Crazy uncles

[Flintboy]

Does anyone know if they still plan on running future auctions?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Flintboy

Does anyone know if they still plan on running future auctions?

Why wouldn't they?

[White Borders]

6/27 Won 1 Graded T206 card, 10 raw T206 cards, and one complete set of Indian Head Pennies 1880-1909.

Received Invoice on 7/2.

Paid Invoice via Paypal on 7/2.

Received Shipping Notification on 7/6 with no statement of the contents of the shipment.

Received shipment on 7/11 in blue flat envelope mailer which was not taped closed, only the adhesive on the flap (the envelope could have been opened, some of the contents removed, and resealed).

Inside blue mailer was a smaller bubble mailer that was not taped closed, only adhesive on the flap, that contained all of the cards. There were no coins in the package and no list of contents. The smaller bubble mailer was not large enough to have contained the coins.

I waited a week hoping the coins would be arriving in a separate shipment.

On 7/20 I went to CU website and sent email stating cards had been received but not coins, and asked for shipping status of coins. Did not receive a response.

On 7/27 I again went to CU website and sent email stating my displeasure in not receiving a response to my previous email and again requested shipping status of coins.

Today, 7/30, still waiting on response and coins.

By no means is my apparent loss even close to Dave's, but I am becoming thoroughly disgusted with CU's complete lack of customer service.

[wilkiebaby11]

Originally Posted by White Borders

6/27 Won 1 Graded T206 card, 10 raw T206 cards, and one complete set of Indian Head Pennies 1880-1909.

Received Invoice on 7/2.

Paid Invoice via Paypal on 7/2.

Received Shipping Notification on 7/6 with no statement of the contents of the shipment.

Received shipment on 7/11 in blue flat envelope mailer which was not taped closed, only the adhesive on the flap (the envelope could have been opened, some of the contents removed, and resealed).

Inside blue mailer was a smaller bubble mailer that was not taped closed, only adhesive on the flap, that contained all of the cards. There were no coins in the package and no list of contents. The smaller bubble mailer was not large enough to have contained the coins.

I waited a week hoping the coins would be arriving in a separate shipment.

On 7/20 I went to CU website and sent email stating cards had been received but not coins, and asked for shipping status of coins. Did not receive a response.

On 7/27 I again went to CU website and sent email stating my displeasure in not receiving a response to my previous email and again requested shipping status of coins.

Today, 7/30, still waiting on response and coins.

By no means is my apparent loss even close to Dave's, but I am becoming thoroughly disgusted with CU's complete lack of customer service.

I waited over a week for tracking. Received 3 from 2 different locations over 100 miles apart. Nonetheless, the last package arrived Friday and overall I was missing a $200 card. Throughout the process Aaron was communicating with me up until Sunday when I emailed him about the missing card. No response. Tried again Tuesday. No response. I wasn't waiting anymore and today I opened a PayPal dispute for the value of the missing card. I just want the card or the refund, or a response.

[slidekellyslide]

What a complete clusterf*&#. Does anyone on Net54 know this Aaron guy? How long has he been in the hobby? Was he a known quantity before he started Crazy Uncle?

I'm highly doubting this company is owned by anyone other than this Aaron guy. What "elite" group of collectors would allow this to continue?

[MCyganik]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

What a complete clusterf*&#. Does anyone on Net54 know this Aaron guy? How long has he been in the hobby? Was he a known quantity before he started Crazy Uncle?

He worked briefly at Steiners before venturing out on his own. I would be curious to know why he left and what his co-workers thought of him.

According to his auction website he "has been an active collector since the 1980's"... so based on his age, he's counting his experience as a small child as a selling point toward his experience with baseball cards. I was born in 1985 and was opening packs as early as 1988, does that mean I have 5 decades worth of collector experience now too?

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I'm highly doubting this company is owned by anyone other than this Aaron guy. What "elite" group of collectors would allow this to continue?

That was my initial assumption based on what seems to be a one-Aaron shipping/customer service operation, but who knows. Might have some seed money from Collectors Universe or Steiner or some other higher up silent investor that wanted to make more direct money.

