Crazy uncles

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by DCDSports

Have you checked with your insurance (or theirs) to see if damage in transit is covered? I know our insurance covered any items of ours whether it was shipped out or shipped in.

We also made sure that, whenever our material was stored somewhere else (be it museum or auction house or whatever) that we had a letter from their insurance company covering the material.

Worth looking into.

Thank you Doug, definitely worth checking out.

[slidekellyslide]

You can't even find their LLC, I doubt they had insurance. Is this guy still sending you threats about "slander"?

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

You can't even find their LLC, I doubt they had insurance. Is this guy still sending you threats about "slander"?

He's been ducking my calls and emails for weeks !!!

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by CJDave

He's been ducking my calls and emails for weeks !!!

I doubt you get your consignment check.

[ruth-gehrig]

He hasnt been ducking this website.

[taul166]

As many of you know, Crazy Uncles has been on the weekly Great American Collectibles Show (sponsored by PSA) a couple of times with the hosts Tom Zappala and Rico Petrocelli to promote their auctions. I don't know much about how guests are invited, but I am sure these visits are all pre-arranged and follow a script. I assume they will be on future shows as future auctions are scheduled.

[sportscomicfantasy]

Dave, I am so sorry this happened to you. I hope it gets worked out to some satisfaction for you. I may be wrong but it seems to me that your in a position that you don't need the money, not that it is fair or right that you got your items undersold. But I most distraught over the totally unwarranted and horribly wrong unloading of your items on your front doorstep with no warning or anything!

You were the next person in line who seriously took up the mantle of preserving, keeping, and ready to pass on to the next caretaker of the items you have. I watch the show "American Pickers" and I love it. The people they meet are mostly people who love their items and many of them feel as if they are preserving history, teaching and some want to pass them on to the next caretaker of the items. I don't know you but you seem like that type of person from what I have read in my limited experience reading on here.




I also want to thank everyone here for letting the community know about what happened to them. I know now that I have to be very careful when thinking about bidding in their auction if I do. I have a few auctions I bid on where I have to lower my max bids for various reasons from previous experiences of mine with them. I just reframe from never bidding with them again because I don't want to lose out on an item I would really want at a good price I can actually afford.

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by sportscomicfantasy

Dave, I am so sorry this happened to you. I hope it gets worked out to some satisfaction for you. I may be wrong but it seems to me that your in a position that you don't need the money, not that it is fair or right that you got your items undersold. But I most distraught over the totally unwarranted and horribly wrong unloading of your items on your front doorstep with no warning or anything!

You were the next person in line who seriously took up the mantle of preserving, keeping, and ready to pass on to the next caretaker of the items you have. I watch the show "American Pickers" and I love it. The people they meet are mostly people who love their items and many of them feel as if they are preserving history, teaching and some want to pass them on to the next caretaker of the items. I don't know you but you seem like that type of person from what I have read in my limited experience reading on here.


I also want to thank everyone here for letting the community know about what happened to them. I know now that I have to be very careful when thinking about bidding in their auction if I do. I have a few auctions I bid on where I have to lower my max bids for various reasons from previous experiences of mine with them. I just reframe from never bidding with them again because I don't want to lose out on an item I would really want at a good price I can actually afford.

Thank you Michael for those kind words. Here's the deal, I'm a history buff/nerd at heart. To have documents signed by George Washington, Ben Franklin, John and Samuel Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, and so on to me is like Doc Brown showing up with the DeLorean and taking me back to the Colonial days. I gave Aaron a signed document and/or a cut signature from EVERY U.S. President (From Washington to Trump) and EVERY U.S. Vice-President (From John Adams to Mike Pence). I mean has anyone even heard of John C. Calhoun who was VP for both our 6th and 7th Presidents - John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) and Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) or Hannibal Hamlin, VP for one of our most famous Presidents, Lincoln (1861-1865)…...I have, but I'm a geek. I further gave Aaron signed documents from 52 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Basically I could have recreated the Declaration with authentic signatures (John Hancock, Charles Carroll, Benjamin Harrison.....some top names here). Everyone of these Presidential, VP or DOI signatures mentioned above were authenticated by either JSA, PSA or Beckett so you know they are real. Many of these items were beautifully framed in a reddish brown Cherrywood frame from the individual I bought these from who had the same love of preserving history as I do. Each frame cost well over $1,000 (he showed me the receipts) and they were all meticulous.

