn't change the fact that there should be some value attached to them.

The collection I brought in were predominantly from the 80s with some 60s/70s and early 90s stuff mixed in there.

In total, about 161 pieces of a collection. I'd argue about 70 percent(and that's generously low) were in reasonably decent condition given the age of them but regardless, I'd say the average of the entire set was probably a solid 6/10.

Like I said, it's understandable they may not retain a lot of value given how niche they are but you'd think I'd get an offer of maybe, MAYBE $100 for a collection of that size because there would probably be an eventual profit to be made.

The offer I was given? $20 cash or $35 trade.

I'm not a math wiz by any means but that equates to about eight cents a magazine.

That's an INSULTINGLY low number, which I would have much rather been declined like other places in the area than been offered EIGHT CENTS a magazine.

I'll still shop their as a customer from time to time as they have a cool selection but it's disappointing that a place that sells other comic-related items would offer that low of a number...

I have been to Epikos twice. Once, for a prerelease (which was a great time). Second, for a night of casual commander.

Tonight, my playgroup was asked to leave Epikos for simply choosing their store as where we wanted to gather, spend money, and play 2 or 3 games of Commander. All 4 of us in our playgroup purchased product from the store. We were halfway through our first game when we were informed that if we did not want to play in the tournament and be randomly paired, we would have to leave.

Some context: We are all 30ish year old adults that rarely have time to play card games together. When we can get 4 of us together to play, it is once in a blue moon. Several members of our playgroup that got together tonight drove more than an hour to be there.

I understand running a tournament. However, I have never been asked to get out of a store for patronizing it. We packed our things and left without arguing and found a booth in a restaurant to play in.

I will say this: As I was leaving for the night, I decided to drive by Epikos at around 9:30 PM. There were plenty of open seats where we could have been playing during that time.

This interaction really rubbed me the wrong way. Since CM closed, we have been looking for a new game store. CM would have never asked us to leave for playing card games during their...