HERO RESTORATION - BOOKS NOT BEING RETURNED 20 20

[thehumantorch]

On 6/10/2023 at 8:54 AM, mephistopheles said:

Well he might as well file for chapter 11, because word travels fast and based on what I read here he couldn't pay me to allow him to press my books. 

Agreed, who would send books to this guy after reading this thread?  And while this is a fairly small community of collectors word travels fast.

I wonder how many other books Hero Restoration has sat on for years?

[Dr. Balls]

On 6/10/2023 at 9:34 AM, KCOComics said:

For what it's worth, I appreciate how you've handled this and all the information you've shared. 

This is an unfortunate situation and at this point,  I think we all just want to see everyone made whole. 

I second that. I think it's fair to say that most of us here can easily be incensed at what is going on because we're likely one or two degrees from experiencing this ourselves. And in some cases, we've experienced some unethical or unprofessional treatment of a comic-related nature. Kudos to keeping even keeled, and equal kudos to those bringing out the pitchforks. As much as I'd like to say that you get more flies with honey than vinegar, sometimes you need to bust out the fly-swatter.

[Black_Adam]

I agree with the previous comments re: his professed desire to focus solely on pressing. Who in their right mind would ever want to send their comics to this tire fire?   

 

[onlyweaknesskryptonite]

On 6/10/2023 at 9:16 AM, Black_Adam said:

Restoration on a single comic can take several years?   

On 6/10/2023 at 9:24 AM, Point Five said:

When it's managed like this it can.  

 

[Dick Pontoon]

On 6/10/2023 at 10:51 AM, Dr. Balls said:

Theft being: "taking of another person's personal property with the intent of depriving that person of the use of their property." That's pretty much what he's doing when you request your book(s) back and he doesn't send it to you within a week-or-so timeframe.

Many years ago, I thought he was a member of this board - namely when he first started doing restoration. I remember his name from 9-10 years ago here, but I'm a little fuzzy on if he was active here or he was just name-dropped. Anyone else recall?

Last visited May 23

https://boards.cgccomics.com/profile/12921-hero-restoration/

 

[october]

If your turnaround time for restoration is measured in years, you shouldn't be taking new clients. If your turnaround time for shipping is measured in years , you shouldn't be in business.

[BlowUpTheMoon]

On 6/10/2023 at 1:33 PM, MR. Pontoon said:

Last visited May 23

https://boards.cgccomics.com/profile/12921-hero-restoration/

I remember when he first started, he was practicing on expensive books and keys. People here suggested he scale back and experiment with beater books first. 

 

 

[BuscemasAvengers]

On 6/10/2023 at 10:36 AM, FlyingDonut said:

I could mollify you with a cold Molson and some sweet Tragically Hip jams.

Unmollifiable. You'll have to upgrade the Molson's.

[Dr. Balls]

On 6/10/2023 at 12:21 PM, BlowUpTheMoon said:

I remember when he first started, he was practicing on expensive books and keys. People here suggested he scale back and experiment with beater books first. 

 

 

Blowie - naturally - brings the throwback heat. I've been here for awhile and that never changes.

[JollyComics]

Astonished!  I am sorry that you have to go through the whole ordeal.

I am not a fan of the restored books and once I found the book is restored - either way I returned it back immediately or sold it for less (but rarely).

[Kamenliter]

On 6/10/2023 at 3:55 PM, JollyComics said:

Astonished!  I am sorry that you have to go through the whole ordeal.

I am not a fan of the restored books and once I found the book is restored - either way I returned it back immediately or sold it for less (but rarely).

He does restoration and some of the books involved were restored books that he was going to do additional work on to bring to a higher grade. The ones I gave him were unrestored books just needing pressing and cleaning.

[JollyComics]

On 6/10/2023 at 2:58 PM, Kamenliter said:

He does restoration and some of the books involved were restored books that he was going to do additional work on to bring to a higher grade. The ones I gave him were unrestored books just needing pressing and cleaning.

Pressing and cleaning are easy (it could be done in just few days) but I have absolutely no idea why he holds back.  I am sorry those books are your childhood personal things. Hopefully those are back to you in no time.

I decided to buy my own pressing machine in 2009 after I saw their prices and turnarounds (I didn't like long waiting time) especially the pandemic that impacted everyone in the comic book community and the prices are still rising.  I still press the books on my own. Yep, it saves me money and time and I worry nothing.

HOWEVER, the pandemic did impact my other hobby - the technical diving.  I am a certified N95 trimix diver (Helium, Nitrogen and Oxygen) and usually dove in 200' range and carried four tanks (double tank on my back and two back-up bottles for the decompression stops during the ascending).  Helium is the most expensive of all gasses - I used to have my double filling (both 140 cubic per feet) and paid about $80-90 but it will be about $210 for both tanks!   I don't dive very often like I used to be.

