We're also more likely to look harder for that back issue you missed, make that special order you want, or, you know...talk to you.

If the clerk is ringing someone up or helping another customer, have some courtesy! Don't come up and yell in a loud voice "Whedonize me!!" If we make a special order for you and then call you when it's in, be nice and don't treat us like we're imposing on you. If we ring you up, say something like "thanks" or "take care" when it's done. Really, it's so irritating when a customer makes you feel like you're nothing more than a self-service checkout. I've actually had to repeatedly ring up a family who flat out refuses to talk to me or anyone else who works at the store. If you ask them if they need help, they ignore you. Hell, you ask them anything, they ignore you. Which, needless to say is quite irritating, a word I've used exactly twice in this paragraph alone.

Many shops are totally willing to do special orders if they can. Sometimes, it's just not financially feasible to do so, such as some toys that are only sold in cases. If you want one out of a box of ten figures, and the other nine won't sell, it's hard to justify that. In the same vein, if you order something through the store, don't go out and buy it somewhere else, at least not without canceling your order through the store ahead of time. I cannot tell you how many times we've gotten back issues for someone who that night bought the same issues elsewhere online. Stuff like that is a fantastic way to get yourself on a No Special Order list.

When comics come out is entirely up to the publisher and distributor. If a comic didn't come out when it was scheduled to, it's not our fault! Don't call us up and complain that we're not sticking to deadlines...we don't publish comics; we just sell them! If you want to complain about how late something is, like "Ultimates 3 is taking forever to come out", likely we're totally willing to complain along with you. However, unless you're getting your books straight from the publishers, your store isn't to blame.

If a person is working at the comic shop, there's a good chance that they're there because they actually have some comic knowledge. There are definitely times when someone is there because they are the cousin, sibling, parent, or whatnot of the owner and really have no knowledge of comics. This is more the exception than the rule. It makes little sense for the store to hire someone who doesn't know comics, as that would just make more work for the owner or manager.

While girls and women working in a comic shop are still relatively rare compared to how many guys work at them, it does happen! Really, you shouldn't be shocked to see a woman behind the counter. I'm not just talking to guys here, I've run into this with other women. The first time was on a phone call; a woman wanted to know if we could grade comics. I told her that, no, we couldn't; we could give her an estimation, but that was about it. She then asked if she could talk to someone who collected comics. I told her I did and repeated my answer. We talked a little further, and she again asked if she could talk to someone who collected comics.

The other big one is when, in a survey, a woman said "I understand you hiring her for eye-candy..." in reference to me. Eye candy? Seriously? She's subjected to the same sexism as I am in comics, and rather than presuming I actually am there on the vast knowledge of useless comic information, I was just hired there to get straight guys and lesbians off?

Ahem...anyway...

Just ask us a question; we might surprise you with the knowledge we have. It shouldn't be a surprise, but that's a whole other story. Still, I've had calls where they ask for "uhm...uh...someone else" then ask an easy question like "What Avengers books are out this week?" I've asked people if they need help, been told "no", then seen the same people ask one of the guys a question seconds later. I've rung people up, then had them thank one of the guys, even though I was the one helping them out.

I could go on with a list like that, but you get the picture. I'm sure women aren't the only ones who are subjected to that; pretty much anyone who isn't a straight white male can be. This isn't anything new, but it's something that is changing, and should continue to change, not just in the comic shop, but everywhere. Seriously, treat other people with respect and you'd be surprised at how nice they can be. If you don't...well, I hope you enjoy the salty taste of phlegm.

Next week, I swear it will be funnier when we talk about children, babysitting, and how we are so not a daycare.

Got a question for me? Email me here! I'll start answering questions in future columns; you know, as soon as I actually have any to answer...