You have to read this positive story about STAT AUTHENTIC...OMG

[tinkereversandme]

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news...pproval-1.html

I'm speechless...where does one begin?

Regards,

Larry

[GrayGhost]

One begins by drinking a Cyanide laced glass of arsenic. What a Fiasco. Two of the biggest crooks with fakes, and their partner in slime, Morales. And that company on another thread, thats Coach's coma south.

LOL and cry both at the line by Trythall, that there are a lot of forgeries out there.

[paul]

If you can't trust the Bucks County Courier Times, who can you trust?

[danc]

My question to STAT is, when they appraise stuff, do they appraise it at the prices that their stuff would sell for, or the price it would sell for if another auction house handled it and if other authenticators gave it the thumbs up?

And so Stevens worked the retail portion of a museum and therefore he can help a guy who worked for a baseball card company authenticate Sitting Bull and Abraham Lincoln?

Funniest article of the year so far and I don't think humor was the intent of this article. That's the sign of some fine journalism, lady.

DanC

[Leon]

A quote from the article

"Unless you saw the items signed, it's an opinion," Stevens said. "We sell our opinion, based on our names and credentials."


So that must be the reason their "authenticated" items sell for so much less than other, more reputable, authenticators.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by Leon

A quote from the article

So that must be the reason their "authenticated" items sell for so much less than other, more reputable, authenticators.

Well... they make it up in volume.

[J.McMurry]

they reject 80% of the stuff they look at.

So only 2 outta every 10 signed Josh Gibson pants they review is legit?

Who knew?

[GrayGhost]

I still think them and Mr "Forensic fool" Morales are in league w these clowns that were mentioned on another thread. Simply HORRIFIC stuff.

http://www.aasportscollectibles.com/

[Vintagedegu]

-

[tinkereversandme]

More importantlty, if the stuff in Ted's collection is authentic and therefore has value, would he utilize the services of Coach's Corner to sell his merchandise? I wonder if he consigns to other companies? That would be interesting to find out...

A press release...that's exactly the correct way to describe this nonsense. My favorite sentence: "Just like in any business, people have found ways to make money dishonestly," said Lee Trythall.

That writer should go back to covering butter sculptures at State Fairs, if this is in fact what she assumes is a form of journalism. Something tells me master-PR man Ted Taylor is behind this.

Regards,
Larry

[RichardSimon]

[william_9]

He should have followed his gut and opened a hot dog stand.

[Jerry G]

Has Sports Collectors Digest responded to any of these characters? I notice they are all still very prominent in the publication.

I have subscribed to SCD since 1975. My wife has not too subtley suggested for quite some time that I cancel since it has become so thin. If they give these guys credibility maybe it is time to save subscription $.

Since I registered at net54baseball four days ago, I'll probably picked up more info than six months of SCD.

[carrigansghost]

Welcome to net54.

[Rich Klein]

Eom

[Bob Lemke]

Coaches Corner has not advertised in SCD for several months now. That's one of the reasons the paper's page count is down. Each 20 pages of ads that CC (or any other advertiser) buys pays for about 5 pages of editorial content. Without that ad revenue, the paper can't afford to maintain the editorial package without greatly increasing subscription rates . . . and that's a non-starter in this day of ink-on-paper hobby publishing.

[RichardSimon]

So Bob, what you are apparently saying is that the end justifies the means??
Really ??

[Leon]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

So Bob, what you are apparently saying is that the end justifies the means??
Really ??

I don't need to speak for Bob but I think he had little to do with "who" advertised/advertises in SCD. I know I spoke with some others at the company that weren't always happy about CC. I also think SCD finally bit the bullet and did what needed to be done a long time ago. I am sure it will hurt financially, at least in the short run. We don't need to continually beat them up, imo, for a fight that is over. I also hate it when folks pick on people who have passed away (not that you are). They are moot points. regards

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by Bob Lemke

Coaches Corner has not advertised in SCD for several months now. That's one of the reasons the paper's page count is down. Each 20 pages of ads that CC (or any other advertiser) buys pays for about 5 pages of editorial content. Without that ad revenue, the paper can't afford to maintain the editorial package without greatly increasing subscription rates . . . and that's a non-starter in this day of ink-on-paper hobby publishing.

