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#1
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Jeff Lichtman
According to the NY Daily News (no online link, sorry), the FBI is investigating Mastro for shill bidding in its auctions. Doug Allen is quoted as saying that they have not yet been contacted by the FBI. The allegations, in part, are that Mastro allows owners of lots to bid on their own items. |
#2
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: JimCrandell
Very interesting--thanks for the info Jeff. |
#3
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: P Spaeth
Gee that makes me feel good, that with all the bad stuff going on in the world the FBI is expending scarce resources looking into shill bidding in Mastro. |
#4
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: leon
Depending on what is being done it's either bad or doesn't matter. That's quite a vague statement. We know some auction houses allow bidders to bid on their own stuff....as has been talked about before. They just have to pay the fees if they win. Did anyone hear that people think the PSA8 Wagner is trimmed? |
#5
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Richard Simon
I have posted the Daily News article on my website. |
#6
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: barrysloate
Jeff- was there any mention of the FBI looking into the designer packing tape? |
#7
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Jeff Lichtman
No, Barry, but at least we know how they can afford such expensive tape! |
#8
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: peter chao
This is probably the same FBI dept. that's investigating Barry Bonds steroid use. Mastro doesn't have to worry about anything happening soon. |
#9
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: dennis
the fbi has plenty of money in their budget to investigate crime at various levels. i guess cheating people out of money is not a crime? |
#10
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: leon
Please don't tell me that is what we are talking about here(the article I just looked at). That was discussed months ago because some knucklehead spent other's money in Mastro Auctions and supposedly got ran up. Very old news....and it's by our favorite reporter...O'keefe.....this is truly earth shattering stuff. Please tell me there is something else, Jeff? yawn.... |
#11
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: joe
Not sure about this story. I know I tested this out a few auctions ago. I tried to bid on one of my items in a Mastro auction and the online site would not let me bid. |
#12
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: David Davis
Has anyone ever tried to bid on one of their consigned items through the online bidding system? I guess this questions also goes for other auction houses. |
#13
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Jeff Lichtman
Leon, it's not a yawn if the FBI is currently investigating Mastro. I assure you that Doug Allen and Mastro's lawyers don't consider a pending FBI investigation to be a yawn. Perhaps they'd like their customers to think so, but surely they do not. |
#14
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: barrysloate
In virtually all online auctions, including my own, the auction house gives the names of all the consignors and the lots he consigned to the web designer. He plugs those names into each lot and if the consignor tries to bid, he gets a message that he is not eligible to do so. That's a simple mechanism built into any auction software. |
#15
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Joseph
One thing is for sure, this proves that Mastro has reached the big leagues in terms of the auction business, for we know that, generally, the FBI goes after the biggest fish in the pond. |
#16
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Jeff Lichtman
So Barry, do you think when Mastro was faced with the fork in the road in choosing software to prevent consignors from bidding on their own auctions or fancy Mastro-stamped packing tape, they chose the latter? |
#17
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: leon
I am not making light of the "allegations". This has been hashed out a long time ago. |
#18
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: barrysloate
Leon- you seem strangely protective when all this is is another thread about something newsworthy relating to the hobby. Maybe it's something, maybe it's nothing...but it's fair game to bring it up for discussion. |
#19
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: leon
We can talk about anything related to the board focus..and this certainly is. My question is why is this being brought up again after nothing was proven the first time? Are there folks with an axe to grind? Nah, couldn't be that. We can talk all we want to about stuff that happened a long time ago and was never proven. You seem to be missing my point. Not sure why? |
#20
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: jay behrens
Barry, this is exactly why many people question Leon's objectivity and the other board was started. Mastro is major advertiser here and he poo-poos every negative thing brought about Mastro. It doesn't look good when he keeps claiming that the ad moeny has no impact and he acts this way. |
#21
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: barrysloate
I didn't read the article and the first I am hearing of it is from Jeff's post. Old business or new, Jeff cited that the article is in today's paper. If it's old news, and much ado about nothing, it will go away. If on the other hand O'Keeffe does have an axe to grind with Mastro, then that's worth discussing, too. He is far from a saint, and if he is just stirring trouble then he'll get his comeuppance. I just wouldn't summarily dismiss any article until we learn more about it. |
#22
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Jeff Lichtman
Leon, first off, the fact that the FBI is continuing their investigation of Mastro does not for a second suggest that "nothing has come to light." It suggests that they do not yet believe that there is "nothing" to the allegations. Yet. As a defense lawyer, I agree that the mere investigation of Mastro means nothing. As someone who buys Mastro cards, however, it scares the bejesus out of me. |
#23
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: P Spaeth
If people don't trust mastro why do they keep bidding in his auctions? |
#24
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Jeff Lichtman
Same reason Willie Sutton robbed banks: that's where the cards are. |
#25
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: barrysloate
They have good stuff. In this hobby, stuff trumps everything else. |
#26
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Dan Bretta
I'm surprised that this link didn't get more play in this chatroom. |
#27
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: P Spaeth
There are many sources of cards. That answer does not impress me. If you really think he is running you up, or altering cards in ways that are unacceptable to you, or his fees are excessive, the answer is simple: don't bid. |
#28
