AMI Auction: What Happened???

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

Suicide - haven't put on the gloves with you at all. Just wanted to hear the story, and your thoughts, and was confused as to why you (someone who is usually very outspoken) weren't sharing. Just curiosity, my friend. I really didn't think that my posts were all that provocative. I've come to expect a certain kind of content from your posts, and was just surprised to not see it with respect to AMI.

As for the Corvette, moving out of the country, etc., the same rules apply. I'm just not an ends-justify-the-means kind of guy... but that's just I. I think it's why I have so much trouble with some of these auction houses.

As for sellers, I trust the folks here at GUU (Chris/Eric/Rob/Mike). I love MeiGray. I think John Taube and Vince Malta are terrific. Sellers like Howard Wolf and Andrew Lang are tops. I could go on. I have some NBA and MLB inside sources who are some very fine individuals. So, when desirable items come up in auction houses such as AMI, it's easy for me to pass. It's just a hobby, not my life. I don't need the items. I just want the items.

Again, not putting on the gloves with you. We're having a conversation about the hobby, that is all.

Nice post....


I'm going to be honest with you. I never intended to stick up for AMI. They have made their bed, and it's impossible for them to sleep in it these days.

I just don't feel the need to kick a man while he's down, so to speak. That's dangerous business.

I will always express my knowledge and experience with the forum, as I would hope the same from everybody. But I do have to make sure that I state things with factual knowledge and back-up...proof, if you will.

Look, I'm not arguing with reason, or integrity, or anything that would add to making our collecting environment better. These bad houses....they are being exposed, busted, and dealing with the fall out as it happens. They have their hands full now. So it would only make sense that they might be looking for a major lawsuit (libel, defamation of character, etc.) to help them along in their plight for survival. I don't want to be involved with it.

I don't disagree with the basis of your comments or even sarahsdad for that matter. I just want to point out that there is a point where doing the right thing on a principle is self defeating. It's not like you have two ropes, one in each hand, and you can't hold the weight of each rock climber any longer, so you need to let go of one to save the other......this is not that serious.

We collect game used/worn/involved items. They are non duplicative. They are one-of-a-kinder's. It's just not a wise decision, as a collector, to go to your auto "NO WAY" predetermined action towards items being offered by questionable sources if it fills a major void in your collection. That's a self defeating practice.

That is my ONLY point here. Past that.......I couldn't agree with you guys more.

I would suggest that we are talking about maybe one, possible two items a year? Is THAT going to keep a large auction house in biz?

Is THAT going to help them in their plight to obtain more consignments with all the bad press out there available to educate potential consigners as to what's going on? I mean, you'd have to be in a cave with no electricity to not know what's going on there....

With the exception of the great guys here running this GUU forum (haven't found anything offered here yet that fills a void in my collection), I have boughten from all of the guys you mentioned, Andrew Lang being most recent here. He filled a MAJOR void in my collection, and I will always be greatful to him for it. But you mention John Taube and Vince Malta.....they have worked for and with Victor at AMI for many years.....so what's up with that?

My point is, where do you draw the line in the sand that you absolutely will not cross?

You need to be objective, use common sense, and make clear educated and well-thought out decisions in each and every case. To throw a blanket statement that you'll "never" buy from an auction house because of this and that....just doesn't work.

I will leave it at this......I truly hope you understand where I'm coming from. I'm with you on 99% of the issues being discussed here. I just can't say "never" to the whole package, because I would be lying to myself and all of you if I did, as explained.

Keep up the good fight, you guys are on the correct path. Our hobby, and the industry, is improving every day. You can't say that about a lot of industries in our world, it's something to be proud of.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

I can only hope that you are the individual on the other end one day. Given your theatrics and drama over your C&D letter along with your neighbor visiting you, I'll bet you would post one hell of a thread. It is good to know where your morals and ethics stand. You would bid on something from AMI knowing that in all probability the individual who consigned the item would not be paid for it. That is what I read in your posts.
Sarahsdad

Sadly.....that is what you would read in my posts.

