Propositioned to buy a Game Used Helmet (duplicating what I own) by JO Sports

[dplettn]

Re: Propositioned to buy a Game Used Helmet (duplicating what I own) by JO Sports

Upon seeing the photos of what JO was selling as Game Used, I certainly noticed that the style of the Schutt helmet (including inner pads) matched my own (which I’d later learn other Bengals helmets they were selling did not), but even aside from the knowledge of what the use in and outside my Chad 2010 Game Used helmet looked like, I assumed anybody would look at that helmet and say, why isn’t it scratched up, why aren’t there sweat stains, etc.


I didn’t want to represent myself as an interested customer, so I didn’t say that I was. I also didn’t want to alert any unknown persons to what I owned, which is why I never posted my purchase on GUU initially. I figured the best thing was to try and ask questions that would help any upstanding person realize that what they had might need to be reconsidered. I figured the first thing to ask was about the previously referenced photo-match because then we could look at the purported photo-match together and they would experience an epiphany. I was also curious whether the Ridell helmet ever made it into a game at all.

March 2, At 1:28 PM EST
From my mobile phone I wrote back: ”What games were u able to photomatch to each?“

March 2nd, 2011 1:54 EST
JO e-mail response states:



“He wore the this schutt helmet for sure on 9/2/10, 9/26/10 & 11/21/10… These are just three easy pulls I found there might be one or two more games. I sent over pic’s one from each game. We have had a lot of hits on this helmet and it probably won’t be here very long. If your truly interested my suggestion is to move on it in a timely fashion. Let me know if you would like to move forward or have any other questions on it…”


From the above quote of the JO e-mail, please note that yes, both words "the" (which I assumed to refer to Schutt variety), and "this" (which I assumed to refer to the helmet in JOs possession) are present in the JO e-mail. Also, the "..." are actually in the text of the e-mail. I have not replaced or omitted any text from this e-mail.

[dplettn]

Much has been written here about JO Sports. Certainly there are many valid opinions. It is not my place to judge their pricing strategies. However, I was alarmed when I was propositioned by JO Sports to buy a Chad Ochocinco Cincinnati Bengals helmet (represented as game used), said to be “easily photomatched” to particular dates.


The alarm in my head went off in major ways not only because the product JO offered to sell me duplicates what I already own, but because I have iron-clad written provenance (written documentation from either the player or team) for use of my 2010 game used Chad Ochocinco helmet, which corresponds to the game photos JO sent. My item also shows significant use inside the helmet which by my eyes is severely lacking in the products JO was marketing as the subject of its “photo matching”.
I will today in thisp post begin a timeline, and post photographs provided by JO of the helmet they attempted to sell me as game used. I have a longer timeline which still requires grammar editing before I post.



That timeline has already been shared with the owner of JO Sports who disputed no facts as to how his company marketed the item. In fairness to JO, upon learning that I was going to reveal this situation, JO claims they have stopped calling the item “photomatched”. In my personal view the timeline and specific marketing choices reveal much more than just a simple error though. In our last conversation today, JO made clear they continue to offer the item as Game Used until its proven not to be. I was asked by the owner how I know the helmet wasn’t “used for a quarter”?

***Below begins a timeline***


January 5th, 2011:
I purchase 2010 Bengal Game Used Helmet of “Chad Ochocinco” and receive Iron Clad Written Provenance from either the Bengals or Ochocinco (which of the two I’ll keep to myself). The same signers of the documentation is/are the party that sold the item directly to me. Helmet, internal pads, facemask, chinstrap, etc all displays significant use (internal and external). The use is absolutely unmistakable. Internal to the helmet is a March 2010 Recertification sticker in addition to the original Schutt sticker. I find further comfort in comparing to photos (including some non-published personal use photos) throughout the season, which aside from a photo of a Ridell helmet (no player in it) on the sideline during the Colts game appear to match my helmet, even as the interchangeable facemask is changed for some games.


March 2nd, 2011 12:40 PM EST:
I receive an e-mail from JO Sports which introduces/markets: … our Bengals gear for the 2010 NFL Season… We just got in Helmets and Pants for every player as well as jerseys. All are game used and have great wear... I will give you the list of helmets that we just received, if your interested in any items I can send you pic’s and pricing. {spelling error reproduced, my apologies}


March 2nd, 2011 12:44 PM EST:
Curious, I reply “I'd like to see the list!”


March 2nd, 2011 12:56 PM EST:
I receive the helmet list, which includes “Chad Ochocinco”, priced at $5. e-mail further states “Shoot me out some names you would like to look at and I’ll send you some photos….”


March 2nd, 2011 12:58 PM EST:
Totally perplexed how an organization like JO could be selling something seeming to conflict with my iron clad provenance I reply: “Can I see pics (front, back, inside) of the 2 Ochocinco helmets, please?”

March 2nd, 2011 1:11 PM EST:
I receive 6 photos in a JO e-mail, all external photographs and none showing use of any significance. E-mail text says:
“Here’s both styles of helmets… the second helmet (Schutt, same “style” as mine) is really sweet! It is easily photo matched and worn in a couple games. It’s the newest style of Schutt helmet and he was the first one to wear it… (“…” is in the body of the e-mail) If you would like to move forward on it let me know and we can discuss pricing and details…. (“…” is in the body of the e-mail) All helmets come with Certificates of Authenticity from us stating that the all items were indeed obtained directly from the Cincinnati Bengals…”


The second helmet photographed (Ridell) is clearly the helmet that was photographed (absent Chad) on the sideline during the Colts game. It was very reassuring to my hope that he never actually used a different helmet than mine when I saw the lack of use.


The Schutt helmet JO Photographed had the alternate (changeable) facemask variation Chad used this year attached to it, which caused me to want to see the inside of the helmet so that I could be open-minded to whether both helmets had been used with the facemasks currently attached to them, or whether one primary helmet had been used.




**I've attached to this post pictures provided by JO of the helmet they were trying to sell me (as game used)**


The timeline will be continued and more pictures submitted as I have time to continue. This post only tells the story through March 2nd at 1:11 PM EST