Suspicious PMs

I think someone needs to make a Public Service Announcement... I'll do it, but I have no idea how to word it at the moment.

I've been getting some "interesting" PMs from a specific forum member making various claims about Jordan/Hollywood Heroes and the upcoming ThunderCats auctions. I believe the goal of these PMs is to thin the competition in the auction. And while I suspect this enough to look for tell-tell signs, I worry others may be getting these as well and that they may not be suspicious. I'd hate to hear that people who are interested and can afford these items pass on them thinking that a lie they were told is true.

But at the same time, I don't want to call this person out in public. In the unlikely even his claims are true, then I'd look like a complete fool. I did make Jordan aware of the PMs via a PM so he would have a heads up about them.

Some of the "info" from the member is:

There is a slight untruth there with what is available ( already sold) so i wouldnt get to discouraged

Please keep this to yourself:) you can always call me. Believe me i know my stuff in these

Pre-sales occurred, really I woundnt get too discouraged.

Which items are you keen on now? I can help better I think that way and offer some advice on how to plan your purchases :)

Not sure your first name but I did notice some passion for the Quick-Jaws and I think you planned to go for it and I wanted to advise you on a few things.
Jordan is a tricky character to deal with, he doesn’t go out of his way to help a collector out.

Regarding the QuickJaws, I can tell you he knows the results as it sold in Dec so if your keen on it is already in a private collection and not for sale.

Suggestions? I'm all ears.

Is this wthompson? If so he's gonna have to have a harsh warning! :mad:

It certainly seems like his style :rolleyes:

Regardless of Jordan's ethics, its certainly not his job to be targetting certain members with tittle tattle info. wthompson complained before about us advertising rare stuff for sale and claiming it made it harder for true collectors to win the items! :rolleyes:

The force is strong with you. I'll forward the PM chain and the one I got today to you.

I too find HH's methods of selling these items exassperating, but it really isn't up to Wayne to point his finger at people like this!

I think the best course of action might be to post about it in the current prototypes thread stating we know about this campaign of discouraging folks behind pm's and it stops now or else.... (obviously we won't name names)

Anyone one else have a take on this?

Chris here...

"blackiecats, post: 43509" said:

I too find HH's methods of selling these items exassperating, but it really isn't up to Wayne to point his finger at people like this!

I think the best course of action might be to post about it in the current prototypes thread stating we know about this campaign of discouraging folks behind pm's and it stops now or else.... (obviously we won't name names)

Yes I agree, and to be honest I don't like Wayne Thompson very much - hard to believe we almost considered him as a moderator on these forums! :eek: I think he has a lot of knowledge but I'm not struck on his behaviour here, ditto I didn't appreciate when we were looking for Mods his continually PM-ing me to ask if we'd made our minds up yet! :rolleyes:

"blackiecats, post: 43509" said:

Anyone one else have a take on this?

I'm basically with you, and if it is Wayne Thompson I would also PM him a warning to make sure he gets the message. I would, in fairness, tell him that you also find Hollywood Heroes a funny bunch to deal with, but at the same time it's not acceptable for him to behave in the way that he is. I'd also ask him if he's sent PM's like this to anyone else or just mcss aerocoupe. :)

Take care... :)

Since starting this thread/discussion, I did PM wthompson back asking who else he had been PMing his info to. He claims it was just to me. I forget my exact wording as I typically don't save my sent PMs. But I responded and asked why he started a new PM thread with me this week about an item I haven't shown any interest in, and told me the same thing as last week's PM chain. His entire response was "your right, sorry to bother you man!"

I did respond and probably pushed the issue of his honesty/goals a bit too much. He said my questioning made him feel uncomfortable, so I stopped responding. But now he has asked me to call him or give him my number so he can call me and "straighten things out" because he "don't want this confusion"

I too agree that the slow process Jordan and HH is using to sell these items is a bit annoying. But accusing him/them of false advertisement and trying to sell the same item twice with no proof is a horse of another color completely.

If you want me to do the post, I will. I think the best way to stop it from continuing is to put in the post that if anyone gets new PMs like this, let any of the staff here know about it so we can deal with it. At least then Wayne will know that anyone he tries to discourage will know about his tactics and will probably let us know.

Leave off for now, as I'm in talks with Jordan. Then we can put up a post that covers everything in regard to the prototypes sales.

Will do.

Wayne sent another PM today, offering first chance at the item he claims to have, if he ever decides to sell it. I didn't respond, and won't.

Chris here...

I probably shouldn't post up a PM sent to me, but I'm pushed for time and so this is easier - here's another skroat who wants banning I'm afraid:

Wayne Thompson said:

Hi Chris,

Very disappointed to tell you that I had confined in another moderator some information to not discourage bidding but to imply don’t bother bidding on something already sold. This moderator shared my private messages with a vendor and I am very disappointed. I have significant amounts of knowledge and frankly have no interest in spending any money with this vendor but I can say all of the posts should be in the classifieds as they are all “ads” in nature.