Now these documents were kept in a locked facility, temperature controlled for years. It is beyond disgusting to have left these out in front of my home in either 95 degree heat and/or a tropical storm. No warning, no protection, no nothing !!! And not to mention leaving $500K - $1MM worth of high end collectibles out in the open to anyone passing by to take !!!

There was over $75K-$100K in coins between thousands of silver half dollars, quarters and dimes from the 1800s and early 1900s plus high end coins like large cents from the 1800s and complete sets that he was instructed NOT to break apart and to list as a set, which he chose to ignore my instructions so now I am left with 2/3 complete sets.

This is not to mention the Blacksox memorabilia (ticket stubs to the games, signatures from almost every player on the team (except Shoeless Joe but I did have 5 Joe Jackson signatures from his wife as he was illiterate, plus a ton of other Blacksox items).

Then there was a ton of Yankee memorabilia 1923/1927/1928/1932 stubs/programs/autographs/bats/etc.

Historical autographs, Wright Brothers, Charles Lindburgh, Thomas Edison, Houdini, Civil War Generals, too many to list.

I could go on and on with the list of items he was consigned but bottom line is he lied to me, he screwed me, he avoided and hid from me, he had no regard for my items by dumping them and risking being ruined or stolen.....all to make the mighty dollar. Save those dollars, you will need them !!!!

[Snapolit1]

Wowza. I'm sure some of the AHs with long track records of excellence on this board would have loved to had some of this amazing stuff.

Originally Posted by CJDave

Thank you Michael for those kind words. Here's the deal, I'm a history buff/nerd at heart. To have documents signed by George Washington, Ben Franklin, John and Samuel Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, and so on to me is like Doc Brown showing up with the DeLorean and taking me back to the Colonial days. I gave Aaron a signed document and/or a cut signature from EVERY U.S. President (From Washington to Trump) and EVERY U.S. Vice-President (From John Adams to Mike Pence). I mean has anyone even heard of John C. Calhoun who was VP for both our 6th and 7th Presidents - John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) and Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) or Hannibal Hamlin, VP for one of our most famous Presidents, Lincoln (1861-1865)…...I have, but I'm a geek. I further gave Aaron signed documents from 52 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Basically I could have recreated the Declaration with authentic signatures (John Hancock, Charles Carroll, Benjamin Harrison.....some top names here). Everyone of these Presidential, VP or DOI signatures mentioned above were authenticated by either JSA, PSA or Beckett so you know they are real. Many of these items were beautifully framed in a reddish brown Cherrywood frame from the individual I bought these from who had the same love of preserving history as I do. Each frame cost well over $1,000 (he showed me the receipts) and they were all meticulous.

Now these documents were kept in a locked facility, temperature controlled for years. It is beyond disgusting to have left these out in front of my home in either 95 degree heat and/or a tropical storm. No warning, no protection, no nothing !!! And not to mention leaving $500K - $1MM worth of high end collectibles out in the open to anyone passing by to take !!!

There was over $75K-$100K in coins between thousands of silver half dollars, quarters and dimes from the 1800s and early 1900s plus high end coins like large cents from the 1800s and complete sets that he was instructed NOT to break apart and to list as a set, which he chose to ignore my instructions so now I am left with 2/3 complete sets.

This is not to mention the Blacksox memorabilia (ticket stubs to the games, signatures from almost every player on the team (except Shoeless Joe but I did have 5 Joe Jackson signatures from his wife as he was illiterate, plus a ton of other Blacksox items).

Then there was a ton of Yankee memorabilia 1923/1927/1928/1932 stubs/programs/autographs/bats/etc.

Historical autographs, Wright Brothers, Charles Lindburgh, Thomas Edison, Houdini, Civil War Generals, too many to list.

