Beware: My Experience with Mark Faith and Festival Art and Books
24 January
(edited)
2025-1-24 1:29:53 AM UTC
2025-1-24 1:29:53 AM UTC
I recently purchased three deluxe editions of "First Prints and Editions" from Mark Faith (The advertised Managing Director and Founder on their website and eBay store) at Festival Art and Books.
Upon receipt, it became evident that these books were not first prints as advertised but instead 3rd, 4th, or later printings. One of the books, The Fall of Gondolin Deluxe Edition, was printed in China using alternative materials specific to that print run. I did not need to open the copy to confirm this, as the spine itself revealed it was the Chinese print. I already own an identical copy on my shelf. The other two books were the deluxe orange and blue clothbound editions of The Silmarillion (illustrated by Ted Nasmith) and Unfinished Tales (illustrated by Alan Lee, Ted Nasmith, and John Howe).
Before the sale, Mark explicitly guaranteed that these were first prints and editions. However, upon providing evidence to the contrary after receiving the books, he dismissed my concerns. He argued that reprints hold no significance or diminished value for buyers, which I strongly contest.
Reprints can vary significantly in terms of materials, textual content, and overall quality. For instance, I have since acquired the true first print of The Fall of Gondolin Deluxe Edition, which clearly demonstrates differences in materials between print runs. Another example is the misprint in the 2021 Silmarillion Illustrated Edition, which highlights the importance of identifying specific printings. This issue is well-documented in discussions on the following platforms:
https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienbooks/ ... illustrated_silmarillion/
https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/n ... t_id=31259#forumpost31259
Regrettably, the seller has refused to acknowledge any of the evidence I have provided, maintaining that they will not offer assistance because the books were opened. This stance appears to be a convenient way to evade accountability. As a result, I am currently disputing the transaction through VISA in an effort to recover my money.
I share this experience as a caution to others who may be seeking sealed first prints. I would strongly recommend avoiding this seller due to their lack of transparency and unwillingness to address valid concerns.
**Claim Update**
I attempted to dispute the transaction with Mark at Festival Art and Books through Zip (Zip-Pay, Zip-Money) and VISA. However, my chargeback claim was rejected by the merchant’s bank and VISA ultimately ruled in the merchant’s favour.
Email's between Mark and his merchant (evidence provided to me by Zip) revelaed that Mark pressured the merchant by threatening to close his account if a chargeback was issued and dismissed my complaint as “frivolous and false.” He justified his position to the merchant by claiming that opening the books voided buyer protection, yet he also admitted they were “first editions but not necessarily first prints,” contradicting his advertising and previous statements. Despite submitting extensive evidence, my dispute was ignored, resulting in a frustrating experience that appears to reward deceptive business practices.
**Last Update**
I informed Mark that my initial chargeback claim was denied based on his assertion that opening the books voided any responsibility. In response, I advised him that I was escalating the matter to the ACCC, utilising obtained email evidence from VISA showing that Mark acknowledged issues with the books and offering a partial refund. This evidence contradicts his original claims, as he admitted the books were not necessarily first printings and that one book remains sealed but damaged. Given this, his rejection of my claim is no longer valid under his terms. I gave Mark five business days to resolve the matter before I proceeded to escalate the case further.
Mark justified his refusal to issue a full refund by stating that his bank upheld the charge on the grounds that the books, once opened, were no longer considered “new.” He referenced his eBay return policy, which supports this position, and maintained that he never explicitly guaranteed the books were first printings—only that they “could” be. He framed his stance as reasonable and dismissed my complaint as unworthy of consideration, insisting that no authority would take it seriously. He also argued that I was responsible for my dissatisfaction, stating that I had “caused my own grief” and needed to “get over it”.
Beyond defending his business practices, Mark sought to intimidate me by leveraging his reputation within the Tolkien collecting community. He claimed that he was well known in these circles and warned that if I “threatened” him again, he would ensure that no credible book dealer would sell to me. He insisted that independent dealers could afford to be selective and did not work with "pain in the arse" customers. He suggested that continuing to challenge him would ultimately be to my own detriment and implied that I would face professional consequences if I continued raising concerns.