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: JimCrandell
Jay, |
#29
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: leon
It's not in "today's" paper. That is a very old article. Find a yr old paper and start reading it and have fun. |
#30
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Dan Bretta
Leon, have you read that link that I just posted? Something funny is going on at Mastro for sure. |
#31
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: leon
I have read it...I don't like what I see either...but I also don't know the whole story. I am not into memorabilia at all. Could a face mask have a different cage thingy up front and still be valuable? I would think anything different than original has to be noted....and would affect the price. What was the final outcome of that story? |
#32
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: jay behrens
If there were no advertising on the board, I could care less what your opinion about Mastro might be. The fact of the matter is, every time something negative is sad about Mastro, you immediately jump to their defense. This does not look good in any way, shape or form. As long as you continue to accept ads, you will be open to criticism for posts you make in defense of advertisers, no matter how correct the post may be, and your motives suspect. |
#33
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Lee Behrens
The responses to this are just amazing from Peter and Leon. |
#34
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: leon
You are probably correct but I can't stand it when friends are maligned unfairly. I can't defend a hypothetical or a perception either. I can only defend the facts. The fact is I have never protected an advertiser in any way shape or form. Show me otherwise. Thanks again for you participation.... |
#35
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: P Spaeth
Yeah Lee actually I am serious. If I don't like a product, I don't buy it. These are freaking baseball cards, not necessities. If you are so convinced Mastro is ripping you off, or altering cards, or whatever, do what Lenin said and vote with your feet. EDITED TO ADD That doesn't mean I condone shilling, in case you can't appreciate the difference. My point is just that I think it is ridiculous for people who don't trust Mastro to keep throwing money at him and then bitching about it. |
#36
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: barrysloate
Jay and Jim- I do not believe that Leon sticks up for advertisers. He may support a friend, as I or anyone else would do. But he's made it very clear that advertisers on the board are subject to the same scrutiny as anyone else, and I know he means that sincerely. |
#37
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: JimCrandell
Peter, |
#38
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: leon
Show me what newspaper it was printed in today? |
#39
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: P Spaeth
Jim: To clarify, I am not condoning fraud. You know me better than that. My point is that if you genuinely believe someone is dishonest, why deal with them? |
#40
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Lee Behrens
Peter, if that is your stance you need to change your original response to the thread. I fully agree about your statement that if you feel there are wrong at Mastro not to bid or consign, but to be quite about them does not solve the overall situation at hand with Mastro. Does this mean I won't get my $100 a month for the tootsie rolls? |
#41
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: jay behrens
That's all fine and good to stand up for a friend, but when that friend becomes an advertiser, they are no longer a friend in the eyes of the board. They are an advertiser. Without the ads, he is standing up for a friend/business he likes. With the ads, he is defending an advertiser and you can't do that if you are claiming to not let advertisers influence you. |
#42
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: leon
Just admit you made a mistake and move on....If there is an ongoing investigation I certainly want to know about it. So far it's an allegation that there is one ongoing.....Can anyone prove it? Even if there is an ongoing investigation so what? My guess is that a lot of things get investigated. "Guilty" is really what I want to know about.... |
#43
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Jon Canfield
First - I don't take any sides. I think I'm just answering a question asked by Leon that maybe wasn't clear. This was posted in today, Sunday July 8th's, NY Daily News. If you look at the article posted by Richard on his website, you will see the date stamp of the newspaper on the right hand side, all the way down at the bottom. |
#44
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: leon
I wouldn't necessarily say the way you think is the way the board thinks. Some do some don't....Mastro folks are friends and they are advertisers. Big deal...again, show me where I have ever protected them? I will continue to stick up for friends whether they are advertisers or not. If it's shown they did something wrong then I will readily admit that too. So far it's a lot of hot air.....show me some proof Jay.....c'mon ....Or are you going to keep going back to perception?...which of course I can't disprove.... |
#45
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: J Levine
I wonder (only speculation) if the article's timing has anything to do with a certain someone's book coming out recently and looking for a little publicity. |
#46
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Charlie Barokas
Someone please provide a link to the story from the NYDAILY website? I cannot find the story. Is this story a year old? The year is left off in the article provided and nothing recent is mentioned in the article? |
#47
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: P Spaeth
As the great line from Ralph McTell's song Streets of London goes, Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news. |
#48
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: leon
I just went to the website and don't see the article. Can you show me where it is on their website? I looked and looked too...but maybe I missed it. It certainly didn't jump out at me... |
#49
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: jay behrens
come on Leon, you are smarter than that. All have to do is give the perception that you are protecting an advertiser and your credibility is hurt. You coming on here and trying to downplay everything negative about Mastro speaks volumes. You may think that you are defending a friend, but as long as the Mastro banner continues to fly here, you are defending an advertiser. There is no denying that. |
#50
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Mastro Auctions Being Investigated by the FBI
Posted By: Jon Canfield
Leon and others - I don't think the article is available in online form (sort of like the Wagner photo article a few weeks back). I can't find it on the website, either. You have to buy the paper. Again, for the record, I'm taking no sides here... |
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