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Do we know that it was in fact a Best Western Plus before the theft. The Plus could have been added after the heist.:D

No it was there prior to the heist. There was small print on the sign that read:

BEST WESTERN PLUS
we steal your stuff

They don't have working elevators, short staff and barely have running hot water. Yea, big insurance policy I'm sure. LOL.

The Plus refers to the "Plus Bed Bugs"

No, that is incorrect. Any policyholder's duty of care in specific instances or any exclusions for not taking specific actions must be specified in the policy itself or the lack of specifics will go against the carrier. For example, my ACNA policy says this:

"We will not pay for “loss” or damage caused by or resulting from covered property being shipped by the insured via 1st class mail. However, items sent by any common carrier where a signature of receipt is required would not be subject to this exclusion."

If the carrier doesn't actually get a signature, the insurer cannot deny coverage if I shipped via a method that 'required' signature. The clause would have to state that the signature must be required and successfully obtained. I once had a case where the client's warehouse was burglarized and the insurer tried to deny the claim because the required alarm system was functional but not armed at the time of the break-in. The policy required that the insured have a functional alarm system but did not require that it be armed at the time of the incident or exclude coverage if the alarm system was not armed. Insurer ponied up once I pointed this out and threatened a bad faith case.

Ambiguities in an insurance policy are construed against the drafter of the policy (i.e. the insurer) and in favor of coverage. Insurance Law 101.

Yep. That's why insurance policies can be incredibly prolix and require that a coverage lawyer be a bit of a masochist to willingly read all that crap.

What would be the point of that? They would then have to pay the higher figure to the consignor.

20%? ;)

Same incentive they always have on every lot in every auction. As does every auction house.

Again, be logical. First, these were all the big time cards in the auction, so ML gave up part of their 20%. Second, do you really think a long-standing auction house that likely makes over $1.5mm each auction would commit insurance fraud for an extra 12%-15% on $2mm (or and extra $250k - $300k)? I am sure there are businesses who would do something crazy like that, but memory lane (like most businesses) would not. Third, they just had $2mm+ of other people’s property stolen, and they are more than half way through an auction and trying to figure out what to do, and you think the conclusion is shill the stolen cards so we get X% more for insurance? I doubt ML would do that ever, but under these circumstances I think that thought was further east from their minds.

I was thinking of the insurance company, not the consignor.

A special 'Collectorisms' offering:

Bled and Breakfast
The theft of millions of dollars worth of rare and historical collectibles, which had for some inexplicable reason remained unsecured somewhere inside of a hotel facility.

See also: Indoor Fool - rightfully or wrongfully, the 'blunderous' employee who is ultimately held responsible for such an oversight.

See also: Broom Service - the methods employed by interested parties to lessen the repercussions and make sure this ridiculous travesty is swept under the rug and forgotten about.

Sorry, I was being facetious. Just trying to beat the next conspiracy theorist to the punch.

Fair enough. And actually a pretty good one, now that you explain it. All good

Why on earth wouldn't they just ship them to the guys house who is driving to the show? Did they pay for his flight then go "all in" for a best Western plus? Hindsight...wow.

Very much appreciate the explanation. I assumed the burden would be on the insured so this is great to know. I have not taken insurance 101.:o

Adam, What is the insurer takes the position I was negligent by not taking steps to protect the valuables the best as I could while off premises and while in my possession? Does that language have to be included in the policy in order for them to deny a claim? I would think by my being irresponsible they could hold me at least partially liable for the loss or do they have to spell out that they will not cover the insured's negligence?

We know. Peter was explaining that your position doesn't make sense, as any "extra" that ML received from the insurance would then have to be paid to the consignors.

I am utterly amazed that someone at ML actually thought sending $2 million dollars worth of someone else's cards to a cut rate hotel would be ok is astonishing enough.

I would also bet that the BW hotel wasn't even aware of the dollar value of the box that was received and ultimately stolen.

I am quite sure that if the hotel had been aware of it before hand, they would have told them no and that they would not be responsible for the shipment. Sorry, but even the Bellagio is cautious on high dollar items arriving at their place and they have an underground vault.

Secondly, would any of the winning bidders of the stolen items possibly have a case for legal action against ML to make them good on providing the item that they were contractually high bidder on? Those same bidders are contractually bound to pay ML for an item if they were high bidder so why not vice versa? I would think that if the items were stolen and the auction halted or stopped but since they let the auction continue all the while knowingly that they didn't have the items and very well never obtain them i would think they would be in a prime spot for legal action.

