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Hero Restoration

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Everything posted by Hero Restoration

  1. In no specific order. These three observations today are very much how I feel. Am I not in this for cash, it was the fame. The cash is in flipping books, but for me it was straight labor, and the plus or minuses that go with it. I put in the hours, but it wasn't enough, there was more missing. All I wanted was time. I understand that that might be an unreasonable request considering how much time is already gone by, but I wanted nothing more. I didn't go into this for cash, it's needed, but my drive was the work. I saw an opportunity to build something, and I took a chance. Dr Balls, I remember when you first showed up on the boards. Love 💕 hate would be my description. You can be so insightful, and other times, well...... Yes, I had a dream, and it turned into a nightmare. NJ was a mistake, and on part because it was my creation. Once I made the choice, the rest was doomed based on the person making that choice. Not a day goes by I don't regret staying the small guy on the wrong side of the continent. My inability or motivation to be there in New Jersey on hand, day to day was clearly a mistake. Even if I had, it still could have been a mistake. Once New Jersey opened, and it was a mistake, then every decision I made after that couldn't be right because it was based on a mistake. Please Believe me when I say I'm regretting that now. I feel like the hulk with his name on top of his back crushing him, the responsibility overwhelming, the weight of it all more than I can bear. I've tried everything I can think of, but no one really seems to care. That's business, and I get that. I am trying to salvage what is left, but this thread has more of a negative impact than I think anyone realizes. I'm not talking about for me. We're way beyond that, it's a miracle that my artery hasn't constricted enough that I'm just dead. That's just life, and in fact that was one of my hopes of building a larger company, so one person dying didn't mean the end of a business. I'm talking about the customers, the collectors, the people that have had books since they were a kid. They are in a panic, not because I'm slow, but because others created animosity to the point they think they have something to worry about. Do they have to worry about getting their books back? No.! Do they have to worry about me moving at the speed of molasses, yes. That is my hole, I have way more books than I should for one person, I move way slower than I should for one person, and I made all the wrong decisions along the way. Decisions so now that I've got this endless boxes of books, all the while still having to do the day-to-day to make sure the wheels keep turning. There is no help that doesn't costs money, and I didn't manage the money well enough. I was hoping for Henry Ford Restoration dream, and I dreamed too hard and too fast. All I want now is time to get things right, but it's not working out that way. Whether it's inflation, bad economy, getting screwed by others, or just plan out frustration, I picked the wrong time to get stuck behind and be by myself. I had a chance to make a difference and I blew it. Now I have no choice but to resign from CGC as a dealer, and facilitator. Due to time, I am forced into a corner, if I had more time I could do more, but I can't expect more time from others. So it is with great sadness, that the end of Hero Restoration is coming. While I understand the concern, I have every reason to return everyone's books, and no incentive to keep them, having wealth that doesn't belong to me was never a thought. I am still pressing daily, but I don't know why. To use the play on words to indicate I am not trying is otherwise unfair. Understanding is not a requisite for cooperation, but it's being required of me nonetheless . Whether I'm too slow, I don't have it together enough to be productive, is irrelevant. My intention is always been steady, it has always been about the customer, and I will do everything I can to do what I need to do. It is very unusual and unexpected to be asked to just stop and return and not finish. I never wanted to let a book go out the door not it's best, and as part of the reason why I have had books too long. All I ask for is what for most don't want to give; more time. More trust, more confidence, but that has changed overnight. To think that I just will keep the books to myself seems absurd to me. I didn't draw attention to myself for that reason, I just wanted to be known for caring about the hobby, and trying to do something that was available to everyone, and almost every book. I either dreamed and unreasonable dream, or I just did it completely wrong. I have no idea which it is, or a combination of the two, but I will not try again. If I can do this as a hobby, I'll be happy. As a business, I have no business doing it. While I haven't actually announced it