Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

[mb23]

Re: Help!!!! scammed by Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

The last 4 in 44 on my jersey should be almost even with the K in Knit.

[both-teams-played-hard]

Re: Help!!!! scammed by Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

I see the 4 is a different font on the tag.

Still not getting the off-centered thing. You realize the word Sand will be longer than Knit, even though they both have 4 letters, right? Is the tag BTPH posted off center too?

It's not necessarily "off-center". The counterfeit has a smaller font of"44", so it appears to be askew.

[mb23]

Re: Help!!!! scammed by Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

It's not necessarily "off-center". The counterfeit has a smaller font of"44", so it appears to be askew.

Ok i see your point. Didnt think of that.

[Steve Jensen]

Re: Help!!!! scammed by Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

There are a few things about this post that are very troubling to me which is why I felt compelled to reply even though I am fundamentally opposed to corresponding on a competitors site.

First is the title of the post. I can certainly understand how a competing auction company would allow such a thing but I personally think it is wrong to do so. The customer simply called to explain why he was concerned about the jersey. We pursued that concern with our authenticator as well as our consignor and subsequently agreed to refund the customer his money. If we had any concerns about the jersey , frankly, we wouldnt have run it, simple as that. We aren't out to scam anyone and those who have actaully taken the time to contact and speak with me directly to discuss any issues probably know that very well. I've spoken with, and do business with many of you and have for years. We have also been in contact with the other winner of the white jersey and have offered to refund that customer as well.

Second is the fact that this particualr customer was "blind with excitement from going after my first gamer. so i guess you can say rookie mistake"

We did NOT represent this jersey as a Jordan gamer and ,based on the fact that this customer was blind with excitement over purchasing this "gamer" i am now wondering what his plans were for this jersey?

It is unfortunate that this site has transformed into an attack first , ask questions later stomping ground over the last few years. This forum could be so much more productive, insightful and be used as a meaningful exchange of ideas and information. We have treated this customer very fairly and with complete resepect all the way through this process and from an outsider looking in they see "scammed by vintage authentics" This is very unfortunate. They dont see the professionalism with which this uncomfortable situation was handled. I personally apologize to both customers for their inconvenience. But I am more sorry that many people who read this post come away with the wrong idea of Vintage Authentics and how we conduct business. As they do about many other auction houses and/or authenticators that are openly attacked and slandered on this site.

Best Regards,
Steve Jensen
www.vintageauthentics.com

[hblakewolf]

Re: Help!!!! scammed by Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

There are a few things about this post that are very troubling to me which is why I felt compelled to reply even though I am fundamentally opposed to corresponding on a competitors site.

First is the title of the post. I can certainly understand how a competing auction company would allow such a thing but I personally think it is wrong to do so. The customer simply called to explain why he was concerned about the jersey. We pursued that concern with our authenticator as well as our consignor and subsequently agreed to refund the customer his money. If we had any concerns about the jersey , frankly, we wouldnt have run it, simple as that. We aren't out to scam anyone and those who have actaully taken the time to contact and speak with me directly to discuss any issues probably know that very well. I've spoken with, and do business with many of you and have for years. We have also been in contact with the other winner of the white jersey and have offered to refund that customer as well.

Second is the fact that this particualr customer was "blind with excitement from going after my first gamer. so i guess you can say rookie mistake"

We did NOT represent this jersey as a Jordan gamer and ,based on the fact that this customer was blind with excitement over purchasing this "gamer" i am now wondering what his plans were for this jersey?

It is unfortunate that this site has transformed into an attack first , ask questions later stomping ground over the last few years. This forum could be so much more productive, insightful and be used as a meaningful exchange of ideas and information. We have treated this customer very fairly and with complete resepect all the way through this process and from an outsider looking in they see "scammed by vintage authentics" This is very unfortunate. They dont see the professionalism with which this uncomfortable situation was handled. I personally apologize to both customers for their inconvenience. But I am more sorry that many people who read this post come away with the wrong idea of Vintage Authentics and how we conduct business. As they do about many other auction houses and/or authenticators that are openly attacked and slandered on this site.

Best Regards,
Steve Jensen
www.vintageauthentics.com

I'd like to comment on Steve's post:

1. He refunded the buyers money-same day as this post-period. Based upon other auction houses policy of "all sales final", what more could this buyer ask for? His money was refunded. Why did this poster not mention this or at least update his posts?