Lastly, I hope that the cards are ultimately found, and everyone is made good on this terrible predicament that ML put themselves in. Ryan, I do hope that you and all the other consigners are made whole but why wouldn't ML tell you and the other consigners anything but positive things to keep you all calm and patient which offers themselves more time to hopefully but doubtfully getting the cards back?

I would be willing to bet my entire collection that unless ML pays the consigners out of their own pockets, those consigners won't be made whole anytime soon as the insurance companies will deny any claims made and this will be tied up for years in the court system.

Absolutely, most insurers' claims dept. have a salvage unit which does nothing more than dispose of assets recovered after they have paid the claim. Disposition can be anything; auctions, private sales, charitable contributions etc.

If so, that could explain why before the heist they would have been nonplussed.:D

No sir, once he is refunded it is not his card and not at that price. 3 yrs when the cards are worth half, try getting the people to.pay!

ML said it would be the buyers option whether he wanted the card or not. But my logic was flawed, if insurance pays and the cards are found it is the property of the insurance company.

Ah! Wasn't aware ML.said that. Again I won a psa 2 green Cobb 3 yrs ago and was never refunded and thr card enver shipped. If it turns up, I have no claim. Prisco auctions stole 50k via live auctioneers and nobody was made whole

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yoda

If the cards are not recovered then the carrier will subrogate against BW due to their negligence. The small statutory innkeepers liability limit will not protect BW in this case.

Exhibitman:

Explain how you come to this conclusion, please. My understanding is that subrogees are subject to all the same defenses as their subrogors. If there is an innkeepers' law that protects the hotel against a theft claim from the guest (subrogor), it also protects against the insurer (subrogee) who assumes the claim under an insurance contract.


"Subrogees, subrogors...let's call the whole subrogate off."

Signature song from the upcoming Broadway musical "Subrogate: The Saga of Memory Lane"


brianp(arker)-beme

Is an inside job possible?

It's definitely an inside job at the BW+ level imho.

well Leon
 

unlike school rooms across the country - life often gives you the test and THEN the lesson.....

Personally, I was hoping for Shipped-Ittery (n.) using a method of transport (including security at the receiving end) that is inadequate considering the potential loss.

Been thinking about the crime itself...maybe we should switch to that...

novel idea since most of this topic has been generated to how the Auction House handled it...

To me the most interesting part is the second box that was reported opened but not taken. Now we are missing a key part of the story that being the size and weight of the two boxes...but here is my question:

Why take one box in whole and open another and leave it?

It suggests to me that the thief was targeting that specific box. If you just wanted to steal cards you take both boxes without opening them as opening them on site is time consuming and increasing your risk of getting caught. (now if that is improbable based on the size of the box left it changes things obviously)

Now you might say "if the box was targeted then the thief knew which box to take so why even waste time opening the second box?"

Good question...well I have three possibilities for that:
1. The thief did it in an attempt to give the impression that one box was not targeted...and yet fail to realize that logically bc the stolen box was taken in whole this line of reasoning was flawed. Flawed bc it tells us he knew who had sent the target box before hand so logically he had no need to open it and pilfer through it or any other box.

2. The thief forgot who the mailer of the target box was, or didnt know, but was only aware of the contents/items to be stolen. Thus the thief had to open both boxes to see what was inside, opened the wrong box first, opened the second box to make sure it was the box based on contents (which would suggest he had no idea if it was delivered or not either) and took the targeted box in whole once it was opened.

3. The second box being opened has nothing to do the theft at all...some random employee mistook it for something else, opened it and just left it there. This seems unlikely to me as the police would know this pretty quickly and there would be no need for it to be reported anywhere.


I would like to throw out there the most optimistic idea as well bc Im not sure anyone has posted it...what if the package isnt stolen? What if it was delivered to the wrong address or hotel and just some fedex driver and/or hotel employee didnt care to check to make sure it was the correct address...just mindlessly went about their jobs scanning and signing...Im sure we all know this is a greater possibility then anyone would like to admit, but things very similar probably have happened to anyone dealing with mailing services in the last 20 years (yes fedex isnt the usps but still). I would like to think this was quickly ruled out though but thought it was worth mentioning

Anyway I thought instead of debating insurance and claims that time might be better spent trying to come up with plausible theories to the crime...but I think if the police felt this was a targeted theft it could possibly explain why the police might advise ML to let the auction run and not report it to cosigners and bidders, for several reasons, in an attempt to help find or eliminate suspects I would think.