Despite this, he claimed he would honour his previous offer of a half refund, asserting that this was a generous resolution given that he could no longer resell the books as new. However, he stated that he would only process the refund in mid-March upon his return to the U.K, as he was unable to add a new payee while travelling. He warned that if I continued to pursue the matter—whether by contacting others, escalating the dispute, or posting publicly—he would revoke the offer entirely.
I ultimately agreed to accepting the partial (50%) refund due to not wanting to continue the matter and draining my own time, as I am currently time poor due to work commitments. Mark concluded by stating that he would follow up around March 15th regarding the refund but reinforced that further complaints could jeopardise the offer. However, some of you have observed that I have already reviewed my experience here and on Google for his store. I was planning on adjusting my reviews to make Mark seem more reasonable as a seller due to keeping his word about a partial refund. Therefore, I contacted Mark on the 21st of March to follow-up, as per his request: Mark then demanded that I remove my negative reviews before receiving a refund, but before I could respond Mark stated, “They've been there they whole time so frankly I don't care. There will be no refund nor will I reply again. Be careful what you do... “.
Mark has since commented on my Google review where he claims "I have not enabled reviews and have never done business with this person? This is some Google AI error." In addition to "Please note, we have not enabled reviews on Google and don't recognise these post. We have reported them to Google as errors. Visit our Ebay shop to read our real reviews". See attached photos.
To conclude, my experience with Mark at Festival Art and Books has been one marked by deceptive and unethical business practices. Despite his initial claim that the books were not refundable because they were opened, Mark later admitted fault by acknowledging issues with the goods and offering a partial refund as a gesture of goodwill, which was revoked. This entire process has highlighted a lack of professionalism and respect for customer rights. Mark’s contradictory statements, coupled with his attempts to intimidate and retaliate against a dissatisfied customer, reflect poorly on his business practices. His failure to uphold his word, combined with his efforts to silence valid complaints, demonstrates an unwillingness to engage in fair and ethical transactions. This experience has not only been frustrating but has also led me to question the integrity of his business, which now appears to prioritise intimidation over customer satisfaction.
Thanks again everyone here who has supported me. It is appreciated.
Upon receipt, it became evident that these books were not first prints as advertised but instead 3rd, 4th, or later printings. One of the books, The Fall of Gondolin Deluxe Edition, was printed in China using alternative materials specific to that print run. I did not need to open the copy to confirm this, as the spine itself revealed it was the Chinese print. I already own an identical copy on my shelf. The other two books were the deluxe orange and blue clothbound editions of The Silmarillion (illustrated by Ted Nasmith) and Unfinished Tales (illustrated by Alan Lee, Ted Nasmith, and John Howe).
Before the sale, Mark explicitly guaranteed that these were first prints and editions. However, upon providing evidence to the contrary after receiving the books, he dismissed my concerns. He argued that reprints hold no significance or diminished value for buyers, which I strongly contest.
Reprints can vary significantly in terms of materials, textual content, and overall quality. For instance, I have since acquired the true first print of The Fall of Gondolin Deluxe Edition, which clearly demonstrates differences in materials between print runs. Another example is the misprint in the 2021 Silmarillion Illustrated Edition, which highlights the importance of identifying specific printings. This issue is well-documented in discussions on the following platforms:
https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienbooks/ ... illustrated_silmarillion/
https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/n ... t_id=31259#forumpost31259
Regrettably, the seller has refused to acknowledge any of the evidence I have provided, maintaining that they will not offer assistance because the books were opened. This stance appears to be a convenient way to evade accountability. As a result, I am currently disputing the transaction through VISA in an effort to recover my money.
I share this experience as a caution to others who may be seeking sealed first prints. I would strongly recommend avoiding this seller due to their lack of transparency and unwillingness to address valid concerns.
**Claim Update**
I attempted to dispute the transaction with Mark at Festival Art and Books through Zip (Zip-Pay, Zip-Money) and VISA. However, my chargeback claim was rejected by the merchant’s bank and VISA ultimately ruled in the merchant’s favour.
