Sports Memorabilia Auction Concerns & Knowledge

Welcome to SMACK an Auction Watch Page. This page is meant to educate and warn buyers of possibly fraudelent memorabilia auctions listed on the internet everyday. You are welcome to have us review and post auctions so that others maybe warned. If you as a seller have been mentioned please feel free to defend yourself. Disclaimer: Anything posted here is an opinion and in no way represents that what is being offered for sale is fake, just questionable. Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge !

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Update Sellers To Be Concerned About

Old wax, something most of wish we had. Most of us who collect wish we had socked away an old wax pack or ten. Unfortunately we didn't and we would love to open some today, and find a pristine Jordan Rookie or whatever other sports superstar card we like to own. It is sad to say that some people will take advantage of this fact and put together their own wax. This is yet another reason the novice or any collector needs to do their homework before plunking down their cash. Here is a prime example of what I mean. Seller subrina111002 is selling 1986 Fleer Wax Packs Item# 5233844051 These packs sell anywhere between $150 - $250 ungraded. There is a good feedback rating of 99.8%, so on the surface there is a comfort level unless you start digging. After a little searching into what the seller has been buying we came up with this. On 6/21/05 subrina purchased a 1986 Fleer was Box item# 5209636500 empty! Now that in itself should raise a little bit of a red flag but upon further invstigation we found the seller had also purchased 1986 Fleer Wrappers With Gum item# 5171826992 on 3/10/05. She also happens to be selling 1986 Fleer Basketball cards 123/132 . Now is this all coincedence? I really find hard to believe that it is.

This type of activity is happening more and more each day and it is easy to find if you take the time and look into your seller and ask questions and opinions from informed parties. This will save you the agrevation of getting ripped off. Now without further delay we bring this you weeks "Sellers To Be Concerned About".

Seller: scalp2 They tell us "1933 Goudey Gum Co. Babe Ruth #181. Purchased Mar. 5, '05 From seller who earned 110 feedback score and positives 100%. There were 23 bids on the card, which sold for $504.99". Okay so now we need to go look at what seller he bought from on or near March 5th. Well we found this on March 28th scalp finished a transaction with garybev45 who was a known seller of this type of cardboard had 110 feedback rating and is now NARUed. Notice most of garybevs transactions where private listings.
1933 Babe Ruth Goudey #181 Item# 5233488343

Seller: brumleyman Brumley is a profesional ager. By that we mean he likes to age cards himself and sell them to the public. Were once purchased they make their way back to the market place as possibly authentic. So if you are looking at any pre war items and see his name in the sellers Feedback run. He also has a grading company grade some of his other cards, which upon further inspection we found out that their phone number was listed to a private residence in Long Island. This week he offers this
1933/1934 Goudey Sports Kings With Babe Ruth item# 5231768624

Seller: evilloki1 Says " I am not an expert or and authenticator so I have to sell as a reprint" Yet is selling a PSA OJ Simpson, PSA Jerry Rice , and a PSA Joe Montana RC .
Update Item Removed
Babe Ruth Goudey #144 item# 5233754915

Seller: chino975 Has this to tell us " I found this Jordan Rookie along with several other 86-87 Fleer basketball cards in my older brothers card collection he left behind when he moved out. I know very little about basketball and Football cards and I only collect baseball cards. So to follow ebay rules I have to list this card as reprint even though it doesnt say copy or reprint on it." But a quick look at the people he has purchased cards from will show that he has done numerous transactions with notorious sellers of bad Jordans. Noteable names like ripkenhof7 sold at least 8 Jordans we know of, these being the last ones 7/21/05, 8/17/05 before we had some removed through our reporting.
Update Item Removed
1986 Fleer Jordan #57 Item# 5232745598

Seller:
ksmnkdm Says "You are looking at a Mickey Mantle topps # 200.played for the NY Yankees in 1963.these cards are not graded.the card has a flaw in the left corner." The item has a flaw okay, but it's not the corner it's the back. Now what is wrong with this picture?

A little on the white side don't you think? Since 63' Topps Backs are this color


Mantle Topps 200/1963 item# 5233604831

Till next time please remember our motto

Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge!!

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Update Sellers To Be Concerned About

In our last post we emphasized the importance of doing your home work on sellers. With the amount of money you as a collector has at stake you need to be as sure as possible about what you are bidding on. This is why we highly suggest not buying any vintage cards that are not graded by the major card grading services. (BVG/BGS,PSA,SGC,GAI) Even when looking at items that have been slabbed by these graders please make sure that you check the certificate numbers with the grading company.

