John Rogers: From Net 54 to Prison

[Yoda]

I have never met Rogers, and from the sound of it that's a good thing, but I have known Doug for nearly 20 years and was both sickened and saddened by the whole Mastro disclosure. It never occurred to me that he was anything but straightforward and honest. I can say almost categorically that I never felt there was any shill bidding on my behalf for any of my consignments given to Mastro via my friend Kevin Struss. An example is when I folded up the Fullcount tent in 2005 and liquidated the inventory in a Mastro auction. One of the many great cards there was a Sporting News Ruth rookie, graded by Derek Grady of SGC as 70 ex+. I believe it fetched around $15,000 at auction and not the $140,000 level we are seeing today. I fear Doug fooled a lot of people, including me.

[WhenItWasAHobby]

What I find intriguing is that Rogers, Mastro and Allen had successful businesses and yet they all chose to go to "the dark side". I recall seeing a TV interview with a convicted "wise guy" many years ago, and his observation was that if you are going to steal from someone, do it wearing a suit and the punishment will rarely fit the crime.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

What I find intriguing is that Rogers, Mastro and Allen had successful businesses and yet they all chose to go to "the dark side". I recall seeing a TV interview with a convicted "wise guy" many years ago, and his observation was that if you are going to steal from someone, do it wearing a suit and the punishment will rarely fit the crime.

Movie War Dogs was a great example of that.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

What I find intriguing is that Rogers, Mastro and Allen had successful businesses and yet they all chose to go to "the dark side". I recall seeing a TV interview with a convicted "wise guy" many years ago, and his observation was that if you are going to steal from someone, do it wearing a suit and the punishment will rarely fit the crime.

Easier to steal with a pen than than gun and punishments much less as well.

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I have never met Rogers, and from the sound of it that's a good thing, but I have known Doug for nearly 20 years and was both sickened and saddened by the whole Mastro disclosure. It never occurred to me that he was anything but straightforward and honest. I can say almost categorically that I never felt there was any shill bidding on my behalf for any of my consignments given to Mastro via my friend Kevin Struss. An example is when I folded up the Fullcount tent in 2005 and liquidated the inventory in a Mastro auction. One of the many great cards there was a Sporting News Ruth rookie, graded by Derek Grady of SGC as 70 ex+. I believe it fetched around $15,000 at auction and not the $140,000 level we are seeing today. I fear Doug fooled a lot of people, including me.

John, back in 2005,06,07 is when AHs used to advertise no reserves and they would have their own way of putting a (hidden) reserve on it. Now, it's common for AHs to have reserves and more of the norm which makes everyone happy including the consignor. Using your Ruth as an example, it would have been great if you would have consigned it and said put "X" as a reserve or send it back. Hopefully you were not told a reserve would be done and it didn't happen or a contract of your consignments disappeared when you wanted to remind them of what was agreed upon.

It's safe to say that it's a much better time to sell and buy in the hobby. Plus, AHs are now doing full disclosures ( I hope) and following their rules.