Matt, not to mention this post, which clearly everyone should have interpreted as a statement that he had sold the card. I mean it's so damn obvious. In the immortal words of Joe South

Oh the games people play, now
Every night and every day, now
Never meaning what they say, now
Never saying what they mean

That's a lot of photos! If you looked through 1000 a day it would take you the next 7 years, by my calculations. Enjoy!!

Jeff- You are a funny guy! I don't know any of the major players/auction houses that weren't aware of the transaction. It was discussed a dozen or more times at last weeks National by people stopping by our booths. Everyone knew it was sold to finance the Detroit purchases. Before the sale, we explored opportunities with many auction houses...again, no secret...this news was and has been out there. Doug Allen was the one who got the deal done...great guy, by the way. If it makes you feel better about yourself, I'll admit that you uncovered my deep, buried secret that I sold the Wagner...the same deep, buried secret that everyone in the hobby knew. And if it makes you feel better about yourself, it was those darn photos you posted that got me back to Ne54 21/2 days later, not the fact that I check the board only once a week because between raising three kids, keeping a wife happy, and working 60 hours a week...time doesn't allow it.

That's all fine and dandy, but you knowingly gave the impression to this board that you owned two Wagner's.

John, dissemble all you want but the bottom line is that despite everyone in the hobby knowing you got rid of the Wagner, how come no one on this board knew? Maybe they're not part of the hobby. But I do have to say that your explanation sure sounds a lot like Doug's when he's explaining away his latest debacle. You guys should go in business together!

Jeff- I currently have two Wagners. A psa 1 and the restored example just purchased. Back in December, I had 3 during a 2 week period. I may have zero in a month, next year, I may have 3 again. I don't think anyone is concerned whether I have one, two, three, or none. Because of the nature of my business and constantly changing inventory, I hope I'm not required to officially report to you when those numbers change. Let's move on. These are baseball cards were talking about. Lets smile, be happy, and remember...its baseball cards! If I offended ANYONE that I gave the impression I have two Wagners, which we do have in inventory, please forgive me! Hopefully we only have one in inventory next week as I have a deal on my 1 working. By the way, did I mention Doug is a great guy?

Excellent point. Just baseball cards. Little pieces of cardboard, for God's sake.

It's not like baseball cards are important enough to spark an FBI investigation, or something along those lines.

John, you don't have to report to me about anything. All anyone expects is for you to not lie on this board. And since you're a card investor and not a dealer I'm sure your credibility here is not much of a concern to anyone who might otherwise feel uncomfortable.

And the more you talk about Doug, the more one question keeps coming to mind: do you and Doug have a business relationship beyond what you've described in this thread?

Doug is a great guy. Rob Lifsons a great guy, contrary to what Josh Evans reported at the dinner, Josh is a great guy too, and I have business relationships with them all.

Dang that pesky FBI, going after good guys.

Jeff,

Were you considering picking up that Wagner for a future trade with me?

I think it would have been wise.


Reading through this thread....
I especially like this post....

"Calvindog- I heard that rumor too. I heard I sold it for less than a mill, I heard I sold it for 2 mill., and the best, I heard I traded it for the worlds best collection of Beanie babies. None of these rumors are true."

A whole bunch of alternate rumors were stated and denied.....
yet the real question of still owning the wagner was not addressed.



Ah.... what a great card that Wagner is.
One day. one day.

I know, I know. So many good guys in this hobby, goodness just abounds. Even the guys who claim that other good guys are actually bad guys -- they're good too.

But it's just so unfair that so many good guys are being looked at by the feds. But look at the bright side: at least the FBI doesn't go after people who dodge straightforward questions on chat boards.

For the record, Jeff, I am now the proud owner of three (Yes, that's 3) Wagners!

Picked one up from the Memory Booth each day I was there, (Wed., Thurs., AND Fri.)

Can't have too many mouse pads.

the good guys vs. the bad guys
 

It was oh so simple in the old days:good guys wore white hats,bad guys wore black.I am one of those Mastronet consignors never paid from the Feb. '09 auction and I don't know who to believe anymore.Doug Allen a good guy?I always thought so and had a good business relationship with him.Now?No reply to emails.

Where have you been? Numerous appeals have been made on the forum to contact Leon to facilitate payment and I believe in all cases our members have been paid when they have done so. Obviously that a consignor would need to do that in order to get paid is absurd, but if you want to get paid, it seems to be effective.

Matt,
I've just become a new member on Net54.I got a tip from someone at the National that maybe I could get my $ through net54 forums.So it looks like this is correct.Thanks.We are not talking a new car purchase.But enough money owed me to pay two months in mortgage payments.

sorry my friend
 

From the NY Daily News
Allen says the matter is out of his hands. The responsibility to pay consigners and other creditors belongs to Mastro Auctions, which was owned by Silk Road Equity. Silk Road has a small stake in the new auction business, Allen adds, but Legendary Auctions is a completely separate entity from Mastro Auctions. "I will share their frustrations until everybody who did business with Mastro Auctions is made whole," Allen says. "I wish we could meet those old obligations and start with a clean slate. But legally, we have done everything appropriate."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...#ixzz0NM0FNEWK




Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...#ixzz0NLz897U0

Actually,when you look at the whole picture,with the shilling accusations and Forman holding back on his payment due to that possibility of shilling,the best way out of this for all parties would be for Mastronet to forget the legal course,keep the items in question,and list them again.But we may be dealing with monster egos and damaged reputations and the parties would never agree to that.We need the wisdom of Solomon to resolve this and he's not answering letters.

What makes you think Mastro has the items in question?

Wasn't it part of the contract on consigning to Mastronet that all consignments stay under the auspices of that company to be sold at auction when they deem fit?Ergo ,I assume they still hold the Dave Forman bid on items.

Doug Allen / Legendary Auctions
 

I had a fair amount of cards in I believe their most recent auction. As a matter of fact it was 6 different lots. All the lots sold and I have been paid except for the grading of cards without my knowledge. Apparently Doug doesn't know P S A is also in California. In the past I used Mastronet for several years without a problem. If grading was needed it was done at their expense. Doug however on his own had a bunch of my cards graded at my expense without consulting me. He has not returned a call (2 messages) and 1 e-mail nor has his associate Mark Theo (also 2 messages) returned a call. A little over $1,000.00 was deducted from his payment to me. I had to call Legendary to find out why the deduction. I have more product now but Doug apparently doesn't want it or I would have been contacted by now. My first call to Doug was June 25th of this year. I don't plan on using Doug or Legendary in the future for these reasons. I feel that I was cheated and that is not a good feeling.

Merv - where you not aware of the issues with consignors not being paid that had been going on at the time you consigned?

Merv,

What did your consignment agreement say about grading fees?

For those who do not know Merv
 

He is a true hobby vet; and a very generous person. He has been a dealer since the 1970's and did a lot of advertising back in the old TTS.

Regards
Rich

This is the second time we have heard about pretty large amounts being deducted for grading. It seems to me evidence is building on the newest way that these Mastro/Legendary guys are using to drain funds from people. Its amazing to me that these guys are your best friends when they want your business and don't return your calls the next day.