Rogue REA employee on eBay?

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

The bottom line is this has nothing to do with the honesty or integrity of Rob Lifson or REA. Rob still runs the best auction around, period.

I could make the counter point that the employees you hire are a reflection upon yourself and apparently Dean has done this or similar transgessions in the past.

Now I'm NOT saying there is anything wrong with Rob or REA in any way; but, if your employees are acting badly when they are on their own, then what is to stop them from doing something while working for you. After all, you don't want to be monitoring their activities on a 24/7 basis. And you have to have trust in them. I don't know if I saw this, if I could in the future trust one of my employees that did that. My next thought would be, what if he does something like that to my business to mess up the works.

Regards
Rich

[joeadcock]

Excellent point Rich

[mintacular]

Now I'm NOT saying there is anything wrong with Rob or REA in any way;--But isn't that exactly what you are doing with everything else you wrote?

[botn]

Ummmm...We still have differing OPINIONS as to who smgsmg1968 is. Rob has privately explained (to at least 1 person) how this is not Dean and David has publicly stated, without telling us the basis for his conclusion, that it is Dean.

If it is Dean than Rich has made a valid point. You cannot possibly know where someone will draw the line and shill bidding, just ask Jeff Lichtman, is a major concern in the hobby.

It wouldn't sit so comfortably with me if Rob was so quick to defend Dean if in fact it turns out both ebay ids are the same person. Sure the auctions were small potatoes but perception is everything.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by botn

If it is Dean than Rich has made a valid point. You cannot possibly know where someone will draw the line and shill bidding, just ask Jeff Lichtman, is a major concern in the hobby.

I actually am more concerned about alterations and the such. Shill bidding is bad but in the end you still get your true, unaltered card. Altering cards for profit is just plain evil.

[botn]

Hey Jeff,

Sometimes you hit the jackpot and you get both!

Greg

[calvindog]

LOL true. What a hobby.

[Peter_Spaeth]

?? Dean did not address this, I don't think, but Craig seemed pretty clear as to what he was charging.

[FUBAR]

this needs more then popcorn, this needs beer! this one is making my head hurt!!!! We could get Michael Moore to do a documentary.... We could call it "Dizzy Dean"

It also wouldnt be the first time someone has bid on their own items and won. What better way then to throw off anyone questioning this!

[mightyq]

dan p- i agree with tom b 100%. tom was a little more ho hum with what he said. but you can take his point as a "stretch" a little further, like making an "acusation" about something you have no proof of whatsoever! if i am wrong by all means post some proof. if not dont post any ol "b**ls**t you feel. if it feels like i am coming to rob's defense i am. he is a friend, and runs a great not good great auction(s).

[DanP]

Could it be possible that Rob/REA has to believe Dean and Dean can't be fired because ??why?? Maybe there's stuff happening at REA that Dean knows about and could be exposed if he were fired?

You never know ..


Dan

[Dean Faragi]

I would like to come on the board for the first time (not my idea of a great first entrance) to explain my end of the situation. My eBay handle is hobbyguynj since 2001. My friend (smgsmg1968) is a collector who I introduced to collecting, and who has been buying cards from me for the last three years as an investment. He has recently lost interest and decided he wanted to sell them on eBay with my assistance. I was not interested in selling his cards for him on eBay but was interested in buying them back at some level, and because I sold them to him, was also happy to help him with information; smgsmg1968’s name is Scott, by the way). I have bid and won some items he has offered on eBay (which I originally submitted for grading and later sold to him). I have bid on the items he is selling for two reasons: 1) because I liked the cards I sold him (I originally owned them, I bought them because I liked them), and 2) if the current bid was less than what the card was worth (in my opinion) I was interested in buying them back at some level. With reference to DJR’s questions:

DJR writes:
“You stated, ''Dean did not do anything whatsoever relating to shill bidding''. This statement is crazy! You also state, ''It is also the first and only time Dean Faragi has done this'', however, this also happened with the Moran hockey card. Furthermore, feedback shows this type of activity has been habitual taking place going back months and years. The hobbyguynj feedback also mentions the name Dean.”

DJR, the bidding that has occurred by me on eBay or anywhere else is not shill bidding. The statement that this is “the first and only time Dean Faragi has done this” refers to this (as accurately summarized above): “What he did do, and this is not a practice condoned or tolerated at REA, is represent to a PSA registry set owner that the two A&G flag cards he was offering privately (that were actually up for auction on eBay and closing that night) were his (when in fact they were not, they were just on eBay) and soliciting an offer which he intended (and actually did) use to bid on the cards, with the intention of selling them to the PSA registry collector if his bids were successful.” I did this. It was stupid. It will never happen again. But I have never shill bid and was not shill bidding on the A&G flag cards or any other cards ever. The reason that hobbyguynj feedback mentions the name Dean is because that is my name. I can see how someone could misinterpret the information about the PSA submissions and bidding and without additional facts suspect that bids are not on the up and up, but they are totally legitimate bids on my part, and so all I can do is explain this clearly. I hope I have done that here.

Sincerely,
Dean Faragi

[bijoem]

Dean,

Thank you for taking the time to come here and explain things.

When I first heard about this.... I had a sinking feeling about you and REA. Honestly, Rob's "defense" post did not do much of anything to help the sinking feeling.

But.... you sound very sincere in your post - and personally, I will give you the benefit of the doubt.

Everyone makes mistakes.
Its nice to see someone who stands up, explains things, takes responsibility. and promises better going forward.


Again - thank you for the post.

[autograf]

wow.....that seems a stretch.....

My stretch comment is to Dan, not Dean

[DanP]

Originally Posted by autograf

wow.....that seems a stretch.....

My stretch comment is to Dan, not Dean

Stretch?? You're kidding right?


Dan

[tbob]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I could make the counter point that the employees you hire are a reflection upon yourself and apparently Dean has done this or similar transgessions in the past.

Now I'm NOT saying there is anything wrong with Rob or REA in any way; but, if your employees are acting badly when they are on their own, then what is to stop them from doing something while working for you. After all, you don't want to be monitoring their activities on a 24/7 basis. And you have to have trust in them. I don't know if I saw this, if I could in the future trust one of my employees that did that. My next thought would be, what if he does something like that to my business to mess up the works.

Regards
Rich

I have been following this convuluted tale and must say I agree with Rich. I have never had any problems whatsoever with Rob or REA but this is disturbing.