Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

[1929tudor]

I see that Vintage Auctions still has there website going since the arrest of there owner Thursday at the National. Do you think it's safe to bid in the auction and send in your money hoping the money doesn't get held up till the out come of his situation. There is a couple things I would like to bid on but not sure if I send in a few hundred dollars if I win I'll ever see it again. What's your thoughts.

[jppopma]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

That is a tough call. While I'm sure there is the usual mix of good and bad items up for auction, you do have to wonder about hold ups with the ongoing case.

The question to ask is if the items are being held as evidence or not. Judging that the site was taken down and then allowed to pop back up, I would be inclined to say things are ok. Not sure about the WWW, but we'd close anything and everything down during an investigation.

Your best bet would be to call their 800 number to place a bid. If they answer, it would be a good sign. The online part could easily just be automated.

[yanks12025]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

Half the items are gone though.

[eagraham35]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

If I saw correctly, all is game used items taken down...a majority were with Lampson LOAs. I took a quick look and didn't see any of his items still on.

[Lokee]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

Could Lou Lampson be next to get popped ? You would think the trail would lead back to him.

[MikeSharon]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

From looking at the site it looks like everything without rock solid auth. is now "sorry were closed" there are a few game used things left. I think the feds made it clear that if they sold anything that anyone could even question they were in deeper S**t than they already are

[earlywynnfan]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

Odd, I was watching a Pudge GU bat that had MLB certification, and it's gone.

Ken
earlywynnfan5@hotmail.com

[eagraham35]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

I was watching an item with Grey Flannel paperwork and its gone too. No idea what criteriea they used to pull items. Seems to have been almost anything they could get their hands on. Certainly a strange situation...

[DeacDoug]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

Could be the consignor had the option to pull given the present situation.

[DeacDoug]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

Both 800 and local number disconnected, perhaps at FBI's directive.

[seven4five20]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

I have items consigned with Vintages. Some of which are still up, some of which are no longer available. One of the items, a Pujols bat, had a PSA/DNA GU 9 letter, came from a clubhouse source, and has been taken down. Does anyone have any insight as to how to get these items back?

[harleighb]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

I also have items consigned to the latest VA auction. Some of the items have been "withdrawn" while others remain open for bidding. I understand that those items that have been identified as "withdrawn" on VA's website were seized when federal agents executed a search warrant of VA's facilities. There does not seem to be much rhyme or reason to what was seized vs. not seized. I understand that VA will continue to auction off those items that remain in its possession and will process payments in a manner consistent with past practice. I don't know (and I don't think anyone but the attorneys prosecuting the case know) when the seized items will be released to VA or consignors.

[Mark17]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

I also have items consigned to the latest VA auction. Some of the items have been "withdrawn" while others remain open for bidding. I understand that those items that have been identified as "withdrawn" on VA's website were seized when federal agents executed a search warrant of VA's facilities. There does not seem to be much rhyme or reason to what was seized vs. not seized. I understand that VA will continue to auction off those items that remain in its possession and will process payments in a manner consistent with past practice. I don't know (and I don't think anyone but the attorneys prosecuting the case know) when the seized items will be released to VA or consignors.

All the Twins jerseys Brian, on this forum, had issues with are pulled. Wonder if the FBI is tapping into this site for help in getting tips from knowledgeable collectors about questionable items.

Just a few days ago I was asking about one of their jerseys (Rigby/Rigney) and now it sounds like the FBI is. Wow.

[harleighb]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

One of the jerseys I had seized was a Francisco Liriano jersey with a MLB hologram that was photomatched to three separate games. The jersey was signed by Liriano and inscribed "2009 Game Used". I've got pics of Liriano and I at the signing holding up the jersey together. Tough to imagine someone with much background in this stuff identifying it as problematic.

[sylbry]

Re: Anybody bidding in Vintage Authentics Auction

All the Twins jerseys Brian, on this forum, had issues with are pulled. Wonder if the FBI is tapping into this site for help in getting tips from knowledgeable collectors about questionable items.

Just a few days ago I was asking about one of their jerseys (Rigby/Rigney) and now it sounds like the FBI is. Wow.

Hi Mark,

Three of the items still remain; the Killebrew hat, the Mauer jersey, and the Puckett jersey. And in my opinion those are the biggest question marks. Why pull the Bruno jersey? My criticism was more tongue in cheek, as they said a 1986 jersey was used in 1985, which would be impossible. But the jersey itself was correct as a 1986. And why pull the Liriano? Isn't the MLB hologram near the gold standard for authentication (other than the certain teams labelling all jerseys as game issued. But that is a different discussion). And the so called team letter on the Puckett and letter on the Mauer is good enough but the hologram on the Liriano is not?

I will say it again:

• On the Mauer jersey, show me a single legit Twins LOA without the store manager's signature. And the use on the tag is completely inconsistent. It would be impossible in a game situation to smear the numbers and yet not wrinkle the tag fabric.
• On the Killebrew jersey, show me a photomatch.
• On the Puckett jersey, show me where the Twins letter mentions any use of that particular jersey. It says the Twins ordered size 44 jerseys. It does not say he wore them. Nor does it say he wore that specific jersey. The letter proves nothing and it is misleading to insinuate that it does.

I don't understand the reasoning why the Feds are looking at some items and not the others but that isn't important. Just glad they are looking into the issue.

And while I am rambling, in my opinion this is one of the biggest stories to come along related to game used collectibles but the issue really hasn't garnered much attention on this forum. Nor has the story received much negative criticism here. Other forums related to baseball collectibles have had harsh words for anyone intentionally selling fakes. Not here though.

Is it because many others here would sell off an item they buy that later turns out to be fake. Maybe put a caveat in the listing such as "I bought this as such but can't prove it". Or perhaps no one wants to anger the auction companies because they rely on them to build and dispose of their collections.

More so that any other area of sports memorabilia collecting game used relies on ethics and morals. We are seeing that someone who we thought could be trusted has allegedly engaged in activities that are anything but such and yet this community remains silent. Go figure. Makes you just want to give it up and move on to something else. Because others in the hobby either don't care about its integrity as much as you do so why bother.