Steve Verkman

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Posted By: <b>Lentel</b><p>Can anyone give me any input on their dealing with steve verkman, recommendations or unsatisfactory dealings. He has a few cards I am interested in but want a little background info<br />thanks

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Posted By: <b>Rob Mckenzie</b><p>He bought a T213-3 Cheif Myers in vg/e from me on ebay about 4 years ago for $20. Verkman if you are reading this and still have that card I am prepared to offer you $45 for it.<br /><br />You should bid if you want the cards in the auction. Note the 10% bidding multiples when choosing your bid amounts. GL<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Dan Koteles</b><p>you'll be fine with Verkman ,he knows alot and has alot of goods.<br /><br />Good luck !

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/jphotos/042502_2178_1220_prv.gif">

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Posted By: <b>Bill Cornell</b><p>Kyle-<br /><br />Check out the search results for Steve Verkman and Clean Sweep - you'll get a lot of opinions.<br /><br />Bill

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Posted By: <b>tbob</b><p>that if a card's back is not shown, that you inquire as to paper loss. Also be on the alert for possible trimming as some of these dealers simply reduce the grade a grade ot two if a card is trimmed. Example- an excellent appearing card which is trimmed becomes a vg card. Example-an exmt appearing card becomes ex or vgex if it has back damage.<br />He's not the only dealer who does this but he has on occasion according to people who post here.

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Posted By: <b>Lee Behrens</b><p>My one dealing with them was winning 2 E107s, Cross & Criger. They somehow misplaced the Cross and shipped me a Criger that was not in the scan shown (amazing for how few of these cards there actually are). He offered me no compensation except that he woould take care of me next time. Needless to say there has been no next time.<br /><br />Lee

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Posted By: <b>Wesley</b><p>I won one W551 Babe Ruth card (described by Verkman as VG)and one 1928 F50 Tharps Babe Ruth card (described as VG). The W551 card had writing on the back. The Tharps card was trimmed.<br /><br />Steve was able to justify both cards. According to Steve, writing on the back card is normal and does not downgrade the card. Also according to Steve, trimmed cards can be described as VG. I disagreed with both explanations and returned the trimmed Tharps card.<br /><br />I have never purchased from him again.

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Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>Steve's an ok guy but a little dry. As far as buying from him I bought one E102 (Bender) as vg. I got it and it was trimmed. He said a card that was in ex but trimmed would be vg. I returned it and haven't bought anything since. I would still buy from him, as he has a good return policy, but would be aware of his grading. Can anyone say "Fritsch" ? later

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Posted By: <b>Paul</b><p>I've had several dealings with him. You have to be careful when buying blank back cards. He doesn't seem to think the condition of these cards matters very much. Also, His packaging of cards makes me wonder how they ever survived delivery. Other than that, so far I've had no major problems. Like many dealers, his grading is usually a grade or two better than what any of the "big three" grading companies would probably grade.

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Posted By: <b>J Levine</b><p>Definitely do a search on him...I have had some bad experiences with him related to a friend of mine and he eventually banned me from his site and auctions (just for sticking up for a friend). Be very wary.<br /><br />-Joshua

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Posted By: <b>Bottom of the Ninth</b><p>Usually overgrades. Alterations, like trimming, are considered flaws that merely affect the grade, rather than being described accurately. One could also conclude that to Steve, a card only has one side--the front. <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>card was actually dead on graded. Everything since I've sent back as dramatically overgraded. I'd probably not buy from him unless the cards were slabbed or admittedly in low grade.

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Posted By: <b>Robert</b><p>overgraded overgraded

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Posted By: <b>Mark Rios</b><p>OVER-graded...Way-Over.

