Author: fan

Latest Conlan Press excuse: 300,000 sales – but No Money In The Bank! Scam victim: “no one will be getting their refunds.”

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In the history of scamming by owner Connor Cochran, Better Business Bureau complaints show customers waiting TEN YEARS for undelivered goods.  (2014: “This project is now nine years overdue”.)  Corroborating complaints across the internet make an inescapable conclusion: the lowest estimate starts around $100,000 in scam sales.

That’s tens of thousands paid for audiobooks, and hundreds of documented “Extra Deluxe” Last Unicorn books sold and never delivered to victims.  That’s only TWO among other titles, leaving much more unknown.  How much higher do victim losses go?  Take a guess when “The Last Unicorn did 2.5 million video sales” in 10 years and the “novel has sold 6.5 million copies.”

One scam victim has been documenting her ordeal with being deceived, concluding: “No one will be getting their refunds.” She is still getting the runaround after seven months (and counting). After persistently pleading for help, she’s left empty handed with nothing but sadness at being cheated.  Her ordeal began in April 2015:

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NO MONEY IN THE BANK?!!

A legitimate company would have no problem paying back a small sale of mere art prints to one person.  But not Conlan Press and it’s owner. No Money In The Bank is the official statement and Connor Cochran’s excuse (swear on his mother!)

Meanwhile, he boasts of spending $5 million to plump up his Golden Goose movie, soliciting $15 million from investors, licensing deals, “over 60,000” ticket sales for a movie tour, and “over 300,000” merch sales on his Last Unicorn Tour website.

conlanpress

Your eyes are not deceiving you: Connor Cochran is simultaneously bragging of hundreds of thousands of sales and million dollar budgets for himself… and not a dime to repair hurt to a pleading, empty-handed buyer.

“But when the taxman comes to the door, Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale…”

It’s a policy of denial.  Let’s summarize this victim’s 7 month experience of the Conlan Press Attrition Process to block victims from refunds:

  • April: Victim pays for art prints. Conlan Press makes vague promises to deceive her about delivery in “approximately 4-6 weeks.” She orders a DVD too.
  • Delivery dates come and go with empty hands, and no communication.
  • Victim is forced to chase Cochran to beg for help, but gets ignored.
  • Victim persists.  Cochran stonewalls her pleas for written answers, stringing her along with vague, unwritten phone calls and no solution.
  • Victim persists. Further pleas are ignored.  She is forced to chase answers from a Conlan Press front person. (History shows that blaming the employee comes later.)
  • Finally, she’s told that since she patiently waited through vague delivery dates, it’s too late to get a direct credit (oh, really?)  But… the check’s in the mail.
  • Surprise, the check isn’t in the mail.
  • Forced to plead again, she gets a vague promise of a check in 4-6 weeks (again).
  • November: More pleas. Still no check.  History shows that Connor Cochran is more than willing to string victims along indefinitely.

The Conlan Press Attrition Process: watch with disgust as another victim’s refund claim persists through three house moves and EIGHT YEARS OF LYING by Connor Cochran… all that effort to deny their refund, instead of doing one drawing to get their book delivered.

This is clear – he doesn’t care who gets hurt, to reap profits for himself at any cost.

After a decade of stringing customers along, here’s more of Cochran’s excuses in a list longer than you can count:

  • Relocating to Washington in 2015 while fleeing scrutiny in California.
  • Beagle’s decline in health, which conveniently refreshes an oldie –
  • Cochran is still hiding behind Beagle’s mother’s death in 2006. The moldy “mom” excuse extended to 2014 and beyond. It was on the conlanpress.com “updates” page, forced down in 2015 by rising public outrage.

During all the excuses for all these years, Cochran was spending at least tens if not hundreds-of-thousands of dollars on lawyers (who cost hundreds an hour). He was diverting payments for goods (on top of fan donations) into legal manoeuvres to capture The Last Unicorn movie for his properties.

It was far from the only extravagant legal spending.  In 2012 he sent more attacks at his victim, Sydney Gurewitz Clemens, an elderly children’s teacher.  She paid him $25,000 to publish her book, but got nothing.  After breaching the contract, Cochran refused to return what he took, forced her to sue for help (PDF), and piled on abuse and heartache by dragging her through vicious court fighting.  At your expense.

