Stolen Contes on Ebay... (1 Viewer)

[thebritfarmer]

Yes, but there are lots of people trying to sell Conte stuff. How is one to know? And considering that this deals with internal theft and has nothing to do with the consumer, what's the big deal? Is everyone supposed to avoid buying his stuff on ebay because someone MIGHT have stolen it? I'm not saying this didn't happen and he has a problem with someone, but it's no where in comparison to what happened at MTS. And the idea of rounding up everyone who may have bought stollen merch is a bit silly. Seems like he's just trying to get more space time.

I would suggest taking all of the information that is available to oneself and then applying your own judgement. No one is suggesting to stop buying Conte at all. But an informed shopper is a smart shopper.

 

[Mitch]

I would think it seems that they have sufficient information from the thief about what they took and, to whom it went to. I think its then fair to get the thief and the handler and deal with them accordingly with the police and courts as this is a criminal matter.

I am bemused at why the threat or statement about following every person who may have bought some of these products. Be financially compensated by the main actors and that is sufficient why all the bother about trying to ensure every single piece is returned.

I think the announcement may backfire and make people steer clear of Conte products because of the knee jerk manner its been dealt with by CC.

Sadly, its another fiasco to affect a small hobby
Mitch

 

[The Military Workshop]

Regarding Gideon's comment "Seems like this was all done over chump change".

I would guess the Ebay seller was getting a very good price from the employee as everything was pure "profit" to the employee. To make it worthwhile for the risk I would guess the quantity of items taken from Conte would not be considered "chump change". It appears some unique items were also involved.

Early on in my business I realised an ex-employee had helped himself to some of my product. Not a pleasant feeling and by the time I found out was too late to do something.

Anybody who runs their own business would know being able to trust your employees is vital.

Just my thoughts.

Regards
Brett

 

[maddadicus]

I would think it seems that they have sufficient information from the thief about what they took and, to whom it went to. I think its then fair to get the thief and the handler and deal with them accordingly with the police and courts as this is a criminal matter.

I am bemused at why the threat or statement about following every person who may have bought some of these products. Be financially compensated by the main actors and that is sufficient why all the bother about trying to ensure every single piece is returned.

I think the announcement may backfire and make people steer clear of Conte products because of the knee jerk manner its been dealt with by CC.

Sadly, its another fiasco to affect a small hobby
Mitch

Mitch, if anyone remembers R/C's "Night of the Long Knives" episode maybe a year ago, where his tirade about "everyone around him being dishonest and the cause for all his problems" and then totally destroying his dealer force, by cutting them all off. He came across then as being paranoid and alienated a number of top notch ,beyond reproach dealers as well as collectors even then. I am amazed at the patience and forbearence of some of his remaining collectors to still defend his conduct at every turn. I was on one forum where he posted and trashed just about anyone critical of his non delivery of product, lack of follow through on releases, etc. This is a pattern, not an exception..Michael

 

[Mitch]

maddadicus...

I am not aware of previous issues as I don't really like the products as such and only have two pieces one roman and one WWII so, I don't take much notice. Just sounded a rather heavy approach
Mitch

 

[mikemiller1955]

WHy dont you simply DELETE this thread. Past threads re CONTE have shown he simply isnt liked so why time discussing him.

Wow Tom...that's a pretty bold and ugly statement on your part...

pretty offensive too...

as far as people disliking Richard...you don't speak for me in your general assessment of forum posters likes and dislikes...

I for one...personally do like Mr. Conte...very much...

I consider him a friend too...as he has always treated me with much respect...

your suggestion to delete a thread because "you think" someone is disliked...is pretty a tacky move...

just to suggest that he is disliked...is a pretty tacky move...

makes you sound like the school yard bully...

you shouldn't try and play the role of moderator either by suggesting what you think is an appropriate post or news worthy story on here based on your opinion of a man's popularity...

and you shouldn't post a general statement like that implying you're the voice of the majority of the forum...

your opinion is not shared by me at all...and many others I'm sure...

I'm also going to collect his Winter Games series when issued...

I'm surprised your post didn't get censored......that's a bold statement implying "he simply isn't liked on here...

 

[The Military Workshop]

Agree with you Mike.

 

[marco55]

Your the man Mike.Sometimes Conte does get emotional but that's the artist in him.
Mark

 

[Gideon]

Regarding Gideon's comment "Seems like this was all done over chump change".

I would guess the Ebay seller was getting a very good price from the employee as everything was pure "profit" to the employee. To make it worthwhile for the risk I would guess the quantity of items taken from Conte would not be considered "chump change". It appears some unique items were also involved.

