Posted By:
JoannWow. Look what happens when I tune out for just a day. Some random responses:
I don't see that MEARS is dictating authenticity or anything of the kind. Nor that they are requiring any responsibility for card alteration that happened before an auction house got it. Nothing to do with any expertise they may or may have with cards - totally irrelevant. They are dictating disclosure of those facts that the auction house knows. Just what they know. No responsibility to investigate or find out or even ask. Just what they know. Disclosure. That's it that's all.
They are also dictating disclosure for employee or auction house owned lots. Not saying they can't auction material they own, just that it has to be disclosed.
What could be wrong with disclosure?
As to privacy, if you have bought a car from a large dealership, your records and contact info may very well have been part of an audit. The Big Three audit their dealerships all the time. That's how they get those "service dealer of the year five star whatever" awards. Audits. If you've used a credit card lately, you may have been part of a financial audit. If you've done business with any company that has an ISO 9000 certified sign in the window, your records may have been audited.
Audits happen every day folks. Every day, and they probably include your record at some point. Believe me, the auditors aren't sneakily copying down people's names and emails or whatever. It's routine. And quite dull, I might add.
And who is MEARS to decide they will dictate to the hobby? Who are they do decide what's right or what's not? Well as best I can tell, they are the first company to do anything substantial to get at these issues, that's who.
It's odd, because all of these disclosures and problems have been debated here forever, and one of the questions has always been "but what is anybody doing about it?". Or "all we do is talk - no action".
And finally, I think many of us have wondered what WE can do. I know I've kind of struggled with what I can do to help. Well here's something I can do. I can support this effort. I know it's not much - negligible is being charitable!
But it's something. And it's something I can do myself. So even though it's completely meaningless in the business that is this hobby, even though my money and contribution to many auctions do not add up to jack, it IS meaningful to me in that I've done something - anything.
I can't not support the effort. This company has put it's financial interests on the table to try to do something. How can I not do one little thing for 08, just to see what happens?
Joann