People seemed to be bent out of shape on how much a Quick Jaws will sell for and how much it will be estimated to sell. This piece sold already in January to a private collector who is actually a board member also. It was traded to me, I own it plan and simple this information is not to be shared, I really don’t know who to trust as there is a history with Jordan telling people untruths, he is still to this day offering other new people items at high prices. They are simply asking for authentication advice and I can assure you my collection is fairly complete so I have very low interest in spending money with him. I interviews and know who all of the designers/employees are and have 15 years of prototype collecting experience to offer a sense of market price.

For what it is worth, I wanted to be a mod myself to help the site out and contribute what I have to offer but seeing my private messages shared is simply not cool.

Who is trust worthy out there?

Take care... :)

For the record, I didn't tell Jordan where the info came from. He asked if it was Wayne. I told Jordan what page the person had posted on, but not the username.

Also, I never asked for authentication advise. Wayne PMed me out of the blue and started telling me how several items had been sold. The more he sent, the more suspicious it got.

But since the PMs that prompted this thread I've been ignoring the PMs per blackie's advise.

And Wayne sent me another one this morning just thanking me for sharing his info, which I am only mentioning here as an FYI.

Chris here...

"mcss aerocoupe, post: 43888" said:

For the record, I didn't tell Jordan where the info came from. He asked if it was Wayne. I told Jordan what page the person had posted on, but not the username.

Also, I never asked for authentication advise. Wayne PMed me out of the blue and started telling me how several items had been sold. The more he sent, the more suspicious it got.

But since the PMs that prompted this thread I've been ignoring the PMs per blackie's advise.

And Wayne sent me another one this morning just thanking me for sharing his info, which I am only mentioning here as an FYI.

I'm not happy with Wayne Thompson's actions here, but am wondering what the right course of action is? Although I dislike the PM he's sent me, unlike the recent one from LiarDice it's not really rude or abusive but just putting his POV.

To be honest I don't really want to get drawn into a dialogue with him about this - suggestions on what I should say (if I bother to reply at all)? :)

Take care... :)

I don't think I can handle another crisis today. I'm not fond of his attitude, but I also don't feel he is in any major violation for the two PMs today. At least he isn't posting on the forums and ranting.

I vote we cut him a break today (unless he continues). Otherwise our frustrations over the other Wayne could be taken out on him.

But the decision is y'all's.

Chris here...

"mcss aerocoupe, post: 43906" said:

I don't think I can handle another crisis today. I'm not fond of his attitude, but I also don't feel he is in any major violation for the two PMs today. At least he isn't posting on the forums and ranting.

I vote we cut him a break today (unless he continues). Otherwise our frustrations over the other Wayne could be taken out on him.

Yep, I'm going to agree with this - even though like you I'm not fond of him, at the same time, having calmed down I agree that I don't feel he's seriously breached any forum rules with these two PM's. :)

However, I think I'm pretty much going to ignore his PM rather than get embroiled in discussions about it - at the end of the day I do think Wayne Thompson was in the wrong over Hollywood Heroes, but would be prepared to think his reasons are better than LiarDice's. ;)

Take care... :)

I think you should reply and say the moderator in question was concerned and confided in the admins. Tell him straight the tittle tattle via pm needs to stop in regard to Jordan. Fine he doesn't trust him and won't buy from him.

But why the need to try and advise folk to stay clear? If folks are not happy with Jordans sales terms they won't buy anyway. If he has a problem or concern, he needs to take it up with Hollywood Heroes and not us.

Chris here...

I had another PM from Wayne, this time saying that he'd spoken to Jordan and cleared the air, that he appreciates they're just toys and "better to keep it a nice community". I wonder if he saw the events of LiarDice's posts and realised he's standing on shaky ground! ;)

I PM'ed him back, told him I was pleased he'd cleared the air with Jordan, and said that, as regards the "PM sharing" issue, the mod in question had done the correct thing by raising the issue with this forum's admins. I told him I didn't have a problem regarding his opinion of Hollywood Heroes, that my own dealings with them were limited but that all of the site's admins (myself included) regard the unsolicited "tittle tattle" about them as unacceptable and that it needs to stop. I said that nobody was being forced to deal with HH and that it's up to individuals to make up their own minds.

In fairness I did thank him for coming to me about this in a reasonably adult fashion, and told him that I agreed with him there are more important things in life than toys! ;)

Hopefully that should be the end of it (including the gossiping about HH) but I'll keep you guys posted of any future developments! ;)

Take care... :)
Merged Post:
EDIT: Just a little sneaky bit of info - Wayne PM'ed me straight back and one of the things he said to me (very nicely - no nastiness intended) was that he hoped my family was OK as he believes I'm dealing with a few things...

I haven't mentioned about my Mum's recent major operation on the TCL forums, in fact the only reference I'm aware of to my Mum's health was in the e-mail Neil sent to LiarDice - so those two have definitely been talking!! ;)

Anyway, I've left it with Wayne OK and so my own recommendation would be to see what happens and if he steps out of line again - if he does, then we'll have to come down on him. However, I think he gets the message! ;)

Take care... :)

I hope your mom is doing well and recovering nicely. Surgery is no fun.

I've got my fingers crossed that he's done trying to start stuff via PMs.