PWCC Scandal and LOTG announcement

[ruth-gehrig]

I've been pretty much a fly on the wall throughout these PWCC net54 postings but surprised nobody has brought this up yet.....

In a LOTG upcoming auction announcement email I received Thursday the following link https://lotgauctions.blog/2019/06/05...1e006-29357557 stated.....

"Like many collectors, we are disturbed by the recent allegations of altered cards being sold in great quantities at auction, and we are grateful to those hobbyists who discovered the magnitude of the problem and brought it to light. *It is our hope that those responsible are prosecuted.

The hobby places a premium on cards in exceptional condition because the cards have ostensibly survived that way since their date of issue. *Cards that have developed flaws in condition over the years are typically discounted accordingly by the hobby. *It has long been our belief that any process designed to disguise or remove wear or degradation that has happened to a card should be called what it is: an*alteration. *We understand that some alterations are considered acceptable by many hobbyists, and that some alterations are virtually undetectable. *However, we still consider them alterations.

Love of the Game Auctions has long wished to conduct a reputable auction with reputable collectors and consignors. *As such, we reserve the right to refuse to approve bidders for any reason. *While our bidder and consignor lists are strictly confidential, *we have, since our inception, refused bidder and consignor privileges to those proven to be actively engaged in card alteration, or in actively facilitating fraud in the hobby. *It is important that we reiterate this commitment at this time.

Sadly, this latest round of allegations necessitates that we adjust our own policies to provide our customers with further assurance of our dedication to the hobby and its long-established standards. *Therefore, effective immediately, Love of the Game Auctions will institute the following procedures:

Any graded card valued over $500 will be reviewed carefully by LOTG under magnification, along with halogen and long-wave ultraviolet lighting. *Should we discover any issues with which we are uncomfortable, the card will be resubmitted to the grading company for review or returned to the consignor at their request.Any individual card sold in our auction will be scanned at high resolution (300 dpi or greater) and watermarked versions of those scans will be made available for download during the auction so that collectors can review the largest scans possible. *Should any hobbyist discover compelling evidence that a card in our auction has been altered, we will withdraw the card immediately.Love of the Game Auctions frequently receives consignments of ungraded cards that we feel are “fresh” to the hobby, either due to having never been graded or having been graded many years ago. *Cards of this nature that we submit for grading ourselves will be clearly marked in our auction, so that collectors are aware that they are bidding on a card that has been relatively uncirculated in the hobby.

While it is unfortunate that we have no choice but to add layers of scrutiny to the auction process due to the unethical behavior of others, we also feel it is the best thing to do for the hobby. *While we can never eliminate 100% of undisclosed alterations, and would never pledge to be able to catch them all or be mistake-free, we can establish procedures that help us identify and remove such items from our auction. *We hope the hobby can soon move past this regrettable phase.

[asphaltman]

Not real surprising with Al. Stand up guy and great auction house over the recent few years.

[MVSNYC]

Originally Posted by asphaltman

Not real surprising with Al. Stand up guy and great auction house over the recent few years.

+1

Al is as solid as they come. Great announcement.

[ruth-gehrig]

I wasnt surprised about this coming from LOTG.

Will other auction houses implement similar policies?

[frankrizzo29]

I hope all auction houses follow suit. It’s sad they have to do this, but I think it’s necessary given the recent Issues

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by frankrizzo29

I hope all auction houses follow suit. It’s sad they have to do this, but I think it’s necessary given the recent Issues

I hope you are right but I think many of them are outlets for card doctors. I don't think they could truthfully take this pledge. It would not surprise me if Gary already has lined up other outlets.

[Peter_Spaeth]

T206 Tim Jordan -- gain of 4. No, not a football call.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...90614&page=110

[iwantitiwinit]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

T206 Tim Jordan -- gain of 4. No, not a football call.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...90614&page=110

Whoa. No bueno. It gets worse every day.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by ruth-gehrig

I've been pretty much a fly on the wall throughout these PWCC net54 postings but surprised nobody has brought this up yet.....

In a LOTG upcoming auction announcement email I received Thursday the following link https://lotgauctions.blog/2019/06/05...1e006-29357557 stated.....

"Like many collectors, we are disturbed by the recent allegations of altered cards being sold in great quantities at auction, and we are grateful to those hobbyists who discovered the magnitude of the problem and brought it to light. *It is our hope that those responsible are prosecuted.

