alxjhnsn Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 (edited) I'm going to write a FAQ on the Donnelly's. Topics will include: Their business model Their "unused" covers Their lack of pricing / changing of prices Their general altering of art, e.g., this Superman piece by Curt Swan Deceptive Advertising I will will use threads from this board for reference - I've built a list. What other topics should be included? The threads I've found so far are: Business Model A Dealer's Pricing CoolLines Question Pricing Cool Lines Art Work Inquiry Unused Covers and related art changes Coollines Scam Selling Mark Bagley Ultimate Spider-man 35 Cover Recreation as the original This is why no one likes the Donnelly's Important infofor anyone buying "Unused/Rejected" Covers esp. from Cool Lines More Cool Lines Deceit - Misrepresented/Modified Art Altered Original Art for Sale Deceptive Advertising What sources have I missed? Edited February 22, 2020 by alxjhnsn Buzzetta and The Voord 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapeape Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 Let’s get to the bottom of why one brother always has to ask the other brother!!!! ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alxjhnsn Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 (edited) @grapeape, this is no laughing matter. Okay, it is a laugh or cry matter, but I'm still going to write it. Edited February 22, 2020 by alxjhnsn grapeape and The Voord 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapeape Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 Just now, alxjhnsn said: @grapeape, this is no laughing matter. Okay, it is a laugh or cry matter, but I'm still going to write it. Ha ha!! I’m with you! You seriously are the man for the job. I love it. You are going to get a lot of material here and we’ll all learn a lot. There are times where I thought maybe I’ve been to hard on these guys but no!! alxjhnsn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alxjhnsn Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 Frankly, I like Rich and I've had no trouble with the guys. Of course, I've never bought anything from them either though I've talked to them off and on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapeape Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 2 minutes ago, alxjhnsn said: Frankly, I like Rich and I've had no trouble with the guys. Of course, I've never bought anything from them either though I've talked to them off and on. Well that’s the funny thing. In person I’ve had the same pleasant experience. I remember in the nineties they priced many of their items or could readily tell you a price. The web seems to have changed their model. Now we have: Inquire. Different price quotes on the same piece depending on who contacts them. The arts and crafts work on the art. let me gather my thoughts. Just what we need Alex thanks. alxjhnsn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aokartman Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 31 minutes ago, grapeape said: Inquire. Different price quotes on the same piece depending on who contacts them. The arts and crafts work on the art. let me gather my thoughts. Just what we need Alex thanks. Yeah, I have reflections on the brothers, but, it is not all bad. My sense is they got in early, or were gifted a bunch of art, got burned, and decided to refresh their selling model which has held to this day. I have sold to (them). Outsider Dave David S. Albright grapeape 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor G Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 They may be the extreme end of the continuum, but singling them out seems to be letting others (dealers and collectors) off the hook too easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodou Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Just now, Taylor G said: They may be the extreme end of the continuum, but singling them out seems to be letting others (dealers and collectors) off the hook too easy. I disagree. The Dees are the Benchmark for Bad. This is useful! The BfB will make most look better (though some shared characteristics (sociopathology) may occur and even be evenly distributed among the Dealer Community) and also a few will at times look even worse and be out of business quickly anyway. MAY1979 and The Voord 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC101 Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Having never met the brothers grim, whenever they're brought up I always imagine them as twins who both look like this: grapeape 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alxjhnsn Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 I have no axe to grind with them and my conversations with Rich have been pleasant. I'm just tired of folks posting about them. An FAQ can provide a nice summary and terminate those threads (okay, that part may be a dream). As for singling them out, I'd be happy to write an FAQ on other dealers if there's enough interesting to discuss. [I will admit that a book of FAQs on OA collecting is an interest.] blizzardtonight and Twanj 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapeape Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 26 minutes ago, NC101 said: Having never met the brothers grim, whenever they're brought up I always imagine them as twins who both look like