If you commit to buying, don’t come up with lame excuses for backing out……

[Mark17]

I figured he was just backing out, but thought my offer would remove any excuse he might have. So by him refusing it (assuming he does,) at least that seems to be established.

I certainly know your name as a highly respected GU collector and subject matter expert. I used to love the GUU forum pre-Goldin. I'll PM my phone number. If you have a few minutes to call and chat sometime, that would be great. Probably only 1% of us on this forum are mainly GU collectors, and you're one of the tops in the field.

[JimmyC]

Mark - thanks for the very kind words….off to bed, but I’ll look for your message and will reach out tomorrow if that works for you….thanks again….

Jim

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by Mark17

I used to love the GUU forum pre-Goldin.

I keep hoping someone will eventually take over GUU and bring it back to its old glory. GUU is the reason I switched from card collecting to GU memorabilia. The knowledge of those guys was amazing. We need a dedicated website for GU. I wonder what Chris Cavalier is doing now? Last I knew, he was with Heritage Auctions, but he wasn’t there long.

[Smanzari]

Holy cow - do buyers typically ask for this stuff? I've probably done 6-figures worth in deals here since I started and I don't think any of these ever came up (sans sharing my eBay name once or twice). I do mostly avoid gift payments (unless we've done previous business), and if I do send one, I will put it on a credit card

Originally Posted by JimmyC

Before he would remotely agree to pay ( he would send via goods and services but my listing clearly states net and I wasn’t paying fees ) I sent / provided:

* provided three references out here on Net54 to sales I have made including a $2000 item - an $800 item and a local Net54 buyer who I have done a couple deals with ( several hundred dollars and around $1,000 in total )and met personally…also have numerous other sales out here…
* sent links to my history as a game used bat expert on Game Used Universe
* my 100% perfect feedback on eBay with 2,444 transactions
* link to auction item I consigned with Robert Edwards with my COA and in which the auction company cited my background and expertise….one of many items I consigned with REA over the years WITH MY COA in the lot description and pictures - a Jim Caravello COA…..I answer game used bat and jersey questions daily / weekly via email and write COAs regularly….
* My Company’s business website and my personal profile where I have 2 professional business licenses that require ethics classes each year as part of my continuing education
* Indicated I was more than happy to jump on a phone call as well to get him comfortable with the $625 deal…

[maniac_73]

Originally Posted by 3arod13

I keep hoping someone will eventually take over GUU and bring it back to its old glory. GUU is the reason I switched from card collecting to GU memorabilia. The knowledge of those guys was amazing. We need a dedicated website for GU. I wonder what Chris Cavalier is doing now? Last I knew, he was with Heritage Auctions, but he wasn’t there long.

I’ve actually been asking to buy it but have had no response from the owners. Agreed we need a GU forum


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by maniac_73

I’ve actually been asking to buy it but have had no response from the owners. Agreed we need a GU forum


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow! That's great to know there is interest of others to want to bring back GUU or a site similar. Love cards, but GU just doesn't get the love it should.
Thanks! Tony

[Batman]

Wholeheartedly agree with this. GUU was a great site. Need it back.

[Mark17]

I met Mike Specht and Dave Grob on GUU. What wonderful guys, and so generous with their time and knowledge! And another treat was Bud Hillerich (of the famous bat making family) dropping in regularly to answer specific questions about bat order records. I have a Terry Felton GU bat, which is a real oddity because in the days of the DH, why would an AL pitcher on a team never close to post season play need his own bat? Bud answered my question, citing Felt's 2 orders of 2 bats each, pinpointing my bat down to the exact date it was ordered.

Those were fun days. Chris was a good guy too.

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by Mark17

I met Mike Specht and Dave Grob on GUU. What wonderful guys, and so generous with their time and knowledge! And another treat was Bud Hillerich (of the famous bat making family) dropping in regularly to answer specific questions about bat order records. I have a Terry Felton GU bat, which is a real oddity because in the days of the DH, why would an AL pitcher on a team never close to post season play need his own bat? Bud answered my question, citing Felt's 2 orders of 2 bats each, pinpointing my bat down to the exact date it was ordered.

Those were fun days. Chris was a good guy too.

I check in on GUU daily, hoping to see somebody post. No activity. Brian Hillerich helped me with a few of my Arod bats. He was always willing to help anyone.

I remember when I first joined GUU. Just like many sites, when you're the new kid on the block, not much love. Got beat down over and over when I thought I knew what I was talking about. It was tough love, but that's how I learned and what made me want to pursue GU.