Now he claims there’s no money.  Demand documented accounting for how your payments were really spent.  You’ll get non-answers like the above customers did.

When you wonder where the money went, remember: Peter Beagle doesn’t own Conlan Press.  All of the cheating feeds back to Connor Cochran.

Beyond consequences for scamming, Cochran has one thing to capitalize on by stringing everyone along.  When Beagle’s time runs out… it’s all in the bag.  And with such shamelessly venal behavior, death just makes a new excuse for non-delivery.

Complain to the California Attorney General and the Washington Attorney General. Report suspect financial activity to the IRS.  Report Federal Mail Fraud to the US Post. Document abuse at Ripoff Report, and send your story to fansagainstfraud@gmail.com.

Victim: “Conlan Press has no intention of refunding my money”. Feel hurt and cheated? We’ll give you a voice.

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“Conlan Press has no intention of refunding my money… I, along with many other Last Unicorn fans, have been scammed by Conlan Press… Never, ever, EVER buy anything directly from Conlan Press.” – New victim report (9/30/15)

There is help:

See how the offender, Connor Cochran, struggles to reject accountability since this site exposed his ten year history of scamming customers:

  • Whistleblower employee Michael Bolger was trashed as a coverup – until Cochran’s story fell apart.  He was forced to renounce it and remove Bolger.
  • Public pressure forced Cochran to make a public refund promise to every cheated customer in December 2014.
  • Refund promises were broken again and again.  The scandal continues NOW.

More from September 30, 2015:  “CONLAN PRESS FRUSTRATIONS”

The show was this April (2015)… After the show we had Peter S. Beagle sign a few prints we purchased and we also pre-ordered a print.  At the time of purchase they told us that the delivery time would be approximately 4-6 weeks and that we would get updates via e-mail.  A few days later I ordered the new DVD on their website as well.  On June 19th we hadn’t heard anything, or received our print, so I sent an e-mail to them.  My first e-mail was ignored so I sent a follow-up email on July 3rd…

I was told that the items I had purchased would not be available and that I could get substitute items or a refund.  I opted for a refund and was then told that they would have to mail me a check since it had been more than 60 days since I placed my orders and that a check would be mailed out in a week.

I checked in today and am now being told that the checks aren’t really going to take a week, but four.  So now I am reasonably sure that Conlan Press has no intention of refunding my money.”

At the link, notice the very interesting detail that Cochran refused requests for email that could document promises in writing, using phone instead after being asked not to.

How many years ago did cheating and lying become a way of business? Newly reported to fansagainstfraud@gmail.com:

Hello!

I came across a link to your website documenting the troubles with Conlan Press and the old frustration and anger over this thing came right back.  The last time I brought it up was a discussion via another fan forum for perfume about a year ago. If another anecdote does you any good, you’re welcome to use it.

In 2005, I was still living at home, not yet married, working, and came across a blog post by Neil Gaiman talking about how Peter S. Beagle had found a place for his work at Conlan Press and that they were doing an audiobook deal with a first-look chance to get a copy of the novella Two Hearts.

None of this is remotely on Mr. Gaiman, but encouraged by this news I went to look at Conlan’s website and was one of, I don’t know, the first couple hundred to pre-order this specific edition at some fifty dollars.  This was to be a kind of birthday thing for myself, the initial release date lining up roughly over the summer.

Much of this doesn’t matter.  What matters is that now in 2015 nothing has ever come of this.  I’ve married the guy I was dating that summer, I’ve moved across the country, I’ve changed jobs several times, lost old emails, and the bank from which Connor Cochran took my then-costly fifty bucks has gone entirely out of business.  I’ve tried to contact them several times over the years and never heard back.

And I’ve still never read Two Hearts.  I’ve never had the heart to.

I’ve told a few people I feel like the whole situation was a little Molly Grue.  I moved on, but the story I loved so much now has some bitterness in every reading.  It’s a small thing, but The Last Unicorn was and is one of my favorite stories.  I hadn’t known how broad the theft conducted by Conlan Press was.  Now that I know, I’m that much more upset.  If there’s anything more I can do besides share yet another ‘we got screwed’ tale, let me know.  And again, you’re welcome to use this email.

