Subject: Philly Show!
From: "James Rutledge"
Date: 3/16/04 3:03 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: %3J5c.7873$TV6.4248@lakeread02

Oh, gosh, you are so funny. You make these ad hominum attacks on me and my
personal business and then have the nerve, the out and out gaul, to call me
childish? Get a grip!

Oh Gosh, you were the one that thought you were being funny making your own ad
homonym attack on me and my business. Gaul?? I didn't make the initial what I
considered to be childish and rude comment that started this, you did. I am
getting a grip ---

What I meant, since you seem to need clarification, is that if you had a
problem with me being there before shows started maybe ya shoulda done the
mature thing and asked me to my face instead of hating me for it with no
justfication? Or said something to Fred about it, who would've set you
straight as well.

You really are giving yourself more credit than you deserve. I had an
inclination that you were somewhat linked with Derek and you are way off base
with your comments about my supposed "erroneous
and prejudicial, baseless anger towards"
you. I think it's obvious we just don't like each other. Sorry, if it concerned
me that much, I would have talked to Fred or Derek. It was my observation and I
did say that I was mistaken.

I stopped being a customer of yours not based on trades (silly me, I brought
you stuff from your want lists whihc you usually said no to anyway, how evil
of me) but based on you not having anythijng I could possibly use at all
whatsoever.

This statement makes no sense, you offered to trade for cards I had? I declined
trades because I didn't wish to trade with you and now you know the reasons
why.

Inventory or selection and business ethic have completely different
meanings. Really.
You buy what for pennies on the dollar? All yer stuff is from the early
nineties and such when everything was overproduced.

I should have addressed this statement immediately since it was the one that
infuriated me. My set inventory has many newer issues including (to name a few)
T3, Alias 2, Complete Battlestar Galactica, LOTR ROTK, Benchwarmers 2003 Series
#1 and #2, X-Files #9, etc.

Yes, I still carry sets from the 90's, even some from the 80's, 70's and am
working on even older sets for my inventory. Why do I continue to carry them?
Because they continue to sell. You are the one that needs to get their facts
straight. My mention about carrying singles to the Philly show and lack of
sales didn't mean that I had a bad show. It meant that I could have loaded my
car with more inventory that did sell. I had a great show that particular
weekend selling new, old, semi-old, even dusty cards.


I don't recall seeing
much of anything from Inkworks or Ritten from you, hence why I stopped
shopping with ya. The new good stuff sells out, from CI to Ink, no ones
dumping product anymore and that is a good thing.


Well, first, I do not carry everything I own to every show...and much of my
inventory gets moved on eBay and even on this newsgroup.

Oh yeah, how is it possible that I got newer sets for pennies on the dollar?
Because newer sets (uncollated singles) do get dumped, you didn't know that?
And, you can find occasional deals (below wholesale cost) on Ebay for unopened
boxes about a year old or so. It is 2004, so that would be past the 90's, huh?
I currently have a Dirk Benedict BSG Auto on Ebay...sorry, no trades.

No, don't miss ya at all (especially now that I know the real you), just
know you stopped doing Tysons when the table prices went up. Something you
were very vocal about.

This is another time that you appear to know my business choices?? How is that?
You already know what shows I'm doing and not doing. Why do I have to continue
to point out that you are not the one taking chances paying for a table. If I
choose not to take a table at the Tysons show because of the increased table
fee, once again why are you concerned or care? You must consider that another
of my bad business choices. BTW, table fees at Philly are actually less
than Tysons - go figure. Are you gonna share you wisdom with the Philly
promoter on how he can make more money too?

And Mike, go ahead and threaten me. In public, as it were. In writing, no
less. I will be sure to print this out. It'll look real good in court.
WOW, that is sooo cool. Can't wait to tell everyone about that. Nice man,
real nice.

Thanks, if you were to have walked over to my table at a show and tried to
enlighten me about how I can make more money, my response certainly would have
been the same. "Keep your commentary to yourself and keep your distance"...or
in other words "shut the "F" up and get the "F" outta here! I think all who
know me would agree that I would be inclined to make this statement or one a
bit more colorful.

I also hope you will be adult enough to print out this *entire* thread
including this post to share with whoever you wish.

Tell them all I sad hi ! And, maybe Derek (since you brought up his name first,
not me, who actually is a fellow dealer that I have great respect for, in the
company of all the other dealers I know) might give you a raise for showing us
all what a great helper you are! I do have to ask (since you consider it so
much fun helping him at shows and feel it is NOT hard work) ...

1. Do you break open and collate all his sets, inserts, etc and package them up
and/or price them all?
2. Do you post his items on eBay and package them up to be mailed?
3. Do you do any of the ordering/inventory for him day after day?
4. Do you report your occasional sales to the IRS? (I do BTW and also have a
sales tax # in more than one state)

The behind the scenes (work/risk) is what I was talking about. Not, the fun of
doing a show...another fact of a dealers life.


This all started with a suggestion about your selection of
singles being outdated and how you could make more money if you updated it
and now you've blown up about it. Again, ya need to calm down. Take a
breath, not a punch. I stay away from you anyway, but not out of fear.
Never.

No, you need to realize that you do not know **** about being a dealer, and I
for one, don't like to get **** from someone who has no clue. I'm out there
head first--- you're tagging along.

I also continually make a profit every year...how is that possible????? I MUST
be doing something wrong???

Mike Surratt
www.mikzcardz.com