$20,000 AF15 Comic Book STOLEN at MegaCon 2023! 7 7

[lou_fine]

On 4/25/2023 at 11:10 AM, MrBedrock said:

When I pointed them out to this kind old comic dealer he graciously threatened to jump his barefooted butt over the table and throw a punch at me.

Was he standing up on a stool when he threatened you as he would probably need to in order to smack you in your kisser, unless he was targeting somewhere lower like your precious jewels?  

[Prince Namor]

On 4/26/2023 at 12:27 PM, MrBedrock said:

Bob, all of our comments regarding thefts are anecdotal. Without statistics none of us can back up our claims of whether crime is on the increase or decrease. My personal experience has been that attempts to steal from my booths at show has decreased tremendously over the years. Some of the decrease is due to our procedures but I really think some of it is due to the realization that the public shaming could be so much worse now then in the past.

Add to that, camera phones, more affordable surveillance equipment, the ease with which to spread the public shame INSTANTANEOUSLY...

Maybe that's why we think there's so much more now - because we can share the information so quickly when it happens...

[Beastfeast]

It’s not up for debate on whether or not it’s safer now vs the 70s/80s - it 100% is. But it definitely feels crazier because of 24 hour news and social media. 
 

That sucksssss that a book that big was stolen but man, Greg sucks. Every interaction I’ve ever had with him has been negative. 

[THE_BEYONDER]

On 4/26/2023 at 2:08 PM, Beastfeast said:

That sucksssss that a book that big was stolen but man, Greg sucks. Every interaction I’ve ever had with him has been negative. 

Another glowing review

[serling1978]

On 4/26/2023 at 10:36 AM, Robot Man said:

Sorry, but this is on you. It has happened to all of us. I have found suprises (both good and bad) with even big, well respected dealers. When you handle large amounts of collections, things slip through the cracks now and then. To me, it’s all about they handle it.

Now dealers that deliberately try to cheat or mislead buyers is another story. Been going on since the dawn of collecting. They usually get weeded out one way or another.

Always check everything you buy carefully. Especially from dealers you don’t know. Even cheap books if you are not willing to take a chance.

I have learned over the years who I am willing to deal with. I avoid those who do not meet my standards and spend my money with those who do.

I will repeat, even though this guy, apparently, had a checkered past, he doesn’t deserve to be a victim of direct theft. 

 

Thanks for the heavy handed advice. 

As a buyer, it's not my responsibility to validate the dealer isn't intentionally or unintentionally ripping me off. Is it a good idea to check because they might be? Sure it can help to catch the situation before it's too late. But it's not "on me" to check every comic I buy. It's on the dealer to know what they are selling and disclose it. If we politely disagree that's fine,  but you can't convince me otherwise. 

[jcjames]

Being a responsible seller is to reasonably disclose all relevant info about an item you are selling (collectibles, puppies, cars, houses, whatever). 

Being a responsible buyer is to reasonably inspect what you're buying (collectibles, puppies, cars, houses, whatever). 

 

YMMV.  

[Cat]

On 4/27/2023 at 10:33 AM, jcjames said:

Being a responsible seller is to reasonably disclose all relevant info about an item you are selling (collectibles, puppies, cars, houses, whatever). 

Being a responsible buyer is to reasonably inspect what you're buying (collectibles, puppies, cars, houses, whatever). 

 

YMMV.  

I'd also add that in this day and age, being a responsible buyer, Imo, also means outing those sellers in a public forum if they do try and put something by you. I don't mean an honest mistake, shipping gone astray, things that can't be helped, things that just happen, but wilful attempts to scam, so that you may protect your collecting brethren. We're connected like never before. That should be standard procedure to utilise. 

I'm sure sellers have their own groups to deal with bad buyers for the same reason. If not, they should. 

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by Cat

[Dave2739]

On 4/25/2023 at 4:02 PM, MrBedrock said:

I'll just end by saying that I don't wish bad things to happen to anyone. I hate when folks get ripped off. I especially hate when folks who support my business get ripped off by kind, gracious, hard-working, old men with sunshiny dispositions who knowingly and repeatedly misrepresent their inventory.

I have purchased comics in the past from both Bedrock CIty and from the kind, gentle soul, Mr. White. One of those vendors gets my $$$ every time I have a chance to shop with them. The other I avoid like the bubonic plague because of lessons learned long ago in my youth.

PS. Thank you Mr. Bedrock.

Edited April 27, 2023 by Dave2739

[MrBedrock]

On 4/26/2023 at 6:58 PM, serling1978 said:

Thanks for the heavy handed advice. 

