...People from all walks of life visit their friendly neighborhood comic shop. Such stores are often limited in their space for merchandise, being independently-owned businesses located in strip malls across America.

For some customers, this is the only day of the week they'll visit the store. Jostling for the opportunity to examine the latest titles, most are gathered around the new comic book rack. It's often a relatively small area compared to back issues, trade paperbacks, gaming supplies and assorted toys.

Since any given Wednesday is arguably the busiest day of the week for the retailers, most small stores can be a tad congested. Getting in and out of the shop can be a frustrating experience. Toward that end, allow me to offer COMIC SHOP ETIQUETTE 101.

First off, there's the reason we're there: the comics. We all read them, but many are so eager they feel the need to read them in the store, standing at the rack. This is wrong and here's why: If you're going to buy it, then you can read it at home; if you're not going to buy it, there's no need to be handling it, wrinkling the cover and getting grubby prints all over it.

Granted, one can't judge a book by its cover, so I'm not adverse to a quick glance through the book. Emphasis on the quick. While they may be a passion for the fans, for the dealer comics are a livelihood, and damaged merchandise damages the business.

Secondly, reading and collecting comic books is a hobby enjoyed by many, and stores are often the gathering place for fans. I recommend not gathering at the counter area, though. This hinders the check-out process for others.

Since any given Wednesday can be so busy, stores with a gaming area rarely run games that day. That may be the best place to discuss how much Tobey Maguire bulked up for Spider-Man, or which stone-cold, full-lipped Star Trek babe is hotter (less cold?), T'Pol or Seven of Nine.

But it's not just the customers who could stand a little education. Retailers sometimes could benefit from a little friendly advice as well. Too often owners see it as any other business, considering only the bottom line, and how best to separate customers from their cash. Such stores survive because they're the only game in town.

There is a often a misplaced feeling of authority that comes with having such free and easy access to the volumes of comics and retail information available from publishers. Many a customer has been turned off by a know-it-all clerk who feels the need to share his or her thoughts on anything and everything that catches his eye. Passionate comics fans are often equally knowledgable, and opinions are best kept to a minimum.

Kids can often be the problem of both the customer and proprietor. Ultimately, smaller children should be governed by their parents, kept from roaming freely and mishandling merchandise. If the parents won't exercise their responsibility, store staff should exercise their right to control that which potentially hurts their business. This would include discouraging kids - those that are not paying customers - from hanging out at the store simply out of boredom. If the parents need a babysitter, they should look elsewhere.

And finally, you know what they say about opinion - that everybody has one. And every store has one of these - THAT guy, that know-it-all guy, who's very quick with an opinion, whether you want it or not. Somewhere, much like Jerry Seinfeld's Soup Nazi,  I'm sure there is a Comic Book Nazi. He requires proper behaviour on the part of his clientele. Such a merchant might not be in business very long, but perhaps he has something extra, maybe a way to get those hard-to-find back issues we all look for.

Whether there is a Comic Book Nazi or not, I recommend we fans do each other a favor. Let's just buy our books, get in and out quickly, and maybe head over to McDonalds or some other place for our weekly gab fest.

Praise and adulation? Scorn and ridicule? E-mail me at philip@comicbookbin.com .