Not being able to see the contents, customers probably assumed there was something more valuable in there than promotional items. I doubt many of them bought more than one grab bag.
I think Diamond (the distributor) frowns on stores selling items that were meant to be given away for free. To be honest, the owner doesn’t sound like the most reputable guy.
Iirc there was always at least one old comic in these grab bags, and this was 30+ years ago so it was silver age, and the bags were transparent. I just thought it was a cool story, have mercy internet stranger! This person was around 23, spent his inheritance buying the store from a WW 2 vet and was out of business within a year.
If the bag was clear that makes a big difference and means I was wrong to assume something was afoot.
I remember going to lots of different comic shops as a kid and even through young eyes it was obvious that some of the owners were fairly shady. I’m sorry for projecting that onto your story. Sorry to hear it didn’t work out for him; that sounds like it must have been a rough experience.
I think Diamond (the distributor) frowns on stores selling items that were meant to be given away for free. To be honest, the owner doesn’t sound like the most reputable guy.