yet, There's no way I can be a CGC dealer and facilitator, but my reasons I will keep to myself. It wasn't supposed to be the Dealers job to figure out the grade of a book. I feel the dealer should get rewarded for the sales, not overburdened with expenses and lack of support. Everything's changed since 2009, I almost feel like a dinosaur already. When I once revelled in the satisfaction of others increasing their value of their books, now all I see is the machine turning, and the disappointment when it doesn't. I had hoped to create a team so efficient that even the most complicated work could cost less, but I was foolish. Too much time to train, too much risk that it will not pan out long term. I am doing everything I can for those who are willing to wait, to fulfill my responsibility. I can't help those who rush to change plans, make demands, and disregard the terms for no reason other than it being a small company. Not different terms, not unusual or new, just terms just in case. I could not find the solution. I cannot comply with what is expected , and do not have the resources for such an event of mass requests. Those demands along with the destructive terminology used in social media has forced Hero Restoration into irreversible insolvency. I'm not saying it wasn't headed that way anyways, but if there was any chance of saving it, it's now over based on social media. I blame everybody, and nobody at the same time. All I had to do was stay under a rock and I would be fine. I thought I could be the next Bill Sorell, but instead I'm just being matched up with con artist and scammers. It's a nightmare. I won't have to worry about retrying again,as I am a senior and this was my one shot. My time is limited and........ I just want to enjoy life while I can. I am sorry, I never wanted the clients to be involved in any way with the risk of being in business. It is with absolute despair and sadness, that Hero Restoration LLC will have to file chapter 7, if only to prove that the right thing is being done to the end. A trustee can take care of this now, see that those who are not whole made whole if possible. It is out of my control, the choice has been taken away from me now. The process has began to take form. The panic that this thread has caused has created an avalanche of request that I cannot comply with. Everyone wants to be first, and that's more than just a couple of dozen. I know it seems simple, and maybe it is. It is not simple for me, I am going as fast as I can, and working as hard as I can. After 9 months of 7 days a week, 16 hour days and 2 heart attacks, I don't have it in me anymore, especially by myself., Down time is literally essential. If I don't have down time, then I'm just plain down. I don't mean to make anyone wait any longer than they have to, it troubles me every day. I could probably do better if I was all knowing, but I am not so I do the best I can. I really don't have much more to say, and I'm really not interested in negative comments. The filing will make sure everyone's books are returned, and that due process is being done. That is my only motivation for filing, otherwise I accept the consequences of the ending. I struggled to say goodbye to the hobby, there are people who still believe in me and still want me to finish the work I started or was going to start. For those people who are willing to wait, I will continue the work, but I do not expect it to be a full-time endeavor. Maybe it was never meant to be that way, maybe I was trying to build something that could not be built. Maybe I just was the wrong person to try to build it, but if you don't try you never know, nand now I do. 😔
  2. Besides, if you can beleive after all I have dedicated to preserving books, left one order in the rain for 6 months, than beating a dead horse, I am.
  3. I can't get into that account right now, Lee had access to most of that then. But, once you think I am a liar, the pictures will only cause a change in attack, so why waste my time?
  4. Based on the daily neurotic emails to the office manager and I, I doubt you will not continue.
  5. When books come that fluct up, the other techs don't touch them. They were waiting for me, and he made his choice, not I.
  6. Just for those that are wondering. Again, Too be VERY clear, I never wanted my personal health to be know, so this isn't me looking for excuses. I am just tired of hearing "supposedly", or "Allegedly". *1. in·farct a small localized area of dead tissue resulting from failure of blood supply. *2 is·che·mi·a an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body, especially the heart muscles. *3 What causes peri infarct ischemia? Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of myocardial ischemia. Blood clot. The plaques that develop in atherosclerosis can rupture, causing a blood clot. The clot might block an artery and lead to sudden, severe myocardial ischemia, resulting in a heart attack. This is why a stent won't work, and I need to clock out for a bypass.