Seems to me if they would have taken this step years ago they might not find themselves with so few subscribers now. Just a thought.
Edited to add: Not picking on anyone, but there is no victim here, IMHO.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Seems to me if they would have taken this step years ago they might not find themselves with so few subscribers now. Just a thought.
Edited to add: Not picking on anyone, but there is no victim here, IMHO.

I don't think the timing mattered, Jeff. Every newspaper and every magazine in the country is in some serious financial trouble right now. Electronic media had eaten away at their circulations and, more importantly, at their advertising revenue.

Niche media, catering to small groups, such as SCD have fared worse than even the mainstream guys. Over the next couple of years, we're going to see almost every big city newspaper file Chapter 11.

I wish SCD well, but their long range prognosis isn't good, and it's probably not their fault.

I'm not excusing their relationship with CC, just stating that it probably helped keep them alive for a few extra years.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

I don't think the timing mattered, Jeff. Every newspaper and every magazine in the country is in some serious financial trouble right now. Electronic media had eaten away at their circulations and, more importantly, at their advertising revenue.

Niche media, catering to small groups, such as SCD have fared worse than even the mainstream guys. Over the next couple of years, we're going to see almost every big city newspaper file Chapter 11.

I wish SCD well, but their long range prognosis isn't good, and it's probably not their fault.

I'm not excusing their relationship with CC, just stating that it probably helped keep them alive for a few extra years.

Jim,
You may very well be right. I guess I am old school as I still take delivery of two newspapers daily. Nothing quite like the 5:30 AM cup of coffee and the editorials before the brood storms the Bastille.

Jeff

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Jim,
You may very well be right. I guess I am old school as I still take delivery of two newspapers daily. Nothing quite like the 5:30 AM cup of coffee and the editorials before the brood storms the Bastille.

Jeff

I get two papers delivered also, but looking up and down my block at 6:00 AM, the rest of my neighbors seem to get zero or one (about a 50/50 split.)

If not for the comics, I couldn't get either of my kids (16 and 20) to touch a paper. This is not to say either is not informed about what's going on in the world. Compared to most kids they keep up with everything. They just get their info from differents sources.

The one thing I have tried to point out to them is that the internet provides instant info but it's immediate nature removes much of the nuance of after-the-fact media (newspapers, magazines, even nightly news.)


They think "news" comes from The Daily Show. I'm not sure they are wrong.

[barrysloate]

I still love reading my New York Times every morning, but it's bare bones and has a daily cover price of $2 (obscene). But it does have the boxscores (if the game didn't start too late) and a great crossword puzzle, so I'm still in. One of these days I think I will pull the plug on my subscription; it won't be easy.

Regarding SCD, I think the real value in its heydey was there was no better way to find good stuff. It was a cornucopia back when it topped off at nearly 400 pages. When all the dealers left, the paper was useless. Say all you want about the negative influence of Coaches Corner, but if the magazine still had good cards for sale subscribers would turn a blind eye to it. Don't forget that in this hobby stuff trumps everything.

[Jay Wolt]

It was a cornucopia back when it topped off at nearly 400 pages

This weeks edition.....is 34 pages!

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I still love reading my New York Times every morning, but it's bare bones and has a daily cover price of $2 (obscene). But it does have the boxscores (if the game didn't start too late) and a great crossword puzzle, so I'm still in. One of these days I think I will pull the plug on my subscription; it won't be easy.

Regarding SCD, I think the real value in its heydey was there was no better way to find good stuff. It was a cornucopia back when it topped off at nearly 400 pages. When all the dealers left, the paper was useless. Say all you want about the negative influence of Coaches Corner, but if the magazine still had good cards for sale subscribers would turn a blind eye to it. Don't forget that in this hobby stuff trumps everything.

