Pastimes — Local services in Woodfin

Honestly this is my favorite comic shop. Full stop.

I've been coming here a few times for the past year or year and a half? Maybe 2 years since I really got into collecting physical copies of comics. On my first trip out I hot up every comic shop in Asheville I could find. Pasttimes was definitely the best as I tend to look for earlier 2000's or older comics (they do have newer ones as well though).

Every time I go out comic shopping I go here! I can't go often, because I spend too much. But their prices are really good too. I budget accordingly, the amount I spend is not a reflection of overinflated prices (they're fairly priced) at their shop, it's just because I leave with two stacks of comics every time I go in while I build up a small personal library. Oops.

They're also pet friendly, so long as your pet is leashed and well behaved, if I remember the content of our email exchange right. I brought my cat while she was being harness trained, and to get her used to public! So far it is the only public place she's been seriously comfortable in and hasn't tried hiding. She was well behaved, but she was very young and the world was very new to her, she is also very shy. If their pet policy has changed since then I am not aware, but Salem is scared of cars so I don't take her out to the city much anymore and would no longer know!

On top of that, the guys who run Pasttimes are super friendly! I always end up talking with at least one of them whenever I go in and I get wonderful recommendations for new series. Or even just discussing other topics. They're also super helpful when I am on the hunt for specific comics or runs. They didn't know my name, but come to find out they've started to remember who I am and called me "Impulse girl" because I b-line for the Impulse DC comics every single time I set foot thorough the door (Blue Beetle second, baby). The fact that they remember who I am though adds another level.

I am often near Fayetteville now for college and between Asheville comic shops and Fayetteville comics shops, Pasttimes is my favorite and my highest recommendation. I'll put off a comic shop trip if I know I'll be near Asheville soon and go to Pasttimes instead.

And for any ladies looking to go comic hunting either dreading potentially being talked down to by employees or other shoppers, or those of you that have had to endure that treatment - I know how you feel. It's why I marked so many off my list when I started as well. But I have never once had that issue as Pasttimes and even if I ever do, I know it will never be from one of the owners/workers. They're both wonderful gentleman and very friendly.

So once again, I highly recommend Pasttime and have nothing but rave reviews for this...

I have gone into plenty of comic book stores and know what to expect: I AM NOT A SPECULATOR I AM A COLLECTOR/READER and very passionate about my collection. That being said here are my grievances, the reason for reviewing is because of the general lack of care about me driving almost 2 hours round trip and having ZERO books of the book I had asked if they had in stock in the first place.

-Prices way too high on literally every single book -Nothing even in the 1$ bin box worth buying, looked through most of the boxes. -selling variants or popular books for higher than msrp the same day they come out... you guys are a comic shop, why are you putting out brand new books for over list price instead of buying more of those books you know are going to be hot?? -This store also has long boxes of back issue books for 25 cents that they defaced and stamped their store name right on the front of the books...and for what? advertising? -I drove 50 minutes and contacted the store owner a day before I came in trying to reserve a book only to be told they JUST sold it before I got there, WHY did you tell me you had the book then?! Very disappointing from a customer standpoint... I couldnt find a SINGLE thing to buy and was intentionally looking to spend even 1$ with you.

Its 100% about the money for these guys, not about the passion of collecting/reading comics, at least thats how it comes off to me, maybe at one point these guys were into this business with the right mindset, but it does NOT seem that way anymore. I wont be back. massive mistake giving this place a...

I was driving into Asheville this morning and passed by this store, I figured if it was still open when I drove back by then I would stop. It was!! I ended up buying my first comic book, Pokémon Adventures XY! I’m super excited to read it. It was at msrp value. I also looked at their Pokémon cards that they had locked up. I got a first edition Machamp to start my collection!! I have some of the new cards but none of the older ones, until now! It wasn’t in perfect condition, but for the price and just being able to say I have a first edition it was worth it to me! The guy working also gave me a handful of free base set cards to add to my collection after buying these things. It may have just been something little, but it got them a new customer for life. I’ve never been so excited to get home and put things with my small collection. Thank you guys again!!...