And for what it's worth, my so-called "neighbor" that came to visit me? It was anything but a friendly visit. There were other things at play there I am not at liberty to discuss.

If I am bidding on anything that AMI is auctioning off these days, dad, I am smart enough to know that it is either:

A) Listed from a friend or aquaintance of someone at AMI;

B) Supplied to AMI by one of the many "sources" that feed items to AMI to auction off;

C) Is something consigned by an individual who is using AMI as a last resort because the item has either been turned down by other auction houses based on authenticity, desirability, or otherwise.

If you don't understand these things, then all I can recommend to you is to stick around and keep reading, my friend. Education is a wonderful thing.

I would also urge you to reread my posts on this thread, because you missed something.....the meaning of all my words.......the first time around.

[earlywynnfan]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

I see.

So now, our collections are going to subject to sarahsdad's vehicular maintenance, and based on what everyone else in the hobby is selling to these "deadbeat" auction houses......because, by God, we need to make sure the guys who are selling them the sometimes fraudulent things they pass off as legit.....are GETTING PAID for them! Not to mention the very same "consigners" that are selling these items MAY BE shill bidding their items up because they want us highly honest and integrity-latent bidders to pay through the NOSE for what they're selling.


You can't make this stuff up.


Daddy-O......listen my friend, after all the imformation we have at our fingertips, all of the info displayed in a painstakingly open and honest forum right here, which will pop up in the face of anyone doing a minimal and reasonable amount of research upon deciding which companies to consign with.....I don't feel it's a reasonable request to ask members here to refrain from bidding on an item they may seriously want to add to their collection because "consigners aren't getting paid" by this "deadbeat" auction house.

I commend you for your integrity, and righteous and upstanding feelings on the matter.....you are obviously a good man, a great father, and of the straight and narrow which we so desperately need more of in this country.....but you just can't place that perverbial piano on collectors backs like this. It's not fair. Way too extreme. Too many problems with your well-intended theory.

Do you go out of your way to be arrogant and abusive towards those with differing opinions? Half of your posts seem intelligent and positive towards the purpose of the forum, but the other half only seem to exist to belittle those who don't agree with you. Maybe you might want to re-read what you've typed before hitting "submit," asking yourself "how am I coming across here?" I work with children all day long, and I wouldn't dream of talking to them like you talk to some of your fellow collectors.

Ken
earlywynnfan5@hotmail.com

[sarahsdad]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

He is what he is. We have all read his posts and have all drawn our own conclusions. AMI has already admitted not being able to pay their consignors yet they still continue to take consignments and people continue to bid on them now knowing that the consignors will not be paid. And Suicide Squeeze, in his posts, will buy their items knowing all of this. Enough Said. I am not a legal scholar, some would argue that I am not even a scholar but in my opinion that puts stolen property in your possession. You would not want me on the jury sitting in judgement of you. But to each his own. I, for one,will not participate in that. This is a hobby. Not bread on my table.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

Do you go out of your way to be arrogant and abusive towards those with differing opinions? Half of your posts seem intelligent and positive towards the purpose of the forum, but the other half only seem to exist to belittle those who don't agree with you. Maybe you might want to re-read what you've typed before hitting "submit," asking yourself "how am I coming across here?" I work with children all day long, and I wouldn't dream of talking to them like you talk to some of your fellow collectors.

Ken
earlywynnfan5@hotmail.com

No, Ken, I'm good, thanks.

I don't need to reread anything. Obviously you have no knowledge of sarahsdad's previous attacks directed ONLY at me, so I'll take that into consideration in your mistakingly accusing me of "going out of your way to be arrogant and abusive towards those with differing opinions?" If he were simply posting here because he had a different opinion, it would read that way. But it doesn't. He is posting because he wants to pick up the sword again...

Maybe you should reread sarahsdad's post where he is not-so-subtlety refers to anyone who doesn't agree with his view as a "deadbeat". Or, if we want to be men about this whole thing and call it on it's face value, he is ONLY referring to me.

