FAQ
WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELVES IN 100 WORDS OR LESS?
Since 1989, EC has been making Guests happy with a stellar selection of comic books, games, and toys for all ages and interests. Our 6,000-square-foot superstore offers the pop culture merchandise you want in a clean, organized environment, staffed by a friendly and knowledgeable Team.Your best memories are here at EC!
WHAT IS THE "SECRET ORIGIN" OF EC?
Neil Johnson founded Emerald City Comics in Seminole in 1989 to create the pop-culture superstore he wished existed when he was growing up. Inspired by 'The Wizard of Oz', Neil chose the name 'Emerald City' after the place where everyone’s wishes are granted, reflecting his vision of a store where pop culture dreams come true.
The store's success led to the opening of a second location in northern Clearwater in 1994. As both locations thrived, the original Seminole store eventually outgrew its space. On October 1, 2013, Emerald City consolidated the two stores into an expansive warehouse centrally located in the Tampa Bay Area, creating one massive pop culture superstore!
WHEN DOES MY EC ONLINE SHOP ORDER SHIP?
We normally ship through USPS with insurance. Orders ship on the next business day, and usually arrive within three days after shipping. You can also choose an in-store pickup option if you are near our physical location.
DO YOU SHIP OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES?
You can send an email to orders@emeraldcitycomics.com with a detailed request list, and we can add those items to our eBay store to purchase using eBay International Shipping.
WHEN ARE EACH WEEK'S NEW COMICS AVAILABLE?
New comics are usually available when we open every Wednesday.
Games and other merchandise can arrive almost any day of the week.
HOW DO I FIND THE COMICS I WANT?
New comics are racked alphabetically by title. Exception: superhero titles are racked by the character’s name instead of title ('Amazing Spider-Man', for instance, is racked under 'Spider-Man'). This week’s new comics have a 'New!' label in front of them for easy browsing.
Graphic novels are racked as follows:
- Marvel Superheroes
- Star Wars
- DC Superheroes / DC Animation / DC Vertigo (and DC Black Label)
- Fiction & Literature / 'Silver Sprocket and Friends' (indie / DIY / self-published / underground comix)
- Featured Sections (coloring books, cookbooks, how-to, Wicca, mythology, Lovecraft, Tolkien, novels, etc.)
- Art Books
- Manga (Japanese comics, translated into English)
- Kids
Back issues are filed alphabetically by title (as listed in the annual Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide).
WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?
Each week, our team at Emerald City picks their favorite new comics, displayed on the counter just inside the store. We also feature a selection of great new comics at the register and a 'Featured Books' table showcasing our top picks and best-selling graphic novels.
We’re always happy to help you find a comic you’ll enjoy, but please note that we don't recommend comics based on potential future investment value – we believe the true value of comics lies in the reading experience!
HOW MANY COPIES CAN I BUY OF A NEW COMIC BOOK?
To ensure as many Guests as possible can enjoy their favorite new comics, we limit purchases to 1 copy per Guest / Group / Family, unless additional copies were preordered.
Need more than 1 copy? No worries! Preorder your desired quantity up to a month before release.
And don't miss an issue of your favorite series with our FREE in-store subscription service – just subscribe to 3 or more monthly titles!
WHAT IS YOUR IN-STORE COMICS SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE?
This service holds new comic books and graphic novels for you, so you never miss a chapter of your favorite stories. Here’s how it works:
• It’s FREE. You pay only for the merchandise as you pick it up.
• Just let us know which comic book titles and graphic novels you would like, and we will hold them for you when they arrive. Please subscribe to at least three titles.
• Please pick up everything in your file at least once a month. Delinquent subscription files will be put on hold, and the books will be returned to stock.
• We will gladly try to keep you informed about upcoming comics and merchandise, but we also recommend our distributors' monthly catalogs. You can use them every month to order items that are not already on your subscription file.
https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog
https://www.lunardistribution.com
https://prhcomics.com/catalog/category/monthly-catalogs
• If you order an item that cost $75 or more, please leave a 50% deposit. This deposit is nonrefundable unless the item is canceled by the manufacturer or distributor.
Ask for a subscription form at the register counter or subscription counter!
• Sign up for a subscription in-store or here!
WHY SHOULD I PREORDER COMICS AND BOOKS?
Preordering helps you, us, and the publishers & creators. Here’s how:
1. Ensures You Get Your Copy: Preordering guarantees that you receive a copy, even if it sells out.
2. Helps Us Gauge Demand: Preorders help us determine how many copies to order. Shops often use preorders as a multiplier, estimating that each preorder represents several potential buyers when the book releases. This allows us to better match demand, avoiding shortages or excess stock.
3. Supports Publishers in Setting Print Runs: Preorders inform publishers about the demand, helping them print the right amount. Printing too few copies leads to costly reprints, while printing too many wastes resources. By preordering, you help publishers avoid these pitfalls.
Preordering benefits everyone: you secure your copy, stores optimize their orders, and publishers print the right quantities, reducing costs and delays.
How to Preorder: It’s easy! Just call 727-398-2665, email comics@emeraldcitycomics.com, text 727-378-2410, or stop by before the book’s FOC (Final Order Cutoff) date to place your order!
