Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

[reed1216]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

I think all this is not just a black eye for auction houses like Historic, but for everyone involved in this arena of collecting. Holding those responsible for the fraud that is rampant is just a slice of the problem. The overall effect of this hits all of us, from dealer to collector.

I have reached a point where I am having a great deal of trouble purchasing anything that doesn't come directly from a team and is documented as such. Faking wear, adding accessories to equipment and the abundance of game issued items provide me with enough of a concern to beware. There are dealers of the highest calliber that access stuff straight from the teams. However, five or ten years from now, when I might wish to resell the items I may buy today, who's to say that these items, if they lack sufficient documentaion, won't be viewed as every bit as legit as the items bought by turtlegirl and resold by Historic??

There is no way that I will purchase an item that is authenticated by Lampson, unless there is a team cert. as well. Likewise, there will have to be a flock of pigs flying overhead, before I bid on anything offered by Historic Auctions. Given what has transpired with Mastro, despite having positive experiences with them in the past, this buffoonery that has taken place with the Winslow helmet is too big of a deal to ignore.

I absolutely agree that these auction houses will not adjust their business policies untill they get hit in the wallet. The thing is that untill we collectors adjust our buying habits, we will all pay indirectly. I could list 20 game worn items over the past 90 days that I have passed on because of the lack of team documentation. I should further note that every one of them has tempted me and the vast majority of them have been offered (or are currently being offered) by dealers that I consider to be of the highest integrity.

I would hope that the dealers that purchase from teams increase their efforts to insist on team LOAs when completing their transactions. That will help the overall situation, as well as themselves. First, it will help to differentiate the real from the fake and secondly, it will add value to the items they are selling. It would also discredit the fraudulent portion of the hobby, as has been the case with non-Steiner post 1990 Yankee stuff.

Lastly, while the auction houses like Historic may not feel this forum is significant enough to merrit attention, I would caution them that word travels fast. I am 37 years old and have collected for over 30 years, beginning with baseball cards and gravitating towards game used stuff. I joined this site, just a few months ago and now rely heavily upon it for information that may protect me from making ignorant purchases, as well as gaining a better understanding for the items I currently own. I would expect the membership here to continue to grow and the "significance" to continue to increase.

[CollectGU]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

Andrew,

I can't speak about other auction houses, but I know that AMI is no longer relying on Lou as their sole authenticator. When an item comes in, it is first looked at my staff members who have experience dealing with gameused collectibles. If there are glaring problems or if the item shows no wear, it is returned before any authenticator looks at it. If it gets through depending on the item, it may be looked at by multiple authenticators including Bob Case for vintage baseball and football, Rich Ellis for hockey, Denny Eskin for Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers and gloves, and Lou. AMI has also reached out at times to some forum members like Rob Steinmetz and some other authorities like Ed Dolan for opinions. Ther are many items that come in with Lou's LOA's from other auction houses that are rejected by AMI. I have had this happen to me first hand. It is not perfect but they are getting much better with each auction. Finally, those items that do make it through that are found to be incorrect are being pulled from the auction.

I wouldn't expect many auction houses to be responding to the forum anymore. The GUU forum has now become an auction house and will be in direct comptetition with other auction houses.

Regards,
Dave

[camarokids]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

I received the messsage as well on all links provided on this thread.

I think that whoever has the proof of wrong doing should contact the FBI and inform them about the fraud . If they ship USPS ? The Postmaster Generals investigative arm would get involved . From what I have read ,it doesn't look good for them . If it is true ,then they are idiot, scum bag, con-artists that deserve to be in jail .

Then they will have to play a different kind-of game and get passed around like a $20.00 *hore from Linebacker sized men .

[Eric]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

I keep trying to go to the Historic Auctions site and I keep getting a message
************************************************
WARNING:
Your concerns are being ignored.
************************************************
Does anyone know if there's some kind of software patch to fix this?

Speaking of "going away" let's all remember the details for the Operation Bullpen-type book about the FBI arrests in game used fraud.