The hobby places a premium on cards in exceptional condition because the cards have ostensibly survived that way since their date of issue. *Cards that have developed flaws in condition over the years are typically discounted accordingly by the hobby. *It has long been our belief that any process designed to disguise or remove wear or degradation that has happened to a card should be called what it is: an*alteration. *We understand that some alterations are considered acceptable by many hobbyists, and that some alterations are virtually undetectable. *However, we still consider them alterations.

Love of the Game Auctions has long wished to conduct a reputable auction with reputable collectors and consignors. *As such, we reserve the right to refuse to approve bidders for any reason. *While our bidder and consignor lists are strictly confidential, *we have, since our inception, refused bidder and consignor privileges to those proven to be actively engaged in card alteration, or in actively facilitating fraud in the hobby. *It is important that we reiterate this commitment at this time.

Sadly, this latest round of allegations necessitates that we adjust our own policies to provide our customers with further assurance of our dedication to the hobby and its long-established standards. *Therefore, effective immediately, Love of the Game Auctions will institute the following procedures:

Any graded card valued over $500 will be reviewed carefully by LOTG under magnification, along with halogen and long-wave ultraviolet lighting. *Should we discover any issues with which we are uncomfortable, the card will be resubmitted to the grading company for review or returned to the consignor at their request.Any individual card sold in our auction will be scanned at high resolution (300 dpi or greater) and watermarked versions of those scans will be made available for download during the auction so that collectors can review the largest scans possible. *Should any hobbyist discover compelling evidence that a card in our auction has been altered, we will withdraw the card immediately.Love of the Game Auctions frequently receives consignments of ungraded cards that we feel are “fresh” to the hobby, either due to having never been graded or having been graded many years ago. *Cards of this nature that we submit for grading ourselves will be clearly marked in our auction, so that collectors are aware that they are bidding on a card that has been relatively uncirculated in the hobby.

While it is unfortunate that we have no choice but to add layers of scrutiny to the auction process due to the unethical behavior of others, we also feel it is the best thing to do for the hobby. *While we can never eliminate 100% of undisclosed alterations, and would never pledge to be able to catch them all or be mistake-free, we can establish procedures that help us identify and remove such items from our auction. *We hope the hobby can soon move past this regrettable phase.

I saw this as well and really thought that this was a great way to start to build consumer confidence again. You all know I have none and am boycotting PSA & PWCC. I appreciate that Al is trying to get out front and show collectors the type of business he runs. I have never done business with Al and I am very sad about that.

Where PWCC may have had my consignment business before, when I knew very little. Now, I feel everything they touch and everything they do is dirty, dirty, dirty in every situation. There is no doubt in my mind that I will reach out to LOTG the minute I decide to sell my collection. Or if I'm gone, LOTG are the ones that will sell it for my family. I e-mailed him this much yesterday and there are notes in my files who to contact, who I trust.

I met Al when I called out 1 of autographs right here on this forum that was obviously phony and Al took it down immediately (in 1 minute) and then reached out to me & explained how it got by him. He didn't owe me that. He did it because that's the way he runs his business and those are the types of people I want to deal with PERIOD.

[AGuinness]

Love three things in particular;
1. They thanked those who brought the scandal to light. No one else has, but the appreciation is deserved.
2. Squashing the “conservation” BS and calling it what it is, alterations.
3. Taking immediate steps to reassure customers and provide more transparency.

Amazing how the other statements so far have lacked any of these.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by AGuinness

Love three things in particular;
1. They thanked those who brought the scandal to light. No one else has, but the appreciation is deserved.
2. Squashing the “conservation” BS and calling it what it is, alterations.
3. Taking immediate steps to reassure customers and provide more transparency.

Amazing how the other statements so far have lacked any of these.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have dealt with Al before. I buy from his auctions (although not as much as I should). He is a stand up guy.

[Bram99]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

I have dealt with Al before. I buy from his auctions (although not as much as I should). He is a stand up guy.

Add me to the list of former and future buyers from LOTG. I am now a bigger fan of this auction house than before the "scandal". I can't say that for the other two companies whose statements have been posted on this site.

[ValKehl]

Al C. is really good people, and LOTG is one of the very few auctions houses that I will leave max bids with and that I will consign to.

[Yankees1964]

Al runs the most stand up operation in the hobby. He has been listed in my will as the one to liquidate my collection for my family for years. He is the only auction house I trust. The majority of my high end cards were bought at shows and from houses like Al's. If anything, perhaps this unfortunate mess will get this back to being a hobby and get those that want to scam easy money moved on to another category or product.