Warning: Disturbing Autograph "Authentication" Material!

RickGallway · #1 01-24-2012, 01:46 PM

Casey, I'm not attacking you. As long as you're the "honest man", I will not.

Since you keep bumping this thread to the top with your replies more people will learn about this fiasco, so I should rather thank you for that.

I don't collect or sell autographs, in fact, I don't know shit about them, but one thing I do know is how crooks have trashed and KEEP trashing this hobby.

The only scam artist here is the one that issued a certificate for the signed envelope that is being discussed in this thread. Trust me.

slidekellyslide · #2 01-24-2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickGallway

The only scam artist here is the one that issued a certificate for the signed envelope that is being discussed in this thread. Trust me.

I disagree...there is more than one scam artist at work here.

RickGallway · #3 01-24-2012, 01:57 PM

Touch�

travrosty · #4 01-24-2012, 02:13 PM

People that inspect potential Rembrandt painting don't just look at it quick for a minute then decide whether or not it is a Rembrandt. Sometimes it take years. The companies have fallen into the trap of taking a process and adapting it to a business model that stresses squeezing every last penny as quick as they can make it instead of respecting the process and trying to maximize profits only within the confines of what allows for a thorough and complete inspection with safeguards in place.

It is the memorabilia version of killing the goose that is laying the golden eggs. The goose isn't dead yet, but it's bleeding profusely.

These TPA's should slow down at least some and make sure they look for erasures on every piece, and really do a good thorough job, even if it takes awhile and the profit on that piece isn't as much as they would like. Integrity of the process to protect the collector should trump profit at ANY cost.

Just slapping a sticker on it and moving on to the next piece may have worked for the last dozen years, but that is changing. GAI is no longer around, and the other companies haven't seemed to learn anything from that story.

Of course these companies have to make money in order to stay in business, but they also have to stay in business in order to make money!

drc · #5 01-24-2012, 02:24 PM

I agree that a company charging a fee to judge the accuracy of their own LOAs-- and, not only that, but saying this should be done on the LOA-- is, well, a curious concept.

I give quick opinions often (as many of us do)-- people email me photos of their items asking for my quick 2 cents--, but I'm hardly going to allow that opinion be printed out as a LOA for an item I've never seen in person. One, I can't authenticate something from digital photos and, two, I value my reputation.

travrosty · #6 01-24-2012, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drc

I agree that a company charging a fee to judge the accuracy of their own LOAs-- and, not only that, but saying this should be done on the LOA-- is, well, a curious concept.

I give quick opinions often-- people send me photos of their items asking for my quick 2 cents--, but I'm hardly going to allow that opinion be printed out as a LOA for an item I've never seen in person.

agreed, many times i give my opinion, but i say that only seeing it in person could i be sure. not going to issue an loa because some scan looked okay.

auction loa was a pig in a poke from the beginning, pay me more to upgrade then i will say it is really real. It is all about revenue streams first and foremost with them.

slidekellyslide · #7 01-24-2012, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travrosty

auction loa was a pig in a poke from the beginning, pay me more to upgrade then i will say it is really real. It is all about revenue streams first and foremost with them.

So if I pay $20,000 for a signed FDC that was given an auction letter by Spence am I pretty much guaranteed I can get a full letter from Spence even if on second look it's an obvious forgery?

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