CBCS "Lost" my Stan Lee signed Fantastic Four 48 (stolen?) 2 2

[Oat Willy1]

Couple things up front...I'm posting a CBCS related topic here because I'm posting this in as many comics related forums as I can as it involves a lost/stolen book that I'm hoping to recover. And, the reason I sent it to CBCS for grading instead of CGC is because it was a signed book and I wanted the autograph authentication CBCS offers. If it weren't a signed book I would have submitted it to CGC

I submitted a VF Fantastic Four 48 signed by Stan Lee to CBCS last month in person at SDCC. Yesterday I got a call from someone named "Chance" at CBCS informing me it was "lost". He only offered vague details on how it became "lost". Something about how a box of SDCC submissions went missing in shipping, but was vague when I asked for details.

Anyway, I'd like to ask for help here. I'm attaching a picture of Stan's signature on the book. It's on page 1 (not the cover) and it's a very distinctive signature. I had this book signed personally and asked Stan to sign it "Stan 'The Man' Lee" which he did. This is something you rarely (if ever) see and makes this particular book unique and easy to spot. If anyone should happen to see this book up for sale anywhere, or if you're a dealer and someone contacts you wanting to sell it, would you mind emailing me at: oatwilly@gmail.com Thank you!

[Lightning55]

A real gut punch, that is. Hope it's located for you!

[Oat Willy1]

On 8/23/2023 at 11:13 AM, Lightning55 said:

A real gut punch, that is. Hope it's located for you!

Thanks. Yes it is. I've had this comic since the 80's and had it signed by Stan in the early 90's, and it's been one of the main crown jewels in my collection, so to have this happen has been distressing to say the least. And to add insult to injury CBCS is trying to lowball me on reimbursement by offering me only $1000. I asked the guy (a guy named "Chase") how they arrived at that amount, and he told me "fair market value". I was in front of my computer so when he said that I looked up ended listings of FF 48 on Ebay, and even low-grade unsigned copies were selling for more than that. When I quoted the prices to him Chase says "well yeah but those are CGC graded, CGC graded books sell for more" LOL. I could not F'ing believe it. But turns out they "lost" a bunch of books, not just mine, and they're doing this lowball offer thing to everyone. And they're wanting us to sign a waiver agreeing to relinquish our ownership of our books. So basically if you sign the waiver and except the meager payment, and they suddenly "find" your book(s), they are now legally the owners and can do whatever they want with them, i.e; sell them with a big profit margin. The whole affair reeks of a scam. So yeah, as if losing a valued item that means a lot to you isn't bad enough.... 

[NoMan]

sorry, man

[Jaylam]

When you submitted the book with them, what did you value it at? 

[Oat Willy1]

On 8/23/2023 at 7:28 PM, Jaylam said:

When you submitted the book with them, what did you value it at? 

I wasn't given that option

[Sigur Ros]

On 8/23/2023 at 12:13 PM, Oat Willy1 said:

I wanted the autograph authentication CBCS offers

Weird.  Whenever I mention this service it gets removed and I get a couple days off.

 

[Poka]

On 8/26/2023 at 6:23 AM, Sigur Ros said:

Weird.  Whenever I mention this service it gets removed and I get a couple days off.

 

you already trolled OP on the other site - do you have to do it here as well?

 

sorry @Oat Willy1 about the book when you had it for so long. can’t believe they would courier submissions from a convention. would have thought that by now they would have learnt their lesson losing books in shipment. but i guess not 

[Poka]

On 8/26/2023 at 3:14 AM, Oat Willy1 said:

I wasn't given that option

if you see how much you were charged you can determine what value was assigned. if you were charged less than $100 then it was submitted under a category where max value is $1000 - which is probably how the offer to you was determined 

[aszumilo]

On 8/26/2023 at 7:46 AM, Poka said:

if you were charged less than $100 then it was submitted under a category where max value is $1000 - which is probably how the offer to you was determined 

Not exactly accurate.  $70 fee for $4000 max value.

[Poka]

On 8/27/2023 at 11:42 AM, aszumilo said:

Not exactly accurate.  $70 fee for $4000 max value.

sorry / my bad - you are right. OP should still be able to work backwards what his comic was insured for based on what he paid

[aszumilo]

On 8/26/2023 at 9:00 PM, Poka said:

sorry / my bad - you are right. OP should still be able to work backwards what his comic was insured for based on what he paid

True.  Just didn't want him to get his hopes up or down.

[Gaard]

On 8/25/2023 at 6:23 PM, Sigur Ros said:

Weird.  Whenever I mention this service it gets removed and I get a couple days off.

 

We're not allowed to say that they offer the service? You're right, that is weird.