this: Spot on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC101 Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 I'm gonna stay with my version, I like it more grapeape 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzetta Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 If this gets deleted please make this a private group and be sure to include me in it. I am not a fan. Someone should do the same for Desert Wind. Unstoppablejayd, Turtle, grapeape and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wurstisart Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 It should not get deleted ! It is information that should get shared, especially the altering of pieces. MAY1979, Twanj and grapeape 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapeape Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 30 minutes ago, wurstisart said: It should not get deleted ! It is information that should get shared, especially the altering of pieces. No deletion For the sake of new collectors. Alex is right. It would be nice to stop talking about them but the deal with the altered art is very important info to highlight. Full disclosure is best. Alex is a thoughtful fellow and I appreciate his serious approach to the subject of Coollines. Twanj 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick2you2 Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 13 hours ago, alxjhnsn said: I'm going to write a FAQ on the Donnelly's. Topics will include: Their business model Their "unused" covers Their lack of pricing / changing of prices Their general altering of art, e.g., this Superman piece by Curt Swan Deceptive Advertising I will will use threads from this board for reference - I've built a list. What other topics should be included? The threads I've found so far are: Business Model A Dealer's Pricing CoolLines Question Pricing Cool Lines Art Work Inquiry Unused Covers and related art changes Coollines Scam Selling Mark Bagley Ultimate Spider-man 35 Cover Recreation as the original This is why no one likes the Donnelly's Important infofor anyone buying "Unused/Rejected" Covers esp. from Cool Lines More Cool Lines Deceit - Misrepresented/Modified Art Altered Original Art for Sale Deceptive Advertising What sources have I missed? Alex, you left out Genesis 3:1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dichotomy Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 1 hour ago, grapeape said: No deletion For the sake of new collectors. Alex is right. It would be nice to stop talking about them but the deal with the altered art is very important info to highlight. Full disclosure is best. Alex is a thoughtful fellow and I appreciate his serious approach to the subject of Coollines. I agree 100% grapeape 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Voord Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 12 hours ago, alxjhnsn said: I have no axe to grind with them and my conversations with Rich have been pleasant. I'm just tired of folks posting about them. An FAQ can provide a nice summary and terminate those threads (okay, that part may be a dream). As for singling them out, I'd be happy to write an FAQ on other dealers if there's enough interesting to discuss. [I will admit that a book of FAQs on OA collecting is an interest.] Great idea, Alex. Every time someone created a new Donnelly thread, you could simply post your FAQ. Cool Lines deceit . . . yeah, attributing art to big-name artists who never actually contributed anything to the art they're offering. grapeape 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post grapeape Posted February 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 23, 2020 17 minutes ago, The Voord said: Great idea, Alex. Every time someone created a new Donnelly thread, you could simply post your FAQ. Cool Lines deceit . . . yeah, attributing art to big-name artists who never actually contributed anything to the art they're offering. It’s one thing to debate the future value of comic art based on determinate factors: i .e 1) Collector demographics change 2) Tastes change 3) Do we have too much inventory vs. willing and able buyers? That comes with the territory. The main concern I have is dishonest and deceitful practices that burn collectors. There are rogues on eBay and other outlets and collectively this board has tried its best to warn others. It gets more uncomfortable when we have to call out our brand. That is auction houses and dealers that tower above what we do. If we can’t have 100% faith in the auction process or that dealers are on the up and up, we risk a crash caused by our own unforced errors. New collectors please take heart and stick with it. The art world in comics is not immune to bad actors and practices. However I submit to you that if you love comics and art the bad is far outweighed by the joy of getting a piece of art you love. Or....meeting the artist that created your favorite work. A very young Grapeape puts a few pics here to remember what this is really about. Celebrating creativity as a fan and lover of art. John Romita Sr. Gene Colan Marie Severin Harry Lampert Alex thank you for taking this on. It’s more productive your way to post FAQ and let people get educated. Those in the light should have nothing to fear. 🍇 🦍 grape ape. NC101, Unca Ben, dichotomy and 8 others 10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