WHAT IF I CAN'T FIND THE ITEM I WANT?
If you see something in the Previews catalogs or can't find what you're looking for in-store, just ask us! We can often special order items for you. For orders of $75 or more, a 50% nonrefundable deposit is required (some items may not have a final price until shipping, but we can provide an estimate). The deposit is refundable only if the item is canceled by the manufacturer or distributor.
DO YOU OFFER LAYAWAY?
Yes we do!
• The service is free – there is no layaway charge. $50 minimum layaway, please.
• The down payment is 20% of the total pre-tax retail price of the merchandise. This payment holds the merchandise for up to two months.
• Merchandise on layaway must be paid for in full within two months, or the layaway will be canceled. No partial takeouts of a multiple-item layaway are permitted.
• You may cancel this layaway at any time before your last payment is made.
• In the event of cancellation, we will refund all money you have paid, less a cancellation charge of 20% of the total pre-tax retail price of the merchandise.
• Sales and discounts do not apply to merchandise on layaway.
HOW DO YOU PRICE BACK ISSUE COMICS?
Our back issue comics are graded for their condition and priced according to the current price guides.
For our pre-priced back issues, we use both in-print and online price guides. The print guide is the annual Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (widely considered the primary authority on the subject of American comic book grading and pricing in the industry), and the online guides include eBay, gpanalysis.com, and comicspriceguide.com.
Most newer back issues are priced at their cover price, plus the price of a bag & board (currently 50 cents).
DO YOU SELL GIFT CERTIFICATES?
Absolutely! Don’t know what to get that special someone? That’s why we offer EC Gift Certificates! They are available in any amount over 99 cents. They are available in increments of $1 here, but they are only usable in our physical store.
WHAT PAYMENT METHODS DO YOU ACCEPT?
For in-store purchases, we accept:
- Cash
- Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, ATM/Debit cards, contactless payments (such as Apple / Google / Samsung Pay)
- In-state checks up to $50 with a valid Florida driver's license
- EC Gift Certificates
- Store credit
CAN I RETURN AN ITEM I PURCHASED?
You may return an item...
• for store credit
• with a receipt
• within 15 days of purchase
• if the item and packaging are in their original condition.
If the above points do not apply, we may be unable to accommodate a return, but we will do our best to take care of you.
Our goal is making our Guests happy!
WILL YOU BUY MY COMICS AND COLLECTIBLES?
We do buy comics and collectibles that we're sold out of and believe we can resell. Here's how it works:
- We review the collection: If we're interested, we'll make a cash or store credit offer. If you accept, you’ll be paid immediately!
- Large Collections: For large collections, please send or bring us a list to review. For comics, email backissues@emeraldcitycomics.com; for toys and collectibles, email toys@emeraldcitycomics.com.
- Small Collections: For small boxes of comics or collectibles, call ahead at 727-398-2665 to ensure a buyer is available.
- Toys & Collectibles: Provide a general description of your items, especially if you have something we don’t buy (like sports collectibles), to avoid unnecessary trips.
- Estimates: We can’t provide estimates over the phone or email; we need to see the items in person for evaluation.
- Appraisals: We only evaluate items for purchase. For insurance or legal appraisals, contact neil@emeraldcitycomics.com for a quote.
Frequently Asked Question: "Why was I offered less than I expected?"
- Condition Matters: Odors (such as smoke) and overall condition significantly impact value.
- Retail Pricing: As a retail store, we can only offer a percentage of the retail, guide, or eBay value, since we need to cover operational costs and may hold onto items for extended periods.
- Supply and Demand: If we have high supply or low demand for certain items, we might not be able to make an offer. In such cases, you may have better luck selling through eBay, Craigslist, or at a local convention; or consider donating to friends, family, or a charity.
For more information, see 'How to Sell Your Old Comic Books FAST!' or 'How to Sell Your Old Toys FAST!'
WILL YOU CARRY THE COMIC BOOK I CREATED?
We’re excited to support local and indie creators, and we have a couple of options for getting your work into Emerald City!
Consignment:
We can sell your comics on consignment! Bring a sample of your work to the store or send it to email@emeraldcitycomics.com for review. If approved, we'll display your comic with a "NEW" tag for its first week and a "Local Creator" tag if applicable. Sales are split 50/50. You can fill out the Consignment Agreement Form and email it to us, or local creators can complete it in-store.
Distribution:
For wider distribution, we recommend getting your comics or graphic novels listed through major distributors like Diamond Comic Distributors or Ingram. With the high volume of titles competing for shelf space, we focus on ordering periodicals and books from established distributors.
While it’s challenging for new or independent creators to break into the market, we encourage you to explore all available avenues, and we wish you the best of luck with your work!
DO YOU MAKE CHARITABLE DONATIONS?
We are always happy to donate comics for a good cause. Please contact us about a week in advance so we can prepare a donation. We will fill out a Donation Receipt form for your organization, and we just ask you to print and sign your name when you pick up the donation!
CW Tampa's "44 On the Town" segment on us!
#ThrowbackThursday
The Grand Poobah himself!