This weeks list of sellers you need to wary of include:

Seller: bscott703 Update Seller NARUedOur seller has this to say "I RECIEVED THIS CARD ALONG WITH MANY OTHER NICE CARDS , I DO NOT KNOW THE HISTORY ON THIS CARD, AND HAS NOT BEEN GRADED BY A GRADING COMPANY. THIS CARD LOOKS NICE IN MY OPINION,, BUT THAT DOESNT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU, ALL THAT COUNTS IS YOUR OPINION SO SEE THE PICTURES OF THE EXACT CARD YOU ARE BIDDING ON AND YOU BE THE JUDGE .PER EBAY POLICY I WILL BE SELLING THIS CARD AS A REPRINT EVEN THOUGH IT APPEARS TO BE AUTHENTIC. SOLD AS IS, NO RETURNS." If you did your homework you see that he has sold 3 1952 Topps Mantle's in the last month. Now how many of these can one collector have?
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Item# 5231954418

Seller: jasta mom Our seller claims card "has never been displayed". Probably true, but if you have followed our blog you know that she more than likely got this card from a notorious seller of bad Jordan's
outdasouth99who has had several 86 Fleer # 57 Jordan's removed and has now resorted to selling them in mystery boxes. Which he claims contain " FIRST HINT ONE CONTENT IS WORTH OVER $700.00 AND IS VERY FRAGILE AND COMES FROM 1986" So you decide if our evidence is coincedence . Update Item Removed
1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 Item# 5231740703

Seller: 10adaysportscards This seller claims this " I can not tell if this is a reprint or not, I have never seen one besides this. As for Ebay's Policy I am listing this as a reprint." But upon further review we find this BABE RUTH SPORTKING CARD purchased on 7/17/05 from cheapoldcards who is currently suspended from selling bogus cardboard till he shows up again in a different disguise. 10aday is that how many bogus items you are trying to sell per day?
Update Item Removed
Babe Ruth 1933 Sports Kings Item# 5231277332

Seller: lock6772 This seller is breaking my heart she says " This card belonged to my husbands father who passed away in 1993 due to throat cancer. I am not sure where his father got the card. We only know that if it meant something to him, then he made sure he took very good care of it. His father was a survivor of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and if you know what that is then you know how lucky his father was to even live to the year 1993. We have had this card since his father passed away and the only reason we are even attempting to sell it is the fact that we really just need the money. My husband is disabled and I have been trying to sell here on ebay for awhile but sales have not been that great during this summer, and with 3 kids and bills to pay, you have to do what you have to do." But then she is smart enough to buy PSA graded cards and needs money? Then why is she still bidding? She's made over $1000 in purchases in the last 2 months, and who are the girly mags for? I am sorry if I am ranting here, but this person is the worst type of slime, using all the tricks of the trade.
1933 Babe Ruth Goudey Item# 5230935567

Seller: mandorenee "SELLING BABE RUTH BASEBALL CARD FOR A FRIEND.DONT HAVE TOO MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH BASEBALL CARDS,SELLING AS IS WITH NO RESERVE" Not sure? Then don't sell it till you are. Update Items Removed
1933 Babe Ruth Goudey Item# 5231964983
1954 TOPPS HANK AARON #128 Item# 5231952808
1909-1910 Wagner Carmel Item# 5231959138
Mayo Plug Cap Anson Item# 5231972361

Seller: prosellers1200 "I'M SELLING A VERY NICE 1952 MICKEY MANTLE ROOKIE CARD #311. I BOUGHT THIS CARD SEVERAL YEARS AGO AT AN ESTATE SALE. I'VE NEVER SENT IT OUT TO GET GRADED TO PROVE ITS AUTHENTICITY FOR FEAR OF POSSIBLY LOSING IT. I'M NOT AN EXPERT BUT TO ME THIS CARD LOOKS GOOD. IN ACCORDANCE WITH EBAYS RULES IT HAS TO BE SOLD AS A REPRINT?? SINCE IT IS BEING SOLD AS IS, ALL SALES WILL BE FINAL" If there isn't enough in that description to scare you off, then I don't know what will. So that we get a good handle on this guy he wouldn't send the Mantle to be graded but he sent this to PRO 86 Fleer Jordan
Update Item Removed
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Item# 5232093857

Seller:
!scooter! The usual item description " I found a bunch of older cards at a yard sale,so they will be sold as REPRINTS.I do not know the history of where the cards came from so there is no gaurantee they are real,so bid accordingly." That and the fact the he has purchased cards from usedmart , a NARU ed seller of bogus cards, gives you confidence in these items.Update Items Removed
1941 Playball Joe Dimaggio Item# 5230165949
1933 Goudey Lot Item# 5230169780
1909 T206 Lot Cobb LaJoie Item# 5230238389

That's it for now and remember ,

Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge!!

Monday, August 08, 2005

Doing Your Homework

Sellers of bogus material will tell you anything in their item description to have you bid on their bogus garbage. Seller hopenel Update Item Removed Seller NARU ed tells us this story on a 52' Mantle item# 5225574662 he sold on 8/5/05 " This card was bought on ebay 2 years ago I never had a chance to get it graded and since I just got married I'm selling my whole collection". Today he comes back with another '52 Mantle item#55282622001 and says "HELLO your bidding on a 1952 topps mantle this is the first one i owned it was bought at the monroeville expo mart in pittsburgh 4 years ago." On 7/27/05 he had another 52'Mantle removed for violations of eBay's authenticity disclaimer policy. Item #5224126883 and cliamed "this card was bought at a show in New York." Now how many 52' Mantle's can one seller have? This is why it is important for you the consummer to do your homework on sellers of Vintage Cards. One simple way is to do an advanced search for what your seller has been buying and selling over the last 30 days. Here is the step by step process:
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Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Another way is to talk to collectors about what you intend to purchase, there are many boards on the net that have experienced collectors who will be glad to give advice and opinions on the card board in question. Here are a couple you might try:



Vintage Baseball Card Forum

Have fun and please remember our motto

"Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge!!!"