Best, K

For as long as Connor Cochran refuses accountability and has anything to do with customers, this scandal won’t go away. Let’s make REAL solutions to stealing and lying. We’ll do everything possible to honor your sadness and frustration, by making your voices heard.  Send your story to fansagainstfraud@gmail.com.

One more tale of sadness from the Last Unicorn Tour website:

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New victim reports: “This has been well over a decade they have held my money…”

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 New at the Better Business Bureau:

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New at Ripoff Report:

Connor Cochran of Conlan Press recieved a check from me shortly after January 10th, 2009, and in return, I was supposed to recieve a Deluxe Last Unicorn hardcover. After many years and explanations given for delays (and much patience on my part), I have still recieved nothing, as have countless other fans. I requested a refund by email in 2011 but was ignored.

New reader comment:

My husband and I have been huge fans of The Last Unicorn since we were kids, and when we got engaged, he ordered the commemorative edition of “Two Hearts.” That was back in 2006. We are now married and have two kids, the oldest nearly 4. Still nothing…

Dear victims and future members of the Ten Year Club, here’s where to seek real help:

Continuing scandal at Lastunicorntour.com:

Lindsey September 9, 2015 at 10:22 am

Hi! I’ve placed an order back in April for the “KUBO FILM CONCEPT PAINTING 1 — UNICORN/AMALTHEA NUDE LIMITED EDITION” and a pre-order of the “2015 “Enchanted Edition” Blu-Ray/DVD Combo” and I am growing unhappy with the lack of information in regard to when these items will be shipped. I know, the charming sales kid you had at the screening said it could be 4-8 weeks. I don’t want to be impatient so I was wondering if there was a timeline for the shipment of these items or if somehow my order was misplaced because I still have the invoice and the transaction. Most companies do not take people’s money before at the very least sending shipping notice…

Ingrid September 7, 2015 at 11:50 am

I am writing because during the Arlington, MA showing in May I ordered a couple of books and a print. I haven’t received any information and answer of an email I sent a week ago. I understand Peter’s health situation but the lack of communication is not good. At this rate I am not even happy with my order since it has been such a long time. Please advice.

Emily Gensamer September 1, 2015 at 6:46 am

I have a question, my husband Thomas Gensamer and I went to the show in SJ. We had ordered a singed copy of the DVD and a Lady Amalthea HD photo. They said it would come to us within 10-12 weeks. This was about 13 or 14 weeks ago now, should we be worried?

Elizabeth August 27, 2015 at 8:08 pm

I’m very sad to hear that Peter is not doing very well… Also, I was wondering….. since I made purchases back in May and in June for items that i requested his signature for, would it be possible to just go ahead and receive the items without signage? Or is it too late?

Christina August 27, 2015 at 12:07 pm

Hi I was at the show in April in El Paso TX and I still haven’t received my items. I ordered the DVD and my friend ordered a collection of Peters books. Do you have any update on when we may receive the order?01

Bethany Russell August 26, 2015 at 1:50 am

I may have been unsubscribed from the emails. Can you add me back in? I also ordered a signed copy of a dvd maybe last year? – I seriously don’t remember when it was, but it was an advance order- was going to be sent out whenever they were ready. Are there any updates on those?

Nate August 25, 2015 at 9:39 am

Hey, I ordered some books when you guys came to Austin but they still haven’t arrived and I haven’t received any emails about them. I tried emailing the contact@conlanpress.com but I haven’t never got a reply.

Caitlin August 24, 2015 at 10:56 am

Hi, I pre-ordered a signed copy of the new edition Last Unicorn DVD back in June and haven’t received it, nor any word of when those might ship. Any news on when we might expect to see those start to send out? Also, I’ve never received confirmation of having been added to the tour e-mail list, even though I signed up at a screening in Maine in May and have sent them one or two e-mails asking. Can you please add me? kendalls_hat@yahoo.com.

Jennifer Street August 22, 2015 at 12:15 am

I was at the screening earlier this year at the Alamo Drafthouse in Dallas, TX. I ordered one of the really nice expensive prints, but have yet to receive it. Is there an ETA on when I should be getting this?

