anyone use comicsupply.com?

[slym2none]

I know I never said "thief" or "jail time" personally - but this comicsupply.com shop/person definitely fits my description of "thief."

 

 

 

-slym

[shadroch]

I would agree Russel is a thief, I just don't think he's a big enough thief to warrant jail time. I'd call him a petty thief.

 

To me, his operation is a classic example of retail kiting. Some may call it a ponzi scheme, but it's not. Its almost impossible to prove a retailer who is kiting is commiting fraud, but it generally ends badly for all involved.

[newshane]

I would agree Russel is a thief, I just don't think he's a big enough thief to warrant jail time. I'd call him a petty thief.

 

To me, his operation is a classic example of retail kiting. Some may call it a ponzi scheme, but it's not. Its almost impossible to prove a retailer who is kiting is commiting fraud, but it generally ends badly for all involved.

 

You're right...I think he is kiting as well. Needs to be investigated.

 

 

[mrmyst]

...what is 'kiting'?

[BlowUpTheMoon]

...what is 'kiting'?

 

Link

[newshane]

...what is 'kiting'?

 

Check kiting is a form of check fraud, involving taking advantage of the float to make use of non-existent funds in a checking or other bank account. In this way, instead of being used as a negotiable instrument, checks are misused as a form of credit.

 

It is commonly defined as intentionally writing a check for a value greater than the account balance from an account in one bank, then writing a check from another account in another bank, also with non-sufficient funds, with the second check serving to cover the non-existent funds from the first account.[1] The purpose of check kiting is to falsely inflate the balance of a checking account in order to allow written checks that would otherwise bounce to clear.[2] If the account is not planned to be replenished, then the fraud is known as paper hanging instead. If writing a check with non-sufficient funds is done with the expectation that they will be covered by payday – in effect a payday loan – this is called playing the float.

 

-Wiki

[thehumantorch]

Do you honestly believe any of that is at a level that called for jail time?

 

Perhaps none of the abuses are jail worthy but he's shown a systemic pattern of ripping people off and failing to deliver product or keep his word. The world would be a better place if he was out of business.

 

And we've likely only met a small portion of his victims. This board is just a small percentage of collectors and potential 'customers'.

[shadroch]

...what is 'kiting'?

 

In this case, Russ is taking your money for products he doesn't have. He has use of the money for as long as he can pacify you. Eventually you complain and he refunds your money, only its not the money you sent him, its money from a new buyer who he then strings along as long as possible. Rinse and repeat.

Its a very tricky thing to prosecute because he always does fill some orders so he makes it difficult to prove intent, which is a big part of any fraud case. Lets say you order 500 bags and 10 mylars. Instead of shipping you 500 bags and back ordering the 10 mylars, he holds the 500 bags until the mylars are in stock, which may be months from now. He's got your money and the product, which he may sell to someone else because he won't be shipping it to you for a few months until the mylars come in.

It's a poor business practice mostly run by scumbags of certain ethnic groupings.

Just very difficult to prosecute, especially with victims spread all over the country.

[shadroch]

Do you honestly believe any of that is at a level that called for jail time?

 

Perhaps none of the abuses are jail worthy but he's shown a systemic pattern of ripping people off and failing to deliver product or keep his word. The world would be a better place if he was out of business.

 

And we've likely only met a small portion of his victims. This board is just a small percentage of collectors and potential 'customers'.

 

 

I agree with that 107%. If I somehow gave the impression I was defending him or his practices, let me make clear that was not my intent. I look forward to the Comic Supply is finally out of business" thread.

[makeminemego]

I lucked into a decent transaction with them a couple of years ago. I now know that it was pure luck.

 

The guy is pretty much borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. Since I found out how he conducts business, I go through HotFlips, or order directly from Gerber.

 

I got lucky the only time I ordered through them, but based on the experiences of everyone on this board, I won't be ordering from them again.

[SpaFon]

There is a thread with links to report him to the BBB, business fraud, etc. Anybody who ordered from him should follow through, eventually he will be shut down.

[Flatliner1313]

I ordered from them about a week and a half ago, and apparently the package just arrived at my family's house in the states. I'll ask them to open it and make sure it's not just full of shredded newspaper.

 

I ordered some Mylars, for the record.

Was going to order from Hotflips but they qouted me $33 shipping for 100 mylars and 100 fullbacks.

[shadroch]

I was amazed to see CS has above average ratings on Amazon.

[joecgcmaniac]

I ordered from them about a week and a half ago, and apparently the package just arrived at my family's house in the states. I'll ask them to open it and make sure it's not just full of shredded newspaper.

 

I ordered some Mylars, for the record.

Was going to order from Hotflips but they qouted me $33 shipping for 100 mylars and 100 fullbacks.

 

Nothing like supporting a criminal enterprise. (thumbs u

 

 

 

[GACollectibles]

WWSFD?

 

He'd buy from Hotflips.com!

[BlowUpTheMoon]

I once mistakenly bought books from Russ.

[Flatliner1313]

I ordered from them about a week and a half ago, and apparently the package just arrived at my family's house in the states. I'll ask them to open it and make sure it's not just full of shredded newspaper.

 

I ordered some Mylars, for the record.

Was going to order from Hotflips but they qouted me $33 shipping for 100 mylars and 100 fullbacks.

 

Nothing like supporting a criminal enterprise. (thumbs u

 

 

 

 

I didn't know it was a criminal enterprise, at the time.

 

[vaillant]

Well, shardroch, it may be improper to call it fully "theft", but nonetheless this is a pretty much dishonest behavior.

Never heard of this seller, the few Mylite bags I ordered, I ordered from the UK, and I am very happy with most eBay UK dealers. It may take a bit for them to reply, but most are safe and sound! (thumbs u

[CKB]

I ordered from them about a week and a half ago, and apparently the package just arrived at my family's house in the states. I'll ask them to open it and make sure it's not just full of shredded newspaper.

 

I ordered some Mylars, for the record.

Was going to order from Hotflips but they qouted me $33 shipping for 100 mylars and 100 fullbacks.

 

There's no way they accurately quoted you $33 shipping for those items. Either they made an error or the quote was for an international destination.

 

[shadroch]

Well, shardroch, it may be improper to call it fully "theft", but nonetheless this is a pretty much dishonest behavior.

Never heard of this seller, the few Mylite bags I ordered, I ordered from the UK, and I am very happy with most eBay UK dealers. It may take a bit for them to reply, but most are safe and sound! (thumbs u

 

I'd call it theft, but simple theft is rarely rewarded with jail time in todays America. Our jails are too full of drug users ans small time dealers to house common crooks.