POW! Card Games & Comics — Local services in Town of Esopus

I visited this store to view the Magic singles they’d have. The owner had a friendly tone, but also some backhanded comments. Additionally, when it comes to pricing (at least for Magic products), their pricing was very distasteful and inconsistent.

To detail my experience, I was looking through the singles and commenting at how cool the collection he had was. He gave a thanks and mentioned that he didn’t know much about the game. I continued looking and mentioned that a display case for singles would be a good idea. Dismissively, he said that it wasn’t a good idea for his store since he preferred talking with the customers and that he didn’t want to keep up with the prices as they fluctuated. “That’s fair,” I responded. I picked out a few cards I was interested in, and he said he’d price check them for me. Some of them seemed properly priced, but two others didn’t seem right, and that’s when I noticed that after he’d price check, he’d say, “uhhh, I can do about $6” and other similar statements that sounded like guesses and estimates. At this point, I figured something was off, so I told him I was going to look around before finalizing a purchase. I went off to the side and price checked the cards myself, and sure enough he was trying to upcharge for one of the ones I had picked. $6 for a Collector Ouphe that should have cost about $3-4. I went back to the counter ready to buy two cards, but I wanted to double check the prices. I mentioned that for the version of Collector Ouphe in the condition it was in, he had priced it wrong and that it should be around $3. He said, “Well if you can get it for $3 you should.” His sarcasm was clear despite the friendly voice. I told him I didn’t want it. The other card I wanted was upcharged about 50 cents which isn’t the biggest deal, so I bit the bullet and got it, but it’s a shame he’s pricing the cards and upcharging them afterwards. There was also a foil version of Bucklebury Ferry that he said he’d sell to me at $15. Normally, the foil version of that card goes for $13. Lastly, his Final Fantasy commander decks are priced at market price ($120 for normal; $220 for collector) rather than MSRP ($70 for normal; $150 for collector). It doesn’t make sense for him to charge market price for those but then go off a whim of what he feels like for singles.

Overall, his unwillingness to appropriately price and inconsistency with pricing products fairly on top of a fake friendly tone creates a frustrating experience altogether, and I do not plan on coming back to shop there again. I’m giving two stars instead of one because the selection of singles was solid and organized by color. I’m also rating based on my experience with Magic specifically, so I can’t adequately judge the Pokemon or Yugioh scene (but I don’t doubt it’s...

"Welcome to POW!" or "Welcome BACK to POW!" is what you will hear when you walk into POW! Card Games & Comics. Providing an always welcoming vibe and atmosphere, this upstate New York nerd shop is the place to be. The owner, puts community first. There's almost always someone hanging out in the shop or chatting up the owner/manager/only employee. It's a one-man-show run by the owner, but he does so seamlessly, providing the local area with a wide selection of comics and cards for all ages, skill levels, and interest. The shop is more a community center than anything else. Don't get me wrong; you could get lost in the inventory of bulk single cards or miles of long boxes full of comics. But you must attend a local event if you're any level of card game player. The community that has been built and nurtured around this shop is welcoming and helpful. I'm a regular here. I have a "reserve tab" where the owner reserves my comics when they release and I attend the Yu-Gi-Oh events periodically. This is THE local nerd shop in Ulster County. Look no further. In a collectibles market as volatile as today's, this place is a god send. They're always reasonable and almost always stocked on what I need. If POW! doesn't have it in stock, they'll order it for you! No wonder this place has 100 5 star reviews. And as you leave, "Thanks for coming! See...

Skylar has been an amazing store owner since my first visit, endlessly helpful and super kind! Whenever we go in, we are greeted no matter how busy the store is, and he makes it known that if we need anything he's here to help! He is always helping someone with the latest comics, and you can tell this is someone who really cares about his community.

Or should I say, communities! He hosts magic and yugioh tournaments, and has casual pokemon nights for the silly pocket monster people like me! Truly, this store is a nerd paradise, and I always feel comforted, from the decorations to the 24 hour cartoon livestream on the CRT TV.

Skylar is as fair as possible with this crazy trading card market we've found ourselves in, and has a real passion for comics which is completely unmatched! If you are in the area, come in and sit for a bit, you're sure to learn something new or find the perfect...