solution to ethical problems?

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Posted By: Mark Evans

Much discussion recently has concerned ethical problems in the hobby. Perhaps a partial solution to these problems might be the establishment of a trade association of card and memorabilia dealers that would develop and enforce a code of ethics. Assuming sufficient resources were devoted to this effort, the association might also mediate disputes that arise between member-dealers and collectors.

I mention this mostly out of self-interest as I'm looking for a job. [I'd put a smiley face here if I knew how.] Mark

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Posted By: Richard Simon

The autograph industry has two trade associations which help to monitor the autograph hobby. They have had some success in mediation and policing.
Where there is a will, there is a way.
This is an excellent idea for the sports memorabilia business.

Richard Simon

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Posted By: Stufflestreet, Chris

I remember that there was chatter in some of the hobby magazines in 1988-'89 about setting up a trade association like the one discussed here made up of dealers and hobby people to oversee ethical issues...a "BBB" for the hobby, as it was. It seemed one of the articles stated that the group would be set up "fairly soon."

I don't recall ever seeing one established. Does anyone know what happened to that organization? Did it get established? If so, why did it fail to get recognized around the hobby?

I am in agreeement that the hobby should have this type of group, but it would be good to understand why previous efforts failed before getting another one underway.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

A practical way would be to have an association that dealers and collectors can apply to belong to. The dealer would have to apply to belong and be approved. A board of ethical and knowledgeable people would oversee and handle disputes. There would be required ethical standards to belong-- ala what is required return policy/guarnatee, required you disclose you own something if you provide LOA, whatever else. Those who break the standards would no longer be a member and could no longer say they are a member. This would mean collectors could see that a dealer belongs to the association in good standing, and see the association's list to find member dealers. The collector could read and know the code of conduct required to belong and know that a seller has to this or that under this or that situation.

The group's board or outside consultants would include experts in their field (baesball cards, books, post-war baseball cards, photos, etc), who could assess and advise well the issues in a particular area (authenticity, saying such and such is a fake, standards, disputes, etc). If there's a question about the sale of a dubious book, it would be essential to have an expert who can tell the board if the board is genuine or fake and how those items are ordinarilly described in auction.

The group would have a newsletter, website or other mode of communication to inform and otherwise help collectors on standards, authenticity, etc. A better informed collecting public is always desirable. The newsletter could deal with pressing issues of the day.

Policing the hobby and overseeing major hobby disputes likely would be a pain in the toots. What would be doable would be having a formal group of dealers and collectors who are approved and required to stick of a series of concrete standards and letting collectors be able to pick a dealer who belongs to the group. The collector could read the list of standards, say "These are the standards for me" and be glad the can pick dealers who are required to follow them ... Of course there will be collectors who still choose to buy from dealers who say "No guarantees given or implied. Absolutely no returns or refunds. I am moving to Tazmania the day after you pay with no foreward address." But the group would not be intended to be a baby sitting service for every person who can plug in the computer or have it plugged in for him or her.

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Posted By: Julie

is that NOBODY be given a standing "O.K." on everything he sells. Good guys go bad and bad guys go good, too, at the drop of as hat! Yes, to have such an organization, and have dealers,collectors, prestigeous or small, belong to it--meaning they are willing to submit disputed items to arbitration--would be a great boon.

Now if we could only figure out how to keep the arbitrators straight! The power of the $$$...