2. Steve further notes that if customers take the time to contact him with an issue, he will handle it. I can speak from experience-I had a minor issue with a jersey I purchased from Steve, and he immediately refunded my money-no questions asked, no hassle. Both AMI and Grey Flannel have an "all sales final" and I can speak from experieince that AMI will hold true to this. It took me over 2 months to receive a credit on my VISA and countless hours of emails with VISA to get this refund for a bogus superstar jersey that Victor/AMI insited was "legit".


3. Steve, why do you continue to employ the "services" of Lou Lampson? It's no secret he is a complete laughing stock and actually hurts your auction items more than helps. I talk with collectors day in and day out who shy away from bidding on anything with a Lampson LOA. Same holds true for items listed on ebay with his LOA. As the owner of Vintage Authentics, can you reply to this issue and shed some light on it?

Just my two cents worth....

Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@comcast.net

[33bird]

Re: Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

I agree with Howard. I've had a good experience with VA. I would LOVE to see them get rid of Lou Lampson and get someone in there that's legit to authenticate. I think Lou scares most of us away, and if you purchase something with a Lou coa you usually use it for when you run out of TP and don't keep it anyway.

[kingjammy24]

Re: Help!!!! scammed by Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

Agreed. I want to edit my original statement. Lampson is guilty. He is the one claiming to be an expert and taking money for his opinion.

but warren, lou once lamented that "if you turn an item down, they don't want to pay you". what's poor lou to do? then again, in the same interview he also said this was a "labor of love" for him...so i don't know why he'd care about not getting paid. maybe he meant that making screwups was a labor of love.

rudy.

[mb23]

Re: Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

My refund was agreed to after about page 4 of this post about 4pm eastern time. I will be refunded once item has been returned. I have every email from mark to me. From Friday until now, each email stating that he needed to speak with his authenticator before he can deem a refund. It was not until today I got him to agree to a refund and handle the issue on his end without me having to wait for my refund. Is it because I made this post that my issue was granted today or maybe because Darren of rareair23 is doing a photo comparison of my jersey and a real issued. I was never under the impression this was a gamer the auction clearly stated game issued for use.

[MSpecht]

Re: Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

Hello Steve.

When I read this thread a short while ago (it was only started earlier today) and considered your specific post, I agreed with your opinion that the poster's original title was a mis-characterization of the developments as they occurred in the cited VA auction. As a result, the title has been edited in the forum index, and the software guys are examining the procedure to edit the title as it occurs in each subsequent post.

I do have to take issue with your general characterization of the GUU site however. First, your implication that a "competitor" (GUU) would allow and, by implication, encourage irresponsible posts in order to achieve some benefit for themselves is unsupported by any logical evaluation of the site content. A quick review of the GUU site will produce dozens of edits that are made frequently by Chris, Eric, Rob, and myself in an effort to avoid any perception of self-promotion at the expense of other industry companies. That search will also reveal regular edits of what appear to be unwarranted and unjustified statements on this public forum.

That being said however, when a forum member or contributor either seeks assistance from others in determining the accuracy of an authentication (from whatever source) or questions the representation (description) of a specific game used item, that can hardly be taken as an "attack first, question later" posture, as you characterized in your post. If you have done your job to your satisfaction and have posted an item in an auction venue, at that point you have opened the item up for public consideration. If it turns out that the original research is lacking, well, then it is up to the auction house to respond appropriately. Every body makes a mistake sooner or later, and the true measure of a company is 1) how they respond to those mistakes in terms of customer satisfaction, and 2) what steps they tahe in order to minimize such mistakes in the future. That is, of course, assuming that the mistake is just that, and not an identified pattern of negligent or malicious behavior.

In this case, your offers to both the original poster and the winner of the second MJ jersey to fully refund their money is certainly appropriate, and, as you state, a very professional response. In a more abstract thought, however, do you plan to offer any compensation to the unpaid person who researched the jerseys and brought forth the evidence that convinced you to offer the refunds, as that individual provided a significant benefit to your company by avoiding future criticism of auctioning and profiting from a misrepresented item ? Maybe like the fee you already paid the person who put you in an untenable position with a faulty evaluation? Or maybe just a genuine "Thanks ?"

