Update Sellers To Be Concerned About

Fleer 1986 Michael Jordan Rookie card number 57. A sought after card by many collectors, a counterfeited card by many crooks. On any given day on most auction sites you can purchase this card in both graded and ungraded condition. Purchasing this card in an ungraded state is as risky as entering the World Series of Poker with no poker experience and expecting to win. Actually I think your odds would be better entering the World Series of Poker. Why both novice and savy collectors bid on this card ungraded for any amount of money is beyond me.

This past week alone we witnessed at least 50 unauthorized reproductions of this card being offered on eBay. Many of which had insinuations that the card my in fact be real. I am glad to say that most of them where removed by eBay's Trust and Safety thanks to the deligence in reporting these violations by a handful of concerned collectors and the cooperation of eBay. Recently the Upper Deck Company purchased the rights to the Fleer brand name , and have expressed their own concerns with the counterfeiting of this card. As such under eBay's VERO provision they have the right to have eBay pull any card that they deem to be in violation of their trademark rights.

How do these fake cards get into the marketplace? Easy there are people who actually print these and sell them as reprints to collectors. In this auction the seller ran multiple sales for this reproduced card for months on both eBay and IOffer.com Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Mint. They have since been stopped by both sites but who knows how many hundreds of these fakes are out there waiting to make their way back into the marketplace as real.

For those intrested in owning a fully graded issue they are readily available at very affordable prices. Recently a high grade PSA 8 sold for $535. This goes to show that a patient collector can in fact purchase high grade authenticated example of this card for a little more than what they may pay for a more than likely fradulent example. Here is a case where a buyer purchased a non graded issue for $480 !!! Now I ask you, who would you rather be the person who purchased the PSA 9 or the unsuspecting non graded buyer? These types of suspicious sales happen each and everyday again we remind you don't be in such a hurry to purchase any card that may come along because you simply want to own a high dollar collectible. There is always another card, and if you show patience you will wind up with high dollar authentic card where there is no question that what you have is the real thing.

With that we bring you this weeks " Sellers To Be Concerned About"

Seller: nochancegolf23 low feedback and has sold 2 Jordans in the last month item number 8709911189 for $256 and item number 8708946898 for $280. This week they offer
Update Item Removed
1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 Mint item# 8713213585

Seller: vidiaware low feedback and if you look at the picture provided it looks exactly the same as our previous sellers nochancegold123's picture. If you look at the scans you will notice they are exactly the same, there is a mark form the scanner backing on the upper right hand side above the R on the card back image and a little mark in the lower portion of the card in the center. Offers us:
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1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie item# 8712477179

Seller: rhare1 Selling a reprint of this card but says that you can fool your friends with it. Which insinuates you can try to pawn it off as real. This is an unlicensed reproduction.
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1986 Fleer Michael Jordan RC Reprint item# 8713353025

Seller: bepbeprrrep Another low feedback seller with this story " I was fortunate to come across 3 of these cards while searching through my uncle's card collection that was handed down to me a couple years ago. I've been hanging onto them since then, but they are serving me no purpose anymore. I have bills to pay and mouths to feed. This card looks like it's in great shape. The corners are all very pointy, and it has great centering. And there are absolutely no creases. The card is not prefessionally graded, so under Ebay's rules I have to list it as a reprint. All sales are final." If you look at their buying for the last 2 months or so you will notice they have spent over $1500 in purchasing cards and autographs. I guess they donlt need to sell those to feed any mouths.
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1986 Fleer Michael Jordan RC NR/MINT item# 8711619060

Seller rebound333 Again low feedback and says "This card is in excellent shape with no creases or bends The two right corners are a "little" imperfect, other than that great card. I have not had this card graded but I assure it's genuine" Well with a 1 FB rating I would be real comfortable buying this item. For another $20 I could buy PSA 4 in about the same condition.
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Michael Jordan Rookie Card 1986 Fleer item# 8711115404

Seller: 32490 All the telltale signs of a bad deal. This is what they have to say " This card is being relisted. The last time it was put up for auction a lot of people asked me if it was real. I bought it on EBay earlier this year as authentic. I have purchased a card in better condition and for a lot more money then this one and that is why I'm selling this card. As far as I know it's real. IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE DON'T BID! I WILL NOT OFFER ANY GUARANTEES. IT IS BEING SOLD AS IS" Now the seller purchases cards of questionable authenticity as in item# 8701821326, yet we are supposed to believe the card offered is real?
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1933 Babe Ruth Goudey item# 8713316396
1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson item# 8713312931

Seller: pantyman_52 I won't comment on the name but has this to say "You are bidding on a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Card. Card has rounded corners, and a few scuff marks. Card looks to be real but I am unsure. This is a GREAT card to add to any collection. "
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1952 Topps Mickey Mantle item# 8713442559