Agree. I can easily imagine Law Enforcement saying, "Leave the auctions up and let's see what they [the thieves] do..."

Out of desperation and naivety, maybe they were hoping they were simply misplaced and woukd show up...soon.

Maybe the other box was heavy, Thomas, so the thief decided to open it first before lugging it off.

According to the SCD article, there is security video showing that the box was delivered:

"According to the company, security cameras reviewed by police show the heavy duty brown cardboard box being delivered and signed for."

Hotel employees obviously know whats coming to town, especially as the hotel that has hosted the event for years. It doesn't take a criminal mastermind to open a couple of boxes obviously intended for the show and discover cards in one, and catalogs in another and only take the good one. I think this was a crime of opportunity not some grand caper.

Also if you've stayed in ANY hotel recently you know how understaffed they are. There was likely very little danger of someone being caught red-handed opening the boxes to check them out, especially if it was someone on the overnight shift when there's usually only one desk person present.

I'd like to give law enforcement a little more credit than thinking maybe they were delivered to the wrong hotel and nobody has figured that out yet, that seems pretty far-fetched.

You can tell that one hasn't been updated since the early 1900s.

It could be the thief had no idea what was in the boxes. They saw two boxes sitting in the storage area, opened them both to see what was in them, liked what they saw in one box and not the other, so took just the one box. Doesn't have to be targeted at all.

Edited to add: Looks like Scott beat me to it.

The most likely scenario is that it was delivered with normal fed ex deliveries to the business, opened like normal packages they get delivered and then someone saw baseball cards and decided to take them. A crime of opportunity.

The tidbit about the catalog boxes being opened makes me think this was the case.

Which card did you purchase from hard sell?

Was the 1910 Tip Top Bread Wagner pose graded PSA 1.5 that auctioned for $81K part of the stolen lot?

Doesn't the hotel have security cameras, especially in the front desk area?

Following this reasoning wouldn’t the actual consigners benefit the most as their payouts from an insurance claim be based on the card(s) price run ups? Edit: intent is to illustrate following the OPs argument, this would be nonsensical and absurd.

Yup. And that is exactly why Memory Lane and I (and the other affected consignors) conspired to have cards stolen, so we could shill bid the "stolen" cards and commit insurance fraud and make a little extra money. We just had no idea that you internet geniuses would figure out our brilliant plan.

Brunswickreeves, you are getting awfully close to implying something that is very untrue and extremely offensive. Watch it.

Guys, please be mindful that this is a public message board, and that this is a real and very unfortunate situation with the real potential for economic and reputational loss to real people. Its one thing to discuss this matter -- its a BIG deal in our hobby and should be discussed. But its another altogether to start making assumptions on facts nobody knows about and, worse, making assumptions about people's motives, throwing around words like fraudulent, "price run ups", etc.

Ryan Hotchkiss, Consignor to Memory Lane

Leon, perhaps its time to lock this thread before some members get sued (or counter-sued in the case of Snowman) because of careless, false, and harmful public statements.

I honestly think bunswickreeves was making the point that it makes no sense for the auction company to participate in running things up because they wouldn't benefit. I don't think he was implying any wrongdoing, actually the contrary. Of course I've been wrong before.

And you would've gotten away with it to, if it weren't for those meddling kids and their dog!

Perhaps, and if that’s the case, I apologize. But there have been many bravdo, know-it-all, irresponsible, etc statements made on this thread by people who don’t know facts, don’t know law (even though they act like the Supreme Court of internet chat boards), and, I think, don’t understand the potential damage and offense of their public musings, accusations, and assumptions; and, I believe, several are well aware of the offense.

For the benefit of the hobby and this community, I have tried to be open and communicative as a consignor about what I know and think on the matter. But this will be my last post on this thread. I will not update this board on how things turn out on my end- the peanut gallery ain’t worth it and I sure as hell don’t want to hear anyone’s opinion on the matter.

HOW you chose to finance your purchase is on you, not the AH. At the end of the day thats your prerogative. I'm not supporting ML here, what they did has tarnished them at this point, but whatever you personally are doing to get your cashflow ready is your business.

I don't blame you.

Yep exactly +1. I’m in no way intending to imply any wrongdoing on anyone’s part.

