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Dealer Selling Rule #1

Started by blazingbob,

1,007 posts in this topic

Aces

Aces

Posted
Posted
At the Reed New York show I was at my booth giving a customer some prices on books he was interested in.

 

Doug Schmell of Pedigreecomics.com sees my customer, comes over and hands him and I a sale sheet of books he has for sale.

 

This is while I am speaking to my customer giving him prices.

 

My customer looks at the list and tells Doug the only book he would be interested in would be the Strange Tales #105 9.4.

 

Doug then reaches into his briefcase and places the book on top of my boxes for my customer to check out.

 

He looks at the book while I'm still trying to give him all of my best prices on the books he's interested in.

 

My customer tells me and Doug that he is waiting for a call from his secretary.

 

My customer leaves.

 

Doug is still in front of my booth.

 

I tell Doug and I quote "Don't ever do ing business at my booth again"

 

Doug seems a little surprised. He quickly gives me a "I'm sorry".

 

I then ask him if he would like to give me $100 for doing business at my booth.

 

He proceeds to tell me that he doesn't have to give me $100. I remind him that I paid to setup at the show.

 

I could tell that Doug doesn't really feel he did something wroing so I told him that if he thought what he did was ok he should walk around the show and ask other dealers. I told him that somebody else might have punched him in the face. He basically told me that probably wouldn't have happened.

 

He then states that this has nothing to do with my customer, that I'm still pissed off that he got first look at the Greg Reece collection.

 

I state again that this has nothing to do with the Greg Reece books and to not do business at my booth ever again. He comes back with "I said I'm sorry" and that he was leaving soon and might have missed dealing with the guy. I told him I didn't care what his time schedule was and that if he had business to do with the buy it was in the aisle or somewhere else.

 

Doug's last comment to me which basically states that he doesn't give a rats about anything I just said was "Was there anyting on the list you were interested in".

 

I told him to take the list and shove it.

 

If any new sellers aren't clear about this rule let me state it again.

 

Don't ever do your selling business at a dealers booth.

 

Well look on the bright side, if the ST 105 sale went though you would have gotten a 10% consigment fee right since it was your booth?

I mean that what it is when you use somebodys website right?

:shy:

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the blob

the blob

Posted
Posted

But what about this scenario....

 

I'm rummaging through bargain boxes...I hit an awesome book wayyyyyyy underpriced for $2 or $5 or whatever... but upon further examination there's a moisture stain on the back/clipped coupon/missing page...something that kills the book. I put it back.

 

Guy/gal to my left hits that book 5 minutes later after I have waddled over to the right and hit some other boxes...he/she gets excited and pulls the book for his/her pile. Karma says I should give him/her a head's up to make an informed decision and look at the page/interior, but aren't I potentially losing a sale for the dealer in doing so..disparaging his stuff in his place of business...it's not like he's trying to pass of a counterfeit or a fake signature, just a beater on the cheap.

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USArmyParatrooper

USArmyParatrooper

Posted
Posted
But what about this scenario....

 

I'm rummaging through bargain boxes...I hit an awesome book wayyyyyyy underpriced for $2 or $5 or whatever... but upon further examination there's a moisture stain on the back/clipped coupon/missing page...something that kills the book. I put it back.

 

Guy/gal to my left hits that book 5 minutes later after I have waddled over to the right and hit some other boxes...he/she gets excited and pulls the book for his/her pile. Karma says I should give him/her a head's up to make an informed decision and look at the page/interior, but aren't I potentially losing a sale for the dealer in doing so..disparaging his stuff in his place of business...it's not like he's trying to pass of a counterfeit or a fake signature, just a beater on the cheap.

 

Personally I just wouldn't say anything unless it's a clear case of deception. In this case it's a comic in the cheap bin. The buyer didn't do his due diligence, thought he was getting a steal, and instead paid fair market value. Why interfere?

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Snake Eyes

Snake Eyes

Posted
Posted
But what about this scenario....

 

I'm rummaging through bargain boxes...I hit an awesome book wayyyyyyy underpriced for $2 or $5 or whatever... but upon further examination there's a moisture stain on the back/clipped coupon/missing page...something that kills the book. I put it back.