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Posted By: <b>Steve</b><p>I have to say that I feel a football player on a short run play being piled on by every player of another team.<br /><br />Grading is subjective and will always be. What do I mean by this? If anyone on this board can take 10 cards at random graded by any of the grading services and find a consistent pattern, they must have some supernatural/psychic capabilities to see things that are not present to us mortals. My company's grading is as consistent as possible. We have always had (and have) consistent standards. This does not mean we can't make a mistake (we stock 28,000 items). <br /><br />Many people have referred to backs. This is my grading standards for back issues. For black back cards, we will grade something Ex or even Ex Plus with pencil or other very, very minute back damage (very light scrape). VG and VG-Ex cards may have minor writing on the back in ink and/or minor back damage. Grading servies have made back damage an issue that can lower a cards grade by two or three grades for a pinhole size scrape; that is their right and that is fine. As a collector since 1979, I do not see things that way. One thing we know for certain is that many major PSA and other graded card dealers buy items from us at full price and do very well getting them graded.<br /><br />The important point is this: anyone, at any time, can request (and will receive) a detailed description and scan when possible of any card in our inventory or auction. Cards purchased outright (we accept all major credit cards) have a 100% return policy. We also guarantee that every card we sell is authentic and will be graded by a major service. We literally have two or three cards per year (out of 60,000) rejected by a service; no one at this level can make this claim.<br /><br />At Clean Sweep, we stand for real cards at real prices. We cater to all ends of the hobby, from T206 commons for $15 to Old Judge Cabinets to Babe Ruth single signed baseballs. We also provide the largest (and best) scans on our website of any auction in the hobby. Finally, we are the only major auction house to offer free catalogs to members of this board.<br /><br />As a collector myself, I think this board is great; the people who have posted derogatory comments have all been responded to by me personally and there are unfortunately some things that two people will not agree about.<br /><br />Anyone that has any question about any card or item in our great current auction (www.csauctions.com) or vast online store inventory, may email us at 516 338 8557 for a very detailed condition description.

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Posted By: <b>Rhys</b><p>I have bought things from his store/at shows/and auctions. I have never been dissappointed and one Old Judge I bought from him was actually undergraded (bought as VG and it came back from SGC graded a 50). I dont have a problem with Steve, you just need to keep his grading in mind. That said, he is pretty consistant in his overgrading so just assume a card is a little worse than discribed, or ask lots of questions.<br /><br />I almost purchased a Marty Bergen 1899 Sporting News premium from him described as VG, but to be sure I called and found out that his "VG" was about my "Fair", so I didn't buy it and it was no big deal.<br /><br />Rhys

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Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>Very well put. If everyone reads your statement they will know exactly what to expect. I am assuming that writing on the back and trimming are about the same to you? Again, I have no problem if you want to have your own grading standards that are contrary to the rest of the collectors out here.....I think it's great that you came on here and made it known too. I will stick with the more generally accepted grading criteria for my dealings, but that's just me......AND that's what makes America great. We can agree to disagree and still be friends and/or civil to one another. good luck to you....and see ya at the National.....regards<br /><br />edited to say that SGC is very consistent although not perfect...and again for spelling

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Posted By: <b>Josh Evans</b><p>Steve Verkman is one of the few truly honest people in this business <br />If you posted this type of question about any dealer in this industry who has done the level of business that Steve has you would see the same kind of negative posts (a shame)<br />Maybe that in itself says something positive <br />Josh<br />

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Posted By: <b>Lee Behrens</b><p>Josh,<br /><br />I am only posting the situation that happened in my transaction with Steve. Steve did contact me as he stated in his post, but after 2 days I got zero response after I emailed him back, basically reexplaining the situation and why I feel the way I do. His response in this thread is that "the people who have posted derogatory comments have all been responded to by me personally and there are unfortunately some things that two people will not agree about." By not responding to my follow up sure doesn't do much for changing my mind. <br /><br />I was forwarned early on that people had bad dealings with him but I still gave him a chance, the situation was not good for me and nothing has happened, yet, to change my mind.<br /><br />There have been many dealers/sellers that have been questioned on this board if people have had good dealings with them they also come forward. What I don't see in the threads about Steve Verkman is a great amount of positives. I probably would buy from him in person being able to see the item, but anything other method to me is a risk.<br /><br />My biggest problem with my whole situation was the his handling a situation where I won 2 auctions, paid for them. I got neither of the cards in the auctions, one was lost and the other one was one that was not in the scan for the auction. He gave me a refund for the one they "lost" and when I informed them that I did not receive the card in the scan. I was told that "I would be taken care of next time".<br /><br />Why can't this by taken care of now?, because I certainly don't want to take a chance a second time.<br /><br />That's my beef with the situation,<br /><br />Lee

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>Steve is a good long time friend and a fair dealer. I have returned a piece or 2 over the many years we have been dealing but all were handled professionally and speedy. I continue to buy from him and bid in his auctions with complete confidence. If I am not happy, he will fix it, period. Unhappy customers do not return and Steve is nobody's dummy by any means! Finally, he is my best customer at every national, he cleans me out before most of you get through the door. Dan Mckee jr and Sr.

