First, some background info; I had shared comments from folks (annonymously, of course) with the dealer in question, thinking maybe I could offer him a viewpoint other than what he was getting. I don't believe in letting anyone go blind into anything, especially someone I respect...or rather, used to respect. Instead of simply taking it with a grain of salt, he attacked me personally, and accused me of making the whole thing up. Here's a copy of his rant/response:

> Ah > I see Fred, now I get it. There's no "Mailing List" per se. It's just > people who've responded to the article you wrote on your website. No wonder > you got those kind of responses (not to mention response number 5 is YOU) > especially when you angle it in such a way to invoke the responses you got. > > A dealer tries to raise the prices even further? No, these were responses off of diaclone, among other places. I took the top 5 responses and added them to the existing page on my site. You've got it backwards. First everybody commented, THEN I added it to the site. Of course #5 is mine; I say as much on the site. That article was written years ago, and if you took the time to read it, you'd see that I was attempting to offer a counter-viewpoint on the pricing issue, saying it is in fact at least partially the fault of the collectors.

> I wonder what people would do if they knew about all the toys you purchased > from me over the years. I count over 43 items since October 1998 (this does > not include items prior to the inception of my database) so there's > obviously more. You accuse me of trying to raise prices even further > dispite our prior dealings? I'm not accusing you of anything. I knew you would misinterpret me, yet as a friend I took a chance and shared information with you that you may not have known about. Why did I bother? All you're doing is targeting me now for your ire. Others have simply drawn a logical inference to what they already know about you. All I do is report what's been told to me. In the end, I could care less either way. You're the one that's getting all huffy, AGAIN, and for no reason. I never once denied that I buy from you. Lots of people who buy from you complain about you. It's human nature; also, maybe it's a wake-up call that something on your part is amiss, and maybe you need to change it. FYI I list you as one of the top two reputable dealers on the net on my site in the A-list section. I make no secrets about any of my dealings. Do you?

> It boils down to this Fred: > > Even though you state this: A letter was sent out by a dealer (name > withheld) involving his view on the tf market. Included are a snippet of his > words, and some responses from the community. > > People still knew who it was that sent that letter, namely me because the > majority of the TF community that you refer to either subscribes to my > newsletter or they read my message board. Your small handful of negative > responses is expected especially the way you baited them. You deliberately > took my words out of context. Then offer me a way to put them 'back into context', and I'll post the response to the site. That would certainly be more productive than ranting to me about 'the injustice' of it all. As already stated earlier, I didn't 'bait' anyone. The addition to the site came after the comments were made.

> In the end Fred, data doesn't lie, here's just a small portion of our price > list (snip big list) > Sometimes the same number is used for more than one toy. For example if I > had several beachcombers in C9 Condition w/techs, it only shows up once as > LTF0001. However, I've sold that particular beachcomber in that condition > SEVEN TIMES ALONE!! This info was taken directly from our database. I've > sold thousands of transformers. I'm more than qualified to do a price list > and all my customers say that I'm more than qualified because they, > including yourself are indeed my customers. Please note also that in all > the descriptions on beachcomber listed above no where does it mention > "Meshed" vs "Unmeshed" arms. However please be advised that some > variations will be in the guide. That's fine. If you would take a moment to calm down and get off your soapbox, and read the original e-mail again, all I asked was that you do not use our (the Vari-Quest) data in your price guide. I never once said not to do your project, or to alter your own database to suit my or anyone else's whims. Pot calling the kettle black. Now you're taking me out of context.

(snip big list) > I just have data up the Wazoo!! So you can see above, just how many > metroplexes of both versions in varying states of condition that I sold over > the years never mind the multiple versions of the same description I've > sold. Again, what's your point? I'm not arguing about what you may or may not have in YOUR database. That's not my concern or interest at all. Somehow, I can't make that clear to you.

