In March 2006, a 2003 Texas Rangers Rafael Palmeiro blue alt. jersey appeared for sale on the Grey Flannel website. GFC listed this jersey as "game worn". It had the Meigray/Rangers inventory tag sewn on with an inventory number of "03108". Shortly after it appeared on GFC's website, Barry Meisel, President/COO of Meigray, confirmed against Meigray's database that this particular jersey/inventory number was originally sold by Meigray/Texas Rangers as "game issued". This information was then relayed to Grey Flannel. Consequently, Grey Flannel removed the jersey from it's website. Keith Vari, who at the time worked for GFC, responded that the jersey had accidentally been put on the website before it's status could be confirmed with Meigray. He said that once GFC became aware that it was a game-issued jersey and not game-worn, he removed the jersey from the website immediately. Personally, I believed this explanation to be complete nonsense for the following reasons:
- why would GFC purchase a jersey or even accept it as consignment prior to checking it out with Meigray?
- the jersey appeared on GFC's website with a price. If the jersey's status was truly unknown and was accidentally listed on the website, then how were they able to determine a price for it?
The entire thread detailing that debacle can be found here: http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_f...ead.php?t=2008
10 months later, this jersey has now re-appeared on Grey Flannel's website and is once again listed as "game used". Here is the current listing: http://www.greyflannel.com/sales_mai...?updateID=2405
In March of 2006, Grey Flannel acknowledged that it was aware that this jersey was originally sold as "game issued". GFC also stated that listing it as "game worn" was an "accident". Here we are, 10 months later, and Grey Flannel has decided to re-list this jersey as "game worn" again.
A little history on this particular jersey; in a December 2004 Lelands auction, it was listed as "game used" and sold for $781.96. Apparently, nobody at Lelands bothered calling Meigray to check the inventory number. Lelands' description even read "This beauty shows light game use". Much like Grey Flannel, Lelands could not have been bothered to pick up a phone or send an email to Meigray. Here is the auction listing:http://www.lelands.com/bid.aspx?auctionid=412&lot=1131
Oddly enough, this jersey then re-appeared in a June 2005 Lelands auction where, strangely enough, it sold for the exact same amount again: $781.96. Again, it was listed as "game used". This marked the second time Lelands decided it couldn't be bothered to check the status of the jersey with Meigray. (A part of me wonders if the Dec 2004 buyer subsequently checked their purchase out with Meigray, found out it was a game-issued jersey, and decided to wash their hands of it and dump it back to Lelands). Here is the auction listing:
Sometime after that, Grey Flannel acquired the jersey. Apparently, they took a cue from Lelands and didn't bother checking the inventory number with Meigray. They listed the jersey for sale as "game used". Upon acknowledging that they had been explicitly told it was a "game issued" jersey, they removed it from their website. Despite all of this, they've recently chosen to re-list it again as "game used". Seeing as how he served as an Acquisitions Director for both Lelands and Grey Flannel during this time period, I'd be curious to know if Keith Vari could shed some insight into how this "game issued" jersey could be put up for sale as "game used" FOUR different times by two auction houses that employed him. I'll leave it up to Richie Russek to explain how GFC has listed this jersey as "game used" AFTER it clearly acknowledged being informed that it was "game issued".
For Grey Flannel's customers and potential customers, I thought it would be helpful for you to realize what sort of people you're dealing with.
rudy.
- why would GFC purchase a jersey or even accept it as consignment prior to checking it out with Meigray?
- the jersey appeared on GFC's website with a price. If the jersey's status was truly unknown and was accidentally listed on the website, then how were they able to determine a price for it?
The entire thread detailing that debacle can be found here: http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_f...ead.php?t=2008
10 months later, this jersey has now re-appeared on Grey Flannel's website and is once again listed as "game used". Here is the current listing: http://www.greyflannel.com/sales_mai...?updateID=2405
In March of 2006, Grey Flannel acknowledged that it was aware that this jersey was originally sold as "game issued". GFC also stated that listing it as "game worn" was an "accident". Here we are, 10 months later, and Grey Flannel has decided to re-list this jersey as "game worn" again.
A little history on this particular jersey; in a December 2004 Lelands auction, it was listed as "game used" and sold for $781.96. Apparently, nobody at Lelands bothered calling Meigray to check the inventory number. Lelands' description even read "This beauty shows light game use". Much like Grey Flannel, Lelands could not have been bothered to pick up a phone or send an email to Meigray. Here is the auction listing:http://www.lelands.com/bid.aspx?auctionid=412&lot=1131
Oddly enough, this jersey then re-appeared in a June 2005 Lelands auction where, strangely enough, it sold for the exact same amount again: $781.96. Again, it was listed as "game used". This marked the second time Lelands decided it couldn't be bothered to check the status of the jersey with Meigray. (A part of me wonders if the Dec 2004 buyer subsequently checked their purchase out with Meigray, found out it was a game-issued jersey, and decided to wash their hands of it and dump it back to Lelands). Here is the auction listing:
Sometime after that, Grey Flannel acquired the jersey. Apparently, they took a cue from Lelands and didn't bother checking the inventory number with Meigray. They listed the jersey for sale as "game used". Upon acknowledging that they had been explicitly told it was a "game issued" jersey, they removed it from their website. Despite all of this, they've recently chosen to re-list it again as "game used". Seeing as how he served as an Acquisitions Director for both Lelands and Grey Flannel during this time period, I'd be curious to know if Keith Vari could shed some insight into how this "game issued" jersey could be put up for sale as "game used" FOUR different times by two auction houses that employed him. I'll leave it up to Richie Russek to explain how GFC has listed this jersey as "game used" AFTER it clearly acknowledged being informed that it was "game issued".
For Grey Flannel's customers and potential customers, I thought it would be helpful for you to realize what sort of people you're dealing with.
rudy.
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