Why I've Never Posted Funds

[Scott Landau]

I have a man who I've dealt with for 15 years and trust 100%. He is one of the many outs I use to look for middling/scalping opportunities. I have a 10 dime settle figure with this guy. Recently he decided to take some time off until football. He provided his players with an 800# where they could place their action until his return. Two things I immediately noticed about this office were that they ran with the moves and they're obviously, by the clerk's accents, not local. You call in and give your account # to a friendly young lady who gives you your balance, a rundown, and takes your plays. The first week I hammered them for a large figure which was settled on Tuesday by the local. This past Monday, however, I noticed a change. Now everytime I call, as soon as I give my account#, I am told to 'hold on please'. After a 30 second delay I hear a ring and a male voice, usually American, picks up. Ok, so I've been 'tagged' as a wise guy. Although I'm definitely a sharp player, I don't follow steam. I simply use it for the opportunity it affords. Still, if they want to play their little games, fine. So this evening I call in at 6:20 and go through the forwarding procedure, take a line and make two plays. At 6:55, having already taken the Orioles at +105, I notice that the Orioles are now at -115 to -118. So it's time to buy back. I call this office at 6:58 to see how far they've run with this game. I get the sweet female voice but in the forwarding process I am disconnected, so I call back. This time the forward goes through and I get Mr. All American Boy. ME: Could I get another run down of the bases, please? HIM: What the F? You just called 2 f@@kin' minutes ago and I gave you a f@@kin' rundown! Ask me what game you're lookin' for and I'll tell you what it is! ME: Sir, I took a line 40 minutes ago and was just disconnected. HIM: I just talked to you 2 f**kin' minutes ago! It's right on my screen, now what f**kin' game you lookin' for! ME: F you, a@@hole....Now, everybody, think for a minute. My balance this week is -2565, which will be paid Tuesday because I'm done there. But what if I had posted 10 dimes with this place, won, and now had 25+ dimes in there? Could I have given this moron the treatment he deserved? No way! I would have had to pacify the guy by kissing his @ss and then making a bet out of fear for the security of my money! But because I had nothing to lose it was safe to give as good as I got. I would rather take +105 instead of +108 then deal with this crap...Apologies to all honest post up books with well-mannered phone operators.

[loudog]

Scott,

He's lucky he doesn't know about the ferocity of your dogs and what they could do to him.

(wink),

loudog

[Dot Mix]

Scott;

Sounds like you got the very same guy that Krackman was telling us about several weeks ago. Foul mouthed and crude to say the least.

If not the same guy ---- obviously another graduate of the same Bookmaker Finishing School.

Dot

[sportshobby]

Scott, you are very right about the difference in player leverage. If they have your money, you're scared to death to piss them off. I'm sure a good book would pay even if you did. But if you're not 110% sure about who you're dealing with (which I think is the vast majority of cases), then who knows.

But on the other hand, places that depend on post-up business to stay in business depend on their reputation. And I'm not talking about their reputation down at the local sportsbar. I'm talking about their worldwide reputation as established, among other things, by players sharing experiences on forums such as this.

A book with a clerk like you've described would almost certainly be out of business very soon. The players who left, and told 10,000,000,000 others about it, would be far more effective in dealing with this punk than your retaliatory language and walking yourself.

[ShiftySheik]

I once had an offshore book refuse to give me a rundown...they'd say, "what game are you looking for, we're too busy to give rundowns". The next day I cashed out. It was a lucky break for me...the book was Sports Internaional...they eventually went out of business, stiffing their clients.

[Scott Landau]

Got a call from the 'owner' today. He wants me to give them another shot. A friend of mine who plays there said they went all the way down to -134 on PIT and 9U-35. Looks like they may be right on both. I may have to reconsider-may be worth absorbing some discourtesy to play +150 and -134, U9.5-10 and O9+15 in the same game!...Especially now as I write with the game tied at 4-4!

[Cons]

Wow man, this is bad. How do guys like this get a job? Or more importantly, how do they hold on to their position?

If there's one thing for which there's no excuse in this industry, it has to be 'lack or common courtesy."

I can even handle an inexperienced lady handling my bets. Maybe she's just starting out, who knows? I really don't mind as I try to be understanding towards others.

But when some **** comes out and is rude towards his clients, there is no excuse. Although I now use close to two dozen outs, I have never had this experience. Not when I quadrupled my deposit, not when I asked for a series of withdrawals, never.

But if it ever happens, you can be sure that I'd pull my funds the next day if it ever happened.

[JohnnyDeMarco]

Most of these guys, most, not all, are guys that could not hack here in the states. There is probably not too many Harvard grads taking bets offshore.

[Underdog7]

Scott - what shop are you referring to? Please say it.

[Cons]

JohnyD, I was thinking quite the opposite. None of these guys would hack it in Europe, and especially not here in England. This is the birthplace of sportsbetting, and this is where the biggest bookmakers in the world are from. Surely if there's one place where this guy would not make it, it's here in gool 'ol England.

[gooden]

Very entertaining and important post, Scott.

When I interned for Merrill Lynch during my college years, I would sometimes have to tend to the phones and the VP's high-end clientele, one of whom was a lousy singer, with a similarly lousy disposition. Once when I apologized that Jon was away from his desk, that prima donna reamed this poor stiff kid for "defying" him. The reason? 1: he's wretched; 2: 'cause we're Merrill, not Action. He knows his money is as good as under his mattress. Too many bettors forget that there is not that same inherent luxury online or offshore...

although in all fairness I feel pretty comfortable with outfits like Intertops and Willhill (and Premiere League and Sportingbet, as well).

[Cons]

Good point Gooden. It all depends on where you play. Intertops and William Hill are big international corporations where customer service is at the highest level, and your money is as safe as in a bank.

But I'm sure there are companies out there where you have to be ultra-nice even if they're blatantly rude to you, because you're not entirely confident about the safety of those funds.

That's why I always stick to the companies that are solid as a rock. After all, going to sleep knowing that your money will be there in the morning is more important than anything else...

[Scott Landau]

Underdog7, The name of the shop is 'Hello Sports'...Get my drift?

[Ronbets]

Scott,

I think your "man" that put you into this rude street office might be throwing in the towel. I think its his subtle way to tell you he cant beat the game anymore. Just an experienced guess.-Ron

[Scott Landau]

Ron, Actually he's just a golfer/playboy type guy who has another business and likes to relax and take vacations during baseball season, even from the other side of the counter. He plays there, too! What strikes me as funny is the way he plays. He'll call them every night at 6:00 and play 3-5 games for a dime a piece. You would think a "BM" with his experience would at least shop, but I guess he doesn't care. He's the perfect client for this or any other sportsbook! I wouldn't be surprised if he laid -160 with the Pirates today. Not me, gotta shop/scalp, man!...Gooden, enjoyed your posts both here and in the other thread. What you went through reminds me of when I was spinning records in a club. The dance floor was jammed when the owner, who was about a 2.5 on the breathalyzer, staggered up and demanded I play 'God Bless America'. Talk about ducking behind the booth with a red face!...Dot, you are one sharp grandma!