As much as Dave has been screwed by this, I'm wondering if Aaron's head is on a platter from some other silent investors who maybe helped him set up the auction with their own stuff and are getting screwed just as bad. There was a LOT of stuff in all of his auctions so far, which is unusual for a small start up auction house.

[Tao_Moko]

Originally Posted by Jeff_cvc

I’ve been following this thread from the beginning as I find it informative and frankly I’m just curious to see more twists and turns until the conclusion finally happens. Kind of like reading a decent novel. Unfortunately, this involves real people with real feelings and real live’s at stake. By no means do I want to minimize the impact this has on all parties involved.

With that said, I do not understand the bashing that the OP receives from some board members. Would I have given the AH another opportunity, definitely not. But would I judge Dave from where I sit, definitely not. How can I judge someone when I am not in their shoes and do not have his experiences and past history at my fingertips. What I do know is that Dave has an incredible collection that I financially am not anywhere near. My collection is pennies to his dollars (but I do love my collection ). Apparently, Dave has made some pretty damn good decisions in his past to be where he is now. Maybe by showing compassion in his past business dealings have benefited him?? This time it didn’t, but who am I to judge. What I do know is he got screwed as I have not heard from the other side. For me, I have compassion for the crap that he’s been through, nobody deserves that, regardless of any perceived poor decisions. It’s like blaming the victim for making poor choices, it still does not justify the crime.

Anyhow, those are my two cents, now back to the originally scheduled program.

Yes, I am not always good with my civilian analogies, but where I come from it's called brotherly love, not "bashing". The anxious desparity in the posts reminded me of being forced to ingest Portnoy's Complaint so again, my bad for not being sensitive enough in my response. The story is so crazy that it warrants a range of emotions. I now understand Dave's intent and fair warnings. It's all good. I'm pulling for you Dave and the rest of you that got screwed.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by CJDave

Seems like the list of owners for CU is a big mystery.....if there truly are any owners

If you want to pay they are registered in Delware to avoid taxes. For a fee you can get all of their info.

[ullmandds]

Sorry to hear about people's issues with CU...esp Dave. If it looks like a duck...quacks like a duck...chances are...it's a duck! Live and Learn!

There are plenty of good AH's out there...frequent them!

Stuff does NOT trump all...it's just stuff! And you can't take it with you!

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by Flintboy

Does anyone know if they still plan on running future auctions?

I was thinking of giving Crazy Uncle a third chance. Not sure yet if I should go with them or if I should invest my money in something and I've heard good things about this investment guy...….I think his name is Bernie Madoff. It's a toss up between going with CU or Madoff.

Any thoughts on this???

At least I can joke about this if nothing else !!!

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Sorry to hear about people's issues with CU...esp Dave. If it looks like a duck...quacks like a duck...chances are...it's a duck! Live and Learn!

There are plenty of good AH's out there...frequent them!

Stuff does NOT trump all...it's just stuff! And you can't take it with you!

you kept saying "duck" may want to check your spelling...

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

you kept saying "duck" may want to check your spelling...

+1. Very clever

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by sflayank

It's truly amazing how uneducated you are
No understanding of anything thats been said
Every comment on this post says the same thing as I've said
But you continue to choose to zero in on me...I dont swing that way
Bottom line is the auction was run extremely poorly
I hope they can do better next time
And almost a week later he refuses to comment
What is he afraid of

Not sure why you go back in forth with one of the most argumentative jack asses in the hobby PERIOD.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

If this isn't justification NOT to use Crazy Uncle, I don't know what is.

Crazy Uncle seems very Crazy after reading this thread. That's a shame. Glad I never purchased from an auction house. 18%-21% on anything is retarded. My name is crime and crime don't pay that. Add in the horrible service and what do you have? ZERO.

The service level by that elite group of "collectors " seems pretty rotten to the core from these experiences of their customers. You wonder why it is so easy to make a killing in the world today. All you have to do is service the customer. So easy.

Just like your wife...... If you don't service the customer, somebody else will.

