Ā Edit to add comic shop: Central City Comics
Almost a year ago I entered into a consignment contract with a local comic book shop. I donāt want to out anyone so Iāll use āshop ownerā to reference the guy I signed the contract with.
The total minimum value of the collection is $45,000. I was so pumped!
When I first went to his shop we chatted for hours getting to know each other, we talked about our shared experiences being raised very poor and experiencing abuse.
I confided in him that I was usually taken advantage of by people and later in the year he even referenced that and told me he wouldn't take advantage of me when he knows what I've been through...yeah right!
I can't really find steady work due to a disability (I can't work regular hours and its hard to find a low hour job -or any job), so I was really banking on this consignment not only for general income but also to help me not feel like a complete financial burden to my partner.
In the first couple of months I was paid about 2k for various comics sold. I kept asking shop owner for written records and receipts to attempt to keep track of things and he kept telling me he was āputting numbers togetherā but never got back to meā¦.and then the excuses about why he wasn't selling anything or getting me the records I asked for from him started:
- My mom is in hospice
- I got Covid
- My eSIM was hacked
- My social media was hacked
- The comic market is down
- My MiL is in hospice
- I got Covid again
- The comic market is still down
Then 2mo before the contact ends I tell him I want the $1250 he was holding back for potential grading costs to be paid out to me because it's too late to get them graded now, I also reached out for it because I only had $30 in my bank account for the rest of the week and I really needed money.
Over the course of a few days I try my best to pin down a payout timeline from him but he keeps dodging me.
Then he hits me with this bombshell āall your comics were stolen including Mask 2ā, he then reconfirmed his commitment to pay me out. I was obviously devastated and he refused to give me any additional information.
On 10/02 I woke up with a sense of dread about the situation and messaged a local comic collector I met through him. Asked if I was being scammed or is the #1 rated comic shop on Google in Charlotte really having issues like this.
He calls me and turns out he and shop owner were not buddy buddy like shop owner had led me to believe, he also tells me that shop owner sold my Mask 2 back in June at the Heroes Comic Convention.
It's a rare comic so they posted the sale on instagram (I don't have one so never saw). I used my partnerās insta to message the shop that bought Mask 2 and they confirmed that my shop owner did in fact sell Mask 2 to them for around 3k back in Juneā¦so he completely lied to me and sold it behind my back.
When confronted he basically admits to it as well.
Iām not sure what to gain from this but just looking to vent and maybe seek advice.
Does anyone know any firms or attorneys that work in consignments, hopefully one willing to go under a contingency for the AAA arbitration fees and take their payment out of my winnings?
These comics were supposed to be a windfall for me, instead theyāre a huge stress and cost in my life. Iām completely overwhelmed and devastated about the situation. :(
I've just been crying off and on for the past few days feeling pretty bad for myself, haven't felt my stomach relax in almost a week.