> > Either people didn't want to ruffle your feathers, or just think it's > > pointless to argue with you :-) I dunno what to tell you on that one. I only > > can verify what I've been told. This link might be of some use; just > > remember to keep it in perspective. No getting all upset on me now! > > What makes these people's opinion more important than what my own customers > have told me over the phone, on my MSG board and through email? I'm sorry > Fred but I think I have a little bit more of a handle on the demographics of > who the TF community is. Not to upset you Fred but most of my transformers > customers never even heard of your website. These ARE opinions from your customers, Gerry. As I said already, maybe these folks didn't say anything because it's a pain to put up with you like this (case in point, this ranting e-mail of yours). Again, I could care less what you do; all I said is that I don't want to be a part of it. And don't worry; you're not upsetting me. :-) Although I do recognize your little attempt there. I do my site stuff for my own personal enjoyment, not for monetary gain, unlike others. If it helps others, great! If it doesn't, who cares? I enjoy it. If you have people saying good things about you, great! It makes for a nice change of pace. Send a few my way, and I'll gladly add their comments too. I don't have a problem being balanced; but so far no one has OFFERED me any positive comments.

> In the end Fred, I have the data, painstakingly compiled over years and the > customer's names who purchased each transformer and I'm moving forward with > this price guide as I see it. Who's stopping you? Just leave me out of it. That's all I asked. You've wasted three e-mails doing nothing more than telling me how upset and insulted you feel. Stop your bellyaching, will ya?

Snippet of response from dealer reply to this e-mail: I never once intended you and your website to be a part of my price guide. By sending me that email was due to your inflated ego and you do indeed care Fred or else we still wouldn't be having this conversation and you wouldn't have posted on my MSG board seeking positive feedback on the price guide. It took 4 e-mails, half of them several pages long, for him to restate that he won't be using the information. All the other information was either insult or attempted justification to an issue that wasn't even there, namely that I am somehow single-handedly on a crusade, trying to stop him from doing something with HIS database. Yeesh. And he says I have the ego? Talk about missing the point... Note also the use of attempted insult in the reply in sentence 2; a use of reversal to combat what he himself was accused of by someone else. Actually, I did post to his message board looking for someone, anyone to say something nice. Gotta be fair in our portrayals of issues. :-) It didn't come from the mailers, and his message board, while positive, seemed to lack the essense of what we were looking for to balance out the issue. Of course, then he adds this comment to the mix: I've a good mind to list every single variation on your website for the simple fact that it's public. Well, so much for him keeping his word. That didn't last long, even by my standards. :-) Good thing we've got our copyrights and disclaimers, folks. No telling what some people are motivated to do. By far this was my favorite part of that e-mail: ...you skirt what's actually going on and controlling what your readers see... The dealer is seeing a larger conspiracy than what exists. :-) Yes, I am somehow omnipotent, and control what all see. Whoowee, with that kind of power, why am I here? I should be out ruling a third-world country, or something. Maybe he thinks I am. :-) Journalism is a fun sport to be in folks. I recommend anyone do it. Yes, it's all about poking fun, and taking everything out of context. Movie Critic: "This movie was a great waste of my time." Movie Promoter: "This movie was a great...time." Journalist: "Movie critic thinks bad movie was great, news at 11." Welcome to real life, pal. Here's your sign.

Final Dealer response; Do we get a wrap-up? You should've never used a title heading like you used in your article for three. You didn't post my response to your response #1 where I clearly state to you "The only variations that I'd list are variations in our database and whatever price adjustments we'd charge for them, ie, metroplex, ultra Magnus, hot rod, rodimus primes and a few others. Most variations we don't charge any different for as you well know and these won't be listed it's only the variations that we charge differently on." For those that didn't read the other forwards in the mailer groups, here it is again, for your reading pleasure. The first paragraph, in an e-mail that went on to several e-mails, complete with insults, flames, cautions disguised as thinly-veiled threats, personal attacks...Life is good, folks. As always, I leave it up to the reader to decide what to believe, or not believe, about anything. I just type what I'm told. :-) Sometimes, the messanger doesn't get killed...just tarred and feathered.