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Posted By: <b>Robert A</b><p>Steve.<br />I appreciate your response to this board.<br />robert a.

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Posted By: <b>Scott Elkins</b><p>The only regret I have dealing with Steve is not noticing the T210 Old Mill Jackson(s) he had for sale!

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Posted By: <b>Steve</b><p>Thanks for the support guys. If anyone needs any info on our auction (www.csauctions.com), it closes today at 6 PM EST to initial bidders.<br /><br />Cool cards include a Kalamazoo Bat, Old Judge Harry Wright and several Old Judge Cabinets, including a black mount.<br /><br />My final note on the Lee Behrens issue is this: he bid in an auction about a year and a half ago; we made a mistake on some E107 Cards (wrong picture, correct description or vice versa); Mr Behrens was offered an immediate refund with the acknowledgement that I would give him a good deal on his next purchase. He did not order anything again,which of course is his right.<br /><br /> I emailed him over the weekend about his most recent comments and he sent me a note that did not invite a reply. <br />I then emailed him again, at which point he mentioned that I should have refunded him the buyers premium since he did not want to return the E107 card. This is not our policy and frankly something I do not agree with; with that said, I understand Mr Behrens point but to ask for something a year and a half after a transaction and to constantly trash me on this board is to say the least impolite. <br /><br />If the situation were reversed and I purchased something from Mr Behrens on ebay (and the pic got mixed up) and was offered a refund immediately, I would either take the refund or keep the card. To insist ex-post facto on a 15% refund is really against the spirit of collecting and community that this board is all about. I feel like he is essentially holding me hostage to extort an additional refund.<br /><br />Steve Verkman<br /><br />www.csauctions.com<br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Jim Clarke</b><p>Clean Sweap has got many nice items in the auction closing tonight. I wish they would show more PICS of the backs. It's kinda nice to be able to deal with a company where you never have trouble talking to the boss... <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Lee Behrens</b><p>Steve, I in no way asked you for the 15% in the email exchange with you. I pointed out that the way it could have been handled to my satisfation at the time would be to have offered me the price of the auction without the "juice". I never asked to have that refunded at this time. This is who I felt it should have been handled at the time. You asked and I answered.<br /><br />If you have no such policy to refund any portion of a transaction how in the world are you suppose to take care of someone later. I have asked you this question in all the email exchanges on the issue and you have never given an answer. I don't understand why you have not once answered that question.<br /><br />If I would have sent the one card that i actually received in the 2 auctions I won and paid for, got the full refund on both cards. I would be out the postage and nothing to show for it. I did everything right in your auction on my end but you did very little right on your end. I am very open to settleing the matter but you have never answered my questioned and assumed alot. <br /><br />If this would have been taken care right away, this would not have even got to this point. The initial phone call to the problems with the auctions I won, was very matter of fact, "we seem to have lost the card you won in the auction". We will give you a refund on the card. That I could not figure out how you lose a card in an auction and not be very remorseful. It made it sound like this happens too often. <br /><br />You tell me what a buyer is to do when a seller does not uphold his end of the transaction and you have as the buyer? <br />All you basically told me is sorry, I'll give you a full refund but your out the postage.<br /><br />Steve it would be nice to hear a response on this board to the simple question I have asked that you don't want to give me answer to.<br /><br />When saying "you are going to take care of someone later", what exactly does that mean? and why would anyone who's first dealing is my situation, have another dealing with someone have another transaction after going thru my situation? <br /><br />You did not hold up your end of your auctions, and basically did nothing to rectify the matter on your end.<br /><br />I jsut ask for a fair shake, and have done or said nothing that is not factual in this dealing with you.<br /><br />I am open to resolution but you never replied to my return emails.<br />Lee<br />