  7. First, customer service answering the call is communicating a general message, without first hand knowledge about pressing. Some books are prone to this affect due to the type of paper. The other issue is because of our examples, it easy to assume those results can be achieved on all types of paper, with same reaction. We usually don't receive 9.4's with one finger dent. We get 8.0's, with the expectation of 9.6. Heavy creasing can come out, revert, and repeat, but that is because it's not about just improving the book, it's about it defect being gone. Modern black covers especially behave this way.
  8. Been in contact since 11 this morning, and we got this covered. Derek's a nice guy, and has been very understanding and supportive. Except for days when I receive over 20 emails, it is usually the easiest way to reach me. I also altered the phone system to get in touch with me as well.
  9. You should email me so we can iron out the details.
  10. Disagree, you're only considering a fraction of a variable, in a group of several variables.
  11. I don't know who microchip is. It's not me, but be or have been a client, or has been in my shoes. If I had a shill, you would know it. It's not like my alter ego is going to do a better job at this. Lol I can never say the right thing no matter what my screen name is
  12. Okay, it seems as though your post have no interest in being constructive. The funds went exactly toward to completion of the work. In hindsight,what I probably should have done is hired a CEO, and then just done all the restoration myself. In all honesty, that's the only way I can even break even based on how much I charge versus how long it takes me to do the book. It takes me too long to do the book, because to get the results in every task takes me longer than someone who is qualified for very specific skill. My methods didn't work, obviously, but my intentions were to get work done faster, and cost less to do. Training. Training labor has to come from somewhere, it's not free anymore these days.
  13. I have, to cover all the different types of responses to my attempts is another long post. Please don't assume that just because I have a fail safe setup that that's my default.
  14. Label is included. If I regain control, I should have only the amount of work I can handle. I have made changes already , but it was too late for the older clients.and trust. I'm still willing to do your book. Or find some other way to make it right. About 3 years ago, I realized extensive page work on 64 pages was jamming me up. Not long after that, I stop accepting those, even partial page work. and cover work only. I kept making changes like that, but it was too late. The help I trained was expected to accelerate production of resto exponential failed, right when it was suppose to succeed. Others have mentioned this, so I will say that I just had a dream. An entrepreneur, a title I probably don't deserve, has to take some risks. I figured no one had done this yet in comics, so why not try. I wanted to be the largest company is it's kind. Besides the obvious others have stated, only an optimist would think it was doable. Going from independent contractor to a small company required more of my time, and new challenged and responsibilities. The pressure for payroll along caused lost sleep. Resto funds went to training help, that seemed the best way to catch up, while finding the right specialist for each task. One person can do a pretty good job, but you can't be terrific at everything, and even if you are some of those tasks take much longer to do. I groomed a color touch artist that had the potential to be better than anyone has ever seen, but life changes and hers did and comic books just was not a priority for her anymore. So if I could do it all over again would I just do it differently or not do it at all? I think it would be the latter, the expansion pushed me into a place of CEO, and I hated it. Seriously, it's like fight club, except I don't have the experience, or the demeanor. So it really only compounded my problem because I had to spend less time on restoration and more on management, constantly watching my back. Then I had too many eggs in one basket, a lot was invested in training the market was strong then. Then a series of bad luck, choices, and market change was too much.and then that's about the end of that story. Now I'm stuck in this hole the size of Crater lake, and I would drop dead from exhaustion before I could ever get it to be full again while doing know work to cover expenses. Then would companies can freeze your accounts on a whim, that's the final nail. Never again, it's just me, Barry, and maybe someone who can handle customer service. One thing I never did was mix business and personal income. I took a normal check like everybody else, and many times I was not the highest paid person in the group. More hours was a must, and if Hero couldn't afford it, I took less and leveraged cards.My life is very lean, so What I did earn enough I was able to buy a few things, but when things got tough for the company I gave it all up. Not only did I sell my Harley to pay for company expenses, but I sold it at a 60% loss and it was. I mean I loved that Harley. In the grand scope, possessions aren't important to me, and it's true I don't have any and neither does the business. If you want to know where the money went, it all went right back in the business, my losses on 272 k was so high, I had to dumb it down. It's it's a lean company now. Just enough to keep going so that I can at least finish what I started. There are days I think after I get my health together I can start again, and then there are days where I think it's hopeless and nobody will ever do business with me again. Oh no! This looks like it's too long It better not delete and disappear. Dang it.
