Since the time of her (actually it was a him, named George) post, the police got involved and told him to knock it off and stfu. Something to do with filing a false report of death threats or something. Yeah George/Susan got LAWLOLown3d.

Susan:

Oh forget it, I am not even going to get into it.

The original issue has not changed.

Thanks for keeping the drive alive.

Mr. Aman Gupta,

The list of people you have offended within the local comic book industry is long, and you know that fact all too well. I’m sending this letter to you to make you aware, in case you are not, that your tactics are highly illegal and contravene Canadian competition laws, specifically, the Competition Act. When the owners of Paradise Comics, one of your old exhibitors and customers, decided to start up their own small, fan-friendly convention for those interested in the art of the comic book medium, you decided to punish them by refusing to allow them to exhibit at your convention. Then, when Paradise Comics began to grow their convention and present at least some small amount of competition against your monopoly, you decided to break another law by scheduling and rescheduling a free show one week before theirs, confusing consumers about what show is being held when, and pricing the admission far below market-price (free). Now you’ve sunk to a new low.
Paradise Comics decided they can give as well as take, so they organized a reasonably-priced one-day show scheduled for 2 weeks before your large annual comic convention. Nothing wrong with that. The more conventions that are held, the more sales exhibitors and creators stand to make, the more competition and consumerism thrives, and the healthier and more robust the Canadian economy is made by it. But you have decided to come to the exhibitors with a dastardly ultimatum. I’ve heard you’ve started contacting exhibitors and telling them that if they dare attend the single day Paradise Comics’ show, you will ban them from your large 3 day show in September, which many people also rely on to make a good deal of revenue. And for those exhibitors who have already booked their tables at your show, you threaten them by saying you will refund their money and refuse them any attempt to attend your show. This is also an illegal tactic that contravenes laws within the Competition Act. Penalties for anti-competitive behaviour are serious and may include several years in jail and millions of dollars in penalties, as well as any orders the Competition Tribunal decides may be given to make you play nice.
You cannot obliterate competition by strong-arming it with illegal tactics. The Canadian government frowns upon anyone who would try to prevent the Canadian economy from growing and flourishing. You cannot dump free shows ahead of your competition. You cannot use, in the words of the Competition Act, “an abuse of dominance” to bend competitors and your own exhibitors to your will. You cannot compel anyone to an exclusive deal, forcing them to forego revenue that they are entitled to make in our free and fair market. You cannot maliciously refuse someone’s business because they refuse to conspire in your illegal exclusivity deals. (and if you’re thinking of taking punitive actions against those who are speaking out against you now, that is also looked upon harshly by the Tribunal as a consequence to be dealt with in accordance with any original complaint)
To put it bluntly, we (and I’m sure I speak for a large number in the community) don’t have to put up with your bullshit anymore. If you’re so afraid of competition, there’s only one thing you can do, and that is start treating exhibitors, creators and fans nicely. Be a man and put on the best show you can. The better you treat everyone, the more prosperous they will be. The more prosperous your customers, the more tables they will buy from you and the more prosperous you will be. Then your show will grow and grow. Competition is good for everyone. Especially in the comic book industry, which is experiencing such very hard times these days, your behaviour has been very damaging to retailers, fans and creators. Stop acting like a scared little girl who’s afraid of seeing his monopoly go down the tubes and own up to the fact that it’s time to stop acting like an asshole and start kissing up to the people who are putting food on your table. If you don’t, there are going to be better shows around town that will be hosted by people who actually care about our community.

For your reference, here’s some snippets from the Competition Bureau’s website, and some information for you to read. Please check the website to learn more about things like abuse of dominance, exclusive deals, refusal to deal, market restrictions, market pricing, etc. For any of those who are feeling threatened by Mr. Gupta’s tactics, I suggest you contact him first and see if he has come to his senses. If you continue to feel or are indeed threatened by him, getting an investigation started does not involve any money or lawyers, only a filing of an on-line complaint form at the following web page.

https://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/internet/index.cfm?itemID=1260

Courtesy of your friendly, local Anti-Asshole-Man

reading material…..

http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca

————-snippets—————
The Competition Act (7)

Part VIII
Matters Reviewable by Tribunal

Restrictive Trade Practices

Refusal to Deal

Jurisdiction of Tribunal where refusal to deal

75. (1) Where, on application by the Commissioner or a person granted leave under section 103.1, the Tribunal finds that