Early on in my business I realised an ex-employee had helped himself to some of my product. Not a pleasant feeling and by the time I found out was too late to do something.

Anybody who runs their own business would know being able to trust your employees is vital.

Just my thoughts.

Regards
Brett

To make a profit, this employee would have to back doored A LOT of product to make the cloak and dagger stuff worthwhile. So much so that inventory control would have turned up a lot missing sets.

Again, real chump change. Even the prototypes, they don't matter all that much. Nothing ever made (that I'm aware of) ever went above retail on the secondary market. Most everything I sold went for half or less of retail.

As far as dealing with CC? Nuts. Really nuts.

For Richard Conte to become suspicious or rant about his dealer base is beyond stupid. We used to sell primarily the metal figures and this guy decided it would be a good idea to sell to the comic shop RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO US! When I called up and complained I was told "We have to right to sell to whoever we want to sell to."

Then, they had large excess of Warlord and WWII sets. Suddenly we received a massive shipment of their overstock and were billed for it. Tried to get them to issue a call tag to take the shipment back - nope. They said we ordered it and owed them for the order. We decided not to pay. They threatened us, we ignored them and held the shipment until such a time they saw fit to issue a call tag. They never did and finally left us alone. They accused us of stealing but is it stealing when we didn't order the product and they wouldn't take it back??? We went in circles about that. :rolleyes2:

We had other run ins with them as well equally interesting.

Now, Richard Conte on his own is nice enough guy, I liked him, he had/has some incredible ideas and executed them well. I feel he and Andy from K&C both contributed hugely to the hobby. I don't know how close Richard was in the day to day operations of CC. I sincerely hope that this was not his style of doing business. My guess at the time was that Richard was not that closely involved in the day to day and that his office staff were running things.

Sorry for the rant.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Gideon,
The point I was trying to make was that it is all profit if you steal something. However comes with the risk of being caught and losing your job and possible police involvement.
Regards
Brett

 

[bromhead]

cant seem to get good help these days

 

[Jay]

Wow Tom...that's a pretty bold and ugly statement on your part...

pretty offensive too...

as far as people disliking Richard...you don't speak for me in your general assessment of forum posters likes and dislikes...

I for one...personally do like Mr. Conte...very much...

I consider him a friend too...as he has always treated me with much respect...

your suggestion to delete a thread because "you think" someone is disliked...is pretty a tacky move...

just to suggest that he is disliked...is a pretty tacky move...

makes you sound like the school yard bully...

you shouldn't try and play the role of moderator either by suggesting what you think is an appropriate post or news worthy story on here based on your opinion of a man's popularity...

and you shouldn't post a general statement like that implying you're the voice of the majority of the forum...

your opinion is not shared by me at all...and many others I'm sure...

I'm also going to collect his Winter Games series when issued...

I'm surprised your post didn't get censored......that's a bold statement implying "he simply isn't liked on here...

That's all well and good, and say what you will, but he's still disliked by lots of folks. And saying that he is disliked is not bullying or tacky. Just truthful.

 

[The Lt.]

That's all well and good, and say what you will, but he's still disliked by lots of folks. And saying that he is disliked is not bullying or tacky. Just truthful.

It's been shown over the past year or so since the announcement of his new series on the forum Jay that he's disliked by the same individuals who when ever they can make it a point to show that he's disliked an it will continue when ever a new thread is started or product is announced to bring it up again in one form or another. There is no doubt in my mind as well as many others that they've been dealt with above board an honestly when dealing with Conte Collectibles. For those who for selfish reasons feel they've been dealt badly with they will continue to dislike him. Most off what's been said by those who dislike him is about what has happen in the past an has nothing to do with what is happening today. So for those of you who dislike him it's your choice to continue to do so but we don't need to be constantly reminded of it but I'm sure we will be. We're in for some of the finest toy soldiers headed our way an I for one along with many are glad to see Conte Collectibles is back big time.......Joe

 

[ucla1967]

Wow Tom...that's a pretty bold and ugly statement on your part...

pretty offensive too...

as far as people disliking Richard...you don't speak for me in your general assessment of forum posters likes and dislikes...

I for one...personally do like Mr. Conte...very much...