[jon_8_us]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

I will boycott as well.
jon

[allstarsplus]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

This question is for James Brown, why would you do such a thing if you have nothing to hide? Can you offer an example of how GUU has misrepresented something on in one of your auctions or your company? If you are a company with high ethical standards ,this website will benefit you. What's more, you will always have an opportunity to address any questions or concerns about your company's integrity or products.

In order for me to continue to bid in your auctions, I'd like to better understand why you have decided to do this?

Yankees159 - Why would James do such a thing?

The only reason I would think is that they continually think this Forum is a non-factor on their overall auction results.

Many of us on GUU/GUF are business people and make macro decisions about our businesses that can have a long-term impact. If you are in the game-used business, why wouldn't you join and contribute to this Forum?

I am talking about people like Steve at VA, and Victor at AMI and James at Historic for example.

So long as guys like Eric choose to consign Cone and Brosius jerseys with Vintage Authentics which of course he is entitled to do, and others bid and consign there then we are a non-factor in my opinion as we are not having any significant outcome on their profits. I don't even think VA responded to Eric's auction questionaire.

I chose this past Fall to only consign with Lelands and Huggins & Scott and have much respect for Robert Edwards. This is my personal choices. I have done business with Mastro in the past and didn't like the fact they had Yankees game used jerseys with Lampson COAs and never cared much to respond to my concerns. I consigned and also bid in the past with Historic, but have decided not to bid where Lampson is authenticating.

Call this my own personal boycott. Trust me, when I saw the Redskins jerseys at AMI with Game Exclusives COA's I was really tempted but stuck to my position and didn't bid.

When the Imus flap happened, I don't think his employers would have severed ties with Imus until the advertisers like AMEX and Coca Cola and others started to pull their ad dollars. You hit them big in the pocket---then they will respond. The NAACP is a powerful Forum.

In the meantime, Historic comically blocks links from this site. Pathetic in my opinion.

Andrew

[jon_8_us]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

Unbelievable!!!

jon

[yankees159]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

This question is for James Brown, why would you do such a thing if you have nothing to hide? Can you offer an example of how GUU has misrepresented something on in one of your auctions or your company? If you are a company with high ethical standards ,this website will benefit you. What's more, you will always have an opportunity to address any questions or concerns about your company's integrity or products.

In order for me to continue to bid in your auctions, I'd like to better understand why you have decided to do this?

[LWMM]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

Test:

http://tinyurl.com/2l5lj8

[reed1216]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

I am relatively new to the forum, but I just read the thread that dealt with the link between turtlegirl and Historic Auctions. All I can say is WOW!!! It is amazing what people will do to make a buck. I am so glad that online forums, such as this one, are available. Thanks guys!

By the way, I emailed Historic Auctions, prior to reading the thread I mentioned above. In the email, I asked if the blocked links were intentional. I think I know the answer now...

[allstarsplus]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

I have to give them credit that they spent a lot time and energy and maybe money paying a programmer to block out GUF links---but when I gave James Brown a year ago some constructive ideas on how to improve his auction format such as adding on the search function a way to search by description as well as search by title he never implemented that.

The other idea was after you do a search for say "Ripken" and 10 items show up, they don't have a column showing # of bids which would help to scan hot items.

Personally, I like James Brown and wish him luck. I don't understand why they won't answer the tough questions here. By the way, I also won't bid or consign right now.

My big big question though is why there are so many Lampson COAs vs. last auction using Expert Authentication. Anyone know why??????

Andrew

[reed1216]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

I'm getting the warning too. I won't be bidding with them anytime soon. Anyone going to those lengths to distance themselves from concerned collectors that act together to protect one another is not worthy of a dime from me.

[otismalibu]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

I'm getting the warning as well.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

[ChrisCavalier]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

I still get the message. Try to click from one of our threads like this

http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=8081

This is quite interesting. When I click on the link you have attached, it takes me directly to the Strawberry jersey listing on the Historic Auctions page.

Is anyone else also getting this message?

Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,
Chris

[Eric]

Re: Historic Auctions Won't Allow A Link From GUF

I still get the message. Try to click from one of our threads like this

http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=8081

I find this incredibly desperate and downright sad.

They seem to be going to new lengths to avoid dealing with the questions about their items.
Eric