(a) a person is substantially affected in his business or is precluded from carrying on business due to his inability to obtain adequate supplies of a product anywhere in a market on usual trade terms,

(b) the person referred to in paragraph (a) is unable to obtain adequate supplies of the product because of insufficient competition among suppliers of the product in the market,

(c) the person referred to in paragraph (a) is willing and able to meet the usual trade terms of the supplier or suppliers of the product,

(d) the product is in ample supply, and

(e) the refusal to deal is having or is likely to have an adverse effect on competition in a market,

the Tribunal may order that one or more suppliers of the product in the market accept the person as a customer within a specified time on usual trade terms unless, within the specified time, in the case of an article, any customs duties on the article are removed, reduced or remitted and the effect of the removal, reduction or remission is to place the person on an equal footing with other persons who are able to obtain adequate supplies of the article in Canada.

and

Exclusive Dealing, Tied Selling and Market Restriction

Definitions

77. (1) For the purposes of this section,

“exclusive dealing” «exclusivité»

“exclusive dealing” means

(a) any practice whereby a supplier of a product, as a condition of supplying the product to a customer, requires that customer to

(i) deal only or primarily in products supplied by or designated by the supplier or the supplier’s nominee, or

(ii) refrain from dealing in a specified class or kind of product except as supplied by the supplier or the nominee, and

(b) any practice whereby a supplier of a product induces a customer to meet a condition set out in subparagraph (a)(i) or (ii) by offering to supply the product to the customer on more favourable terms or conditions if the customer agrees to meet the condition set out in either of those subparagraphs;

“market restriction” «limitation du marché»

“market restriction” means any practice whereby a supplier of a product, as a condition of supplying the product to a customer, requires that customer to supply any product only in a defined market, or exacts a penalty of any kind from the customer if he supplies any product outside a defined market;

——— end snippets———–

I am Daryl Collison

First let me say that I am not surprised that no less than 4 threads relating to the issue that I brought up on the weekend have been closed. I am disappointed, but not surprised.

PLEASE DO NOT THNK THAT I AM TRYING TO ALEINATE ANY OF THE SUPPORT THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME AND THE OTHER RETAILERS IN MY POSITION. And rest assured there are other retailers that got the same call that I did. But I should address some issues that were brought up in some of the threads.

If you run your thread, you can make your rules. Fine. But I would hope that you would have taken into account the genesis of the issue this time. This is not Paradise VS Hobbystar - it is Hobbystar threatening to take away my RIGHT to do a show I paid for almost a year ago IF I decide to do a competing show.

If Aman wants to institute new rules for exclusive retailers next year, that is his right. BUT he should not threaten to take away what I have already paid for.

Capitalism. Yes, we all saw Wall Street and we know that Greed is Good. But again this is not about that.

Hatfields vs. McCoy’s and re-visiting the same thing over again. NO, it is not. I was s never a part of that fight herein and now I am drawn into because I wish to do the things I am entitled to do – right here and now.

Again I ask that you continue to get the original letter I sent out in the ether. I respectfully request that your refrain form inflammatory comments about Aman and Hobbystar and please do not try and introduce the letter onto boards that have taken the threads off. They have the right to do what they want with their boards and I respect that.

I am not a rabble rouser. I simply need people to know that what is happening to me and other small retailer’s is not fair. Some people think that we all have short attention spans and this will become an old newspaper soon. PLEASE keep this going.

Respectfully yours
Daryl Collison
3rd Quadrant

I have copied the original letter herein – you may send it or append this e-mail appropriately.

How this guy has been allowed to do all that he does, without any legal repercussions is really mind-boggling.

But to some degree, I believe its because most of the retailers have been tolerating it, playing nice and dealing it all with kids gloves on.

As much as it sounds like I’m stirring the pot by saying this, I’m really hoping the kids gloves come off, and Aman finally gets a taste of his own medicine.

Boycott the Expo!

Kevin: I totally agree with you. The really sucky thing is that the retailers in Toronto are for the most part buddies with each other. I like Peter, Chris, Bob, Daryl, and a host of other guys who run stores even though technically we’re all going after the same dollars. I’m happy for them when they do awesome things that get them attention, and I feel bad for them when they have to make difficult decisions.

I don’t like it that one really bad egg seems to be tainting the whole bunch.