Heronext

If he is pressing & cleaning and replacing missing pieces with an undetectable married wrap, all of those Hulk 181s may actually have been upgraded and given a blue label had they gone through CGC's grading process (as opposed to the dishonest short cut reholder).

The bolded part above is what I'm not sure is achievable. But, if we don't have one of those to examine, we can't be sure there is a missing coupon/piece/MVS.

Looking forward to the detailing of the Mark Jeweller switcheroos, which I think is agreed is a similar scam with a different twist (and the one that kicked this whole thing off).

If I'm not mistaken, examples comicwiz has posted thus far involve same book/same cert #/different grade/different label color.

On 12/26/2023 at 9:56 AM, THE_BEYONDER said:

I think a separate thread tracking all the green to blue Hulk 181s is a great idea.

@comicwiz

Someone who posted on page 1 could volunteer to create an index of sorts (by editing one of those posts)

(EDIT: separate thread also not a bad idea)

On 12/25/2023 at 10:13 PM, WestcoastDAVEngers said:

Not really comfortable with putting any names out there. Because if the name I know is wrong or anything like that, I am putting myself in a situation that I don't want to be in. I can say, that according to multiple people who bought some of the books off IG, that name is known to a lot of the buyers as it is. 

So that name could be BR or it might not be & you're not comfortable saying which.  That's fine

On 12/25/2023 at 8:58 PM, sledgehammer said:

He definitely did present in a way that made it look as though he definitely knows who this guy is. Neither one of you want to doxx the guy and that is understandable. There was a point where you started to say his eBay seller name, and he started to interrupt you, because he thought that you were going to say his actual name.

I've watched the 3 or 4 videos and yes 9.9 says they "have the name". I was assuming it's the same BR name that has been mentioned here, which I in turn assume is an alias, accomplice or front for the actual criminal mastermind.  I'd be interested in knowing if the name WC Dave and 9.9 have is BR or another name.

On 12/25/2023 at 10:46 AM, Nick Furious said:

I won't be surprised if this scandal does permanent damage to the 9.8 premium. 

Some enterprizing seller/dealer/storefront could set themselves up as the most reliable source for CGC-graded comics, Mark Jeweler variants, slabbed newsstands, what-have-you, by guaranteeing that they send everything that comes through their door into CGC for re-grading/re-holdering/re-certification).  Everything on this hypothetical seller's website is sure to be on the inside what the label says on the outside.  I wish I had the energy and the time.

On 12/25/2023 at 4:02 AM, Tnexus said:

CGC won't go after this guy publicly. Why? Because if it goes to court, then it's public record how flawed their certification is. It also will publicly show how to tamper with their cases. Sure their reputation is tarnished right now, but it's in their best interest to quietly solve the problem without any acknowledgement there was one in the first place. Keep in mind this doesn't just affect CGC, this affects ALL their sister compay's reputations too. I suspect down the line we will see the end of reholdering without regrading. In the end that's more profitable for them anyway.

Worst outcome is that this guy gets a Will Smith slap on the wrist. He's permanently banned from submitting (which could be continued via third parties anyway).  The "know your customer" edict in banking is a lesson here.

On 12/23/2023 at 7:58 PM, drotto said:

RFID chips are another cheap alternative.  If they can afford to put those in every credit card an Comicon badge, they can stick one to the back of labels.

I have an idea - radioactive microchamber paper

On 12/23/2023 at 4:00 PM, MAR1979 said:

Therein lies a huge problem. The only way to know, since trust in CGC is on loose footing, is to open the slab. However in doing so it can be claimed it's not the same book. There are ways to prevent that, but no mechanisms AFAIK are currently in place.

Coming in 2024: CGC-sponsored slab opening parties at comicons across the nation

On 12/23/2023 at 2:44 PM, VintageComics said:

This is unfair. Comiclink has a great reputation and if I had to bet the house, I'd bet that CGC is working with anyone who may have dealt with this person to gather information. 

Just try to think logically: It is highly likely the auction houses and big dealers are co-operating on this front. 

See my previous comment 

On 12/23/2023 at 2:34 PM, sledgehammer said:

Pretty nice scans.

https://www.comiclink.com/itemdetail.asp?back=%2Fcgcsubsection.asp%3F_SORT%3DYES%26returning%3D1%26id%3D1059%26Graded%3D%26f1%3DListDate%26ODire1%3DDESC%26f2%3Di.IssueNumber%2C%2Bi.VolumeNumber%26ODire2%3DASC%26f3%3Di.Condition%26ODire3%3DASC&id=1742635

 No back covers scans and no GPA reporting

On 12/23/2023 at 2:28 PM, sledgehammer said:

Part of the advantage of Ebay is that it isn't Heritage and now even comiclink size scans.

The ability to scrutinize more, is not helpful to him.

ComicLink is where scrutiny goes to die

On 12/23/2023 at 9:51 AM, sledgehammer said:

Absolutely, if certain.

I have some circumstantial evidence.  Someone with a keener eye than me might be able to make a more solid link

Suppose this scammer has a "legit" business tied to an eBay account that has not yet been named.  Should that info be made public here?

Setting the need to set the AI discussion aside, aside, I think the best AI could do is assign a pre-grade

On 12/22/2023 at 3:44 PM, VintageComics said:

What I am having trouble understanding is how someone gets SO MANY REHOLDERS without anyone raising an eyebrow internally.

He "likes custom labels"? = $$$

On 12/21/2023 at 11:50 PM, drotto said:

He has been found out, but not identified.

I have a suspect in mind.  Could be a Richard Jewell moment though

On 12/21/2023 at 10:54 PM, Changer said:

more interesting 188 eckford street brooklyn ny to forest hills ny - Google Search is a 20 minute drive. 

Where did 188 eckford street come from?  Very close to me

On 12/21/2023 at 5:23 PM, comicwiz said:

Yes, although he seems to have changed his name now (not sure if you guys noticed), In the eBay results it shows "briva3" but when you click on the listings it shows "Comic Selects"

You can have a different username and store name.  Store name can have spaces while username cannot.  

What you are seeing could be explained by that or maybe he cancelled his Store tier eBay membership 

On 12/21/2023 at 5:04 PM, comicwiz said:

I have a sinking feeling things are just warming-up...

What a disaster 

On 12/21/2023 at 2:19 PM, mephistopheles said:

Aren't they already supposed to  be doing that? 

I imagine they are just reholdering it and not, say, doing a page count or checking for cut-outs.

On 12/21/2023 at 2:07 PM, DoctorWyoming1 said:

So the only lasting result will be that CGC makes more money? THAT seems like something I could bet the farm on...

Cost of a reholder will increase and it will include a cursory check for obvious shenanigans but not a regrade.

On 12/21/2023 at 9:40 AM, VintageComics said:

@Changer

@Lightning55 How can you confirm they've always had scans? I don't know if this is true, because adding scans to your order used to delay your order regularly whereas not scanning your order expedited it. 

Whether or not they have always scanned all books (for themselves) (I don't think so), what would be even more useful here would be a CGC database of scans of all submissions BEFORE they are put in the cases.  Slab scans often obscure unique identifying details like spine ticks.  My experience is that CGC's scans are not the clearest in this regard

On 12/20/2023 at 4:20 PM, Mutant Manatee said:

I just noticed that the seller in question has made their eBay feedback private.  This just happened within the past hour.  You can no longer see what that recent negative comment said.

Here are screen grabs I took back when someone said his feedback "looked good".  At the time I was thinking they all look like they were written by the same person but it's probably too much to think these are all shill accounts.  I don't think I've had 8 buyers in a row gush over my packaging.