*Yes I know disclaimers usually go at the bottom, but please excuse this. I just took some sleeping tablets, so if my spelling deteriorates a bit, that's why, and I apogise for that.
I had dealt with UM a few months back, and instantly hit it off with him. We'd chat over things, and I was holding a figure for him. mOTUC He-Man.
We kept talking about various other things, and he mentioned he'd just himself am upgrade, and scored a really nice Bumper.
He knew that that is a grail of mine (i think id whinged to him at misson out on a beautiful legit light blue one just thr month before). Start with the US release, and then hit the awesome foreign variations (Sedan, etc).
He asked if I'd be interested in his.
Yes.
No need to think about it. He sent me photos immediately, and explained every flaw in excruciating detail. All class. Then, the bombshell: the price!
The price was unbelievable. Like we'd stepped back 10 years.
I asked him multiple times about that, warning he could have got more for it. But no. HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE MONETARY ASPECT. He just wanted it to go to a good home, where it will be cherished.
We're both easy-going, so it took a bit to get it altogether, plus holidays etc. But it arrived this week.
Oh, and before that, he let me know he'd thrown in a free '84 catalogue for me. Such a nice little extra. I love little gestures like that. Our deal was our deal. The catalogue wasn't going to change the deal. It was unrelated. It was a 'Hey lets geek out about this!' Very awesome. Again, great guy.
Straight away: the packing. Unbelievably well packaged. Bumper was inside bubble wrap inside a tin that was covered in bubble wrap, in a box that had even more bubble wrap. That thing was indestructible.
The figure? Amazing to finally own one. Yeah, he's not a huge one, and he's certainly within the reach of all collectors. But I'm thrilled. Unbelievably happy. I'm already proclaiming it my purchase of the year.
There was also something else attached to this whole thing: payment. Through a bank error, I ended up sending the money to Michael twice. (Again, we're really not talking a large amount here, but go with me). Those has been deposited as cleared funds into his account. For me, it was a write-off. He was under no obligation to return the money, or to even acknowledge he'd received it.
He naturally, refunded it straight away.
Can't say enough good things about him.
If you don't know him, you SHOULD. This is the type of person that makes a community.
How good is he? Well, I spent more time talking about him than the decade+ long Holy Grail item I was just able to cross of my list.