  15. Thanks for the advice. I was planning something similar. One mistake I have been making is trying too get work done first, then ship. I am concerned based on past experience that those who will wait will want a time estimate, or put a cap on it. That would be okay, but I am in a very big hole as a result of the downsizing, and not much revenue. Any date I offer is sure to be wrong, and my current reputation is in that state. That's just pressing, the restores are to big to estimate accurately. I had a volunteer last weekend help with shipping, and he may help this week too. I don't feel good about free help, especially if they are busy too, but I humbly appreciate it. Your plan requires more work than I can do quick enough, but hopefully in time to prevent the other issue you mentioned. I don't want to be know for that. Hard for me to see the support, but I think that's just a result of what I have been going through. At this point, I expect more punches than hand shakes. To be clear, I am not trying to keep anyone's book from them. Quick silvers books are disassembled, and with little space, I wanted to wait till I could box those up safely, and account for everything. I do get off course easily, I really don't like talking about it, for me, conditions like ADHD are very private info. It doesn't take much, and I always have to many projects started at once. I would very much like to continue my work, I was hoping to do it until I due, as retiring did an unlikely future option. It's likely I am stepping down as a dealer and facilitator, really tired of doing large figures with a company that acts like they do.
  16. For the record, I am so close to done on QS 29, it eats away at my soul. The actions are still ugly, but I have over 40 hrs on each of those so far. Hard to quit on books you are in the middle of, very hard.
  17. See, all it took was one response, and you switched back to the other side before I realized my knee jerk reaction, and could delete it Oh well. I never insisted I was the victim, although it does feel like that at times, but I believe the real victims are clients that have to suffer because I am under attack. The attacks against me over time have made me cynical, I see that now. I think it's just time to call it, and fold. The clients that are already aware, and willing to stick it out will get their work done eventually. Only thing I can do for everyone else is a professional wind down, and wind up. I will let the attorneys take it from here.
  18. Yep that just about covers it. Goodbye everyone. It's likely my exile will be complete by Monday.
  19. Gosh, you really are a giant . Seriously, as a paralegal you must have worked for a civil attorney. Those working both side jerks rip you off and give you nothing, but more headaches. Whatever it is you're trying to point out is moot. Nobody has respect for terms, contracts,or reading them first. Doesn't matter if they've changed over time, if you don't respect it them you don't respect it and the only way you do is if it's a company that can enforce it. So it really doesn't matter what the term say, apparently you can cancel a purchase at any time, for any reason and expect a full refund and in a timely manner. And at the other party doesn't comply. Then you just find a workaround like a charge back right? Take the law on your own hands. Isn't that what you're doing now? The terms and agreement was never meant to be a hard stand. All I did was try to take the experience and knowledge from bigger and older companies. Who've gone through it already and prepare myself just in case. It doesn't matter in the end, nobody reads them. Nobody respects them. You've already proven as a retired paralegal, the law doesn't matter to you, only how you can get around it, right? You think I just come up with these terms out of thin air? Where is the real smoking gun? That question of course was rhetorical, as I am pretty sure you do not care about trying to fry a fish bigger than yourself. Kudos to you for picking on the little guy. 👍
  20. I made mistakes, and I am very sorry. I tried to build a company that could run without me, so that these concerns wouldn't continue to come up and cause the concern it is causing now. It was selfish of me wanting to build something big enough that I could be remembered after. I'm gone for doing something good. I realize that now. Dust in the wind, that's what I should have been happy with.