I have had many different experiences at card shops across the country. Some good, some bad. Card shops, collectibles stores or what ever you want to call yourselves are all different. No two will ever be the same, it all depends on the owner and the customers they serve. No matter what though, some people only look at the surface and never take into consideration the store owner’s side of a story. I know the store the valley boy from California is whining about.
His statement about the stores in LA told me a lot about him. He said the prices in the Beverly Hills Card Shop were ridiculous. Well he must not have comprehended the first two words in the name of the shop "Beverly Hills". He goes on to wine about the prices and selection until he finds a shop that has something he is looking for. You should go and have some cheese with that whine.
As for the owner of the store in San Antonio, he is one of the youngest I’ve come across and is just starting out (under two years being open) with his first store. He took over a store that was known for being very unorganized (but to each his own). Does every store owner start out with a new building stocked full of everything under the sun, no they don’t. It takes time, sometimes years.
As far as some of the charges valley boy made against this mans store, well let’s see:
Dingy strip mall – Well ok, it’s not Beverly Hills and the area of town is not The Rim or La Cantera, but when you take over a store you sometimes have to go with what you have. Both, for the cost of rent and your customers.
Foul smell – Ok the store had a leak in the back and the strip mall owners fixed it. As for the incense, it’s his store. I have smelled it and it wasn’t bad.
Didn’t have anything except old starting lineups and odd action figures – A store owner sells what his customers want. You can have a store with a million cards, but if no body wants them you will go broke. The valley boy just didn’t find what he was looking for. This store sells a lot of Nascar diecasts, toys and collectibles. (how many stores did he go to in LA before he found what he was looking for – 3)
Tough to navigate in small area, tripping on crap – Ok, there is a lot of stuff in the store and it is a bit crowded.
Display cases are really card show cases – Yes they are card show cases, but you were just whining about it being tough to navigate in the store, display cases would make it harder to move around. He will most likely have display cases in the future, but not now.
Cards not his, someone else’s business card on plastic window – The business card valley boy saw was the owner’s for his online site for selling collectibles. You did read the name on the card and get the owner’s name when you talked to him, right.
Old boxes of product or cards – I have been in the shop and seen new boxes on the shelves and I have also seen those same boxes sold out. Here today, gone tomorrow. Are new boxes supposed to sit on the shelf for long periods of time or are they to be sold?
Back of the store has a lot of boxes stacked or piled haphazardly on the floor to the ceiling – This is the stores storage area and its employees only.
If you talk to the owner he will be the first to tell you, this is just the beginning. He is also his own worst critic, so hopefully in the future San Antonio will have multiple nice card stores in town.
One last thing, to valley boy from Californ-eye-A, this is Texas! You will not be served a latte at the door and those pink slacks with the sweater tied around your neck is kind of frowned on deep in the heart of Texas! Also if you think you can do better valley boy, open your own store or shop. We, your potential customers, will be by to grade your store and we will be just as open minded and fair as you were. Have a nice day!
Wildcat1
A San Antonio Card Collector
