vintagecomics Thank you for sharing your view of the events
There was certainly details in your version of the story that I had not heard before
However there was also pieces missing from what I had heard
I was certainly not around when you started that thread so why not clear it up again with a new thread
The difference in stories is quite vast
My version, which I typed up last night is a pretty thorough explanation of what happened.
Al Stoltz of Basement Comix can verify every step of it. He was there.
This is also very similar to what I typed up 8 years ago in Comics General, notified the dealer, who is a long time CGC boardie and still is, that I was going to be posting it and then did it. He was fine with it.
He had every opportunity to oppose my recollection and instead, approved of it.
There are no details missing that are important. Yes, we did discuss potential grades while raw, but in the grand scheme of things that's entirely irrelevant. The books were unpressed, CGC can be all over the place on any day, and I took all the risk. The books had TONS of pressable defects. The Hulk #1 in particular had a long crease across the cover and you know as well as I do that nothing is guaranteed.
Most importantly, the seller was happy to do the deal. I paid his asking price minus 10%, which is MORE than reasonable.
He literally smiled, stared me in the eyes, grabbed my hand, shook it and said "I hope you do well with them."
The dude is my age (in his 50's) and is a lifelong comic dealer of probably 40 years and a lifelong collector. I don't need to coddle him. He's a growin effing man.
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The people who created the uproar were all jealous pricks who were sore they didn't get a shot at the deal. They ALL knew about the books and literally lost their minds when they heard he sold me the books. That's all it was, and the rumor grew from there like wildfire.
Bitterness is a dangerous thing. If you don't check it, it can last a lifetime and even cross over generations.
Storms was the funniest of the bunch. Happy to take the deal (he bought a book out of it from me), make a huge profit, and also happy to talk bad about me about the deal.
The kickback percentage of 45% I quoted was an approximate percentage I kicked back. I just didn't do the math last night typing up my post, so I approximated it, but I know the exact dollar amount I kicked back because we agreed on it. It was almost half the original deal.
The reason I kicked it back?
Because the dealer, who looked me in the eye, shook my hand and told me "I hope you do well with them" was sore because I did so well with them.
HE TOLD ME SO in plain language.
I know you think I'm a monster, but I'm actually the type of person who cares how others feel and I try to make things better. Thing is, if I share stories to this crew of losers attacking me, I'm bragging, if I don't share details I'm lying. Heads you all win, tales I always lose.
There's no winning with spiteful, venomous people. Everything I say is used against me and if they don't have something to use against me, they make it up out of thin air.
I can give you names of people who will tell you stories you wouldn't believe (in a good way) but then I'd be bragging. I just keep it quiet.
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One other factor that made this story so controversial was that in bought the books in the middle of June 2014.
On June 7, 2014 an incredible Hulk #1 CGC 9.2 sold for $320K, making Hulk #1 pop that year.
So, I bought the books literally a week after that sale, nobody realizing the book was going to pop. NOBODY.
It was quite literally the perfect storm for me (in a good way and a bad way) and once people found out I bought the books, and started hearing about Hulk #1 pop a few weeks later, everyone literally went green with envy.
And bro, none of that is my fault.
Now you know the ENTIRE story. There's no missing details that I can think of, and if you have any they're either made up or irrelevant to the discussion.
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One last word, Hector, because I know you speak my language. I know you know I'm telling the truth and these venomous creatures who want blood from a stone? You're not like that.
This I know.
I'll even give you the seller's name and boardie handle, because I actually trust you (I don't trust any of the other bitter people attacking me).
Now you have all the evidence. What you choose to do with it is entirely up to you.
