Let me say this, and hopefully it will be the end of the 'Shiver Auction' stuff... until someone else posts one.
The 'Seller' for this specific one is someone I know.
He was a customer of mine and he's actually a great guy - regardless what you all may think of him.
His son is into G.I. Joe - that's why he was there. He bought the figure becuase it was the last one available, and he knows about Black Ice and what it went for. He didn't know what his plans were for it when he bought it. I may of done the same thing - bought an exclusive just because it was the last one. Who here can say they wouldn't of done the same thing?
He listed it on ebay moreso to see what type of interest it would garner - he's STILL getting emails from people on it. He never wanted to piss anyone off, or cause such an uproar online.
BUT. It was his, and I told him flat out that it's his to do with what he wants.
I also told him I had no qualms about 'asking' him not to sell it.
He decided to give it back to me (I refunded his money). Personally, I think he gave it back because we're friends and it 'kinda' puts me in a bad position. We all know one figure is held back for ebay. This is done to promote the next years meet, and to gain some funds for door prizes and such. With someone else posting a Shiver online, the 'first' one may go for more than 'ours' will. The thing is, I wouldn't want someone to just buy the first one that shows up online 'because it's online'. When I list the #30 Shiver figure on ebay, the buyer is going to also get a few other items with it - that they would no doubt enjoy having just as much as Shiver himself.
So really, anyone that does buy a Shiver figure NOT from me on ebay or otherwise - will be missing out on something. ;-)
Scalpers can't be stopped - and the more popular the Joe Meet becomes, the more these guys are going to come out and try to get more than one.
I know of one guy that got two at the meet because he brought his friend. Why does he need two? Who knows. But he has them, and if one of them ends up on ebay - then so be it. It's his right to sell his own items - we don't have to like it, but it's true.
The thing I don't get is WHY people that make no attempt to attend want one of these figures anyway? It's supposed to be a momento of the days events and you attending.
Not another figure in your collection so you can be a 'completist'. A completist of what? A bootleg Joe Custom? Where does it end?
Hoepfully this ends the bashing and such. The guy never intended to piss people off, and the mere fact that he drove to my front door to give it back more than supports that.
Mike