“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:

• File a complaint with the Attorney General.
• Report Federal Mail Fraud.
• Document abuse at Ripoff Report.
• Send your story to fansagainstfraud@gmail.com.

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: