Everyone's favorite auction house

[Exhibitman]

I will defer to the memorabilia collectors w/r/t the sign cleaning. That said, I cannot imagine not cleaning grime from an item I buy; some of the non-card stuff I've handled is so grungy that it is unpleasant to handle.

As for the E95 Cobb, it is apparent on looking at the scan that there is damage on the top border and red color. You'd have to be blind to miss it.

I went back and read the LOTG note because it reads to me like the people here read two completely different texts. Here is what is says in pertinent part:

"PLEASE NOTE: We received an email from an astute collector the night before the auction closed, asking about what appears to be an erasure of a small stain along the top border of the card. In reviewing the card, it does appear that at some point, there was a small stain (remnants of which are still visible in the scan) along the top border of the card, just left of the center. It appears that an attempt was made to remove the stain at some point, which has resulted in a minor discoloration of the red background along the very top border (also visible in the scan). This card was graded quite some time ago, and we are unsure of whether SGC factored the discoloration into their grade, or if they missed it. Regardless, it is visible. While our policy is to withdraw items that are discovered to be altered, in this case we believe the alteration is visible enough that it is debatable whether or not it was done deceptively. Despite this, we are sending an errata email to all bidders on the card, and giving them the opportunity to cancel their bids on the card if they so choose."

So, the card has a visible flaw that SGC may have considered: since it has no qualifiers, we don't know. The card was offered up with a big scan (click the enlarge button) that clearly shows the flaw. When it was brought to Al's attention the last day of the auction, he contacted all of the bidders and offered to let them retract their bids. The winner chose to buy the card anyway. I fail to see the harm. If it was my bid, I would prefer the option of maintaining the bid if I found the card acceptable. That would seem to be the best outcome for the consignor, the winner, and the AH.

Lemme ask the naysayers this: if I sell this card with this scan do I have to disclose that it has back damage? Is that where we are?

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I will defer to the memorabilia collectors w/r/t the sign cleaning. That said, I cannot imagine not cleaning grime from an item I buy; some of the non-card stuff I've handled is so grungy that it is unpleasant to handle.

As for the E95 Cobb, it is apparent on looking at the scan that there is damage on the top border and red color. You'd have to be blind to miss it.

I went back and read the LOTG note because it reads to me like the people here read two completely different texts. Here is what is says in pertinent part:

"PLEASE NOTE: We received an email from an astute collector the

Lemme ask the naysayers this: if I sell this card with this scan do I have to disclose that it has back damage? Is that where we are?

So the ultra violet light and technology claimed to be used on cards over $500 must have missed it. I get it

[Hankphenom]

What, have we turned into a bunch of snowflakes here all of a sudden? A few posters react with skepticism at the idea that someone could have bought a sign in the spring REA auction, wiped it down with a wet pad, put it into a summer auction and cleared a quick ten grand for a few minutes work, and we're a "lynch mob" for expressing that skepticism, even with a little humor, no less, and particularly in light of recent events? I seem to remember catching all kinds of shit for pointing out during the Mastro frenzy and before any charges were brought that no one had offered any solid evidence of fraudulent activity on their part and they had a right to the presumption of innocence until that occurred. Now we're supposed to be silent about our doubts because...well, because of what, exactly? Because Bob and Al are well-liked and well-regarded members? I liked Mark and Doug, so what? The umbrage expressed seems excessive, and frankly, a little suspicious to me. "The poster doth protest too much, methinks!" Bob should be laughing all the way to the bank, what would he care that a few of us are so stupid and ignorant about memorabilia that we couldn't take advantage of this situation like he did? I'd be walking around like the king of the walk--what a smart guy I am!--not refusing to discuss the matter any further. This is no inconsequential episode on a number of points, not the least of which is that the original consignor and REA seem to have left a LOT of money on the table here, a lesson for a number of people, including them, to take heed of if true. A frequent protestation seen in the thread is that everybody knows you can do this, certainly every metal sign collector, this is elementary stuff, Bob just did what everybody does, why would anybody question it? Well, I'd like to put that proposition to the original consignor and also to REA and see what their answer would be. Let's all get off our high horses here, if this isn't a time for heightened scrutiny and skepticism, I don't know what is.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

What, have we turned into a bunch of snowflakes here all of a sudden? A few posters react with skepticism at the idea that someone could have bought a sign in the spring REA auction, wiped it down with a wet pad, put it into a summer auction and cleared a quick ten grand for a few minutes work, and we're a "lynch mob" for expressing that skepticism, even with a little humor, no less, and particularly in light of recent events? I seem to remember catching all kinds of shit for pointing out during the Mastro frenzy and before any charges were brought that no one had offered any solid evidence of fraudulent activity on their part and they had a right to the presumption of innocence until that occurred. Now we're supposed to be silent about our doubts because...well, because of what, exactly? Because Bob and Al are well-liked and well-regarded members? I liked Mark and Doug, so what? The umbrage expressed seems excessive, and frankly, a little suspicious to me. "The poster doth protest too much, methinks!" Bob should be laughing all the way to the bank, what would he care that a few of us are so stupid and ignorant about memorabilia that we couldn't take advantage of this situation like he did? I'd be walking around like the king of the walk--what a smart guy I am!--not refusing to discuss the matter any further. This is no inconsequential episode on a number of points, not the least of which is that the original consignor and REA seem to have left a LOT of money on the table here, a lesson for a number of people, including them, to take heed of if true. A frequent protestation seen in the thread is that everybody knows you can do this, certainly every metal sign collector, this is elementary stuff, Bob just did what everybody does, why would anybody question it? Well, I'd like to put that proposition to the original consignor and also to REA and see what their answer would be. Let's all get off our high horses here, if this isn't a time for heightened scrutiny and skepticism, I don't know what is.

Dang Hank, tell us how you really feel.... Yup, if there was/is a time to have a lot of skepticism about the hobby, that time would be now. I've all but stopped collecting a lot of things because of the state this hobby is in. Sadly, many of us love it too much to quit cold turkey, however I'm sure it's been crossing more people's minds lately.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Fred

Dang Hank, tell us how you really feel.... Yup, if there was/is a time to have a lot of skepticism about the hobby, that time would be now. I've all but stopped collecting a lot of things because of the state this hobby is in. Sadly, many of us love it too much to quit cold turkey, however I'm sure it's been crossing more people's minds lately.

I love the stuff and what it means to me as much as ever, and I love the hobby of collecting it. I'm also much too old to hold anything back, not that I ever did that even in my younger days. When card grading took over big time 20 years ago and I saw the effect it had on that part of the hobby, I thought it was ridiculous and decided even more to stick to memorabilia. Slabbing is ugly, and the anal compulsion of grade chasing akin to the tulip frenzy in Holland, in my opinion. Why would you ever need a card that would grade higher than a four when you can't see the difference with your naked eyes? To each his own, I don't care what others choose to do as long as you leave me alone to do my thing, but when it comes to this stuff, as Yogi would say: "Count me out!"