Email's between Mark and his merchant (evidence provided to me by Zip) revelaed that Mark pressured the merchant by threatening to close his account if a chargeback was issued and dismissed my complaint as “frivolous and false.” He justified his position to the merchant by claiming that opening the books voided buyer protection, yet he also admitted they were “first editions but not necessarily first prints,” contradicting his advertising and previous statements. Despite submitting extensive evidence, my dispute was ignored, resulting in a frustrating experience that appears to reward deceptive business practices.
**Last Update**
I informed Mark that my initial chargeback claim was denied based on his assertion that opening the books voided any responsibility. In response, I advised him that I was escalating the matter to the ACCC, utilising obtained email evidence from VISA showing that Mark acknowledged issues with the books and offering a partial refund. This evidence contradicts his original claims, as he admitted the books were not necessarily first printings and that one book remains sealed but damaged. Given this, his rejection of my claim is no longer valid under his terms. I gave Mark five business days to resolve the matter before I proceeded to escalate the case further.
Mark justified his refusal to issue a full refund by stating that his bank upheld the charge on the grounds that the books, once opened, were no longer considered “new.” He referenced his eBay return policy, which supports this position, and maintained that he never explicitly guaranteed the books were first printings—only that they “could” be. He framed his stance as reasonable and dismissed my complaint as unworthy of consideration, insisting that no authority would take it seriously. He also argued that I was responsible for my dissatisfaction, stating that I had “caused my own grief” and needed to “get over it”.
Beyond defending his business practices, Mark sought to intimidate me by leveraging his reputation within the Tolkien collecting community. He claimed that he was well known in these circles and warned that if I “threatened” him again, he would ensure that no credible book dealer would sell to me. He insisted that independent dealers could afford to be selective and did not work with "pain in the arse" customers. He suggested that continuing to challenge him would ultimately be to my own detriment and implied that I would face professional consequences if I continued raising concerns.
Despite this, he claimed he would honour his previous offer of a half refund, asserting that this was a generous resolution given that he could no longer resell the books as new. However, he stated that he would only process the refund in mid-March upon his return to the U.K, as he was unable to add a new payee while travelling. He warned that if I continued to pursue the matter—whether by contacting others, escalating the dispute, or posting publicly—he would revoke the offer entirely.
I ultimately agreed to accepting the partial (50%) refund due to not wanting to continue the matter and draining my own time, as I am currently time poor due to work commitments. Mark concluded by stating that he would follow up around March 15th regarding the refund but reinforced that further complaints could jeopardise the offer. However, some of you have observed that I have already reviewed my experience here and on Google for his store. I was planning on adjusting my reviews to make Mark seem more reasonable as a seller due to keeping his word about a partial refund. Therefore, I contacted Mark on the 21st of March to follow-up, as per his request: Mark then demanded that I remove my negative reviews before receiving a refund, but before I could respond Mark stated, “They've been there they whole time so frankly I don't care. There will be no refund nor will I reply again. Be careful what you do... “.
Mark has since commented on my Google review where he claims "I have not enabled reviews and have never done business with this person? This is some Google AI error." In addition to "Please note, we have not enabled reviews on Google and don't recognise these post. We have reported them to Google as errors. Visit our Ebay shop to read our real reviews". See attached photos.
To conclude, my experience with Mark at Festival Art and Books has been one marked by deceptive and unethical business practices. Despite his initial claim that the books were not refundable because they were opened, Mark later admitted fault by acknowledging issues with the goods and offering a partial refund as a gesture of goodwill, which was revoked. This entire process has highlighted a lack of professionalism and respect for customer rights. Mark’s contradictory statements, coupled with his attempts to intimidate and retaliate against a dissatisfied customer, reflect poorly on his business practices. His failure to uphold his word, combined with his efforts to silence valid complaints, demonstrates an unwillingness to engage in fair and ethical transactions. This experience has not only been frustrating but has also led me to question the integrity of his business, which now appears to prioritise intimidation over customer satisfaction.
Thanks again everyone here who has supported me. It is appreciated.
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