Now I see what you people were trying to say. Yes I am a total idiot for mispelling a few words and yes I am so wrong for not going along with the rules that are given to me. Hell, maybe we should still have slaves and women shouldn't vote. Yeah, we were wrong for fighting to change wrongs. Oh I am such a fool. From this point forward I will be a robot like my fellow posters. Robots are good. They don't make mistakes and they do exactly what you tell them.

HA!

By the way Jack where is your store located? Mine is at 112 E 7th Chandler, Oklahoma 74834. Stop by anytime and talk to me like you have here.

Hey Atomic! I have checked into the comic book locator service and it doesn't sound like it is all it is cracked up to be. After consulting with several established store owners they also found it to be a bust. In the end I believe that anyone that is or will be interested in comics will actively seek out the stores in their area on thier own. I myself have been to your store because of this principle and I happen to live an hour away. I may be way off on this idea though, but if they are going to call a 1-800 # to find a store they will probably be looking in their phone book too and I don't have to pay for that. By the way thank you for your help, it is rare on this site. Also, I will check into the CBIA.

Comics Outpost is located in it's new, modern spacious digs on 108 North Main Street, Barre VT, where it's been 4 four years, its about to celebrate it's 25th anniversary overall. I'm no longer afilliated with the store, but was involved for about 7 years.

I don't get out to the midwest very often I'm afraid, but thanks for the invite.

By the way Keith, Diamond should be capitalized. They are a proper business and all. Also, if you are going to go out of your way to worry and critque other people's writing, (especially when it was not asked for) well you just plain have anus problems. You might want to get that checked out.

As for my name, apparently you have selected reading syndrome (yes I just made that up). You must have skimmed over my lengthy explanation on the troubles I have had changing my name and on top of that, a simple name cannot possibly encompass my whole being. That is like saying someone who is African American should be suspect. You don't have a problem with that too do you? Since we are making a habit of determining other's complex beliefs based on a simple observation, then I would say you have the type of personality that would have a problem like that.

Please don't bother to proofread this, because I don't need anymore Type A senseless meanderings in my life.

I get 20-30 new customers a week because of the CSLS. I'm more successfull than most any store in the area on FCBD because I'm the only one with a profile on the CSLS. When people pass through town, they always make sure they hit me, because I'm the only store with a profile on the CSLS.

My website also get's about 200 visits a week directed from the CSLS, especially on the Marvel site.

Also, vendors take me more seriously, and I get past the "are you a real shop" mentality real quickly. With several vendors I've gotten to skip much of the paperwork.

It's $5 a month. I don't know any store in the area that's not paying it. All the decent ones in okc ARE. Unfortunetly, I'm the only one that can figure out how to complete the profile.

I remembers a major consultant in the comic industry once making a comment to the effect of, "any store that doesn't at least have a business card size listing in the yellow pages isn't worth taking seriously". The CSLS is about the same way.

Also, the Free Comic Book Day directory pointing people to stores used the CSLS listings and profiles...

Jerry Wall - Owner
Atomic Comics
6006 S. Western
Oklahoma City, Ok 73139
405-632-2848

Like I've been saying, lets resurrect this thread in a year and see how "Smack More Bitches Comics" is really doing

Each post smacky puts up reveals a little more about him, especially as to how he approaches retail sales...

I predict he'll be out of business soon enough

So smacky, you've been open a month now, havent you?

Howzit going?

Actually, jack the first month has had it's ups and downs. Some days it is slow while other days are hectic. While I am losing lots of money, which I had totally intended to do, I am slowly losing less and less every week, while at the same time acquiring more and more product. In fact I would say compared to 99% of the comic stores that I have been to in my area, I already offer a much wider selection of TPBs, Alternative Comix, and Original comic art.

FCBD was a complete success, as I planned a city wide promotion by teaming up with the library, the local pool, and also hit the July 4th celebration with free comics in hand. By the end of the day I handed out well over 500 free books. On top of the books that Diamond was offering to the retailers for FCBD, I decided to pass out some books that I felt strongly about, such as DEMO and Losers. You see I am not waiting for someone to find some obscure comic shop locator number (no offense Atomic), I am hunting for my prey. How is this industry ever going to get more readers without us addicts hitting the pavement and preaching why we are where it's at? Many people just don't know that they like comics and a phone number will not inform them that they do.

So, jack, why do you say I will be out of business soon. Is it because I am not doing things by the established norms? Is it because of envy? How can you make a suggestion like that without seeing my day to day operations or my finances? Basing an argument on a few words can make you look like quite the idiot, especially when I am still around in a year. Another thing, since you can't seem to just let my name be, how about we make an observation about yours. Why is your name not capitalized? Is it because you feel small? Do you have a problem with your self- esteem? Is that why you continually harass me, so you can feel like a big boy? Well, I can say to you that nothing you say will derail what my intentions are. I am not weak minded enough to let someone's uninformed words change anything about me. I do, however like all of the disbelief I feel from you, I feed off of it. You just stengthen my resolve. Thank you.

Lets have another update in four weeks

*shrug* it's up to you. Like I said, I spend $5 a month to make hundreds. More money for me I suppose. I also get past the "are you really a shop" question from vendors which you are complaining about. Again, makes no difference to me.

Regardless, I'd like to swing by your shop in the next couple of days. I expect to be in the area (I'm in Welston all the time, my mother being a teacher there), so it's a short jog to Chandler. Where's your shop located so I can swing by, say hi, and check it out?