Racheal Williams August 7, 2015 at 9:22 am

I just wanted to ask if all of the Canadian shipping issues had been worked out? We had ordered a print at the show and haven’t heard anything yet on if and when it will be coming. We paid cash for everything.

Matthew Stelting July 16, 2015 at 11:20 am

Hello, I was at the show in April and have not received any word on the status of items that I ordered. I see that there’s some issues with Conlan Press moving now that I’m here but I would like to request to be added to the tour membership. I used the proper email link at Conlan Press when I realized I forgot to sign up, but never got a reply and in the comments it seems the email system didn’t really work to begin with, so, I’m not on the list could you please at freyth [at] yahoo.com to the tour membership?

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Shaina Noyes-Girard July 8, 2015 at 9:06 am

I was at the Plymouth nh show and bought a copy of the new book with a quote and I haven’t received it yet. Any ideas on what happened? Thanks

Sarah Mosher July 7, 2015 at 12:38 pm

I am also inquiring on an order I made back in May at the Portland, Maine Showing~ I ordered the “Better-Beagle-Bundle” and am excited & curious to know when I may expect the shipment?

Christina July 6, 2015 at 3:11 pm

Hi Connor, first of all, I am really glad that the tour finally came to Germany… However, I was a bit disappointed that the “event” itself was not special at all :/ …I knew that Peter wouldn’t be there and am absolutely fine with that, but it was nowhere mentioned that there wouldn’t be anyone at all… Honestly, I am a bit sad.  Maybe next time something like this happens you shouldn’t mention that each event will still be special because surely I am not the only person misinterpreting this piece information and running to false conclusions.

Mandy Wood June 15, 2015 at 8:23 am

I ordered a signed copy of The Last Unicorn back on like April 28….. Any ideas if and when I should be receiving the book? I’m seeing all sorts of scarey stuff all over the internet about people getting “scammed” by Collan Press… Hoping it’s not true. Thankfully I paid with paypal if it is true but would much rather have the book.

Jessie Dias June 14, 2015 at 5:27 pm

Hi my mom and i ordered a bunch of stuff when u guys were on tour in Houston TX but we havent gotten anything we ordered yet and were not sure why are u guys waiting till the tour is totally over or are u just backed up on orders?

Ried June 10, 2015 at 7:22 pm

I want to say I loved going to the theater to see the movie on the big screen! I went to the Portsmouth showing back in May and purchased one of the amazing prints. When is it I can expect this to be shipped again? We think we remember someone saying three weeks but we’ve passed that mark now and I don’t see anywhere on the site which gives a suggestion on when to expect one if bought.

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Kacey Pate June 4, 2015 at 8:04 pm

Hi, I don’t know how to get ahold of the people who sell the merchendise after the showings. In December I went to the show at Prime 11 Cinemas in Anderson, Can and I’ve been trying to figure out how to get my order… My sister contacted then a month after the event and they said they would call me but as far as I know I haven’t been contacted. If there is any way that you could point me in the right direction on who to talk to that’d be amazing. Thank you!

Danielle June 3, 2015 at 9:52 am

Hello, I have sent a couple of emails to contact@conlanpress.com for help with an item I purchased at a show. Is there a better email address to use? I haven’t heard anything for 3 weeks.

Kristen May 31, 2015 at 7:23 pm

I went to the Salem, MA showing but I was unable to sign up for the membership then, so I tried sending an email multiple times but never got a response back to say whether or now they had received my information. What do I do? Or will someone contact me?

Kimberly Severson May 19, 2015 at 9:18 am

Hi! I went to the screening with two of my wonderful friends back in March in Tucson, AZ… That night we ordered the special edition signed books and now I’m just wondering when we should expect them to arrive? I think I remember hearing that it would take a couple months but I just wanted to make sure!

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Domenica May 12, 2015 at 2:55 pm

Who do I need to contact about a tracking # regarding purchases made at a screening here in Texas (Richardson)?

