MEARS Authentication - Please Help - Need Advice!

[Billyscards]

Fellow N54's,

I usually stay reserved to asking for help on a personal situation but I'm growing more concerned on a situation that I've been involved in since early this summer with MEARS Authentication.

Before I go into the details, I will share that I've used MEARS several times to authenticate game used memorabilia with a relatively quick turnaround. Costly, yes but they have been pretty quick in the past.

So here is my situation:

In the spring I acquired a pro-model vintage bat through an auction. When it arrived, I was surprised to find a MEARS hologram affixed but without the full LOA.

I reached out to MEARS and asked if they could retrieve the information in their database and they promptly responded that it was noted as A7.

I was happy about this and asked if they could provide a replacement LOA given the bat did not have one. They (Troy Kinunen) responded and said he would indeed issue a replacement letter but the Bat would need to go through a review process to make sure that nothing was altered with the bat.

I thought, fantastic! And even went about paying the $450 fee to have it re-evaluated. So I sent in the bat in June 2023. Troy had stated it would be a few weeks.. no problem.

Around the 4th of July I checked in and he stated that some of his staff was out on vacation/holiday and needed more time... again, no problem.

I let more time pass with some email check in's during late July, August, and even into September before I started asking more frequently and noting my concern.

Calls were made, emails and now growing more silent. Finally in early October I received a note back from Troy (after I needed to ask his assistant, Kim to step in and get a hold of him) and he said it was being "delivered" on the next Thursday. I wasn't sure what that meant if he had sent it off or what but regardless I was optimistic.

and then... nothing. Since mid-October, there has been no follow up or response to my inquires.

I get that these things take time and I can appreciate the ability to be thorough with research but I'm confused on how the timing can be so off and have grown very concerned. I hate being a pest but this bat does hold a significant amount of value to me and part of me wants to just pay the fee and ask for it to be returned regardless of outcome.

I'd love to get this groups thoughts if they have had any similar situations with MEARS or what they would do in this case.