Dave Grob confirms FBI investigation?

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Posted By: Aaron M.

In Michael O'Keefe's latest article touting MEARS adoption of new standards which auction houses must comply with in order to continue to do business with them (basically all the things that REA has been doing for years, but Mastro continues to refuse to do), Dave Grob appears to confirm that the FBI is investigating the hobby (he does not specifically mention Mastro):

Grob is quoted as saying:

"Right now I know for a fact there are other 'outside forces' looking into this industry in a very serious manner," Grob wrote. "My only hope this that the industry/hobby can reform itself and on its own."

Link: http://www.network54.com/Forum/426247/message/1187558186/NY+Daily+News+Article+on+MEARS+2008+Auction+House+ Policy

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Posted By: Joseph

Someone who posts on this board confirmed it, too:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/153652/message/1187719941/

That's what the FBI does...they investigate.

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Posted By: TONY

My only hope is that the industry/hobby can reform itself on it's own ?????

A good question but

Not in my lifetime unless the FBI or a similar entity cracks down big time on the industry

As a collector since 1957, a dealer back to 1972 I'm no newbie to the industry

I tried to get a dealer association started back in the early 80's

Dealers almost laughed me out of the hobby

soon after Kit Young did get such a animal up & running

Is it still in business ?????

I'm kidding, it slowly died without doing anything meaningful that I'm aware of

I suggested a card grading service around 1983

boy did that get dealers nervous......

How dare a 3rd party grade THEIR cards ???

I started a grading service a few yrs later with lou costanzo & a group of other non-hobby individuals

Speaking of Costanzo he ended fkuing me on a deal, guess that's what good friends do to each other in this business

But of course it failed.........just a few too years ahead of the time it would be embraced by the hobby & some dealers like SGC & PSA are

Even today some dealers still fight the concept of graded cards or authenticated memorabilia

There is too much $$$$$ in this industry & the $$$$$ get bigger yearly

didn't i just read the buyers premium by some firms will be 25%

Are u freaking kidding me????

what is the max for a buyers premium?

Is there no limit to the Greed?

Unless something drastic happens in the industry to drive out all the charlatans it will continue "business as usual" & the small gagel of scoundrels will keep getting rich ripping off the hobby

Who will stop it?

I have no idea but sure hope it happens soon & they come down hard on the "lowlifes" who are destroying our great hobby

Tony Galovich

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Posted By: peter chao

Tony,

You were just ahead of everybody else in your vision. However, I'm glad to see that you are still in the hobby.

Peter C.

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Posted By: boxingcardman

"Grob said MEARS authenticators Dave Bushing and Troy Kinunen - both also work as memorabilia dealers - have followed those principles for several years."

Really, when did Bushing start that? Before or after he pocketed the profit on that DiMaggio bat he authenticated?

But I digress.

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Posted By: WP

Lou Costanzo was he an owner of Grade and Trade and now associated with GAI?

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Adam, you need to start paying closer attention: Bushing is one of the good guys now. Today. He might even get to work on finishing that Masters Degree he claimed he had completed.