Fingers crossed it becomes a reality one day!

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by 3arod13

I check in on GUU daily, hoping to see somebody post. No activity. Brian Hillerich helped me with a few of my Arod bats. He was always willing to help anyone.

I remember when I first joined GUU. Just like many sites, when you're the new kid on the block, not much love. Got beat down over and over when I thought I knew what I was talking about. It was tough love, but that's how I learned and what made me want to pursue GU.

Fingers crossed it becomes a reality one day!

Yes, his name was Brian, not Bud. He used to get asked dozens of questions a month it seemed, and he answered every one. Mike Sphect had access to some of the shipping records and did likewise when he could. It really was a community.

But yes, I remember when somebody would post a picture of an item that wasn't right... there were people ready to bluntly opine what was wrong. Sometimes a couple of knowledgeable collectors would get into a disagreement, and I'd learn so much just reading their back and forth about why something was or wasn't correct.

I believe the whole "photo matched" thing originated at GUU, or at least, that was where it really took hold. One time Tim Byington posted a Bob Allison bat he had - and it was a clear photo match to the bat Allison was holding on a major magazine cover (Sport or Sports Illustrated.)

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Yes, his name was Brian, not Bud. He used to get asked dozens of questions a month it seemed, and he answered every one. Mike Sphect had access to some of the shipping records and did likewise when he could. It really was a community.

But yes, I remember when somebody would post a picture of an item that wasn't right... there were people ready to bluntly opine what was wrong. Sometimes a couple of knowledgeable collectors would get into a disagreement, and I'd learn so much just reading their back and forth about why something was or wasn't correct.

I believe the whole "photo matched" thing originated at GUU, or at least, that was where it really took hold. One time Tim Byington posted a Bob Allison bat he had - and it was a clear photo match to the bat Allison was holding on a major magazine cover (Sport or Sports Illustrated.)

Hard to say when and where "photomatching" originated as part of the overall hobby, but it was a thing among game worn hockey collectors for a while before GUU was created. I'd venture to say that game worn hockey collecting community has been ahead of the rest of the game worn collecting communities in a number of ways.

[Vintagedeputy]

Originally Posted by Mark17

I believe the whole "photo matched" thing originated at GUU, or at least, that was where it really took hold.

I actually thought that it was me that started it at Game Used Universe.

I had a Jorge Posada bat that I purchased from someone in Canada and they gave me the exact game in which they obtained it. I went back and watched it on TV and took photos (with an actual camera!) of Posada holding the bat in the dugout and matched up the grain on my bat to the photos. I posted about it and explained how I did it and people thought it was cool. Very shortly thereafter, there were people on the site offering photo matching services for a fee.

[Vintagedeputy]

Originally Posted by 3arod13

We need a dedicated website for GU..

Game Used Authority popped up about a year ago. It’s a bit different than GUU and hasn’t really become well known yet.

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by Vintagedeputy

Game Used Authority popped up about a year ago. It’s a bit different than GUU and hasn’t really become well known yet.

Yeah, I’m a member, but it’s not interactive enough. Mostly, items are posted for all to look at. You can’t make treads, but you can make a comment in their chat or blog. Sharing information and helping each other is what it’s all about.

Talking about hockey, I’m amazed how much hockey stuff is posted on their site. I had no clue of the amount of hockey collectors.

Hockey posted: 9,030
Baseball posted: 3,638

[JimmyC]

Originally Posted by 3arod13

Yeah, I’m a member, but it’s not interactive enough. Mostly, items are posted for all to look at. You can’t make treads, but you can make a comment in their chat or blog. Sharing information and helping each other is what it’s all about.

Talking about hockey, I’m amazed how much hockey stuff is posted on their site. I had no clue of the amount of hockey collectors.

Hockey posted: 9,030
Baseball posted: 3,638

Hockey is off the charts….been collecting GU hockey for years….there are a ton of collectors out there…..way more than baseball / football / basketball……not even close…

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by JimmyC

Hockey is off the charts….been collecting GU hockey for years….there are a ton of collectors out there…..way more than baseball / football / basketball……not even close…

Jim,

Blew me away! I had no idea hockey collecting was so huge. Good for hockey!

Tony

[JimmyC]

That’s individually - meaning hockey is bigger than the other 3 individually with baseball a very close second…..you have to remember how large hockey is as a sport across the world….and for a long time….

I’ve been fortunate to correspond with collectors in Finland, Russia and Canada to name a few…..

Try to buy a 1980 USA Russia ticket these days…..very expensive…