Banksy Show • Cut & Run • Glasgow

[drip]

Sept 11, 2023 9:44:04 GMT 1 thisisthesam said:

Sept 11, 2023 9:25:05 GMT 1 drip said:

I would say extremely legit. I would say that, in a way, you got a sticker directly from a GoMA employee, like you perhaps should have on the day you visited, if they'd had any...

jsub321 did say they indeed worked security - came across 100-200 stickers and shared photos of wristbands and the earring. 

Yeah, I have no reason to doubt they were working on the event and used their access to the merch so they could make some extra Christmas money. From their completed listings, looks like they made an extra couple of thousand, not including ebay fees. If they were hoping for a bonus gift print, whether it'll make a difference or not, they might've been wiser to keep their head down a bit.

[drip]

Sept 11, 2023 9:44:04 GMT 1 thisisthesam said:

Sept 11, 2023 9:25:05 GMT 1 drip said:

I would say extremely legit. I would say that, in a way, you got a sticker directly from a GoMA employee, like you perhaps should have on the day you visited, if they'd had any...

jsub321 did say they indeed worked security - came across 100-200 stickers and shared photos of wristbands, lots of stickers (as mine was asymmetrical and thought was fake) and the earring. 

Oh, was yours the wonky one?

I would say it's legit. Quirky.

[mojo]

Give em a break, they had to stay upright on their feet for at least 10 hours a day were friendly and helpful to visitors, took polaroid's and generally kept the show running.  So what if they take a few stickers (a few not hundreds) There weren't any on the day I went but I certainly didn't get upset...didn't even register.  Surely they deserve a few sticker 'perks'?

[mojo]

Sept 11, 2023 9:48:34 GMT 1 drip said:

Sept 11, 2023 9:44:04 GMT 1 thisisthesam said:

jsub321 did say they indeed worked security - came across 100-200 stickers and shared photos of wristbands and the earring. 

Yeah, I have no reason to doubt they were working on the event and used their access to the merch so they could make some extra Christmas money. From their completed listings, looks like they made an extra couple of thousand, not including ebay fees. If they were hoping for a bonus gift print, whether it'll make a difference or not, they might've been wiser to keep their head down a bit.

Didn't realise it was that much!

[drip]

Sept 11, 2023 9:54:47 GMT 1 mojo said:

Sept 11, 2023 9:48:34 GMT 1 drip said:

Yeah, I have no reason to doubt they were working on the event and used their access to the merch so they could make some extra Christmas money. From their completed listings, looks like they made an extra couple of thousand, not including ebay fees. If they were hoping for a bonus gift print, whether it'll make a difference or not, they might've been wiser to keep their head down a bit.

Didn't realise it was that much!

I think they were a rival business to the GoMA gift shop at one point.

[thisisthesam]

Sept 11, 2023 9:56:28 GMT 1 drip said:

I have no problem with staff perks, and from the looks of it, the dude was paying through the till, so I don't see the bosses having an issue with that. For many, buying through ebay was the only way to get some of this stuff. I understand the frustration of folk that missed out on a free sticker, but I don't think this is worth this guy having to change his identity and go on the run.

I agree - for things like the tote bags, patches and shirts. People pay a premium if they can't get to the show / take it on the chin. I was a little miffed I had to pay nearly £20 for a coin sized sticker when I'd actually gone to the show and spent a weekend there and should have been free. 

I'm more than happy to accept that stock had ran out / paid the premium for the sake of collecting etc, but when you see people taking advantage and not just a few stickers here and there - we're talking hundreds. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth. 

[drip]

Remember after Dismaland, when a lot of the ex-staff, many of whom were students with debt, etc, were selling their wristbands, uncut fish fingers, gift prints and even their ears (I'm aware that if you don't know what I mean by ears, that sounds mental). In an ideal world I'm sure they wouldn't have had to do that.

Yeah, sure, I don't know what instructions the staff were given about what they could or couldn't do regarding merch, and I sure as heck don't know what's in the NDA (I don't even like sports), but people hustle. I get that it might be a bit more iffy with pocketing the freebies, but this is the time we live in. This person might be trying to make rent, want new brakes on the car, or new teeth for the kids.