In the meantime, have a nice day.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

He is what he is. We have all read his posts and have all drawn our own conclusions. AMI has already admitted not being able to pay their consignors yet they still continue to take consignments and people continue to bid on them now knowing that the consignors will not be paid. And Suicide Squeeze, in his posts, will buy their items knowing all of this. Enough Said. I am not a legal scholar, some would argue that I am not even a scholar but in my opinion that puts stolen property in your possession. You would not want me on the jury sitting in judgement of you. But to each his own. I, for one,will not participate in that. This is a hobby. Not bread on my table.

sarahsdad,

I was referred to buying maybe one....."possibly 2" items a year....if that.

Like I said, maybe you should reread the posts?

I will say I think that you finding anyone who bids on items in AMI's auctions (assuming you won one of them you meant.....right?) is putting stolen property in one's possession (the winner) is a fairly good laugh.

I mean.....please tell me you were kidding, weren't you???

[sarahsdad]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

I have said all I need to and am going to say. It is all yours now.
sarahsdad

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

Do you go out of your way to be arrogant and abusive towards those with differing opinions? Half of your posts seem intelligent and positive towards the purpose of the forum, but the other half only seem to exist to belittle those who don't agree with you. Maybe you might want to re-read what you've typed before hitting "submit," asking yourself "how am I coming across here?" I work with children all day long, and I wouldn't dream of talking to them like you talk to some of your fellow collectors.

Ken
earlywynnfan5@hotmail.com

That's exactly why I don't talk to the forums members the way you talk to your children you work with, EWfan.....because the members here aren't children. I show them the respect they deserve by communicating on an adult level.

I have no problem with a differing opinion on anything. I welcome it, it usually conjures up stimulating intellectual conversation.

Usually.

[33bird]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

I have to agree. Nobody should buy or sell from these crooks. They still owe me 22k from last September. I lost my Bird jersey to them; haven't got a red cent; had to hire a lawyer to try and salvage something. Many others in the same boat. Buying from them is like buying stuff on the black market.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

Forum,

I was observing the recent AMI auction and noticed some of their top ten listings were bringing in some very decent bids. After the auction was over I reviewed the auction and noticed four of the top six listings were not listed as "sold"? They were as follows:

#1 Paul Hornung Jersey was in the neighborhood of $16K+
#2 Terry Bradshaw was up well over $6K
#5 Sid Crosby jersey
#6 Harold Charmichael Eagles jersey was over $1.5K

Were these jerseys pulled?? or possibly did they not make a reserve. Not selling the Hornung and Bradshaw would make a dent in AMI's overall profit.

Mark

Getting back to the original post and point of this thread, Moustache Gang, I actually called to inquire about one item because it too did not show as sold. I was directed to Keita, who told me "we'll need to fix that one too". She told me it had in fact sold.

What I took from that was that they were having technical difficulties in the way their system was posting the results.

I find that hard to believe.....but that's just me. Why does it work on most of the items, but on a select few...there are technical difficulties?

[sylbry]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

We collect game used/worn/involved items. They are non duplicative. They are one-of-a-kinder's. It's just not a wise decision, as a collector, to go to your auto "NO WAY" predetermined action towards items being offered by questionable sources if it fills a major void in your collection. That's a self defeating practice.

My point is, where do you draw the line in the sand that you absolutely will not cross?

You need to be objective, use common sense, and make clear educated and well-thought out decisions in each and every case. To throw a blanket statement that you'll "never" buy from an auction house because of this and that....just doesn't work.

Sarahsdad drew the line that he is comfortable with. And you are criticizing him for it, as if he didn't already sit down and decide on his personal stance. Who are you to say he didn't appy common sense or make a well-thought decision.

I happen to agree with Sarahsdad. If I need to cross my moral or ethical grounds to obtain something for my collection, well then it is time to sell the collection.

[mvandor]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

sarahsdad,

I was referred to buying maybe one....."possibly 2" items a year....if that.