Mike Specht Jackitout7@aol.com

[mb23]

Re: Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

I was trying to change my title as I stated in one of my posts I didn't not mean to attack VA. I apologize for that, but they do need to stand by a product they sold by a an authenticator who maybe not knowingly scams people but does not have the ability to authenticate items as we can see. Once again I am sorry for the title, but I am not knew to collecting at all.

[skinsfan0521]

Re: Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

Mr Jensen,

I just thought I'd throw my .02 in this thread for what it's worth and ask a simple question...

I'm by no means after super high end items and don't claim to be some sort of "big fish" when it comes to GU items. I can say that based on the RIDICULOUS amount of terrible items that I've seen authenticated by Lou Lampson that turn out to be fake, I wonder why you would continue to employ him?

In all honesty, I went to your site a few months ago, checked out some items and saw that your authenticator is Lou Lampson and haven't been back since. I just don't find anything so desirable that I would want to go through the hassle of trying to re-authenticate an item that Lou Lampson already did...incorrectly.

I know that the rule is that you need to do your own due diligence as a buyer, but it makes it easier when there's at least a decent chance that it's going to turn out to be real. I don't even want to waste hours of my day with starting from square 1 on an authentication.

It may have been a little "rambling", but basically my real question is:

"Don't you think that Lou Lampson costs you more money than he makes you??"

This is NOT AT ALL an attack on you or Vintage Authentics, because as I said before, I haven't even spent a lot of time on your site and haven't ever bought anything from you. I'm not questioning your intent or anything like that... simply wondering why you think it's beneficial to hire Lou Lampson as your authenticator?

I realize that you're probably not going to reply based on the first sentence in your first post, but maybe you could send me a PM on here or email, because I'd honestly like to know the answer.

Thanks a lot!

-Brian
bharasymczuk@gmail.com

[NYCrulesU]

Re: Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

I avoid anything "authenticated" by Lou Lampson like the plague. Plain and simple. I've known about VA for some time. Sorry, but the simple employment and use of Lou Lampsom keeps me from ever bidding.

[hblakewolf]

Re: Help!!!! scammed by Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

but warren, lou once lamented that "if you turn an item down, they don't want to pay you". what's poor lou to do? then again, in the same interview he also said this was a "labor of love" for him...so i don't know why he'd care about not getting paid. maybe he meant that making screwups was a labor of love.

rudy.

Rudy-

What type of individual who considers himself an "expert" would ever go on record and note major flaws in the way they conduct their own business? Better yet, what auction house would ever employ the services of such an individual who admits he can't perform his duties as hired for and allows it to also be recorded "on the record"?

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxCvGurfWB8

Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@comcast.net

[Texstros]

Re: Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxCvGurfWB8

Wow that is scary!! Good find hblakewolf..

[TriplexXxSports]

Re: Help!!!! scammed by Vintage Authentics Jordan jersey

Rudy-

What type of individual who considers himself an "expert" would ever go on record and note major flaws in the way they conduct their own business? Better yet, what auction house would ever employ the services of such an individual who admits he can't perform his duties as hired for and allows it to also be recorded "on the record"?

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxCvGurfWB8

Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@comcast.net

What a joke! Lampson's BS, I'm referring to.

I would think that when you are dealing with items that may attract many of thousands of dollars, how can you say "you do the best you can in the time frame that you are allotted."

Why would an auction house or vendor want to tell someone that they have a deadline to authenticate an item? Shouldn't they employ an authenticator that is willing to say to them....

"hey, this is a top dollar piece and I want to make 100% sure that I have exhausted every possible resource to come to my conclusion. You need to understand that in order to make a correct judgment on this particular piece I may not be able to do it in the time frame that you are asking me to do it in. You may have to postpone your listing/sale until a later date. This will only help attract the top value for this piece and when it comes down to it we will both be comfortable with the authentication, and most importantly, the buyer. If I am not able to take the proper amount of time it will take to authenticate this piece it will do nothing more than come back on myself and the auction house/vendor, and open up the possibility of an incorrect/fraudulent authentication."

I don't see why this is not a standard practice used by authenticators. But then again, if you turn down the item, you don't get paid. This is a serious problem in the collection world and it will only continue to get worse as long as people continue to employ authenticators such as LOU LAMPSON!