Absolutely right Barry. I used to pay extra for the Priority Mail delivery (2 days) and still would feel too late when I saw something I wanted, called the dealer and found it had already sold. (Some guys paid for the Overnight delivery!)

Ebay did a huge part in killing that, because their system is instantaneous.

[Vintagedegu]

-

[barrysloate]

Jay- 34 pages? What's the point?

Jim- for a while I got my SCD sent fed ex. It was expensive but I reasoned if I was able to get first crack at one great thing, it would pay for the whole subscription. But I just remember the excitement of getting it and going through the pages to find some little treasure. Of course those days are long over. I guess there is a corporate reason the publication still exists, but from a hobby perspective there really is none.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

I don't think the timing mattered, Jeff. Every newspaper and every magazine in the country is in some serious financial trouble right now. Electronic media had eaten away at their circulations and, more importantly, at their advertising revenue.

Niche media, catering to small groups, such as SCD have fared worse than even the mainstream guys. Over the next couple of years, we're going to see almost every big city newspaper file Chapter 11.

I wish SCD well, but their long range prognosis isn't good, and it's probably not their fault.

I'm not excusing their relationship with CC, just stating that it probably helped keep them alive for a few extra years.

I still don't understand why my neighbors get the newspaper...every single one of them do and I know every single one of them has the internet. The Lincoln paper is on the net word for word..including the classified ads. $250/year for something they can access for free.

[barrysloate]

Dan- there is something about holding a newspaper in one's hands that can't be duplicated by the internet. Same with books. There was a time when it was thought that books would become obsolete and everyone would read them online. But it hasn't happened yet.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I still don't understand why my neighbors get the newspaper...every single one of them do and I know every single one of them has the internet. The Lincoln paper is on the net word for word..including the classified ads. $250/year for something they can access for free.

I need the Sunday newspaper to read every morning. It's just not the same with a notebook computer in the bathroom. We only take the Sunday paper and I read different sections each morning. I still like the newspaper. BTW, it's very interesting in Dallas right now. There was a big column this last Sunday about the subscription price going UP substantially. The parent company of the newspaper is trying something different. They feel if they have a good value people will pay (even pay more). To that end they have just hired a bevy of new reporters and are EXPANDING their footprint and scope of the newspaper. It reminds me of that lady baseball postcard that has been on ebay for about 2 yrs. Everyone has seen it as a $3900 BIN (probably a $50 card). About a month ago they raised the BIN to $4200....I don't think their strategy is going to work....I hope the newspaper's strategy does.....

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I still don't understand why my neighbors get the newspaper...every single one of them do and I know every single one of them has the internet. The Lincoln paper is on the net word for word..including the classified ads. $250/year for something they can access for free.

Dan,
Setting out on the veranda/porch/sunroom with a cup of coffee every morning with two papers and the crosswords is easily worth (to me) what I pay for the paper. It's one of life's little pleasures. Besides if everyone did what you do, it wouldn't be free anymore is my guess. So in a way they're paying for your paper too. You've got great neighbors.

Jeff

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Dan- there is something about holding a newspaper in one's hands that can't be duplicated by the internet. Same with books. There was a time when it was thought that books would become obsolete and everyone would read them online. But it hasn't happened yet.

It will happen someday. Kindle (I think that's how it's spelled) and other like it are really picking up. I can even see schools going to this kind of technology in the not too distant future. It's cheaper, easier to store and friendlier to the environment.

I get the appeal of laying out the paper and reading it during breakfast...I used to do it all the time. Now I just move the keyboard out of the way and eat my cereal while reading the Lincoln paper online. Kids of today probably for the most part will never take a newspaper as they are all acquainted with the internet.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Dan,
Setting out on the veranda/porch/sunroom with a cup of coffee every morning with two papers and the crosswords is easily worth (to me) what I pay for the paper. It's one of life's little pleasures. Besides if everyone did what you do, it wouldn't be free anymore is my guess. So in a way they're paying for your paper too. You've got great neighbors.

