Captain Nemo Games & Comics — Local services in San Luis Obispo

I come through this area once every few years and I make it a priority to make my way into this game store. This time I guess I came in near closing. Oops. From the second I walked in the door I was told that the store would be closing in ten minutes. Even after explaining my out of town status I was answered with “well you have 10 minutes”. I began perusing the shelves and a few minutes later a second employee told me that I had five minutes. Two minutes later I am reminded that the store is about to close. So I left with out buying anything. On my way out I pass someone waking in and that guy is stopped and told that the store is closing in one minute. What I’m getting at is this. Captain Nemo’s must have plenty of money because they where in no way interested in mine or the guy who tried to walk in and buy something. It appeared to me that the most important thing to this staff was not that I spend money but instead that I get out of the store in time for them to close on time. I am in fact the owner of a game store and I have experienced the odd customer ether coming in close to closing or one that lingers as they make their final selection and I can tell you this. I have never rushed or encouraged the customer to leave in order to make a closing time. My desire to allow a customer ample opportunity to give me there hard earned money is profound to say the least.

I would be extremely fascinated to hear the thoughts of anyone in management on this matter and would...

Editing this so I stop getting voicemails. Pretty sure they must get most financial income from the non-comics stuff because no one ever seems to know anything about current comics. There’s also a huge selection of comics upstairs that covers decades of comic history, did you even know that? It’s not exactly advertised. I don’t have a pull list anymore because the conversation checking out was always some clueless college kid who didn’t seem to know how to use a register or a judgmental old white guy who scoffs at “wokeness” in the comics you’re buying, or acts condescending in some other way. I’m not big into conversation myself but it’s kind of expected that the person checking you out at a comic shop can respond coherently to questions or comments about comics, especially the popular stuff coming out each week. Super important. I run a comics podcast every week, I read a LOT of comics. I never heard back when I applied for a job here, even though I continued seeing ads posted looking for help. Always seem to need help, too. A lot of people seem to love this place and I tried really hard for a long time. But after missing discounts, missing pull list issues, and most of all the general uncomfortable interactions, I called it quits. Might be noteworthy a lot of the people who seem to like this place are table top gamers and older men. So. Take with that what you will. Im sure there are lovely people there, and that’s nice, this is just...

I rarely feel the need to write reviews, but since Google geocached my location from earlier today and suggested I write a review... here it is:

I use to really like this place, but simply put, it's not what it used to be. I pop in from time to time to look at the videogames, while the selection is vast, there is rarely anything worth while. On the rare occasion there is something nice, the cost is often laughable.

Because of all of this, I have resorted to buy most of my old videogames online. I'm often able to find older videogames for a fraction of the absurd cost Nemo's asks.

Stores like this are few and far between. It seems like they are all following the last and are ultimately on their way out. It really is a shame.

I understand that the high prices reflect the overhead, but when competition is easier able sway customers for a similar product, the store will eventually lose.

The other day I saw a used Nintendo 2DS on the shelf for $99.99 while other name brand stores like Walmart, Bestbuy, and Target usually sell that same product New for $79.99.

Business is business, and I completely understand that, but please, if you're looking for something to buy I would advise looking elsewhere.

God I hope this place really shapes up, I would hate...