I consider him a friend too...as he has always treated me with much respect...

your suggestion to delete a thread because "you think" someone is disliked...is pretty a tacky move...

just to suggest that he is disliked...is a pretty tacky move...

makes you sound like the school yard bully...

you shouldn't try and play the role of moderator either by suggesting what you think is an appropriate post or news worthy story on here based on your opinion of a man's popularity...

and you shouldn't post a general statement like that implying you're the voice of the majority of the forum...

your opinion is not shared by me at all...and many others I'm sure...

I'm also going to collect his Winter Games series when issued...

I'm surprised your post didn't get censored......that's a bold statement implying "he simply isn't liked on here...

Well put Mike. I don't collect a lot of Conte's figures, but I personally like Richard Conte. I believe that in life you have to take the good with the bad (e.g., my wife is still married to me after 44 years). Richard Conte, for better or worse, has contributed a lot to the toy soldier world. Also, just think how interesting all the trials and trivializations regarding Conte have been over the years.

 

[Warrior]

Now, Richard Conte on his own is nice enough guy, I liked him, he had/has some incredible ideas and executed them well. I feel he and Andy from K&C both contributed hugely to the hobby.

Couldn't agree more with this. I was a new dealer to the hobby back in the late 90's when Conte Collectibles burst onto the toy soldier scene; the reaction was amazing, he produced THE finest plastic figure playsets ever made, his WWII playsets are THE best ever produced, the figures and accessories were spectacular, all of his playsets were terrific.

Marx set the standard in the 50's and 60's, Richard blew away the standard in the late 90's.

Andy and K & C was one of the first if not the first to produce matte finished metal toy soldiers, up till then, gloss was all the range, the hobby has done a 180 since then...............

 

[jazzeum]

It's been shown over the past year or so since the announcement of his new series on the forum Jay that he's disliked by the same individuals who when ever they can make it a point to show that he's disliked an it will continue when ever a new thread is started or product is announced to bring it up again in one form or another. There is no doubt in my mind as well as many others that they've been dealt with above board an honestly when dealing with Conte Collectibles. For those who for selfish reasons feel they've been dealt badly with they will continue to dislike him. Most off what's been said by those who dislike him is about what has happen in the past an has nothing to do with what is happening today. So for those of you who dislike him it's your choice to continue to do so but we don't need to be constantly reminded of it but I'm sure we will be. We're in for some of the finest toy soldiers headed our way an I for one along with many are glad to see Conte Collectibles is back big time.......Joe

I'm not a Conte Collector and don't have an opinion about him or his company one way or another, except that I know some people really love his stuff, but Joe (and I'm not trying to cause a controversy) it seems that every time anyone looks cross eyed at Mr. Conte or his company, you feel the need to rise to his defense and start threads to deflect from that criticism.

When I used to do that for K & C, people (including yourself, among others) would seem to get all hot and bothered about that and accuse me of being on the K & C payroll. I assume that's not the case here ^&confuse.

 

[gk5717]

Having followed Conte Collectibles since it,s inception, it is just more "drama" spewing from Richard C, the ultimate victim. Always someone else causing him untolerable grief and agony!
Lt. no use in commenting as I have blocked you out.
Gary

 

[The Lt.]

I'm not a Conte Collector and don't have an opinion about him or his company one way or another, except that I know some people really love his stuff, but Joe (and I'm not trying to cause a controversy) it seems that every time anyone looks cross eyed at Mr. Conte or his company, you feel the need to rise to his defense and start threads to deflect from that criticism.

When I used to do that for K & C, people (including yourself, among others) would seem to get all hot and bothered about that and accuse me of being on the K & C payroll. I assume that's not the case here ^&confuse.

Brad I've never in the past have commented on any of your posting defending K&C or gotten hot an bothered because of what you've said, or accused you of being on his payroll. Others may have but I assure you I never have. They've been times when I haven't risen to his defense when considering the source an have when I felt there's been a need to. An like you I've been question more than once if I was on RC payroll like your were in reference to K&C which I'm not. I feel an continue to feel that he's been getting a bum rap which he's not due for what's happen in the past an has nothing to do with what's happening today by a selected few.

 

[jazzeum]

Thanks for the quick answer Joe. I must have gotten confused you with someone else or else the mind is starting to go! I guess you and I have in the same boat ^&grin

Have a good evening

 

[tom13235]

This thread has nothing to do with liking or not liking Richard. If stuff was stolen, then it's appropriate to let people know so they can avoid buying stolen merchandise. I don't see how this is discussing 'him.'

Richard made it all very public...this is just a continuation of that very public pronouncement.

The heck is is not. READ the posts. And for the record I dont care about him or his product but I do not care to read this series of bashing comments!