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

Crazy Uncle seems very Crazy after reading this thread. That's a shame. Glad I never purchased from an auction house. 18%-21% on anything is retarded. My name is crime and crime don't pay that. Add in the horrible service and what do you have? ZERO.

The service level by that elite group of "collectors " seems pretty rotten to the core from these experiences of their customers. You wonder why it is so easy to make a killing in the world today. All you have to do is service the customer. So easy.

Just like your wife...... If you don't service the customer, somebody else will.

It still amazes me that it has been 5 weeks since the auction closed, 7 pages so far on this thread, plenty of comments about CU (mostly negative......ok all negative......I was trying to be nice) but not one single solitary rebuttal from Crazy Uncle. We all know he has been on the site. He claims he has "people" that inform him of everything on Net54. So if anyone reading this is one of his "people"...…..get some feedback from Aaron.

Everyone reading this is hearing a one sided story......only from me. I welcome Aaron's comments. I'm asking for them, begging for them, rubbing my magic lamp and using my third wish to get them. You guys on Net54 can be the jury. You've heard from the Plaintiff...…...can we get the other side's story or defense ???

[slidekellyslide]

Isn't Ryan Spence the son of JSA's James Spence?

https://crazyuncleauctions.com/aboutus.aspx

Is there a possibility of Spence or his company having some ownership of Crazy Uncles? I know they spam for a lot of auction houses, but they did send me emails for both Crazy Uncle auctions.

[111gecko]

Ooof... this would add a layer of craziness if JSA was part of the ownership.....

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Isn't Ryan Spence the son of JSA's James Spence?

https://crazyuncleauctions.com/aboutus.aspx

Is there a possibility of Spence or his company having some ownership of Crazy Uncles? I know they spam for a lot of auction houses, but they did send me emails for both Crazy Uncle auctions.

Considering how late the images for the first auction were I think I'd have asked to have my name removed.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

you kept saying "duck" may want to check your spelling...

When I read the original post and then saw you beat me to it!! Great minds....

[tombocombo]

The invoice is marked as balance due almost a month after it was clearly paid! Are these guys trying to declare we did not pay to show a loss? Are they going to try to collect money from us in the future doctoring up the invoices? Early on in the thread one consignor stated they needed time to manually input our payment.

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by Mark17

I recently sold a large collection of GU bats and payment took about 7 weeks. It was not a problem because I was in no hurry and the amount was under $15k, plus communication with the AH was excellent.

After an auction closes, it can take a few weeks for all bidders to pay, another week for the last payments to clear, a week to get the items delivered to the winners, and then most reputable AHs allow a week or two for the winners to return an item, if it was misrepresented.

So I think expecting the money after just 4 weeks from auction close might not be realistic. However, there is NO excuse for poor communication, especially considering the dollar amount you're dealing with.

Good luck!!

Hi Mark,

So I know you mentioned some time back that getting paid in 4 weeks might be unrealistic and from your past experiences it took as long as 7 weeks but with excellent communication. Now I have dealt with REA and LOTG, both extremely professional, both communicated with me throughout and both paid within 4 weeks (and both six figures). Now with Crazy Uncle I am at the 5-6 week point, no money, no communication, missing many $100Ks worth of items that were never returned, etc. etc. etc...…..would you agree I should start to be concerned?

[Yoda]

Dave, I have dealt with many auction houses over many years and have never seen anything so pathetic, bordering on criminal, than these guys. Perhaps your next step should be to pay them a visit, if you can find them, packing heat(bad joke). Your investment with these guys is significant, as I hardly need to mention. Hope they haven't pulled up stakes and are sitting on a beach in Brazil.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Dave, I have dealt with many auction houses over many years and have never seen anything so pathetic, bordering on criminal, than these guys. Perhaps your next step should be to pay them a visit, if you can find them, packing heat(bad joke). Your investment with these guys is significant, as I hardly need to mention. Hope they haven't pulled up stakes and are sitting on a beach in Brazil.

If they did it could be bad news for those associated with them? Who are these "elite" collectors? Maybe Dave should try and contact Ryan Spence who is the only other name on their website.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

CJDave I would seriously consider paying Delaware's fee and seeing what names are behind the company. It was only like $35 or something. If it's Aaron then you know that he's your target. If it's anyone else it gives you someone else to try and reason with.

