OT: Derek Jeter Forgeries On Counterfeit Cards

[Kco]

I can talk from the industry side on this issue a little bit as I was with Steiner Sports for nearly a decade. I can’t talk to Upper Decks policies regarding forgeries or infringements but saying Steiner Sports doesn’t care would be an overstatement and probably an oversimplification.

Actually, they do care, they are just limited in what they can do. From my time there running e-commerce, When blatant fakes were posted on eBay or other stores and brought to the attention of the right people, we flagged and contacted eBay to have items removed. As for websites we found selling fake or questionable items, C&D letters were drafted and sent to the sites owners. Unfortunately as you can imagine, there are literally millions of Steiner Sports items on the marketplace from all different eras, and it’s virtually impossible to go after every item and listing. It’s part of why each of these bigger companies always encourage you to buy direct or from a licensed retailer to ensure legitimacy.

I’m also talking to what I know from my time there, which ended in 2014, but when I was there we did in fact do what we could to stop blatant fakes and forgeries. Can’t really say what their practice is these days

[Kco]

Additionally, it’s a big piece of the reason why Steiner moved to individual numbered holograms, since the generic ones had a propensity to fall off over time and were easily swapped to a fake item unfortunately.

I’m also not saying that any of these companies do enough, but it’s a massive resource allocation from a personnel stand point.

Look at the recent influx of Tom Brady fake memorabilia with legitimate appearing Holograms. They even lifted real hologram IDs to use on fake product, as I said VERY difficult to chase it all down.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by Kco

I can talk from the industry side on this issue a little bit as I was with Steiner Sports for nearly a decade. I can’t talk to Upper Decks policies regarding forgeries or infringements but saying Steiner Sports doesn’t care would be an overstatement and probably an oversimplification.

Actually, they do care, they are just limited in what they can do. From my time there running e-commerce, When blatant fakes were posted on eBay or other stores and brought to the attention of the right people, we flagged and contacted eBay to have items removed. As for websites we found selling fake or questionable items, C&D letters were drafted and sent to the sites owners. Unfortunately as you can imagine, there are literally millions of Steiner Sports items on the marketplace from all different eras, and it’s virtually impossible to go after every item and listing. It’s part of why each of these bigger companies always encourage you to buy direct or from a licensed retailer to ensure legitimacy.

I’m also talking to what I know from my time there, which ended in 2014, but when I was there we did in fact do what we could to stop blatant fakes and forgeries. Can’t really say what their practice is these days

Sorry, Kevin, I am not letting them off the hook.

[Kco]

Originally Posted by thetruthisoutthere

Sorry, Kevin, I am not letting them off the hook.

Chris, nor should you. I’m not defending their current lack of activity, I wish they did more to protect the brand and their customers. I’m just explaining how it worked when I was with them for any insight or provides as a whole.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by Kco

Chris, nor should you. I’m not defending their current lack of activity, I wish they did more to protect the brand and their customers. I’m just explaining how it worked when I was with them for any insight or provides as a whole.

Thank you, Kevin, I appreciate that.

I agree with Steve.

I just don't get it.

Aside from their "authentic" items being over-priced, I'm turned of by their "turn-the-other-way" attitude.

[thetruthisoutthere]

This is a no-brainer Sandy Koufax forgery.

The card stock does not look correct.

The same sellers who have been listing and selling those forged Jeter counterfeit cards, have also been selling these like hotcakes.

This is listed on Ebay now.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sandy-Koufa...7ea7%7Ciid%3A1




KoufaxCounterfeitJoanne-2.jpg

[thetruthisoutthere]

This forged Koufax card is listed by Ebay seller Lyonhrt7777 who is one of those sellers who sold the Jeter forgeries like they were coming off an assembly line.



https://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-SP-AUT...4AAOSwykpchG26



koufaxLyonhrt-3.jpg

[thetruthisoutthere]

Sold by Ebay seller tntnorthnj (who has sold quite a few of these).

Koufax is forged.


KoufaxTNTForged-2.jpg


Card is counterfeit. The "Sandy Koufax" should be farther away from the border of the card. Grainy-looking card.



KoufaxTNTForged-3.jpg

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by Kco

It’s part of why each of these bigger companies always encourage you to buy direct or from a licensed retailer to ensure legitimacy

I appreciate you explaining.

I have heard others make the point above and it is puzzling to me. Why bother even putting on a hologram if "the only safe place to buy" is direct from Steiner? What about all the legit resellers who purchase dealer bulk from Steiner? This screws them, doesn't it? And it doesn't say much about a collector's ability to sell down the road on the secondary market.

I know it is not easily solved and a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. But I believe these companies must be very aggressive in policing their brand. If the fake sticker sellers keep getting wiped out on ebay enough times, they will eventually move onto something else.

[Kco]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

I appreciate you explaining.

I have heard others make the point above and it is puzzling to me. Why bother even putting on a hologram if "the only safe place to buy" is direct from Steiner? What about all the legit resellers who purchase dealer bulk from Steiner? This screws them, doesn't it? And it doesn't say much about a collector's ability to sell down the road on the secondary market.

I know it is not easily solved and a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. But I believe these companies must be very aggressive in policing their brand. If the fake sticker sellers keep getting wiped out on ebay enough times, they will eventually move onto something else.

There more recent lack of any activity bothers me as well, while I was there we at least actively attempted to track these down and rid them from the industry the best we could. The reason they always say buy direct or from an authorized dealer that is purchasing at wholesale is for chain of custody on the item.

On the flip side I understand most people’s point of view of why bother if it’s technically meaningless. There is no perfect answer as we all know their are plenty of unscrupulous people out there looking for a way to make easy money and take advantage of the trust behind a reputable COA. Unfortunately there is no easy fix, short of holograms that ALSO match to pictures of the exact item online.