As a buyer, it's not my responsibility to validate the dealer isn't intentionally or unintentionally ripping me off. Is it a good idea to check because they might be? Sure it can help to catch the situation before it's too late. But it's not "on me" to check every comic I buy. It's on the dealer to know what they are selling and disclose it. If we politely disagree that's fine,  but you can't convince me otherwise. 

We recently sold a boardie a low grade EC comic through the website. It turns out that we screwed up and missed that the centerfold was gone. We sent a full refund and let the customer keep the book. Sometimes dealers make mistakes. It really is how situations are resolved that makes all the difference.

[Beastfeast]

I just want to go back in time to those 2008ish $1 bins that Bedrock would have at Megacon. I’ll sometime be driving and randomly think, “Damn. Should have bought all those.”  

[gregreece]

On 4/26/2023 at 8:45 PM, Cat said:

I'd also add that in this day and age, being a responsible buyer, Imo, also means outing those sellers in a public forum if they do try and put something by you. I don't mean an honest mistake, shipping gone astray, things that can't be helped, things that just happen, but wilful attempts to scam, so that you may protect your collecting brethren. We're connected like never before. That should be standard procedure to utilise. 

I'm sure sellers have their own groups to deal with bad buyers for the same reason. If not, they should. 

 

We do.

[batman_fan]

On 4/26/2023 at 10:27 AM, MrBedrock said:

Bob, all of our comments regarding thefts are anecdotal. Without statistics none of us can back up our claims of whether crime is on the increase or decrease. My personal experience has been that attempts to steal from my booths at show has decreased tremendously over the years. Some of the decrease is due to our procedures but I really think some of it is due to the realization that the public shaming could be so much worse now then in the past.

I have never considered stealing books from Mr B’s booth because I know he would break out a Texas sized can of whoop az$ on me.

Edited April 27, 2023 by batman_fan

[serling1978]

On 4/27/2023 at 6:41 PM, Lou Sir said:

Yes it absolutely is 👍 

Noooooo. I really do agree that it's smart for buyers to check their books before buying.  To me though there is a line between what is a good idea and where the responsibility lies. The dealer is responsible for what they sell and should take ownership for any undisclosed issues. The buyer shouldn't have to check the books, but because we live in a world where not doing do can result in being ripped off (even unintentionally) it is a good practice.

[COI]

Schadenfreude is a hell of a drug.

[Nick Furious]

Sounds like that thief is gonna be pissed when he finds out that AF15 is trimmed and color-touched.  Seeing as how he stole it fair and square.  

[Robot Man]

When it comes down to money, most people’s principles can go out the door quickly.

Case in point…

There is an older guy around here who has been caught stealing many times. From cheap books to some serious GA. He is a kleptomaniac. Everyone knows it. But he is real out of touch on pricing. He prices everything at Overstreet. He doesn’t use the internet nor does he travel out of the area just hitting shows and flea markets locally. I have known him for years and have bought a lot of “undervalued” books from him until he got caught twice. I cut my ties from him and quit buying from him. I also made it clear my disgust to his customers and that I would no longer deal with them if they continued to deal with this guy. A couple people agreed and cut him off as well.

But there are still people buying from him anyway knowing full well they are buying stolen books. This even includes a couple larger well known dealers.

There are apparently people who would buy from Satan if the price is right…

[MrBedrock]

On 4/29/2023 at 11:29 AM, Robot Man said:

There are apparently people who would buy from Satan if the price is right…

Satan's books always have awful page quality.

[Dr. Balls]

On 4/29/2023 at 9:29 AM, Robot Man said:

There are apparently people who would buy from Satan if the price is right…

I'm guessing that all depends on if you're planning on flipping it

I think sometimes people don't know. Or if they hear something, they take it with a grain of salt. Sometimes people don't register problems until it happens to them firsthand. I mean, I stood up for this guy earlier in the thread, and I probably needed to STFU I'd never even heard of this guy, and will probably never cross paths with him, so my brain may not even remember this 5 years from now.

Edited April 29, 2023 by Dr. Balls

[onlyweaknesskryptonite]

On 4/29/2023 at 10:47 AM, MrBedrock said:

On 4/29/2023 at 10:29 AM, Robot Man said:

There are apparently people who would buy from Satan if the price is right…

Satan's books always have awful page quality

[Dr. Balls]

On 4/29/2023 at 9:29 AM, Robot Man said:

When it comes down to money, most people’s principles can go out the door quickly.

I'd like to think that changes with age and experience. I can recall not being too observant in my younger years about dealing with certain people, but it changed as the years went on where principals and integrity played a more important role in life.