[storm breaker]

Sept 11, 2023 10:10:43 GMT 1 thisisthesam said:

Sept 11, 2023 9:56:28 GMT 1 drip said:

I have no problem with staff perks, and from the looks of it, the dude was paying through the till, so I don't see the bosses having an issue with that. For many, buying through ebay was the only way to get some of this stuff. I understand the frustration of folk that missed out on a free sticker, but I don't think this is worth this guy having to change his identity and go on the run.

I agree - for things like the tote bags, patches and shirts. People pay a premium if they can't get to the show / take it on the chin. I was a little miffed I had to pay nearly £20 for a coin sized sticker when I'd actually gone to the show and spent a weekend there and should have been free. 

I'm more than happy to accept that stock had ran out / paid the premium for the sake of collecting etc, but when you see people taking advantage and not just a few stickers here and there - we're talking hundreds. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth. 

To be fair I don’t think they’d sold 100’s of the stickers. 

[thisisthesam]

Sept 11, 2023 10:15:05 GMT 1 storm breaker said:

Sept 11, 2023 10:10:43 GMT 1 thisisthesam said:

I agree - for things like the tote bags, patches and shirts. People pay a premium if they can't get to the show / take it on the chin. I was a little miffed I had to pay nearly £20 for a coin sized sticker when I'd actually gone to the show and spent a weekend there and should have been free. 

I'm more than happy to accept that stock had ran out / paid the premium for the sake of collecting etc, but when you see people taking advantage and not just a few stickers here and there - we're talking hundreds. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth. 

To be fair I don’t think they’d sold 100’s of the stickers. 

They've made a nice little earner put it that way. 

Once this all blows over they'll have more stickers to sell. Probably worth more too now it's ended.

[drip]

Sept 11, 2023 10:10:43 GMT 1 thisisthesam said:

Sept 11, 2023 9:56:28 GMT 1 drip said:

I have no problem with staff perks, and from the looks of it, the dude was paying through the till, so I don't see the bosses having an issue with that. For many, buying through ebay was the only way to get some of this stuff. I understand the frustration of folk that missed out on a free sticker, but I don't think this is worth this guy having to change his identity and go on the run.

I agree - for things like the tote bags, patches and shirts. People pay a premium if they can't get to the show / take it on the chin. I was a little miffed I had to pay nearly £20 for a coin sized sticker when I'd actually gone to the show and spent a weekend there and should have been free. 

I'm more than happy to accept that stock had ran out / paid the premium for the sake of collecting etc, but when you see people taking advantage and not just a few stickers here and there - we're talking hundreds. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth. 

Yeah, the scale of it was a bit...

And for all we know, staff could've taken rolls of these home. I don't think there's going to be a shortage of these stickers in the short term.

The tote bags however, who took all those unsolds home? Some guy is gonna be known as "Tommy tote bags" on the estate.

[SFBM]

The unofficial/official hastily pulled/timed release Herald photos have started landing. There are a couple on eBay already - not mine, by the way.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276039119941?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=p59PaHvnQQe&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=HzykCmwXT0i&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[ocean89]

Sept 10, 2023 21:05:12 GMT 1 slevin said:

Sept 10, 2023 15:03:40 GMT 1 Deleted said:

Had a few people on the forum privately message me about buying the cut-and-run staff earing with a few extras, so I have finally decided to just put it on eBay and see what happens if anyone is interested. DM me if you have any questions, and I'll be more than happy to get in touch and just chat

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134720922150

No staff gift prints this time?

Seems like. No one mentioned anything.

[fuqueuing]

Will the books continue to be on sale at the GoMA shop?

[PS]

Sept 12, 2023 5:19:10 GMT 1 fuqueuing said:

Will the books continue to be on sale at the GoMA shop?

Yes

[met]

Sept 6, 2023 20:10:15 GMT 1 robo said:

Sept 6, 2023 15:39:39 GMT 1 Sam Am said:

Nice to see jack sparrow attend

Well Banksy even featured him in an artwork in the show...

www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-banksy-mural-valentines-day-mascara-domestic-violence-180981644/

While there isn't a direct connection, the artist could indeed have been inspired by the Depp vs Heard saga.



