Gfa......stay away

[kengoldin]

http://gfaauthenticated.com/history/

I will be contacting GFA. It certainly appears to me that GFA is subtletly trying to put 'my favorite player' and 'B+J' in the same category as 'Upper Deck ,Score Board and Tri Star ' "The Big Four". Seems like a set up to authenticate M F P and B+J product as 'authentic' doesnt it? Reads like revisionist history based on their inclusion with legitimate companies that signed players to contracts and sold only authentic material. There never was a 'big four' and B+J was never a player in the autograph business. I used to tell people 'If you see a shrink wrapped ball, stay away because it sourced from B+J and is likely fake (except for the few good ones that were occasionally salted in with the bad).
I have no problems telling this board that when i started my own company in the late 1990s early 2000s i was offered well in excess of $100,000 cash to 'bless' Posada items and I told him to F off. Then, later, those items were magically certed by GAI...all worth less then the blank photos they ruined.

I know GAI 'authenticated' thousands of items for MFP i wouldnt wipe my ass with....because I wouldnt want my ass to be effected by the bad ink on them.

I do not beleve fighting forgers is a 'lost cause' nor do i believe it is fruitless to go after storefronts who routinely sell that product. I just think its necessary to bring back some of the tactics that were successfully used in the 1991-94 era to do so.

[shelly]

I just think its necessary to bring back some of the tactics that were successfully used in the 1991-94 era to do so.[/QUOTE]

I would love to know just what those tactics where and how would they work in today's world.

[kengoldin]

CIVIL LAWSUITS SHELLY
CIVIL LAWSUITS..since you asked
get a TRO
then get a permanent injunction

Just like the Feds didnt get Al capone on murder, they got him on tax evasion....
Get them civilly, and enforce it. You need companies who have the money and will to spend to do it, but i think there are a few left that care and will do something if walked thru the process from start to finish.

[shelly]

Ken, some of the people on here have gone through just that. I find it hard to think that anyone wants to spend the money to go after people and then the State or Government lets them go bankrupt or just throws it out. Roger Epperson was sued by Morales. Two years latter and god knows how much money nothing. Richard HBO and Spence where sued by the Donald. Spent lots of money. Case thrown out.
You had law suites against Tony you won he lost. SB is gone he is back in business You where sued by Uda and you sued them not over forgeries but it was still a civil suite. Who won. The only person that wins in a civil case is the attorney. No offence to the members of the bar. I have said that a class action is the only way to win but you cant get ten people on this board to agree ,how are you going to get five thousand.
I am not trying to be a bad guy here. I think that you believe you are saying this from your heart.
I have what I think is a good question for you. Who would your first suite be against? How much do you think it would cost and even if we win do you really think it will stop anyone else?
Ken, you do what you think is best for you. I think that the big players like Steiner, TRI Star and many other just don't care. They sell there products and really have no interest if the public gets hurt. I am really being honest. if you think you can help what is happening out there more power to you.

[kengoldin]

You might be right. I hope i fnd out that you are wrong (and i assume you hope you are wrong too...as it will benefit all).
I hope that the big guys in the industry give a damn and are willing to spend a small percentage of their revenue on protecting the market place....i really do hope that.
I can tell you i will find out for sure though!
good night

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by kengoldin

http://gfaauthenticated.com/history/

I will be contacting GFA. It certainly appears to me that GFA is subtletly trying to put 'my favorite player' and 'B+J' in the same category as 'Upper Deck ,Score Board and Tri Star ' "The Big Four". Seems like a set up to authenticate M F P and B+J product as 'authentic' doesnt it? Reads like revisionist history based on their inclusion with legitimate companies that signed players to contracts and sold only authentic material. There never was a 'big four' and B+J was never a player in the autograph business. I used to tell people 'If you see a shrink wrapped ball, stay away because it sourced from B+J and is likely fake (except for the few good ones that were occasionally salted in with the bad).
I have no problems telling this board that when i started my own company in the late 1990s early 2000s i was offered well in excess of $100,000 cash to 'bless' Posada items and I told him to F off. Then, later, those items were magically certed by GAI...all worth less then the blank photos they ruined.

I know GAI 'authenticated' thousands of items for MFP i wouldnt wipe my ass with....because I wouldnt want my ass to be effected by the bad ink on them.

I do not beleve fighting forgers is a 'lost cause' nor do i believe it is fruitless to go after storefronts who routinely sell that product. I just think its necessary to bring back some of the tactics that were successfully used in the 1991-94 era to do so.

I love ya Ken and I'm always happy to hear your vantage points, especially where Tony "don't call me Jorge" Podsada & "My Favorite Forgeries" are concerned.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

I know ACE is very bad. A few of you may know that I was employed by GAI/ACE for a while with certifying specific players, but not all. I left them because of what my research showed they were certifying examples that weren't authentic (which many of you have pointed out), and this went against my personal beliefs that I didn't want to associate myself with that and tarnish my name,

Though I will say that I know you may not trust an ACE cert, it might be worth your while to look into it further in regards to authenticity. I did so when I left and have had a decent sample size with an ACE cert be authentic that I got for a seal.

