AMI auctions - legit ?

[Duluth Eskimo]

Originally Posted by Leon

I would be very careful of AMI..... Very longstanding issues of not paying consignors. My only experience with them was when I told Victor (their owner) that the cards on the back cover of his catalog were fake. I told him and he sort of believed me so he sent them to SGC, who confirmed they were fake. When I see them set up at shows I think of a circus .

+100. Doesn't pay people amongst many other issues. A google search should show many other issues. Some people have defended them on this board, but how do you explain the MANY issues from this "company".

[drcy]

As far as AMI LOAs go, look who signed it. The LOAs often list and are signed by the specific examiner. In earlier years at least, AMI hired outside people of various levels of reputation to look at items. On the high end, respected glove expert Denny Eskin authenticated gloves for them and his name will be on those LOAs.

Some years back I vigorously disagreed with their assessment of some photos, but otherwise I don't follow their auctions.

Of course, it's always best to be knowledgeable about what you bid on in any auction, or get others' opinions when you're unsure about a lot, so you don't have to rely solely on an LOA or auction house's description.