Lou Lampson Question

[Eric]

Re: Lou Lampson Question

After a comment like that, maybe you should ban yourself. I've PERSONALLY had items that Mr. Lampson has turned down that I thought were real. As Joel said, he is giving his opinion. If you want more than an opinion, you can do your own homework.

No need to apologize.

Mr. Lampson has authenticated item after item in every sport- from helmets to jock straps. He himself admitted in the Chris Nerat interviews on youtube "people that ask you to do something, they don't want to pay you if you turn it down.."

"i wish when you get the chance to do it you could spend more time, unfortunately you don't..."

Oh, and you can't hide behind that "It's just an opinion" crap when the companies he is authenticating for trumpet you in the following way "Lou Lampson is considered by collectors, ex-athletes, and equipment managers, alike as the foremost authority and analyst in the field."

They're telling you he's an expert.

The end result is- his mistakes cost people their hard earned money and he doesn't even bother to make himself accessible for questions about his findings.

I removed a line here because it may have been too harsh. I'll just say it used the words "liar" "cheat" and "coward."

[allstarsplus]

Re: Lou Lampson Question

The following is a very short documentary that was shot by a concerned forum member and edited by the production crew at both-teams-played-hard:

I am still laughing about your video. I have 100's of game used items and only 1 that came with a Lampson LOA which I disposed of.

I also appreciated Eric's candid comments.

The end result is- his mistakes cost people their hard earned money and he doesn't even bother to make himself accessible for questions about his findings.

One day maybe we will see justice.

[sportscentury]

Re: Lou Lampson Question

You are probably correct, and if I could go back and edit the "banned" comment I would. It just makes me sick that I see all the bashing of individuals on here, then I turn around and see certain posters selling their Lampson authenticated items. Not that I have a problem with that...I have a problem that they bash him on here until it is financially convenient for them to show their item has been authenticated.

Eric, I do apologize for the comment.

Fair enough - I understand your point. Have a good evening.

.

[trsent]

Re: Lou Lampson Question

He repeatedly makes up "facts" which makes him either a liar or an idiot. Your choice.

Eric - Do you think the major auction houses are accepting consignments that they know have issues and ask Lou Lampson to authenticate it knowing of these issues? I just don't see that happening. I personally believe that Lou Lampson looks at an item and then doesn't do modern, 2009 World Wide Web (or MEARS) style of authentication.

I believe, from stories I have heard from former auction house employees who have worked with Lou Lampson, that he looks at items and makes an opinion. I wish he would respond to our concerns, but he is very mysterious.

People bring up items he has written letters of opinion for that major issues were found with his opinion. This is scary that it continues, but I do not know if giving an opinion is illegal.

I wish the man would use more modern approaches myself but I do not buy anything authenticated by him unless I do my personal homework.

Geez... How good is a freakin opinion when the authenticator does not even use the tools available to him. The truth is a couple of provocateurs here continually defend the guy while the majority of the board understands his lack of research. But hey, auction houses love him. I wonder why...

It is pretty odd with all the questionable opinions found that any auction house would continue to use his service but I guess he is the only one they can afford?

I don't know about anybody else, but in my twenty plus years of collecting, I have never once in my entire life purchased a Lou Lampson authenticated item. I truly believe this man is either a crook or a fraud or both and in any case, when I see anything with an LOA from him I literally run the other way. I would never ever buy anything authenticated by Lampson and I don't care if the item came with five other LOA's. I will not support in any way shape or form the fraud that this man perpetrates. If anybody else feels comfortable wasting their money and helping this man stay in business, then by all means be my guest.

On an unrelated note, I feel fully comfident that he would have authenticated my Ripken helmet 100% authentic. That would be of course if I felt like passing off something as 100% legit when there are serious questions about it.

This post shows my original point - Lots of name calling and possibly deserved - But never proved that he is a "crook" or a "fraud" as I do not believe he is being paid to authenticate items he is told are bad as genuine - From everyone I have ever talked to who has worked with him - He is just giving an opinion of items presented to him.

I do not believe time to inspect items properly is taking place, but I do not believe all the mysterious "Authenticate my fake item and I will pay you" deals are taking place in these situations.

[Eric]

Re: Lou Lampson Question

Eric - Do you think the major auction houses are accepting consignments that they know have issues and ask Lou Lampson to authenticate it knowing of these issues?

I have no way of knowing that.

What I do know is, it's a convenient system. They advertise using the "foremost authentication expert in the hobby," then list items as "game used" and then institute and all sales final rule.

And the person offering the opinion isn't even using common sense. That's how two Lou Lampson authenticated one-of-a-kind John Elway throwback jerseys get authenticated by the same man and are run in different auctions simultaneously.

How do you think auction houses would so sales-wise if they made it clear that their authenticator was just offering his opinion, many times he is rushed and cannot research every item thoroughly and because of that items may or may not be as listed in the auction catalog. Obviously no business would run that way, but that is one extreme and the auction houses are actually running at the other extreme. Declaring things are "the finest example ever seen" etc. That's more than an opinion. That's a definitive statement by an expert.

They say "If you're not comfortable, don't bid." What people who are new to the hobby might not realize is, to be comfortable means you have to ignore the auction description completely and do all homework from scratch. You and I know that, but does the buyer looking to spend money he or she has saved some something special?

[bigtime59]

Re: Lou Lampson Question

I have bought a couple of "Lampson-authenticated" items in spite of his "authentication" (I recognized the Bluefield Orioles jerseys he "authenticated" as Baltimore Orioles jerseys for what they actually were).
I also have one item in the collection that is "Lampson-authenticated" that I now strongly suspect is fake, or at least over patched. Oh, well. Live and learn.