[johnmh71]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

I know ACE is very bad. A few of you may know that I was employed by GAI/ACE for a while with certifying specific players, but not all. I left them because of what my research showed they were certifying examples that weren't authentic (which many of you have pointed out), and this went against my personal beliefs that I didn't want to associate myself with that and tarnish my name,

Though I will say that I know you may not trust an ACE cert, it might be worth your while to look into it further in regards to authenticity. I did so when I left and have had a decent sample size with an ACE cert be authentic that I got for a seal.

I agree. Both GAI and ACE were once reputable and legitimate autographs were submitted to them. Deals can be had. But there is definately a buyer beware aspect to their stuff.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

I know ACE is very bad. A few of you may know that I was employed by GAI/ACE for a while with certifying specific players, but not all. I left them because of what my research showed they were certifying examples that weren't authentic (which many of you have pointed out), and this went against my personal beliefs that I didn't want to associate myself with that and tarnish my name,

Though I will say that I know you may not trust an ACE cert, it might be worth your while to look into it further in regards to authenticity. I did so when I left and have had a decent sample size with an ACE cert be authentic that I got for a seal.

Sorry I could not resist .

[djson1]

All of these authentication companies should be viewed as just paying a good amount of money for a Second opinion, nothing more. Granted, sometimes that "opinion" is more of a careless or passing opinion (as we all know due to the ton of authenticated forgeries out there). I would never waste my money on authenticating my collection. Nor do I place any heavier value when I buy or bid on something just because it has one of these PSA/DNA/JSA/GFA, etc certs. The only certificates I would place value on are MLB holograms, possibly Steiner, and maybe some of the player owned company holograms.

Speaking of which, does anybody have opinions on the authentication of these player holograms like Stan the Man, Ichiro hologram (ADA Financial), Reggie Jackson's, Bonds, etc? Would you classify these certifications as reliably along the same lines as the MLB certs/holograms?

[kengoldin]

NoTHING is as reliable as MLB certification. The only error they can make at MLB is a typo entering it into their database (ie mislabeling a photo as a ball, which i have seen). If they dont witness it, it doesnt get hologrammed.
Player holograms depend on the player, their agent, and the control used. While most player holograms i know of are reliable, you cannot immediately assume that each player, agent, or representative has the same level of control over the hologram as another. You pretty much would have to list player by player, and adress each individually. In the 90s, there were only a couple players with holograms, like Cal Ripken and Nolan Ryan and it was tightly controlled. Nothing legit got out without that hologram, and nothing bad could get a hologram. Now, there are likely over 100 different players that have their own hologram...how can you know the controls and procedures in place for all of them?
So, in short, NOTHING beats MLB authentication hologram. Each one is numbered, and the MLB rep has to account for every single hologram. If one is damaged or destroyed, they need to account for that as well. And, 100% is in person only.

[AbejasAsesinas]

Ken,

Wouldn't UDA and Tristar fall under the same level of authenticity as MLB?

[shelly]

Ken, bull is bull stop and smell the bs. You can think you will make a difference but like I told you in this thread stop your just blowing smoke up your a-s. You are just another person who thinks they have the power or the friends to stop this.
These people are looking at this site and laughing at you. Just stop. If you can get something done come back on here and tell us. I know at least twenty people that have tried and failed. I will be the first to tell you are hero.

[kengoldin]

Wow shelly.
I actually am willing to spend my own money to go after these guys, and spoke to one of the CEOs of the 4 company's i mentioned in a previous email and he will do the same. I was planning on talking to the other three as well. I am sorry you find my comments and efforts fruitless and a waste of time. I certainly did not post them to offend you or anyone else. I will stop posting because i have no interest in getting into an argument with any member of this forum. If something gets accomplished I will send the info to chris williams and he can inform.

[Leon]

I will again caution folks that if you give any opinion concerning a person or company then your full name needs to be in your post or edit out your comments....or soon your name will be there without you putting it there. Thanks for your understanding and only keeping with the posted rules...

[kengoldin]

I would put UDA, Tri Star, Mounted memories and Steiner sports into their own category. I trust all in person and under contract items from these companies. They are the best at what they do, which is contract athletes and conduct in person signings.

I do believe however that at least one or more of these companies will certify or hologram a 'purchased' item on occasion, which means it would be impossible for them to witness it, therefore not falling into the category of MLB, which will never hologram an item it didnt witness.

The question was comparing player holograms to MLB. and, because MLB is not a company selling its own items, but providing a service to its licensees, an MLB authenticated item needs to be placed on a different level then even the top memorabilia companies in the business. MLB authentication purpose is simply to witness , authenticate and hologram product.

[AbejasAsesinas]

Originally Posted by kengoldin

The question was comparing player holograms to MLB. and, because MLB is not a company selling its own items, but providing a service to its licensees, an MLB authenticated item needs to be placed on a different level then even the top memorabilia companies in the business. MLB does not sell product, they just witness and hologram it.

With respect, I think you are mistaken when it comes to MLB selling authenticated product.

Check out http://auction.mlb.com/

[Baseball Fan]

Originally Posted by AbejasAsesinas

Ken,

Wouldn't UDA and Tristar fall under the same level of authenticity as MLB?

I'd agree with UDA, but not Tri-Star anymore. Tri-Star has started to put their sticker on things that the company did not witness in person. Not sure why they started to do that, but they did.

[shelly]

want this in a new site.