What a crazy situation. My thoughts:

1) Somebody advised Memory Lane to complete the auction to establish value.
2) if consigners are paid the amount the items would have been sold for less agreed upon fees then they have handled a crappy situation as well as cold have been done.
3) if Memory Lane’s policy covers this loss then they were responsible in how they handled the cards - they did nothing with the cards that would prevent them from full compensation.
4) The winning bidders are getting hosed but this is unavoidable - there is no such thing as a victimless crime.

2 above is the biggest key - Memory Lane needs to make things right for the “owners” of the cards (consigners) at the time of the loss from theft. They can go after Best Western, insurance, etc. but their direct business hinges on safeguarding the items being auctioned. If Best Western is found liable (which I doubt) this is a small ancillary part of their business and will have little/no effect in them.

3 above is a moot point as long as Memory Lane does number 2.

The thief is the problem. Everyone else are victims - but the buck stops at Memory Lane to pay their consigners in a reasonable amount of time.

I think the cards are likely to be recovered because pretty much the only way for that not to happen at some point in the future is the perpetrator to dispose of them.

It will be be interesting to see what material auction houses bring to the National and other cards shows this year and if this theft (and other thefts) affects that. I expect them to bring less that what they have brought in the past. The risk now outweighs the gain in my opinion.

1. I doubt it has any impact on what is brought.

2. I don't doubt it will have an impact on HOW it's brought.

The only exception to point one might be if a consignor requests his items not to travel, but that really isn't in their best interests as promoting the items is the real job of the auction company.

This whole situation might mean auction houses will never bring the really great cards to showcase. Maybe they will have enlarged heavy cardboard photocopies or power point presentations. :D

I think he could reasonably expect that he had won a card though. Since it was being auctioned. He was lied to by someone.

A global outfit like Great Western will have a master policy in place that will provide a difference in conditions and limits over local hotels everywhere. The local GW hotel to where the cards were shipped will have coverage locally as well as under the master policy. Once the property claim has been settled, the carrier is legally free to subrogate against BW for their failure to protect guests lives and (ML) property, their primary legal obligation. The carrier will seek subrogation not against the local hotel but the parent co. Of course, this assumes the cards are never recovered.
GW also has the right to subrogate against anyone involved in the theft. For example, if the thief is apprehended then GW could start litigation against him, although good luck on that one. He probably doesn't have a pot to piss in.
Since it is a police matter as well, it is going to be a complicated claim. The statutory state Innkeepers Liability Law is a minor piece in all this. It is more designed for the guy who claims that his load of dirty laundry has been lost than the lady who claims her precious 10K diamond ring was stolen in the hotel. That's why the limit is so low.

Great call Ryan. I’m so sorry you and the other consigners are going through this. Best wishes going forward w/ this situation.

I PM'd you!;)

As I recall, the package was left in an "area" where the packages are left. I don't know if that was under the counter or in the small adjoining back room?

I did ask them about a "safe" upon check in as there was not one in the room I was told. They said they had one and i could leave my valuables with them. i wisely kept everything on my person for the entire trip.

I don't believe the "package" ever made it to the hotel safe or if they were asked to put it in the safe by ML? This was just what I "overheard" sitting in the lobby during the follow-up investigation on Saturday of the show.

On a side note, but relevant here. Does it really help an auction to realize higher prices for lots by displaying at shows? Everything is done via catalogs and websites for viewing items nowadays. Plus AHs that want to display items before a sale can have potential bidders come to their place to view items. I think shows are more like a “show and tell” and making statement they are viable. Wonder what the percentage of bidders from the last ML auction, were actually in attendance at the show where ML had stuff stolen at.

Agree with that. It always struck me as advertising the AH for future consignments more than advertising the cards themselves.

I’d guess having items on display helps attract consignors as much or more than attracting bidders.

I personally like seeing stuff I may be bidding on at the larger shows. Helps to see stuff in person and traveling to where the auction house is located isn’t super realistic for the majority of people/items.

+1. I think it helps sales and that is what it's all about. Maybe someone walking by an AH table sees something they have too, and want to sell. There are limitless scenarios when having consignments on display helps.

.

I know first hand that there are people who inspect items I bring to shows in order to make bidding decisions. Now I'm not just bringing the top 30 or 40 single cards to shows I'm hauling a lot of stuff for multiple auctions around and trying to pick things that are important to see live like complete sets, or raw cards in addition to the big featured items. Of course we're hoping to attract consignors as well, but don't underestimate the impact on bidding of seeing something live

I agree. This is the Occam's razor explanation. No need for an Ocean's Eleven plot here to explain how and why the cards were stolen.

