I think we need a referee on here anyway
I wanted to add some points. I think we all need to remember how this works for a moment. Artbox makes a product and sells it to distributors for a set price. Once they are sold, it is out of Artbox's hands. The distributors get the product and sell to us, the consumer, for a small profit. Once we get the item in our hands, we open them and keep or sell. Some of the cards are rare (and we know this because Artbox numbers their cards, which I love) and can be sold for sometimes more than a box (or even case in the rare occasion). Artbox makes no profit off of the cards being sold on eBay. Once they sell their cases, they got the money they needed or wanted for them and are done.
When it comes to SDCC, Artbox was probably expecting a certain amount of money for the cards and were happy with just that. This is why I don't think Artbox has any involvement directly with this seller. Had Artbox really needed more money, then yes, they know what these cards can sell for and would probably have sold each card separately if they really needed the money. Although I think that putting a max on an auction is weird, my guess is that they did this to hopefully give someone who couldn't afford as much as some others a chance. Do I think it is odd that this guy bid the exact max? Yes, but again, he may have figured this out some other way. I know one person at Artbox and have had many conversations with this person in the past. There is no way I think this person would be involved with some sort of scam. Bryan - since you were there, how many people work at their booth?
As for the wrong card being given to him....this could have been a simple mistake. They were all in boxes. Although you could see through the top, there is a chance she just went in and grabbed a box from the correct pile, but somehow, the wrong card was put in this pile. Simple mistake. Yes, it happened to be this same seller again, and I bet he was pissed when people called them on this and had to get the card exchanged.
Of course, I was not there so I don't know what really went down. I do know that Bryan said this guy told him what his winning bids were, but he may not have been completely truthful either. You never know. In the end, this may have just been all fair and legit and we are just all jealous so need to find a way to make it "wrong". I just know I am jealous because I will never have the chance to own just one of these cards, let alone 16 or so.
I would have liked to see all the cards in the goodie bags instead of auctions though, but I see why they do it. It brings people to their booth and adds excitement, causing passerby's to stop and see what it is all about and hopefully find some people who didn't know these cards existed and get some new buyers.
Will any of this stop me from buying future sets? Heck No! I can't wait for the next one already . lol.
Sorry for the long rant.
