NO LONGER CURIOUS... thx for feedback

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It remains to be seen how he will edit his website.

Yep, ball’s in his court.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I'm sure at times people have written my comments off as snarky bs.

Yes. And with good reason. For example:

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

In 8 or 9 years, I have blocked 4 people. He was blocked in record speed.

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Once or twice a year I get pulled into some political horseshit and immediately regret it.

You might consider not trying so hard to deride free markets with posts such as these:

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Don't know what to say. This economic disparity don't seen to bother a lot of people. All hail the great gd of capitalism.

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

But I also feel there are people who want to be little Mary Sunshine at every opportunity....

Well you're innocent on that count anyway.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It remains to be seen how he will edit his website.

Your observation was about seemingly inaccurate statements on his website where most others were making comments about his approach and use of the board. One might be a gray area for misrepresentation and the other more of a nuisance so hopefully he is reflecting on both of these things.

For what it is worth I just read a post by a respected board member where he made reference to his having the lowest consignment rates in the hobby when in fact he does not. Fact checking before one speaks seems to have gone out the window.

Lastly and not meant as an attack at all on Jeff and his website but I did notice that he has tucked away a very stringent All Sales Are Final in a link at the bottom of the "Shop" page, called Refund Policy. The site and the manner in which he has carried himself on here have given a totally different vibe but maybe this is the way all retail business is done today.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by G1911

This is the post OP had to make a new thread to whine about while dodging that it is about his blatantly false representations of himself and his business.

Methinks you're giving yourself a bit too much credit. Careful you don't pull any muscles so assiduously patting yourself on the back.

[ClementeFanOh]

I'll begin by stating Jeff and I aren't in business together. My net54 dealings
with him have been positive, he's been kind and appropriate. When he asked a rather straightforward question about M101 4/5s, I privately sent him a bit of guidance...then waited for the snark to start on the public post.

I wasn't disappointed. Two of the usual suspects, G1911 and Lorewalker,
couldn't wait to chime in- without addressing the actual topic, naturally.
Insults, accusations, negativity all while conveniently ignoring the thread's
intent. How shocking. Good guys like Phil Lewis were positive/helpful.

Next, Jeff was moved enough to start another thread about negativity.
Sharks, meet blood! More of the same from the same. Naturally,
Peter "Quantity over Quality" Spaeth weighed in and concluded by informing
us that Jeff is now on the clock to change his website. Ambitious!

I've got a GREAT idea for the guys out there just waiting to chime in with
a useless reply to a thread- don't. There's this choice called "silence", and
some of you really need to exercise it. If you can't stay on topic, just stay
out. If you absolutely must say something to a poster, then send a PM
rather than derail the thread. This isn't difficult.

Now that I've added to this topic, I'm sure the usual suspects will blast
away at me. For some of you it's either ego or loneliness that will beat you
and compel a reply. For others, it's some mania that is likely clinically
diagnosable. Regardless, it's an indication of a small, sad persona. Good
luck with that.

Trent King

[Republicaninmass]

When Trent comes to your rescue...well I'll just leave it at that

[Belfast1933]

FYI, as I said earlier… I definitely hear you and am already making changes in language on my site.

This hasn’t been pleasant but it has been helpful.

I’m taking several lessons and learnings from this experience - and if anyone wants to continue to discuss privately, hit me up anytime. We both might learn better that way.

Jeff

[ClementeFanOh]

Republicaninass chimed in- stunning. Living proof that drinking highballs for breakfast isn’t a quality fix. Thanks for proving my point. Trent King

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Belfast1933

FYI, as I said earlier… I definitely hear you and am already making changes in language on my site.

This hasn’t been pleasant but it has been helpful.

I’m taking several lessons and learnings from this experience - and if anyone wants to continue to discuss privately, hit me up anytime. We both might learn better that way.

Jeff

HeY Jeff
Nice post and great post above by Trent. We all live and learn. I learn every day and make mistakes almost every day LOL.
I am the king of mistakes.

For the record, I would rather deal with Jeff than more than half of the other dealers out there. Jeff has always been professional in our many dealings (mostly on board stuff and not actual sales). But respect and kindness go along way and Jeff has shown that. And he has handled this thread better than I would have.
Self reflection is always good.

[MCyganik]

My two cents with an attempt at finding some levity.

I met Jeff once in person several years ago when he sold me a custom sign for my Red Sox man cave. He was nothing but courteous, thoughtful and nice. At that time we briefly discussed cards, his interest in Sports Illustrated magazines he found at the time and my interest in game used bats. He came across to me as someone who was pretty new in the hobby but earnest.