Some admittedly-pedantic, further distinctions I'd make is that, with respect to Banksy's piece:

(i)  the subject matter relates to male-on-female domestic violence;

(ii)  the victim has apparently snapped and retaliated lethally; and

(iii)  no indication exists of the abuser-perpetrator having tried to gaslight the world by painting themselves as the primary victim in their toxic relationship.

[met]

Sept 10, 2023 15:23:07 GMT 1 Acme Thunderer said:

Sept 10, 2023 15:03:40 GMT 1 @artyparty08 said:

Had a few people on the forum privately message me about buying the cut-and-run staff earing with a few extras, so I have finally decided to just put it on eBay and see what happens if anyone is interested. DM me if you have any questions, and I'll be more than happy to get in touch and just chat

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134720922150

You have managed to sell a fair bit already judging from your ebay sales below.

This probably explains why a lot of people struggled to get the free stickers when staff were helping themselves and selling them.

Well-spotted, and thank you for posting.



It is disappointing to learn about these details.

But better to be aware of an unfortunate truth than to continue living under a misapprehension.


__________


Remember the first two posts by @artyparty08 only a fortnight ago? At the time, these were rather endearing:






Sadly, it would now seem they were probably less concerned about our thoughts regarding the staff at Cut & Run, than about keeping an eye on potential market interest for their little side business in Banksy ephemera.


__________


In case it is more reader-friendly for some members, below are the sold eBay listings by @artyparty08 that you already posted, but in a slightly larger format.

The screenshots were taken just prior to them changing their eBay username from jsub321 to tacotuesday47:


www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_ssn=tacotuesday47&LH_Complete=1

[met]

Sept 10, 2023 21:26:00 GMT 1 Acme Thunderer said:

Sept 10, 2023 21:05:41 GMT 1 slevin said:

Oh wait they've deleted their account. Never mind

I could sense something did not appear right hence calling them out on their previous sales.

Today, they have also changed the name of their eBay account from jsub321 to tacotuesday47

It looks like they are trying to cover/hide their tracks. Hopefully no one here got duped into buying as the seller ended the listing on eBay.

If anyone bought from jsub321 and not received their goods they should make an immediate claim on eBay.

The seller has gone AWOL by putting a message on eBay that they are away until Monday 9th October (see message in blue).

Your original post on 10 September at 15:23 UK time, rightly challenging @artyparty08 on their recent eBay sales, looks to have been the catalyst for them to:

(i)  promptly delete their forum account here;

(ii)  end their eBay listing shortly afterwards, for the combined lot of Cut & Run ephemera, including a staff traffic cone earring;

(iii)  change their eBay username from jsub321 to tacotuesday47; and

(iv)  go into hiding, possibly until October.



However, I suspect this was due to @artyparty08 simply having gone into panic mode, rather than for the purpose of scamming buyers and then fleeing.

"Panic mode", because you shed light on their unscrupulous behaviour while they were actually working at the GoMA exhibition.


__________



ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY


1.  The conflict of interest had already begun just one week into the show — on 22 June, when @artyparty08 / jsub321 / tacotuesday47 first created three different auction listings on eBay (ending on 25, 27 and 29 June).




2.  Few would have begrudged Cut & Run staff if they had offloaded a couple of gift shop items after the GoMA exhibition had ended.

But for one staff member to do so while the show was still running was poor form, an abuse of their position, and quite possibly a breach of their employment contract — since it clearly wasn't what the artist would have wanted.



The sheer volume of their selling on eBay is another issue altogether.

We're not talking about a couple of trinkets. Or even a few.

Some figures for sales by @artyparty08 on eBay alone (i.e. excluding any private dealings they may have arranged via this forum or elsewhere):

(i)  number of completed transactions: 69

(ii)  number of individual items sold: 178 or thereabouts

(iii)  combined sale proceeds: around £2,800*

*This total assumes that, where the relevant eBay listings were Buy‑It‑Now listings with a 'Best Offer' option, the offers accepted by the seller amounted on average to 75‑80% of the original listed price.




3.  Of particular interest to me are the sales of complimentary stickers.

Banksy had intended that these stickers be gifted to visitors as they exited the show. To enhance the experience even further with a little surprise at the end. Because everybody loves a nice freebie.