Michelle April 19, 2015 at 4:26 pm

My boyfriend and I attended the show at the Laemmle Royal on Santa Monica in California on January 20, 2015 and purchased one of the special signed books that cost us $65.40 each and both of us paid with our debit cards. The guy that made the sale said that the book would be sent to us in about a month. We have never received our copies. Do you have any updates about this?

Amanda April 6, 2015 at 6:26 am

I ordered a book with special illustrations years ago and STILL not received the book. I’m not happy!

Ashlynn Hurley April 5, 2015 at 11:08 am

I Signed up a year ago when I saw the tour in Canada for a book, and I still have not gotten any responses from anyone 🙁

Samantha Gonzalez-Montenegro January 11, 2015 at 4:09 pm

I still have not received my print that I purchased on Oct 1st in Rochester, MN. I have not received any emails other than my receipt of purchase… I have written on Nov 30th and Dec 17th inquiring and was told within the week. Any idea where or when my print will be sent and arrive to me?

Samantha Gonzalez-Montenegro December 17, 2014 at 7:32 pm

I wrote on here on November 30th inquiring about when I would receive my print that I purchased on Oct 1st when you all were here in Rochester, MN. You stated that it would be coming and I would receive an email with a tracking number. I am just following up as it is 2.5 weeks later and still have not received anything. Could you find out what happened to my print and when will I receive it?

Kari Fister December 12, 2014 at 10:56 pm

Hi! I was at your last showing in Portland at the Hollywood Theatre, and was one of the folks who put down the $50 to get the special edition graphic novel of The Last Unicorn. If you recall, it had shipped to the wrong area before the show and so we were placing the orders which would then get to us by the end of November. It’s the middle of December and I haven’t seen it arrive yet.

Megan Rabon December 4, 2014 at 4:13 pm

I paid for a graphic novel at the Portland oregon show and they were supposed to be shipped to people because they didn’t arrive at the right location but it never came?

Samantha Gonzalez-Montenegro November 30, 2014 at 2:22 am

Hello, I purchased a print on Oct 1st when you all were here in Rochester, MN. I was wondering how long this was suppose to take to get to me as I have not received it. I was hoping to have it by now so that I can get a frame made for it. Please let me know, I would greatly appreciate it.

Amanda Colson November 21, 2014 at 10:41 pm

I special ordered one of Peter’s books since you didn’t have any copies available & was wondering if I might expect it before Christmas? Any idea how long I’ll have to wait?!

Amanda Colson December 10, 2014 at 4:13 pm

Should I have received my book yet? I still haven’t seen it!

Amanda Colson December 18, 2014 at 8:49 am

Did you send me an email & tracking number yet? … I got an email from FedEx regarding a failed delivery & contacted them, only to hear it was a scam! Yikes!

Dominique Audet Benoit November 10, 2014 at 9:45 am

Hi, I came to see the show when you came in Montreal, Quebec in may last summer and I bought one of the prints after the show. A while after I read that you were having trouble with shipping and customs and that the merchandise would be delayed. I was wondering how is the situation with all that and if I can expect to receive the print soon.

When you pay a company, do you expect service and goods?   Or missing, hazy, and pretend delivery dates that turn into repeated series of string-along excuses… until you join the Ten Year Club?

Connor Cochran strikes again, vexatiously targets another victim.

fan conman press news, Consumer Complaints, Lawsuits, Publishers, Writers
wrongperson
i.e – Connor Cochran utilizing the legal system for harassment

Vexatious litigation is legal action which is brought, regardless of its merits, solely to harass or subdue an adversary. It may take the form of a primary frivolous lawsuit or may be the repetitive, burdensome, and unwarranted filing of meritless motions in a matter which is otherwise a meritorious cause of action.

 
noun: duress
d(y)o͝oˈres/
du·ress
  1. threats, violence, constraints, or other action brought to bear on someone to do something against their will or better judgment.
    “confessions extracted under duress“
    synonyms: coercion, compulsion, force, pressure, intimidation, constraint; More

    threats;
    informalarm-twisting
    “their false confessions were extracted under duress”
    • Law
      constraint illegally exercised to force someone to perform an act.
    • archaic
      forcible restraint or imprisonment.
Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘harshness, severity, cruel treatment’): via Old French from Latin duritia, from durus ‘hard.’