Seller: shizzle17 returns after having a 52 Mantle removed which we reported on in our September 7th edition now comes back to say " PLEASE READ!!! CARD WAS SENT IN TO PSA AND CAME BACK AS RECOLORED AND THEY WOULD NOT GRADE IT AND I AM SELLING IT AS SUCH. THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS ON THIS CARD AS I AM TELLING IT AS IT IS!" Well if PSA returned the card as recolored and ungradedable why isn't it slabbed that way with the description and PSA number? PSA does slab those cards.
1933 GOUDEY BABE RUTH # 149 PSA RECOLORED item# 8712706016

Seller: tristage After self removing the item last week they return with it again saying " You are bidding on a 1986 fleer #57 michael jordan rookie card. I am selling card as reprint .got card out of box that i bought at a yard sale.have no back ground on card thats why being sold as reprint.this card is in mint cond.card is sold as is,no returns"
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Fleer 1986 Micheal Jordan Rookie item# 8713634658

Well for now that's it we will update as we find items of questionable authenticity till then please remember our motto.

Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge!

Update Sellers To Be Concerned About

Warning signs that a card maybe bogus are there if you take the time to look. If you are prepared to spend money on purchasing a vintage card for your collection, then why is it that many buyers are not prepared to spend some time doing research into what they are buying. Too many collectors are mislead into thinking that they are getting in on the bargain of a lifetime and that is why most end up getting ripped off. Here is just one example of what I mean.

This week seller n3rds is bringing us this vintage 1933 Babe Ruth Goudey number 53 item# 8705938202 a very nice looking example of this rare specimen. In their item description they say "You are bidding on a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 this card is in great condition and BV is $6,000. it was given to me as a gift but it is time to sell it as times are tough with money. good luck". Well okay I can understand this everyone goes through money troubles in their lives. Now I am always curious to what sellers habits are so I do some simple searching. First I look at his profile and see that they have been very active purchasing items on eBay within the last few weeks. That is odd since they claim to be having money troubles. I come to find out that they have spent over $3000 in the last 2 months purchasing items on eBay. A further search reveals that they have bid on another Goudey Ruth (note: item bid on has been removed) from the same set, their last bid was $1045.00. Now I don't know about you, but this leads me to believe that the seller isn't a very honest person. If they are willing to lie about why they are selling a card are they not capable of lying as to it's authenticity? You decide.

This weeks list of questionable cards include:

Seller: loggersdoitinthewoods1 Another seller who sells legitimate graded cards but chooses to try and pass these off as maybe, could be, looks like. Well here is what they have to say "LOOKS LIKE A REPRINT BUT DOES NOT SAY REPRINT ANYWHERE ON THE CARD" Now I ask you how misleading is that? And why is it that in their other non graded vintgae listings that there are no disclaimers?
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1900 Ty Cobb Baseball Card item# 8707213296
1952 Mickey Mantle item# 8707213370

Seller: beechoe Item description " You are bidding on a 1933 Babe Ruth Goudey baseball card #144 ungraded. This card was found in a lot of 1909 T206 baseball cards during an estate sale in Sun City Ca. I only collect T206 cards, so this card and others like it are being sold here on ebay as is. That is the only background I have on this card, sorry. Check the scans for the condition of the card yourself. Due to a high number of emails I am adding to the description of this card. This item has not been graded. I do not know if it is a reprint or the real thing. "
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1933 Babe Ruth Goudey 144 item# 8706264483
1933 Lou Gehrig Goudey item# 8706266182
1938 Joe DiMaggio Goudey item# 8707554472
1957 Willie Mays Card 10 item# 8707992964
Babe Ruth American Carmel item# 8707557233
1959 Roger Maris item# 8707991600
1961 Roger Maris item# 8707992266
1957 Don Drysdale item# 8707993654

Seller: timetoliquidate Reported earlier this month for trying to sell off a bad Mantle. This person sells high end legeitmate collectibles and knows better. If you look at these fake Jordans being offered on ioffer.com you will notice the similarities.
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(2) Michael Jordan 1956 Fleer item# 8707131573

Seller: fordlightningfast In the Q&A section of the auction the seller says " The card looks very real to me, I bought it at a card show 5 yrs ago for $255. Doesnt say reprint anywhere on it but im not an expert." Now if you look a little bit at his purchases you find that on 8/28/05 our seller purchased a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan item# 5233400073 for $202.50. Is this the same card being reoffered after it was found to be a fake?'
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1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 item# 8707246512