Also, given what we already know about the sorts of decisions that JP/ML makes, I think we can also assume that the return address on the box read "Memory Lane Auctions" and that the box was clearly marked "Top 50 cards for display at Strongsville show" and had a giant red stamp that read "VALUABLE CONTENTS INSIDE - PLEASE HANDLE WITH CARE".

+1.

Certainly, an unfortunate situation but the discussion seems to greatly overlook the real criminal here is the thief.

I have dealt with Memory Lane for MANY years and they have always been upfront and professional.

Now I’m bummed my five figure winning card didn’t make the top 50 card list.

LOL never thought of that. It's sort of a badge of honor.

"The cards I won were so good they were among the ones stolen"

"meh, my $10,000 card didn't make the cut"

This entire thread reminds me of the last big auction issue (Boston Garters HA auction of 2023):

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=339591

I hope the rest of 2024 is AH issue free.

Drew - There's always been issues with cards and/or piece of memorabilia at auction houses going back over the years. We'll have dinner together in Cleveland and I'll tell you all about them. :D

I would argue that the added value for the consigner of having their cards brought to a show for display is very low. Likely near-zero, especially if the auction house provides good scans along with complete and accurate descriptions.

I think the added value is almost entirely for the auction house itself. They want to display the cards as bait so they can lure in other high end items for consignment.

That's not intended to be a criticism of the AH. They have to generate business and it's an effective mechanism for doing that. But they're definitely leveraging the property of their consigners to build their business.

I think this is also why, assuming the reporting is accurate, that most of us think that the carelessness with how ML chose to ship and handle these cards (which belonged to their customers and not them) is the greater offense in this entire debacle.

My biggest fear concerning these cards, is that they never see the light of day again, which would be a tragedy for the hobby, especially that Mello-Mint Cobb. I'm sure many of the cards can be cracked and reslabbed, but that one is so rare I feel like If someone tried it, they'd be outed immediately.

I love that auction houses bring items to shows because there have been a few times being able to see the item in person just cemented the fact that I had to have that particular item.

The question is did ML inform anyone at BW that a package was being shipped to them? If so, did they tell them the value?

The amount of employee turn over at a cut rate hotel like BW is huge so unless the owner (if privately owned) or the General Manager was contacted and informed then ML was just playing with fire. Hotels like this aren't equipped to protect valuables like that. Does anyone expect a hotel desk clerk making $13 an hour is going to care or protect a package. Hell, I can't tell you how many hotels I have walked into and there isn't anyone at the desk and it takes someone a couple of minutes or more to actually show up.

Even if they did inform the hotel that a very valuable package was being shipped to them it just opens the door for a low wage hotel worker to set up the theft.

Is it common for auction houses to ship collectibles to a hotel like this for a show? I can't imagine that it is. I just don't understand the thought process of ML to send someone else's property like this.

No, of course not. Only an idiot would do that. Or more specifically, only an idiot that doesn't give two shits about their customers that is.

When I sold my 1st collection, I wanted it displayed at shows. A good bit of it was at the 2015 National, as I recall.

For those who have consigned items with AHs, did they ask you if they could bring your items to shows or do they just have the power to do that as part of the contract?

It might be the thief wasn't a BW+ employee, but a hobby-savvy person who was in town for the show, looking for opportunities to steal.

Perhaps a guest at the BW+. Maybe someone at Fedex who noticed the return address, or checked its tracking history and discovered its origination. Or a carpet cleaner, plumber, or other person who was there with their eyes open.

It would be interesting to know if ML puts its name on packages in the return address. That would be like a billboard advertisement to any hobbyist who might see the package.

Don’t recall it ever being raised, either orally or in the contract.

Up until this debacle, I would have been thrilled if an AH dragged my items to shows. Great advertising. Now… not so much.

Ryan, I'm hoping for the best for you. You've handled this situation way better than I would have. Good luck to you brother.

For good or for bad, we live in a world where every story is a wild Netflix mystery to be solved, and every half baked idea or half ass speculation that someone concocts is dished out as stone cold fact. The idea of waiting for the actual facts to come out is a long gone quaint concept.

Was fighting with a few board members who figured out the whole Ohtani gambling situation days after it broke, based on nothing more than their filling in the blanks and drawing unwarranted conclusions from news articles based on zero evidence. Of course when LE came out to explain what the years of evidence showed actually did happen, it didn't square with their story at all. So at that point they immediately pivoted to argue coverup, because their half ass story could possibly be wrong.

That's the world we live in. Rush to judgment. I've figured it all out from my computer.