[MCyganik]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

CJDave I would seriously consider paying Delaware's fee and seeing what names are behind the company. It was only like $35 or something. If it's Aaron then you know that he's your target. If it's anyone else it gives you someone else to try and reason with.

I think quite a few people on this thread would pitch in a few bucks to make this happen just for the entertainment value alone. I would be very curious to see if Aaron actually has anyone else listed. Maybe some relatives?

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by CJDave

Hi Mark,

So I know you mentioned some time back that getting paid in 4 weeks might be unrealistic and from your past experiences it took as long as 7 weeks but with excellent communication. Now I have dealt with REA and LOTG, both extremely professional, both communicated with me throughout and both paid within 4 weeks (and both six figures). Now with Crazy Uncle I am at the 5-6 week point, no money, no communication, missing many $100Ks worth of items that were never returned, etc. etc. etc...…..would you agree I should start to be concerned?

Without question you should be concerned. No doubt.

In my case I have dealt with the guy before, he's local, been around a long time, and as I said, never a problem with communication. I add up the time he allows winners to pay, the time shipping takes, his policy of allowing returns under certain circumstances, and I conclude his timelines are reasonable and acceptable to me.

That was my only point - that an auction house consignment isn't as quick as a simple ebay/paypal transaction.

I think you have a very serious problem and the non-communication is the loudest warning siren. I wish you luck.

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

CJDave I would seriously consider paying Delaware's fee and seeing what names are behind the company. It was only like $35 or something. If it's Aaron then you know that he's your target. If it's anyone else it gives you someone else to try and reason with.

I did attempt to go through Delaware to get this information. Normally Officer and Director names and addresses are maintained on the images of the annual reports and you can order the annual reports BUT Alternative entities (Limited Liability Companies, Limited Partnerships, and General Partnerships) do not currently file annual reports. Annual reports are required for domestic and foreign corporations only. And of course they are an LLC (CRAZY UNCLE AUCTIONS LLC).

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by perezfan

It's very possible...

Below is a list (off the top of my head- I'm sure there's more) of identical business practices which Crazy Uncle and PSA share...

* A complete lack of communication from management on key issues and concerns
* Disappearing when public issues need to be addressed
* Lack of any follow-up measures to help the customer
* Unthinkable incompetence/ineptitude at doing the one thing they are supposed to do
* Failure to honor their commitments (PSA with its supposed "Guarantee" / CU with enacting its reserves)
* Apparent disdain for it's customer base
* Complete failure to ship the customers' possessions back to them in a timely manner
* Inherent lies and false statements which hide actual facts
* Banning of dissatisfied, truth-telling customers

Crazy Uncle and PSA run their respective businesses the same exact way. Since PSA is thriving despite employing these "unusual" business tactics, perhaps they myopically believe it can work in other arenas, like online auctions.

I would not be at all surprised if Orlando and Sloan were revealed to be the owners. Collectors Universe (CU) and Crazy Uncle (CU)... Just a "crazy" coincidence?
I think not.

Has anyone posted on CU about Crazy Uncle auctions and how bad they are? I think you would get a your answer quickly. If I were Dave, Id start the lawsuit in your jurisdiction and get a default judgement. Then go inforce it at their location. Might get some media coverage on it as well to see how far down the snake hole goes.

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

Has anyone posted on CU about Crazy Uncle auctions and how bad they are? I think you would get a your answer quickly. If I were Dave, Id start the lawsuit in your jurisdiction and get a default judgement. Then go inforce it at their location. Might get some media coverage on it as well to see how far down the snake hole goes.

I would absolutely do that. I won't let them get away with this screw job !!!

6 weeks now......NO COMMUNICATION. NO MONEY. MISSING ITEMS !!!

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by CJDave

I would absolutely do that. I won't let them get away with this screw job !!!

6 weeks now......NO COMMUNICATION. NO MONEY. MISSING ITEMS !!!

Have you attempted to contact Ryan Spence?

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Have you attempted to contact Ryan Spence?

I don't have his direct email address.