Leland's LOA Credibility?

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

One question I'd pose for the Board is what exactly is an average collector to do if the AH's don't offer unequivocal guarantees and the TPAs are all crappy? Because from where I sit, the only alternative then becomes not to collect at all except for the relatively narrow band of legal documents and modern signed in the presence collectibles that have external indicators of authenticity.

That's nearly what my collection is. Very small, many obtained in person by myself or in the case of a few SI hospitality suite cards by my father.

The rest aren't expensive, and nearly all came to me in ways that made me feel very comfortable about their being genuine, or are on items that wouldn't be likely to be faked like a RedSox uniform sign out sheet. I have a few that I could have doubts about, but they weren't worth a forgers time when I bought them. - Why forge something that makes a $5 ball into a $7 ball when there were so many more lucrative names to choose from?

Originally Posted by travrosty

You fail to realize that lelands could make good on the item after 3 years if it wants to, the wording does not prohibit them from doing so. What it does is allow Leland's to take on each item after 3 years on a case by case basis because all items are different. They are trying to avoid a rigid policy that is the same for all items when all items aren't the same and they want some flexibility in dealing with a return depending on the item, who is claiming in-authenticity and what proof they might have.

But it's their policy and people can bid or not bid based on that.

Even if they didn't have the 3 year limitation, they don't spell out what would constitute 'proof' of a refund anyway, so just like anyone else, they reserve the right to determine authenticity by their own standards during ANY time period after the item is sold, just as they state.

That's a good point.

And how well that works depends on the people involved, usually both customer and dealer.

The bike shop I work for for a while backed up their work for a full year. (When I was basically managing it.) Sure, that meant doing a few minor repairs for people who messed with stuff and got it wrong, then brought it back for a warranty. But most people were good about admitting that, and the honest ones got it covered anyway. One or two who abused it got a tamper evident treatment after 3-4 times. The told to pay up or go somewhere else when caught.

I did however warranty a job I did after about 4 years. The original work had included new tires, and I could tell right away the bike hadn't been ridden more than a couple miles. And I also looked at the problem and my immediate reaction was "What the ____ was I thinking when I did that?" I hate messing up, but the happy reaction when I told them the repair was free even after 4 years made it a bit easier.

Steve B