 

Guy/gal to my left hits that book 5 minutes later after I have waddled over to the right and hit some other boxes...he/she gets excited and pulls the book for his/her pile. Karma says I should give him/her a head's up to make an informed decision and look at the page/interior, but aren't I potentially losing a sale for the dealer in doing so..disparaging his stuff in his place of business...it's not like he's trying to pass of a counterfeit or a fake signature, just a beater on the cheap.

 

I guess as long as you do not offer to sell customer #2 your personal copy of the book while you are both at the table it remains an individual ethical concern.

 

Of course IF you do try to sell your copy over the dealers, prepare for a face punching or game of ultimate comic frisbee (seems to be a split on that right now)

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Davenport

Davenport

Posted
Posted

It just seems ridiculous. Poaching customers or butting into someone's deal to counter-offer should get your azz thrown out of the show.

 

Dealers rented space to conduct business. Interfere and get escorted out. That, everybody knows, or should. (shrug)

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Flaming_Telepath

Flaming_Telepath

Posted
Posted
I could tell that Doug doesn't really feel he did something wrong... [/b]

 

This.

 

Doug has proven in the past - and clearly continues to prove - that he has no grasp of right or wrong.

 

I've upset people by stating this before, but if you're still doing business with him, you're part of the problem and you need to have a word with yourself.

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Park

Park

Posted
Posted
Doug is a classy guy. Here is another true story (names and details redacted).

 

I slab a key book, it comes back in a very high grade. In that grade it's worth five figures. I show it to a dealer who agrees to approach a customer about selling it at a certain price. In the meantime, Doug gets wind of the book I have and also approaches the same customer. He represents that he owns the book and would trade or sell it for a number slightly higher than my asking price. Customer is rightfully confused. Keep in mind that:

 

1. I don't know Doug. At all. Never talked to him or did business with him in my life.

2. He had never seen or touched the book, let alone owned it.

 

A real gem he is.

 

Anyone have a pic of this guy?

 

 

DR.X

 

6th post in this thread. Guy in light blue shirt.

 

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=5155674&fpart=1

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Old Fashion PB and J

Old Fashion PB and J

Posted
Posted
I could tell that Doug doesn't really feel he did something wrong... [/b]

 

This.

 

Doug has proven in the past - and clearly continues to prove - that he has no grasp of right or wrong.

 

I've upset people by stating this before, but if you're still doing business with him, you're part of the problem and you need to have a word with yourself.

But he has books people want :ohnoez:
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Offbeat Archives

Offbeat Archives

Posted
Posted
Leopard. Spots.

 

Probably doesn't help that a lot of buyers really don't care what he did/does as long as he has the books they need.

 

The comic-junkie mindset boggles me. If I was a diabetic I would not buy a copy of Insulin Comics #1 from this repeat-offending if he threw in a free Tec #27.

 

Years ago at SDCC, when my daughter was 9, she was flipping through a box looking for issues to complete her Fox & Crow run. Some whackjob wanted at the box she was going through and shoved her out of the way. That's one collector that learned what getting throttled was, and probably had hematuria for a week.

 

When comics and $$$$ becomes more important than basic humanity then someone's a lost cause. Sickening

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Offbeat Archives

Offbeat Archives

Posted
Posted
I could tell that Doug doesn't really feel he did something wrong... [/b]

 

This.

 

Doug has proven in the past - and clearly continues to prove - that he has no grasp of right or wrong.

 

I've upset people by stating this before, but if you're still doing business with him, you're part of the problem and you need to have a word with yourself.

 

AMEN, Nick!

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skypinkblu

skypinkblu

Posted
Posted

Last year in NYC, I was helping a friend at his booth for a bit. Doug came inside the booth (my friend was still there) and he picked out two books and asked my friend to HOLD the books....he'd be right back with a check.

 

This was Friday...

 

Sunday, he still had not remembered to come back and when he was reminded, he denied every saying anything...but I was a witness.

 

Not someone I'd want to donate a kidney to, don't understand why people run to buy anything from him.

 

Sorry this happened to you, Bob....I think you showed great restraint. :foryou: .

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