Ripped off by a James Spence lifetime guarantee

[EricS]

The issue to me is that a ball which originated with a James Spence letter, which was sold by James Spence was then rejected by James Spence's company, and then his company said they have nothing to do with the lifetime guarantee. I would have to go to James Spence to talk about that, who happens to be the owner of the company.

You don't see anything unusual about that sequence of events?

That said, I am encouraged that James Spence did eventually reach out to me after his company told me that they couldn't talk to me since I didn't submit the ball to JSA. Let's hope he does the right thing and I have good news to report.

[khw]

no it is two seperate companies and the letter was written over 20 years ago , sure a mistake was made then or by whoever at jsa said it was no good , if maybe it is actually good , what i see as strange is posting this before the person who wrote the letter has not been given a chance to make it right ,if most people saw that you had taken this to a public forum before you allowed them to make it right they would tell you to eat it . be thankful he responded and if you want to be a "dealer" then you have to eat a turd ever so often , maybe this was your turd , and if you want to be a big dog seller then you shouldnt have to look at the letter anyway , and know enough to buy a legit stengel and not look at some letter anybody wrote and some type guarantee, i see stuff with you name it certs and if it is no good i dont buy . simple deal , everybody wants to be a dealer

[Runscott]

2013 - 2 posts regarding your wax pack complaints
2014 - 2 posts regarding your baseball complaints
2015 - ???

Perhaps we should start a poll as to what you will rejoin us for to complain about in 2015

[joed25]

I saw your listing. I was surprised ebay let you sell that. Pretty obvious forgery.

[sbfinley]

Is there any way to prove the ball in question is actually the same one the original Spence letter documented? There was over a decade in-between the drafting of that letter and your purchase.

[bender07]

Originally Posted by sbfinley

Is there any way to prove the ball in question is actually the same one the original Spence letter documented? There was over a decade in-between the drafting of that letter and your purchase.

Agreed, is there anything tying the ball to the letter?

Also, the ball in question is clearly forged.

[Runscott]

There is a much longer thread about this over in another forum where Eric is a much more extensive poster. It might shed additional light on the matter.

Apparently Spence only reached out to Eric once Eric had gone public with this.

[EricS]

Originally Posted by Runscott

2013 - 2 posts regarding your wax pack complaints
2014 - 2 posts regarding your baseball complaints
2015 - ???

Perhaps we should start a poll as to what you will rejoin us for to complain about in 2015

I rarely collect autographs and also was trying to get information about unopened wax. If you're saying I'm not adding much to this board, you're welcome to come read the gameusedforum.com site I established years ago which since merged with game used universe.
You're welcome to read my 2,670 posts over there.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by EricS

I rarely collect autographs and also was trying to get information about unopened wax. If you're saying I'm not adding much to this board, you're welcome to come read the gameusedforum.com site I established years ago which since merged with game used universe.
You're welcome to read my 2,670 posts over there.

Eric, this is Net54. Hopefully you aren't planning a hostile takeover.

[EricS]

I like Net54 a lot. It's what originally inspired the game used forum. The only thing hostile here are some of the posters. (Calm down, it's a joke.)

[drcy]

I'm a photo expert, and the reason why I'm always hesitant about 'LOA' writing is I consider the payment to be for my learned opinion about something. I'm not an insurance or bonding company, nor would I ever want to be an insurance or bonding company. I'm a photo historian who knows something about photos. If accepting $10 for my opinion means I'm now forever financially responsible for a $30,000 item, forget it. That doesn't seem like a winning bet. Keep your $10, and I'll keep my opinion to myself. If you want the item insured for $30000 go to an insurance company. They probably know nothing about photos, but maybe they'll write you out a $30,000 insurance policy. That's not my business, nor would I advertise it as my business. I think this whole hobby deal of getting a LOA as a form of financial insurance is dubious from both sides and from many angles. A letter of opinion is one person's or company's opinion, and it should be treated that way by both sides. Now, if a company such as PSA says they're also insuring the value, I guess that's an additional service, but one that I think actually corrupts the expert opinion process. When you pay someone just for his honest opinion, you'll get his honest opinion. If you place a $30,000 Sword of Damocles over his head and ask for his opinion, assume the sword will effect the opinion. People complain that PSA and PSA/DNA don't admit their mistakes (and I for one it's totally ridiculous for an authentication company to not yet admit the Gretzky T206 Wagner is trimmed when even the person who trimmed it has admitted in court that it's trimmed and that he trimmed it), but that's in major if not total part because they've assumed financially responsibility and will have to pay out when they admit they're wrong. As I said, the value insurance part and getting an honest opinion counter to each other, and the insurance part corrupts the opinion part.

A LOA is an opinion and should be treated as such. If you value the person's knowledge and opinion and believe he will be honest in is opinion, and know that others think that as well, then his opinion in writing may be worth $10 or $20 to you. An LOA should be about the imparting of knowledge-- an academic thing. Insurance lawyers, underwriters and accountants should't be involved in the composition of the letter-- that is if collector's concern really is about the honest dissemination of knowledge. In fact, a collector who truly and honestly wants an honest opinion about authenticity should say "I'm paying you $20, and this $20 is only and strictly for you to examine this item and give me an honest knowledgeable opinion what it is. That is the only thing this money is going for." If you do that, then you will be getting what LOA are supposed to be about.

Now, it's a different situations with things I sell. Clearly I'm financially responsible to the buyer if it turns out to be a fake. If I make an error in identification, of course a refund is warranted. And clearly if I offer a lifetime guarantee of authenticity with something I sell, theres' a lifetime guarantee.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by EricS

I like Net54 a lot. It's what originally inspired the game used forum. The only thing hostile here are some of the posters. (Calm down, it's a joke.)

Oh, that's no joke!

I read your posts on GUU, where I don't post much. Everyone over there has treated me well, but like you over here, there just isn't much for me to talk about over there. When I talk game-used, I feel kind of dumb (because I am).

I did really want to discuss a game-used screwing that someone recently took, and doesn't even yet know about, but I was afraid I would get the virtual hell beat out of me. Yeah, by pure coincidence, the vintage guy knows about someone unknowingly taking a $1,500 screwing. And I have some lovely photo evidence as well.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Runscott

2013 - 2 posts regarding your wax pack complaints
2014 - 2 posts regarding your baseball complaints
2015 - ???

Perhaps we should start a poll as to what you will rejoin us for to complain about in 2015

Follow Eric and his brother on Twitter!!

or not.