As some might know myself,Matt(skyjacker) & Tang have been using Jeff as a US "poster buddy" for the last year or so. Unfortunately, Jeff seems to have gone AWOL with approximately £2000 worth of our posters. I'm a a patient man & not one to lose my rag quickly & thus far I have held my tongue & played it nice in the vain hope that Jeff's conscience would kick into action. It hasn't & enough is enough!
I originally posted a message on the forum for a US poster buddy when postage costs starts to rise from the States. Not having an endless pot of cash & in attempt to keep costs down it made economic sense. Jeff replied & everything when smoothly with regular communication & updates.
The problems only started when I asked for the stuff to be sent. Since then, virtually nothing! A single email to explain that due to serious health issues with his mum he has been away from his home & the forum but would be back soon(21/2). Now we all appreciate that family comes first. The health of a loved one far outweighs a few pieces of paper regardless of their monetary value. But Matt asked 5 months ago for his stuff to be sent & myself 3 months. It doesn't take long to send an email to keep people,you have agreed to help out, informed. Since December he has logged in to the Forum once. His eBay account is littered with negatives. He's just not replying to anyone! Holiday sent him a letter & Jason has tried ringing him (thanks for trying). Still nothing! Bugger!
What do I do now? What lessons have been learnt? Am I being an inconsiderate bastard with a complete lack of sympathy for a man whose mum is "seriously ill"?
At the moment, I'm writing off the posters. Maybe, like Holiday/Cochan scenario a few years ago, it will all work itself out & the posters will be delivered. Probably too late for my wife's "hobby" room which 2 of the posters were presents for. She will survive thou. Some have said file a police report. I live in the UK & have no clue how to go down the legal path. If this had occurred in the UK I would have just jumped in the car,gone round his house & demanded them. Maybe take a baseball bat or a couple of "undesirables" as support. Regardless, I would have brought my posters home!
Some have said "why did you use Jeff!" It seemed a no brainier at the time. A long time member & frequent contributor to the Forum who seemed liked by all. Moreover, he was a Forum Administrator! Surely a position of trust & responsibility? After reaching out to a few people about my problems with Jeff I start to hear rumours that he's done this kind of thing before & not to be trusted. That he caused members to leave the forum & not so well liked after all. A bit late now!
I'm not here to do a character assassination. I don't know what's really going on in Jeff's life right now. I'm here to put out a warning to others that before you decide to enlist the help of anyone do your research,ask around etc. I mean, the reason I joined this forum was to find like minded people who had a passion for film posters. To learn from & help others where I can. To provide information & pictures of posters other collectors might find of interest. I'd like to think I've done that. I help a couple of fellow collectors find posters they are after & hold till there tube is full. I post on the forum whenever I feel I have something useful to say or some new posters have arrived. & ive learnt a lot from the posts of fellow members. I didn't join the Forum to get shafted!
I'm done! Rant over for now! But if anyone finds themselves near Washington Place, LA.....