eBay auction question/Any lawyers w/advice?

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Posted By: Chris Nerat

Hey guys,

I know some of you will have some input here.

A couple days I won an item on eBay, which I really, really wanted, and thought I got a very good deal on.

I tried to pay for it, and considering he accepted Paypal, I went thru that service.

When I tried to pay, my payment went "unclaimed" and said he didnt have a Paypal account. I didnt know eBay would let you accept Paypal without an account??

I called the guy and left message. Finally he returned my message via email today and told me he was sorry but he was selling the item for his aunt and she was getting it authenticated and it got rejected.

I dont think the item was unauthentic, and I still want the piece.

What should I do? Pay some cash to have a lawyer draft something to force him to send it?? I really want this item, and I won it on the auction.

Thanks,
chris

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Posted By: Matt

Chris - you told the seller that you wanted it at full price even though they think it is not authentic, and they refused?

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Posted By: Jim VB

Sounds to me like the seller was unhappy with the price and decided not to sell (sort of a "double secret reserve".)

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Posted By: Chris Nerat

Yep...

That's the reason I am not believing his little story. This sort of thing really ticks me off. I was tracking the item for the entire time it was listed and was pumped when I won it, and now he's pulling this crap.

Why would his "aunt be getting it authenticated for me?"

I know all the authenticators, so I asked him who rejected it... I am waiting on a response.

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Posted By: Chris Nerat

Exactly. I will admit, I got a steal on the item, but that's the way it goes when you list an item with no reserve, right?

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Posted By: D. Bergin

I would move on and be glad I didn't lose any money in the process. Nothing is worth that kind of hassle to me.

If they are a fly by night with little selling feedback you might want to consider they never had the item in the first place and had 2nd thoughts about trying to defraud somebody.

............could be they even sold off-site when a higher offer came in after the auction. Not the way anybody should do business but not much you could really do about it without causing yourself a lot of trouble.

You could simply threaten them with legal action I guess and see what happens. Not something I would do but I'm sure plenty would.

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Posted By: Jim VB

That's exactly how it is supposed to go. If the guy is a regular ebay seller there is always feedback to use, but if he's new or doesn't care, it might be more trouble than it's worth.

Want to show us the auction?

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Posted By: Chris Nerat

Believe me... Moving on is definitely something I would consider, but this guy thinks I am some schmuck that found a nice item that I really don't know about.

I know all the authenticators, and by him saying he got it authenticated is insulting to me, considering I pretty much know that never happened.

Also, your point that he may have sold it to someone else, is definitely a possibility and probably the main reason I may pressure him.

If this was an item that was not a big deal, I would let it go, but it is an item I have been waiting for at least five years for.

You die-hards all know of the type of item I am talking about. The kind you lose sleep over hoping you win that auction.

I know, I'm nuts:)

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Posted By: Chris Nerat

eBay No. 280276408838

I don't know how to link it on this site.

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Posted By: Matt

feedback of 1. I'd let it go and report the seller to ebay.

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Posted By: Chris Nerat

He had zero when I initially bid, but I did reach his cell phone. I am gonna go after this guy, unless he has some actual realistic reason why he can't send me the ball.

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Posted By: Richie

Chris, Let him know you think he is lying. I am sure that he must have some type of rejection letter claiming that its not authentic. Let him know you would like to see that. If he can not provide that then he is lying. Richie

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Posted By: Scott Levy

Nice Item....Lombardi is the man! I can totally relate to your frustration and perhaps you can bluff some legal action. But to actually put time and cash into it will probably only get you frustrated, kind of like trying to catch a ghost.

Just be happy that he didn't take your cash and run.

Best Regards,
Scott

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Let this one go. I wouldn't want to own that ball.

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Posted By: Chris Nerat

Lombardi single-signed balls don't appear, ever... Also, it's on a Thorp "The Duke" ball. I know most of you guys here are baseball guys, obviously, but this ball is comparable to a Munson single-signed, if not rarer.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Like I said, it's not real. There are formation issues in individual letter construction, and the placement of the signature is not right. From the few single-signed balls I have seen, Lombardi, when given the choice/room, would kindly center his signature on the ball either above or below "The Duke" logo. Not surprisingly, his signature placement would be more random on a team-signed ball if he wasn't the first to sign it. Also, the way the ink sits on this ball leaves more to be desired. There are too many things wrong with this ball. Be glad you didn't win it.

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Posted By: Chris Nerat

I respectfully disagree with pretty much everything you just wrote. To each his own.

Chris

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

That's fine. I'm confident in what I wrote. That's good enough for me.

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Posted By: Rhys

I am not an authenticator, but have collected football signatures for many years. I agree with Jodi's assessment of the Lombardi, but it sounds like you want it regardless so best of luck on the situation.

Rhys

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Posted By: Chris Nerat

Thanks... I have owned probably 30 Lombardi autos in my life. I a pretty sure this one's legit. Probably 99 percent of the ones on the team-signed balls were clubhouse sigs. Real Lombardis on footballs are almost non-existent.

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Posted By: leon

I think we have a few autograph experts on the board. Maybe they will chime in? The only autograph I can authenticate is my own and I sign so many different ways I can't even guarantee that!!

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Posted By: David Atkatz

This is Jodi's bread and butter, and he has--graciously--chimed in.

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Posted By: Fred C

Chris,

Out the seller so everyone else can be aware of them. I'd find a friend to bid on a lower price auction of that seller and have the friend pay with paypal. If he accepts then you know for sure the seller is being a bit dishonest.

Overall, I'd think it would have to be something really special if want to try and deal with this idiot. You can spend your time, effort and money trying to get this idiot to sell it to you. You could spend the money on an attorney to begin the process but what happens if the seller says he lost it and that it's GONE, period? You've lost a lot of time and effort (hopefully not too much money) chasing after something that is going to do nothing but frustrate you. If the seller is being this much of an a$$ now, then I couldn't imagine things will get much better.

Good luck!

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Posted By: JT Burchfield

Is the signed ball supposed to be the same as the ball in the pictures? If so, the ball in the pictures doesn't have the white stripes like the signed ball does. Not something I would trust enough to pursue.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Jodi, is there something personal you want to spring on us?

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Posted By: Chris Nerat

Yeah, I know the pic doesnt match, but there is one with a Shriner and I think it's Sonny Jourgenson. I still think it's good, but I don't know if the guy will honor my bid. Oh well, maybe it's a blessing in disguise.

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Posted By: Bob

There is no reason to get worked up about this. I had a similar transaction that went South and I went ballistic. A guy sold a lot of autographs on ebay. I won it and paid quickly through a money order. This was pre-Paypal. The check was returned and the guy said that several of the items in the collection were sold to another buyer. I was furious! I left him negative feedback and he left me negative feedback. He put the rest of the items up for auction and I had someone win it. I didn't learn my lesson I guess. STUPID! Well, after I won, he showed me pictured of the box in tattered shape stating that he accidentally ran the package over with his car.

Ebay creates retailers who know nothing about being in the retail business. The economy is gloom and doom enough...a football should be the least of anyone's worries.

Does this winning bidder work for SCD? I wonder what journalist Ted Taylor thinks?

Good day,
Robert

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Posted By: Josh Siegel

You could probably pick one up from Coaches Corner since they are SCD's biggest advertiser. I am sure you could get it for much less as well. My biggest question regarding the authenticity is why would an autograph be listed at half price? Think about it.......When something is too good to be true it is? Jodi does know what he is talking about