So what does @artyparty08 / jsub321 / tacotuesday47 chose to do instead?

They pocket a large number for themselves and list handfulls on eBay.

Stickers? For you and the children, who made the trip to Glasgow all the way from Brighton, just to see the exhibition? No, I'm sorry, ma'am. No can do. We've completely run out of them today.



It is also worth noting that their eBay listings, when viewed collectively instead of individually, can be misleading.

Because a significant proportion are multi‑quantity listings, with each of those listings selling multiple copies — whether 3 at a time, or 6, or 9, or 15, etc:










The completed sale listings indicate that, between 6 August and 10 September 2023, @artyparty08 sold 109 stickers on eBay (at prices up to £23.99 apiece).

That is quite the stash.

And it is unlikely they could acquire such numbers legitimately, i.e. without stealing from their employer — whether that employer be GoMA or Pest Control Office.

This may be one reason for the sudden desire by @artyparty08 to cover their tracks and lie low awhile.




4.  Note the debit/credit card receipts that form part of the eBay sales for some of the stickers or sticker/badge combinations.

The same two photos with the same two receipts are used for a number of the listings.

And neither receipt is the original; they are both duplicate receipts, marked accordingly as "Duplicate".



Example listings:


www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134681193321






Detail




www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134681649725






Detail




@artyparty08 or one of their colleagues may well have had access to the gift shop card machine.

From one card transaction, multiple copies of duplicate receipts could have been printed out — with each of these duplicates thereafter being potentially misused as fake provenance documentation for completely separate items.

If, for example, a thieving employee managed to steal a stack of Louise Michel patches during one of their shifts, they might also seek to procure false provenance for their loot.

This could be obtained simply by:

(a)  purchasing one patch from the gift shop, or waiting for a gallery visitor to do so; and

(b)  then covertly printing out from the card machine as many duplicates of their receipt as required.



Whether dozens or hundreds, any number of duplicate receipts could therefore be printed from a single transaction, provided one had possession of the relevant card machine.

[They could later be misused as fake provenance, not just for unrelated authentic items, but also for counterfeits acquired elsewhere.]

This is especially convenient for multi‑quantity listings on eBay, if each sale is touted as being accompanied by its own receipt.



[Provenance‑documentation caveat for collectors

If a seller suggests a duplicate receipt from a card machine is in itself adequate documentation to support the provenance of a multiple that you wish to buy (where the receipt also makes no reference to an edition number or other item‑specific feature), such a statement is false. It is belied by the above illustration.

Demand the original card machine receipt, of which there will be but one genuine hard copy.


Comparable deficiencies exist with generically-drafted emailed receipts and invoices. These too can be printed endlessly. And then misapplied as supporting documentation to unrelated artworks or to counterfeits.]




5.  @artyparty08 appears to have sold or attempted to sell on eBay two of the staff traffic cone earrings:


www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134712624191


Completed sale dated 2 September 2023






www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134720922150


Listing ended early on 10 September 2023










Although we are ignorant of the circumstances, let us hope the second earring wasn't acquired by @artyparty08 from one of their colleagues under false pretences:

Hey mate, in case you don't really want yours, please could I have it for my kid sister? She would be eternally gratefully if she could add one of these to her collection of earrings. I could offer you £20 for it.



Not too difficult to imagine a scenario where a kind‑hearted member of staff (largely oblivious of the market for Banksy ephemera) hands over their own earring to @artyparty08 — only for that collectible to be promptly sold on eBay for £400.

It is one thing to screw over your employer, the person or entity who's given you a job. But exploiting the benevolence and naivety of a colleague would arguably require a level of callousness that is even more amplified.




6.  Imagine having the good fortune of being hired for an exhibition‑event like Cut & Run.

One would assume most people would be counting their lucky stars and trying to enjoy the brief moment while it lasted. Making the most of such a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.



Now query what type of person has a mindset akin to the following:

I am sort of grateful, both to the gallery and the artist. And I also don't wish to appear ungrateful for the opportunity that's been handed to me on a plate.

But, at the same time, it isn't quite enough. Put simply, I want more. Frankly, I deserve more. So let's look around to see what I can pilfer and sell on eBay.




