Bill Goodwin/Heartland sued by consignor for 250K

[Peter_Spaeth]

Presented without comment.

https://www.stltoday.com/business/lo...318dec389.html

ST. LOUIS — A federal lawsuit filed claims a Sunset Hills-based dealer of sports memorabilia failed to forward $250,000 to the seller of rare baseball cards.

The suit filed Tuesday says that in May, Bill Goodwin of Heartland Sport Cards and Memorabilia accepted on consignment at least 33 valuable baseball cards, including ones featuring "baseball legends Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, and Babe Ruth."

The auction closed in July, and the owner of the cards, Gerald Sullivan of Bowling Green, Kentucky, was owed at least $250,000, due by Sept. 4, the suit says.

Goodwin or Heartland didn't pay, but eventually signed a promissory note agreeing to pay $266,000 by Dec. 15, including $6,000 to Sullivan's lawyers at Husch Blackwell.

Goodwin only made the first $10,000 payment, the suit says.

Goodwin could not be immediately reached for comment.

[Rhotchkiss]

I saw that. SMH. You play with snakes, you get bit.

[mrreality68]

I have had only 1 dealing with his auction house. I won an item and it took a really long time to get it from his auction house.
I was a little worried about it because of people had mixed reviews about him and his overall reputation is not the best.
The communication was there but seemed like so many excuses. He was traveling, picking up cards, making purchases,etc. However, I eventually received it and the item was packaged well.
Not sure if I would want to go thru that again. The purchase was a card I really wanted/needed but it was not small and I did stress for an extended time about it even though it worked out in the end

[Casey2296]

REA, LOTG, Heritage, Scott, etc. there are AH's with impeccable integrity that will treat your consignment like it is your child. Not victim blaming but do a little research, ask around, and make a phone call so you can vet the guy you're sending 250K to.
I've bought cards from Goodwin but I was certainly alerted by members here about his reputation. Just another reminder if you're in the pre war game you should be a part of this sub.

[Shoeless Moe]

Does Goodwin have a gambling problem?

Anybody know him personally.

I'm sure the winners paid, so where did that money go?

[FrankWakefield]

I've known Dr Sullivan personally for about 25 years. He started collecting about 1950ish. He was big on having two of everything, so he'd have one to trade when if needed. He bought and sold T206s back when they'd go for a dollar or so, less than what we pay for postage on our little packages nowadays.

Doc Emailed me today about Goodwin not following through with the settlement.

Doc is how I met Bill Goodwin. Doc had sold cards with him for maybe close to 20 years, this latest consignment wasn't a "first time" "unvetted" transaction. Years back I sold an N172 Delehanty in nice shape through Bill. And then later a T210 Stengel. I trusted Bill from this, along with knowing Doc had trust in Bill from past significant transactions. I met up with Doc that day Bill picked up the most recently consigned cards, to get a card Doc wanted to give me, and to show Doc a backstamped T206 card that I'd just received. The backstamp has Doc's name and Lexington, Ky address from back when he was a kid, buying and selling cards through the mail, with guys who were in the ballcard Olympus of that time.

I hope Doc's attorneys recover what's owed on that settlement note.

[chadeast]

This reminded me of this thread from 2020 regarding Heartland and a highly questionable decision to email out usernames and passwords unencrypted

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=280571

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

I've known Dr Sullivan personally for about 25 years. He started collecting about 1950ish. He was big on having two of everything, so he'd have one to trade when if needed. He bought and sold T206s back when they'd go for a dollar or so, less than what we pay for postage on our little packages nowadays.

Doc Emailed me today about Goodwin not following through with the settlement.

Doc is how I met Bill Goodwin. Doc had sold cards with him for maybe close to 20 years, this latest consignment wasn't a "first time" "unvetted" transaction. Years back I sold an N172 Delehanty in nice shape through Bill. And then later a T210 Stengel. I trusted Bill from this, along with knowing Doc had trust in Bill from past significant transactions. I met up with Doc that day Bill picked up the most recently consigned cards, to get a card Doc wanted to give me, and to show Doc a backstamped T206 card that I'd just received. The backstamp has Doc's name and Lexington, Ky address from back when he was a kid, buying and selling cards through the mail, with guys who were in the ballcard Olympus of that time.

I hope Doc's attorneys recover what's owed on that settlement note.

Thanks for the perspective Frank

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Sigh

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Sigh

Scott

I think you summarized it the best

Sigh

[FrankWakefield]

Every thread deserves a card...

[RedsFan1941]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Sigh

bill flunked auction school

[Exhibitman]

Man had an ethical bypass at birth.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Shoeless Moe

Does Goodwin have a gambling problem?

Anybody know him personally.

I'm sure the winners paid, so where did that money go?

I don't think he has a gambling problem, but he may have a Disneyland problem.

Sure hope the consignor is able to recover what is owed him.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I don't think he has a gambling problem, but he may have a Disneyland problem.

Sure hope the consignor is able to recover what is owed him.

thats funny!

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I don't think he has a gambling problem, but he may have a Disneyland problem.

Sure hope the consignor is able to recover what is owed him.

+1 agreed with the cards sold the buyer is not effected but hopefully the consignor is made whole.

And hopefully Goodwin gets some help he needs if he needs it.

[Exhibitman]

I can only judge him from my dealings but I think I have some idea of what happens. I offered to consign a group of good but not great cards to him, years ago. He offered to guarantee their performance in his auction. They did not sell for what we agreed on and he had to pay the balance from his pocket. If he was doing that with me for a few middling cards worth maybe $1,000 at the time I can only imagine the guarantees he extended to get marquee cards. I bet he has to rob Peter to pay Paul when it comes to paying off his consignors at the guaranteed levels, so he pays the ones who bitch first then waits on cash flow to pay the rest.

It has to be exhausting to run a business that way. I don't have the patience to put up with all the BS his way of doing business causes. I mean lawyers, threats of lawsuits, lies: ugh!

[Jason]

I swear I have heard of him floating other consignors payouts before a few years back on this site.