Like I said, maybe you should reread the posts?

I will say I think that you finding anyone who bids on items in AMI's auctions (assuming you won one of them you meant.....right?) is putting stolen property in one's possession (the winner) is a fairly good laugh.

I mean.....please tell me you were kidding, weren't you???

You know, hard not to interpret it that way. AMI doesn't pay the consignors but takes your money. That's theft, and your purchase really is essentially accepting stolen property.

I personally would not buy from any auction house operating as AMI presently is. I find it simply immoral if not illegal.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

I have to agree. Nobody should buy or sell from these crooks. They still owe me 22k from last September. I lost my Bird jersey to them; haven't got a red cent; had to hire a lawyer to try and salvage something. Many others in the same boat. Buying from them is like buying stuff on the black market.

Greg,

You are doing all you can do. And I wish you nothing but the best of luck in recouping what's rightfully yours.

I'm just curious, however. Have you considered what your chances would be of recouping your monies owed, if everyone followed your advice and just stopped buying (bidding) on their items cold turkey?

They would be forced to close their doors within a few weeks, one month or two at the most.

Is that really what you want?


You know, the funny thing is, I find myself in an absolute laughable position here. Some of the posting members here have had the twisted effect of making it seem like I am in one way or another standing up for AMI. You guys couldn't be farther off base. That's nonsense. If you ONLY KNEW what you were talking about......I'm on YOUR SIDES.

At the risk of sounding "arrogant and abusive towards" you guys, which of course I am not attempting to do in any way, shape, or form......I will state for the record:

I have NEVER consigned one single solitary item with AMI.....never.

I have my reasons, and they are not important to this discussion.

But for you guys that have been wronged in your dealings with them, and in a show of emotion and anger are now coming out and making statements that essentially are saying "GO OUT OF BUSINESS, and FAST!!!".....I think you need to take a deep breath and maintain a bit of composure here.

We are all pulling for you guys to get your money back. We would be disingenuous and deceitful members of this forum to suggest anything else.

I will also state this for the record:

If I had any ability to help ANY of you owed money for past consignments get your money back by stating something here that would help you in that endeavor, I would be doing just that.

So, I am using discretion on coming here and posting, while you are all in this compromised and unenviable mess, and am watching with a hopeful heart that it all works out for you. But I am suggesting to you as a friend (albeit an unknown one at that) to use your heads, to follow proper procedures in seeking payments owed, and not shoot yourselves while hunting. The hospital may be out of your blood type when you get there...

capisce?

[earlywynnfan]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

I see both sides, Squeeze's and Sarahsdad's. If AMI had something I really really really wanted, something I felt I'd never see again (and they had one such item right around Christmas time,) I'd probably bid. But for all the people who have been screwed, these bids are just allowing AMI to continue, and people are paying for it in the wrong way. Sure, it's just a couple bids, Squeeze, but if everyone just puts in a "couple bids" and only several of us only win "just one item," well, that's enough to keep them afloat another month, which is another handful of consignors getting nada.

"I was referred to buying maybe one....."possibly 2" items a year....if that."
You're enabling them, and saying "I've got mine" kinda stinks when so many others are getting empty promises or fraudulant items. I believe in karma, and while you and I aren't getting stuck with empty consignor promises, we're not the ones withholding their money, any bids we make are just helping those who are doing it. Somehow, somewhere, that will (and should) come back on us.

I think Sarahsdad has a point: if we ALL stop bidding, NOW, AMI will go under, which appears to be what they deserve (disclaimer: I've never been shafted by them, just going on what I've heard.) So a few choice items won't be available through them, so what? The items will pop up again somewhere.

Ken
earlywynnfan5@hotmail.com

[cordovacollector]

Re: AMI Auction: What Happened???

That's the way I see it too. It might not be your intent SS but it sounds like, "it's not really stealing if I don't do it very often." Or, "it's not really bad if I really want it." For me it would take the joy out of whatever I bought if I had to get it that way. But that's just me.