[The Lions Den]

On 8/23/2023 at 12:13 PM, Oat Willy1 said:

Couple things up front...I'm posting a CBCS related topic here because I'm posting this in as many comics related forums as I can as it involves a lost/stolen book that I'm hoping to recover. And, the reason I sent it to CBCS for grading instead of CGC is because it was a signed book and I wanted the autograph authentication CBCS offers. If it weren't a signed book I would have submitted it to CGC

I submitted a VF Fantastic Four 48 signed by Stan Lee to CBCS last month in person at SDCC. Yesterday I got a call from someone named "Chance" at CBCS informing me it was "lost". He only offered vague details on how it became "lost". Something about how a box of SDCC submissions went missing in shipping, but was vague when I asked for details.

Anyway, I'd like to ask for help here. I'm attaching a picture of Stan's signature on the book. It's on page 1 (not the cover) and it's a very distinctive signature. I had this book signed personally and asked Stan to sign it "Stan 'The Man' Lee" which he did. This is something you rarely (if ever) see and makes this particular book unique and easy to spot. If anyone should happen to see this book up for sale anywhere, or if you're a dealer and someone contacts you wanting to sell it, would you mind emailing me at: oatwilly@gmail.com Thank you!

That's horrible. I hope you get your book back...   

[Mmehdy]

On 8/23/2023 at 5:14 PM, Oat Willy1 said:

Thanks. Yes it is. I've had this comic since the 80's and had it signed by Stan in the early 90's, and it's been one of the main crown jewels in my collection, so to have this happen has been distressing to say the least. And to add insult to injury CBCS is trying to lowball me on reimbursement by offering me only $1000. I asked the guy (a guy named "Chase") how they arrived at that amount, and he told me "fair market value". I was in front of my computer so when he said that I looked up ended listings of FF 48 on Ebay, and even low-grade unsigned copies were selling for more than that. When I quoted the prices to him Chase says "well yeah but those are CGC graded, CGC graded books sell for more" LOL. I could not F'ing believe it. But turns out they "lost" a bunch of books, not just mine, and they're doing this lowball offer thing to everyone. And they're wanting us to sign a waiver agreeing to relinquish our ownership of our books. So basically if you sign the waiver and except the meager payment, and they suddenly "find" your book(s), they are now legally the owners and can do whatever they want with them, i.e; sell them with a big profit margin. The whole affair reeks of a scam. So yeah, as if losing a valued item that means a lot to you isn't bad enough.... 

CGC all the way, CBCS is a second tier company. Classic line CGC sells for more....Duh

Edited September 2, 2023 by Mmehdy

[Gaard]

On 9/2/2023 at 12:32 AM, Mmehdy said:

CGC all the way, CBCS is a second tier company. Classic line CGC sells for more....Duh

I'm curious what makes a company top tier.

[Lightning55]

Maybe he meant top tears company (closest emoji to crying).

[Mmehdy]

On 9/2/2023 at 12:17 PM, Gaard said:

I'm curious what makes a company top tier.

I do not think CGC would try to put one over on a collector whom a book  which was very important  and difficult to replace by attempting to compensate for the loss, by saying you cannot use CGC or CBCS graded books as a measure of loss or compensation in true value.  That ignores market place reality and  actual replacement costs and is  certainly is  insulting  and a step below CGC..opps make that a mile..

Edited September 3, 2023 by Mmehdy

[Lightning55]

On 9/3/2023 at 6:00 PM, Mmehdy said:

I do not thin CGC would try to put one over on a collector whom a book  which was very important by attempting to compensate for the loss, by saying you cannot use CGC graded books as a measure of loss or compensation in true value.  That ignores market place reality and  actual replacement costs and is  certainly is  insulting  and a step below CGC..opps make that a mile..

It won't matter what comparables you use, if the comic was insured for a lower amount.  The tier it was graded at probably topped out at $1000, so that is the limit that the grading company is liable for.  Probably explains their $1000 offer.  If insured for more on a higher tier, that's a different story.

Whenever and wherever you submit comics, for grading or pressing, you have to realize that you are removing that treasure from your possession.  In that regard, you have to know what you are doing to be able to safeguard the collectible if something goes wrong.  That means knowing the grading company's systems, policies, reputation, etc., making sure you are insured for the right amount, and keeping accurate records to be able to defend your position.  I'm pretty sure most of those practices were not employed in this situation.

[Gaard]

On 9/3/2023 at 6:00 PM, Mmehdy said:

I do not think CGC would try to put one over on a collector whom a book  which was very important  and difficult to replace by attempting to compensate for the loss, by saying you cannot use CGC or CBCS graded books as a measure of loss or compensation in true value.  That ignores market place reality and  actual replacement costs and is  certainly is  insulting  and a step below CGC..opps make that a mile..

I think I get it. It's not what a company does that makes it a top tier company. It's what it doesn't do.