Seller: tpbricky 0 Feedback a short 3day listing and this description should tell you all you need to know. "This is Michael Jordan's rookie card. It is the 1986 Fleer # 57. In price guides this card is very highly priced ($800US and up!). The card is in mint condition with no flaws that I can see. As you can see by the scan, the card is absolutely gorgeous. The corners are sharp, the centering is near perfect and the color is outstanding. It is because of these reason that I am selling the card as a reprint. It does not say reprint anywhere on the card. It is not out of focus like many of the reprints. However, since this came to me in a large collection, I cannot be sure it is real."
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Michael Jordan 1986 Jordan Fleer item# 8707913030

Seller: geneuine-k Has this to say " This card is not a reprint and does not say reprint anywhere on it ALL SALES ARE FINAL"
Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer item# 8708140881

A special thanks to timzcardz for research done on this weeks items.

We will update as necessary for now that's a wrap please remember our motto:

Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge!!

Update Sellers To Be Concerned About

Fraudulent cards have been being removed on a consistant basis on eBay because many of the sellers where not aquainted with the rules concerning authenticity disclaimers. Unfortunately even when sellers items have been removed or the seller has had their account closed, there is nothing that can be done to stop them from returning under a new ID or relisting the card as authentic. It seems that is the case, since recently there has been a proliferation of ungraded material being listed without the usual authenticity disclaimers.

The only way to protect yourself from these scammers is to be very leary of what you are buying and insist that the seller provide some type of guarantee as to the cards history and authenticity. Don't hesitate to ask questions by contacting the seller. If they are in anyway leary about providing some sort of guarantee that the card will be recogonized as authentic by one of the major graders I'd would say to you walk away. Currently on eBay there is a 52 Topps Mantle Graded PSA 1 which has been bid to $1875 with 7 days left. This alone should tell you that purchasing an ungraded version of this card that a seller claims to be in Near Mint condition is more than likely a fake.

This weeks " Sellers To Be Concerned About" list includes:

Seller: cky720 1 Day listing private auction, low feedback should I continue? Oh yeah wait they say " Ok....first and foremost as per ebay rules....I am selling this card as a reprint since I have no idea if its real or not. It DOES NOT say reprint anywhere on the card. The reason I am parting with this card is bacuse since Hurracaine Katrina, money here in Slidell Louisana has been scarce. I am in need of money to survive on." So this gives you the right to try and rob somebody?
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1952 Topps Mickey Mantle item# 8704459078

Seller: abreu53 Back in August our seller made a private purchase from 1stealinghome who we had reported in our August update for selling bad vintage cards including several 52' Topps Mantle's. Our seller clearly knows about grading services since if you check their current items you will notice a 62 Post Ceral Mantle Graded SGC 4 a 68 Topps Nolan Ryan RC Graded SGC NM7 and a 53 Topps Mantle that was returned color added by SGC.They currently also offering a 52 Mantle with this authenticity discalimer " The card is UNGRADED and by Ebay's bylaws I will be selling this card as a REPRINT. For any of you that have purchased off me before, I do send some of my cards to PSA and SGC for professional grading. However, I have heard far too many horror stories of people sending Mantles to be graded only to either get back a different card or mysteriously lose the card. So, I am not going to go down that road. That being said let me be upfront and honest with you in terms of what I DO KNOW about Mantles.As a reminder, being that this card is UNGRADED there are no guarantees in terms of authenticity. Please bear this in mind when bidding." Could it be the card that was purchased from 1stealinghome?
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52' Topps Mantle item# 8702387447

Seller: collector992003 0 Feedback is offering a BGS graded Bonds Rookie but doesn't have the common sense to send in their 53' Mantle?
53" Topps Mantle item # 8703474135

Seller: eubyer244444 50% Feedback a comforting thought. Is Offering a graded 69 Mantle but offers this disclaimer on the 52' " This card was bought in a lot, I have no time to send for grading. Due to ebays policy of ungraded/unknown authenticity I must sell this card as a reprint, but please take a look at the pictures and make a decision for yourself. "
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52' Topps Mantle item #8704080050

Seller: hrd2getkardz claims the 2 cards they sent into get graded buy PSA and GAI where returned due to trimming and where not slabbed. Now most sellers will provide a scan of the label from the grader, and PSA does in fact slab trimed cards they just label them authentic trimmed on the slab with no grade. A PSA authenticated trimmed 52' Mantle sold on eBay for $8200 recently.

51' Bowman Mantle item# 8702822458
1933 Babe Ruth Goudey item# 8702929333

Seller: steel$man Back in April made several purchases from NARUed seller starsforless who was a notorious provider of these cards.
Update Item Removed
52'Topps Mantle item #8701111016

That's it for this edition we will update as necessary. Thanks for reading and remember our motto

Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge!!