I used to pay $400 Basic Trimix course in 2008 for only $350 and I saw the today's price for the same course is $850!

Edited June 10, 2023 by JollyComics

[Kamenliter]

On 6/10/2023 at 4:01 PM, JollyComics said:

Pressing and cleaning are easy (it could be done in just few days) but I have absolutely no idea why he holds back.  I am sorry those books are your childhood personal things. Hopefully those are back to you in no time.

I decided to buy my own pressing machine in 2009 after I saw their prices and turnarounds (I didn't like long waiting time) especially the pandemic that impacted everyone in the comic book community and the prices are still rising.  I still press the books on my own. Yep, it saves me money and time and I worry nothing.

HOWEVER, the pandemic did impact my other hobby - the technical diving.  I am a certified N95 trimix diver (Helium, Nitrogen and Oxygen) and usually dove in 200' range and carried four tanks (double tank on my back and two back-up bottles for the decompression stops during the ascending).  Helium is the most expensive of all gasses - I used to have my double filling (both 140 cubic per feet) and paid about $80-90 but it will be about $210 for both tanks!   I don't dive very often like I used to be.

I used to pay $400 Basic Trimix course in 2008 for only $350 and I saw the today's price for the same course is $850!

I bought a press around a year and a half  ago but it sat untouched for months and months until I finally said I’m going to do this; I did start by cleaning books last year but only started pressing in mid April of this year. A couple of weeks in and a I bought a second, larger press, able to accommodate two books, so I can now have three going at a time. I’ve now pressed somewhere around 200 books. It’s saved me tons of money and time.

I can’t understand why he hasn’t sent my books back yet; if still nothing this week then I’ll move to the next step.

 

btw that’s a heavy price increase on the diving   course (and supplies). I’ve gotta hand it to you, I’m terrified of the water. Went snorkeling in Turks and Caicos in 2006 in only 20-30 foot water and was not having fun looking down. 

Edited June 10, 2023 by Kamenliter

[Black_Adam]

On 6/10/2023 at 11:21 AM, BlowUpTheMoon said:

I remember when he first started, he was practicing on expensive books and keys. People here suggested he scale back and experiment with beater books first. 

 

 

After reading those threads I'm actually shocked and amazed that he ended up with a thriving resto business with multiple employees and locations that lasted nearly 14 years before imploding.   

[DavidTheDavid]

I hate to read through this. It's been a few years since he worked on any comics of mine, but I always had a good experience and positive interactions with him.

I hope OP and others are made whole and that Mike gets to a better place with his health.

[CAHokie]

Bankruptcy/Chapter 11 may be a tool used to prevent refunding money but I don’t see how that would apply to being able to keep the books. They were never his. Im going to have to research this just out of curiosity.  

[L'Angelo Misterioso]

It's definitely not looking good for both Kamenliter and the guy who got his AF15 stolen (yes, stolen). The restorer doesn't seem to have been transparent at all to his customers, and there's no reason to explain why he has held onto clients' comics for extended periods of time, when he isn't even in a position to conduct operations. It sounds like he was always in over his head in starting this business. I'm unsure of recourse options, but I can say that the man's extenuating circumstances don't excuse thousands worth of cash and collectibles that he's withholding. Some in this thread have offered their positive experiences with him, but having done honest jobs doesn't preclude him from scamming people ever.

[Kamenliter]

On 6/10/2023 at 5:39 PM, CAHokie said:

Bankruptcy/Chapter 11 may be a tool used to prevent refunding money but I don’t see how that would apply to being able to keep the books. They were never his. Im going to have to research this just out of curiosity.  

At this point, even if he never touched my books, I'm not worried about the money. I  mean, sure I'd prefer a refund if no work was done, but that seems a far flung possibility and the books in hand are top priority. 

[CAHokie]

It’s easy for me to say because it’s not my books but I wouldn’t be threatened by that “if an attorney contacts me back of the line” bull. Oh, if an attorney contacts him you go to the back of the line? It looks like everyone is at the back anyway. 
 

I would contact an Attorney and see what they think. Maybe a bunch of you can hire one person instead of each paying and explaining to different ones. They can decide how best to proceed whether it’s a Demand Letter, a lawsuit or whatever. (Again, this is not legal advice, but legal advice is what you should seek). 

[Courageous Cat]

Thief? Possible, but I think grossly incompetent is probably the correct term. I had only heard about him when Comic Tom had him on and continuously giving him constant praise and accolades.

Well, a few weeks ago I decided to hit him up with a possible spine roll reversal on a relatively pricy book (at least for me anyway), and he wrote back last week explaining that the  misalignment on it would not be worth fixing and that I should probably live with it. Now a thief would take my book and agree to "do the work", but he didn't.

So, I think he's just a big boob who got over his head and doesn't have much of a knack for business