Are Much of a Covid Risk Are Comic Book Stores?

Book stores too.

Good lord. I meant: How much of a covid risk are comic book stores.

Well, the risk of COVID is literally everywhere when you get right down to it, not just at comic shops. But, I digress, the shop I frequent in downtown Philly initiated all the proper protocols: masks for staff and customers, limited numbers of people in the shop (5) and a plexiglas barrier at the register. I've felt safe visiting the shop have had no fear of contracting the virus.

There's also a 15 minute guideline to look at. close quarters is ok for a little bit so long as Masks and there's a limit to the number a people.

Book stores are rarely spacious. They are often so full of books you have barely the space to move around.

How well ventilated is it? How much room is there to navigate, and distance from people? How long are you in there?

I don't have an LCS anymore, but if I did, I'd call, tell them what I want, go pick it up and leave. No browsing. I don't need to risk it, and the staff don't need to risk it. Comic Shop employees don't get paid enough for the risk.

A lot of comic book stores I've visited are in very small locations. You're constantly having to squeeze past other people. It's probably a consequence of owners making very little money, so they can't afford the rent on a large space, and yet they have a lot of stock to display.

This isn't always the case. There are a few comic book stores I've been in that were big and wide open and it was a pleasure to be inside them.

That's my experience, too.

It's nothing to do with what the store sells. Is it cramped quarters? Are staff taking precautions? Are they enforcing guidelines? Are they taking it seriously? There are parts of the US where people still think it's a hoax or an overblown reaction to the flu. It's not. If you live in one of those places, I wouldn't shop ANYWHERE for ANYTHING.

Would you feel comfortable shopping at Zanadu today, were it still around?

As someone who has to use bus and subway on a daily basis to get to work I wish I had the luxury of worrying about being safe in comic book store

[QUOTE=Joker;5249210]Would you feel comfortable shopping at Zanadu today, were it still around?[/QUOTE]

Are you asking me specifically? That was my old store. Honestly? I think the crew would be very conscientious but the clientele would not, and the layout of the place would make distancing very difficult, especially at the register. So no. I would not.

haha. Yeah, I was. I know you shopped there. ;)

I went to a few comic book stores, they all had hand sanitizer and a lot of space but now I'm just ordering online. If you can buy from a store online that's a better option.

The comic stores I frequent have been very adamant about the safety measures and makes me feel safe, I also limit my browsing too depending on the size of the store. I would only order online if I can't find a certain book at a brick and mortar place.

I cut out in person visiting for all bookstores and comic stores when COVID started. They are on my "non-essential" list.

Thing is, they could be perfectly safe. But I've known people who followed all the safe guidelines and still got the disease. So I figured, might as well cut out what I can and limit my shopping best I can. And in person comic store did not make the cut.

[QUOTE=Scott Taylor;5254125]I cut out in person visiting for all bookstores and comic stores when COVID started. They are on my "non-essential" list.
[B][COLOR="#0000FF"]
Thing is, they could be perfectly safe. But I've known people who followed all the safe guidelines and still got the disease. So I figured, might as well cut out what I can and limit my shopping best I can. [/COLOR][/B]And in person comic store did not make the cut.[/QUOTE]

Well...

That coin landed on the other side for me. With folks still seemingly ignoring the "Indoor Bar/Restaurant..." orders here in Northern Illinois, I'm worried about everywhere but the comic shop.

Not going in much, but it's not really one of the places I am really fretting over.

There's usually 4 people in the LCS when I pick up my books, including the guy who runs the place (and sometimes myself). So, not a whole lot.

Haven't been to a regular bookstore in about 6 years. I'm totally digital except for comics.