I can’t attest to his posts on here but Jeff has posted a lot of off-topic content in some of the Red Sox groups I frequent. At first it was about Red Sox stuff and his interest in making Red Sox signs and card shelves which was great, then mostly questions about the hobby, then after what I presume was an opportunity to sell/consign someone he knew locally’s vintage card collection, he turned it into a business. All of his posts became less about the Red Sox and all about his T206 cache. All of it appeared innocent enough, if slightly annoying since it was not relevant to strictly Red Sox groups. But I respected his passion and interest even if it appeared a bit misplaced.

While the website does appear to be misleading based on the level of knowledge/experience Jeff appears to have, I don’t see it much differently than some of the more experienced but even more ruthless businessmen who try to make their brand top of the market. Fake it til you make it. I could be wrong but I get the sense Jeff is less about trying to deceive others as he is just willing to put himself out there, at times to the annoyance of others, in order to start up a business.

This hobby tends to have a lot of gatekeepers who want to hold all the knowledge they have until they are dead (but obviously a lot of them are wonderful people). Jeff strikes me as someone who is genuinely interested in the hobby and willing to ask the questions, which we need, but perhaps goes too far with his reach, especially now if he is trying to establish a business. This can be a lightning rod for people which I get.

My only suggestion to Jeff is to keep doing what you love, just try to be mindful of who your audience is and how you represent yourself.

Take care,
Matt


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[OhioLawyerF5]

There are some things in this world that I am absolutely an expert in (not card related). However, as an expert, I know the need to learn every single day. And in those things, there are likely some things that seem basic and elementary to other experts that I have yet to learn or encounter. Just like there are lots of things I consider basic that those other experts don't know. Neither of those situations makes either of us less of an expert in that field. Remember, there is always someone out there who knows more than you. I am less concerned with someone who holds themself as an expert but is always willing to ask questions and learn, than someone who holds themselves as an expert and thinks they know it all.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

There are some things in this world that I am absolutely an expert in (not card related). However, as an expert, I know the need to learn every single day. And in those things, there are likely some things that seem basic and elementary to other experts that I have yet to learn or encounter. Just like there are lots of things I consider basic that those other experts don't know. Neither of those situations makes either of us less of an expert in that field. Remember, there is always someone out there who knows more than you. I am less concerned with someone who holds themself as an expert but is always willing to ask questions and learn, than someone who holds themselves as an expert and thinks they know it all.

Agreed. As my father (and surely other parents) used to say:

"How are you going to learn anything when you know everything already?"

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Agreed. As my father (and surely other parents) used to say:

"How are you going to learn anything when you know everything already?"

That's why we have the school of hard knocks, to teach us when we refuse to learn from other sources.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by MCyganik

My two cents with an attempt at finding some levity.

I met Jeff once in person several years ago when he sold me a custom sign for my Red Sox man cave. He was nothing but courteous, thoughtful and nice. At that time we briefly discussed cards, his interest in Sports Illustrated magazines he found at the time and my interest in game used bats. He came across to me as someone who was pretty new in the hobby but earnest.

I can’t attest to his posts on here but Jeff has posted a lot of off-topic content in some of the Red Sox groups I frequent. At first it was about Red Sox stuff and his interest in making Red Sox signs and card shelves which was great, then mostly questions about the hobby, then after what I presume was an opportunity to sell/consign someone he knew locally’s vintage card collection, he turned it into a business. All of his posts became less about the Red Sox and all about his T206 cache. All of it appeared innocent enough, if slightly annoying since it was not relevant to strictly Red Sox groups. But I respected his passion and interest even if it appeared a bit misplaced.

While the website does appear to be misleading based on the level of knowledge/experience Jeff appears to have, I don’t see it much differently than some of the more experienced but even more ruthless businessmen who try to make their brand top of the market. Fake it til you make it. I could be wrong but I get the sense Jeff is less about trying to deceive others as he is just willing to put himself out there, at times to the annoyance of others, in order to start up a business.

This hobby tends to have a lot of gatekeepers who want to hold all the knowledge they have until they are dead (but obviously a lot of them are wonderful people). Jeff strikes me as someone who is genuinely interested in the hobby and willing to ask the questions, which we need, but perhaps goes too far with his reach, especially now if he is trying to establish a business. This can be a lightning rod for people which I get.

My only suggestion to Jeff is to keep doing what you love, just try to be mindful of who your audience is and how you represent yourself.

Take care,
Matt

Speaking of levity, when I (too quickly) read your post, I thought it began with, "I met Jeff once in PRISON several years ago..."

So, I've recrafted the first part:
"I met Jeff once in prison several years ago when he helped me fashion a custom Teddy Ballgame themed shiv for my Red Sox man cave of a cell.
He was so courteous, thoughtful and nice, that we ended up sharing some laughs over a glass of my finest toilet wine. It ain't Sam Adams, but it did the job."