Jeff

If they ever decide to charge online for the paper people will just get their info elsewhere. As I said earlier, I understand the pleasure of reading the paper and relaxing, but it will go the way of the dodo bird someday...Large newspapers all around the country are folding left and right, and our population is still largely made up of the baby boomers...once they (we) are gone printed newspapers will be antiques.

[barrysloate]

Sadly Dan is probably correct.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Sadly Dan is probably correct.

Barry,
Good thing we won't live forever! No newspapers, what would I swat my son with?

Jeff

[barrysloate]

When I'm low on packing bubbles I use balled up newspaper. Can't do that with a computer.

[GoldenAge50s]

I guess I'm one of the "old school" folks too!

I get up in the morning, run out to the driveway in sun or snow, come in & pour that 1st cup of coffee and settle down at the kitchen table to wake up w/ the morning Providence Journal.

Can't imagine starting my day any other way! Been doing that every AM since I was a kid back in the '50's and just had to see the previous days box scores & Yankee results before I went to school!

Now it's to see the Red Sox box score, who died (which is quite often one & the same!) and where to get a flu shot before I take a nap!

[barrysloate]

Fred- first place I turn every morning is the obituary page. That's the truth.

[Jay Wolt]

I still don't understand why my neighbors get the newspaper...every single one of them do and I know every single one of them has the internet. The Lincoln paper is on the net word for word..including the classified ads. $250/year for something they can access for free.

Dan, its free because the newspaper is still in business. if enough people stop subscribing to the paper edition, the company will fold and like wise the free on line information.

HBO (Frank DeFord) last week had this same topic about sports reporting for newspapers and that so many long time companies were closing its doors.

[GoldenAge50s]

and Barry---

as the old saying goes--"If my name isn't there I feel alot better about starting my day"!

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Jay Wolt

Dan, its free because the newspaper is still in business. if enough people stop subscribing to the paper edition, the company will fold and like wise the free on line information.

HBO (Frank DeFord) last week had this same topic about sports reporting for newspapers and that so many long time companies were closing its doors.

Yeah, I get that, but I doubt my neighbors are subsidizing the newspaper out of the goodness of their hearts. It's likely they don't know the online edition contains all the news or it's a hassle to read the paper on the internet compared to the paper (which, comparatively speaking it is)...or like many here it's part of their routine to read the paper.

[barrysloate]

I know Fred- my joke is I always check there first to see if I'm still alive.

[drc]

My parents use the internet and subscribe to the local newspaper, because they prefer reading the newspaper in that form. It probably costs like 15 cents a day, which is less than a bubble gum.

Newspapers make much more from a print ad than the same online ad, as print ads get more brain/eye attention from readers and advertisers know this. Even if the online version has tons of traffic, that often doesn't translate to lots of money. If your local newspaper has a print circulation of 50,000 and multiple more online readers, it still makes more money from print ads than the online. Shifting all the readers from print to online, won't solve their financial woes. The one positive, and perhaps a positive for the future, is many local newspapers have a substantially larger overall readership than before due to their online sites. Dwindling readership is not the problem.

Originally newspapers the world over made the mistake of having their content unabridged and for free online, thinking that the online traffic would translate to print-like advertising money. Before long they realized the online ad-biz wasn't terribly lucrative, but the genie had been let out of the bottle-- computers users had been taught that you get your news for free online.

One of my favorite free content stories is NetZero. They started a free for life email service and planned on make a profit from ads. The president of Earthlink, which has always charged for the service, said it couldn't be done-- an email service company couldn't make a profit from just ads. Zoom a few years ahead in time, and you'll see that, despite its name, NetZero now charges a monthly fee for its email service.