Everyone's favorite auction house

[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.