7.  One of the more depressing aspects of this episode is that the actions of @artyparty08 have cast a small shadow over their fellow staff members.

These are people who were commendable, helping to make the Cut & Run experience so enjoyable for visitors.

Yet they now find themselves ever-so-slightly tainted by association. @artyparty08's little side business reflects on and let down the entire exhibition team at GoMA.

Not a huge deal, of course, especially given the massive overall success of the event. But still a bit of a drag. And certainly unwelcome for those on the team who behaved impeccably, maintaining their integrity and professionalism throughout the duration of the show.




8.  Whether it's politicians, cops, teachers, or more trivial cases involving staff working at institutions like museums, I have limited sympathy for individuals who abuse their positions along with the trust that others have placed in them.

They undermine public confidence.

They make all of us a little more cynical as a society. A little less generous in spirit. A little less open to the prospect of taking a chance with, or giving our time to, somebody we don't know.




9.  Apologies for the long‑winded post, which could have been drafted far more succinctly:

Good riddance to @artyparty08.

[slevin]

Also imagine jeopardising your chances at a potential once in a lifetime gift print, if caught doing all this shady business.

[thisisthesam]

met giving the real detectives in the world a run for their money!

[Acme Thunderer]

When The Herald decided to charge £12.50 for a single “souvenir edition’ newspaper, I didn’t expect them to fold it into a quarter to save on postage (last time the newspaper was just folded in half). Cheers you rip off w@nkers! 🤑

[cadonke0]

Yep, I got the double issue at £25 and like yourself, I received them folded to death and rammed through a letterbox. I left a neg review on their website about this but I suspect I'll never see it shown. Shocking considering the cost, bell-ends.

[slevin]

Sept 12, 2023 22:17:19 GMT 1 Acme Thunderer said:

When The Herald decided to charge £12.50 for a single “souvenir edition’ newspaper, I didn’t expect them to fold it into a quarter to save on postage (last time the newspaper was just folded in half). Cheers you rip off w@nkers! 🤑

This is shocking considering you've paid about a tenner on top of the newspaper cost for shipping.  

[slevin]

When the first banksy cover went online, the shipping was only £2.50. When they restocked, the shipping mysteriously changed to £5 to deliver a single newspaper.

Now it's a tenner and included in the single newspaper cost. But buy the 2 newspaper set and you're paying £20 extra for shipping. Hilarious how it keeps doubling.

[leroy77]

Sept 13, 2023 10:33:14 GMT 1 slevin said:

Sept 12, 2023 22:17:19 GMT 1 Acme Thunderer said:

When The Herald decided to charge £12.50 for a single “souvenir edition’ newspaper, I didn’t expect them to fold it into a quarter to save on postage (last time the newspaper was just folded in half). Cheers you rip off w@nkers! 🤑

This is shocking considering you've paid about a tenner on top of the newspaper cost for shipping.  

Incredibly they also arrive without being battered in most cases, surprised they aren't in a worse condition with these flimsy bags!

[bookends]

All this fuss over a newspaper 

[snoozy]

Sept 13, 2023 8:34:10 GMT 1 cadonke0 said:

Yep, I got the double issue at £25 and like yourself, I received them folded to death and rammed through a letterbox. I left a neg review on their website about this but I suspect I'll never see it shown. Shocking considering the cost, bell-ends.

Imagine how many regular viewers might read a negative review of a newspaper being folded up and put through a letterbox 🤣🤣

[sp3nc3r72]

Lol some knob is trying to see one of my badges for £199 on the Ebay

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364477893362?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=cwgnc5zmqpc&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=vcV3axgrTky&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=WHATS_APP

[minibear]

Looks like someone else has gotten in on the mass sticker selling action on ebay now

hv5qw-45

www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?LH_Complete=1&_fss=1&_saslop=1&_sasl=hv5qw-45&LH_SpecificSeller=1

Could it be artyboy/girl

[leroy77]

Did anybody see this whilst in Glasgow?

[chablis]

When was that picture taken, not there when I was there for the show.

So either that is an old picture, and the white band was ripped off, or it is new and someone has 'refreshed' the cone.