Forum - View topicFavorite comic started selling SM CDs... What to do?
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LordRobin
Posts: 354 Location: Akron, OH |
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I recently discovered that the comic shop I've patronized for over four years has started selling SM CDs. Just a few, but still...
I have a long-standing policy that I don't do business at retailers that sell pirated CDs, any more than I'd shop at store that sold stolen VCRs. I like the proprietor (we're on a first-name basis), and I'd hate to throw out four years of excellent service, but I'm afraid I'll feel like a hypocrite if I keep shopping there. I haven't talked to the owner yet. I will soon. I doubt I'll get any satisfaction, unless he truly didn't know what SM CDs are. If he doesn't stop selling them, or at least not buy any more... What should I do? What would you do? (And dang it, didn't Taiwan join the WTO? And wasn't that supposed to put an end to this SM crap?) ------RM |
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jmays
ANN Past Staff
 Posts: 1390 Location: St. Louis, MO |
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Hm, I think there's a decent chance he doesn't know they're bootlegs. Heck, if Geneon Anime Music can't keep it straight, I wouldn't be surprised if a local comic shop owner didn't catch a few SonMays.
At the very least, I'd ask him about it. If he knows they're bootlegs and refuses to do anything...well, I think it's time to find another store. EDIT: Looks like Taiwan joined the WTO back in 2001...lax enforcement, maybe? Last edited by jmays on Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:19 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Tony K.
 SubscriberModerator  Posts: 11446 Location: Frisco, TX |
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The decision of whether to continue buying from them or not is up to you. If you feel very strong about your morals of not participating with a facility that sells pirated CDs and that it would make you a hypocrite, then by all means, stop shopping there and find another store.
If you think you can get rid of that rule of not shopping at those kinds of places, since you probably aren't going to buy the pirated stuff anyway, just try to keep that (the CDs) outside of your normal shopping boundaries and keep purchasing what you usually do. If you're on good enough terms to tell the owner to stop selling them, give it a try, and maybe he'll listen. But remember, business is all about money, and most people would rather make money even if it means hurting someone who's in their way. I, personally, would just keep shopping there and avoid the corrupted goods. That is, unless there was some place better. It saves you the trouble of having to find a new vendor, saves you time having to possibly travel to the new store, keeps your relationship with the owner intact, and probably keeps you happy being around a familiar place. Again, it's up to you. And more than likely, if you're honest about it to yourself and everyone else that has this moral problem, it shouldn't be too hard to accept. Hope this helps! 
Last edited by Tony K. on Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:11 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Pazuru
 Posts: 2 |
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Okay, now I'm confused... You're talking about the link to Anime Castle, right? That much makes sense since that place is SonMay heaven. However, if you know that store sells bootlegs, then why is there a link to it on every page of the ANN site, given the supposed zero-tolerance policy towards bootlegs here? Getting back on topic, I agree with Tony K.; I don't see how you could be called a hypocrite for simply shopping in a store that carries bootlegs as long as you aren't buying them. |
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Godaistudios
Posts: 2075 Location: Albuquerque, NM (the land of entrapment) |
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That's a tough situation... but I think your best bet ultimately lies in how strong your convictions are. Talk to the seller. You've obviously known them for a long time. In the end, it's up to you to decide whether or not to go there. But it may just come down to you deciding you won't buy them.
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littlegreenwolf
 Posts: 4796 Location: Seattle, WA |
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A videogame store chain in my area, Rhino Videogame, sells bootleged music cds. I don't know if they know or not. *hasn't bought them and told her friends they're bootleged*
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tetsusaiga-kyo
Posts: 173 Location: U.S.A. |
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I'll second what Miagi said. You should confront him about it if he knows and doesn't stop. Then you could shop at a different store. But if you feel like four years of good customer service can't compete with a few bootlegs. Then you could keep shopping there. If you decide to go to a different store you could do a search at Diamond Comics.com for another comic store.
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radicaledward
 Posts: 776 |
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Because they have a contract with ANN, and if ANN were to stop showing them it would be breach of contract (Bad). IANAL but there is likely something in the ANN advertising contract about termination of services that is preventing them from being removed as well. |
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LordRobin
Posts: 354 Location: Akron, OH |
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UPDATE: Went to the shop today, and the owner explained everything. He belongs to a small group of comic shop owners who meet periodically to trade overstocked merchandise. (Neat idea!) He traded over $1000 in stock with a shop to the south. The small number of SM CDs came in the trade.
He said he didn't know that he'd acquired pirated CDs in the trade, and that it's his policy not to purchase such stuff. (But being a small business, he can't afford to just throw away his stock, so on the shelf it went.) So all's well that end well. Comic Heaven in Willoughby, Ohio will not become an SM retailer, and I can continue recommending them to everyone. 
------RM |
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