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Update Sellers To Be Concerned About

Now that eBay has realized that there is a problem in the Vintage Card category it is up to the consumer more than ever to help try and stop fraudulent sellers . On the right hand side of this page there is a link for reporting possibly bogus items. When you spot one simply copy the item number and click the link, there is a reporting link on the eBay page where you can just paste the number and report the auction. Also of note eBay has announced plans to add a report feature to auction pages, this will, make the reporting of such items much easier.

The scammers mostly are stopped due to listing violations in the form of authenticity disclaimers. A few of the more popular ones are:
  • I cannot guarantee the authenticity of this item, so please bid accordingly
  • I am selling this card as a reprint but, not sure
  • Because it is not graded I can not gaurantee it to be authentic
  • This card is ungraded and sold as such
  • Per eBay rules this card is ungraded and must be sold as such
The last discalimer is probably the number one violation I see in most bogus auctions There is no such eBay rule. Also note that the scammers are getting smart to the rules and are now just plain saying that the card is authentic but implying no guarantee, so be careful what you bid on. That said, this weeks list includes:

Seller: vintage-exclusives Private Feedback and a list of cards we would all like to own. And to quote this seller" Card does not seem to be original but still looks great and is not labeled as a reproduction anywhere on the card. "
Update All Items Removed Seller NARUed
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle item#5225369071
1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan item# 5224544162
1954 Topps #128 Henry Hank Aaron item# 5225370047
1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan ROOKIE item# 5225372395
1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle item# 5225373147

Seller: 1stealinghome Update Seller NARUedThis seller has had numerous items removed but continues to comeback with more. This week he brings us, "Another gorgeous card from a Farm Auction that I attended"
1933 Goudey (R319) Lou Gerhig #160 item# 522188300
1933 Goudey Napoleon (Larry) LaJoie #106 item# 5226188308
1940 Play Ball #225 "Shoeless" Joe Jackson item# 5226188328
1948 - 49 LEAF LeRoy (Satchel) Paige item# 5226188339
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle # 253 item# 5526188352
1959 Topps #564 Mickey Mantle All-Star item# 5526188391
1963 Pete Rose #537 RC item# 5526188410
1963 Topps # 200 Mickey Mantle item# 5226188424
1971-72 Topps Lew Alcindor Card #100 item# 5226188432
1971-72 Topps Wilt Chamberlain #70 item# 5226188452
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Rookie Card item# 5226191907

Seller:
jimbom1234 Not the first time jim has graced out pages. Come to us with this disclaimer: "Card is ungraded and is being sold as is. No refunds will be issued on ungraded cards."
1956 Hank Aaron Topps #31 item# 5224245557

Seller:
19099 This one says " This card is in good condition. I am selling this card as a reprint but, not for sure, I bought the card from a Flea Market, No one knows."
1953 Topps Mickey Mantle #82 + Lot of Extras item# 5226116638

Seller:
manningrcs69 Owns a Jordan for 10 years and has not had it graded?
1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie #57 item# 5225811033

Seller: maniasports123 0 Feedback and this says it all "All Sales Are FINAL!!!! NO EXCEPTIONS and No REFUNDS"
Update Item Removed Seller NARUed

Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer #57 item# 5224992026

Seller: alan223344 Says his card should be graded. Really? So why doesn't he get it graded?
Update Item Removed

Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie item# 5224910924

Seller: 520mamm This warms my heart let's teach the kids to be crooks!!!!! "This is for a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan basketball card number 57. I found a box of cards at a garage sale and gave them to my oldest son. He asked me to sell this one and told me it was worth a lot of money. So I am doing him a favor. I researched the card and found out that there are a lot of fake ones available. I have no idea how to tell what is real and what is fake." If you have no idea don't sell it!!!!!
Update Item Removed
Fleer 1986 Michael Jordan Basketball item# 5226039915

Seller:
dt1289 Fresh off the press"This card is in excellent condition other than slight discoloration spot on bottom left hand corner that was created during printing."
Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer item# 5223835962

Seller:
scooter8215 Update Items Removed Seller NARUedSold this 1952 Mantle it looks like to himself . Now comes back and says " DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT GRADING BUT ID SAY OH I GUESS MAYBE A 2 OR 3 ON THE GRADING SCALE."
1952 TOPPS # 311 MICKEY MANTLE item#5226002448

Seller: tonk98 Gives us this stained 52' Mantle.
1952 TOPPS MICKEY MANTLE #311 item# 5225302899

Seller: trademart2004 This guy owns a gaming store but has no clue to get this card graded? Yeah okay tell me another one.
1953 TOPPS MICKEY MANTLE YANKEES item# 5224956080

That's our line up for now. Please do your research and remember:

Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge!!


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