I could go on and on with the list of items he was consigned but bottom line is he lied to me, he screwed me, he avoided and hid from me, he had no regard for my items by dumping them and risking being ruined or stolen.....all to make the mighty dollar. Save those dollars, you will need them !!!!

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by CJDave

Thank you Michael for those kind words. Here's the deal, I'm a history buff/nerd at heart. To have documents signed by George Washington, Ben Franklin, John and Samuel Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, and so on to me is like Doc Brown showing up with the DeLorean and taking me back to the Colonial days. I gave Aaron a signed document and/or a cut signature from EVERY U.S. President (From Washington to Trump) and EVERY U.S. Vice-President (From John Adams to Mike Pence). I mean has anyone even heard of John C. Calhoun who was VP for both our 6th and 7th Presidents - John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) and Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) or Hannibal Hamlin, VP for one of our most famous Presidents, Lincoln (1861-1865)…...I have, but I'm a geek. I further gave Aaron signed documents from 52 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Basically I could have recreated the Declaration with authentic signatures (John Hancock, Charles Carroll, Benjamin Harrison.....some top names here). Everyone of these Presidential, VP or DOI signatures mentioned above were authenticated by either JSA, PSA or Beckett so you know they are real. Many of these items were beautifully framed in a reddish brown Cherrywood frame from the individual I bought these from who had the same love of preserving history as I do. Each frame cost well over $1,000 (he showed me the receipts) and they were all meticulous.

Now these documents were kept in a locked facility, temperature controlled for years. It is beyond disgusting to have left these out in front of my home in either 95 degree heat and/or a tropical storm. No warning, no protection, no nothing !!! And not to mention leaving $500K - $1MM worth of high end collectibles out in the open to anyone passing by to take !!!

There was over $75K-$100K in coins between thousands of silver half dollars, quarters and dimes from the 1800s and early 1900s plus high end coins like large cents from the 1800s and complete sets that he was instructed NOT to break apart and to list as a set, which he chose to ignore my instructions so now I am left with 2/3 complete sets.

This is not to mention the Blacksox memorabilia (ticket stubs to the games, signatures from almost every player on the team (except Shoeless Joe but I did have 5 Joe Jackson signatures from his wife as he was illiterate, plus a ton of other Blacksox items).

Then there was a ton of Yankee memorabilia 1923/1927/1928/1932 stubs/programs/autographs/bats/etc.

Historical autographs, Wright Brothers, Charles Lindburgh, Thomas Edison, Houdini, Civil War Generals, too many to list.

I could go on and on with the list of items he was consigned but bottom line is he lied to me, he screwed me, he avoided and hid from me, he had no regard for my items by dumping them and risking being ruined or stolen.....all to make the mighty dollar. Save those dollars, you will need them !!!!

Sounds like an amazing collection, and I share your love for history. I see they had about 250 historical items in their last auction. Just curious: were the items that were returned items that did not sell at any price, or were they items that sold, but for less than you wanted, so instead of shipping them to the winners, he's returning to you? Said another way, are there also some bidders who are getting "screwed" in this debacle? (Sorry if this was answered earlier.)

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

Sounds like an amazing collection, and I share your love for history. I see they had about 250 historical items in their last auction. Just curious: were the items that were returned items that did not sell at any price, or were they items that sold, but for less than you wanted, so instead of shipping them to the winners, he's returning to you? Said another way, are there also some bidders who are getting "screwed" in this debacle? (Sorry if this was answered earlier.)

The items returned for the most part never made it to the auction because he said he couldn't handle the volume, his site kept crashing, people are furloughed etc. The majority of what was returned was probably earmarked for the next auction.....along with some items that received no bids. Basically any item that had a bid was sold regardless of the reserve price I gave him, (which means some people got the deal of a lifetime, paying sometimes 1/3 of my reserve) but according to Aaron, at first he claims he didn't realize the prices I gave him were reserves, he says he thought they were the prices I paid for them (even though it was a similar list as the first auction which he did my reserves in....and furthermore many of these items were leftover from the first auction which had the same reserves.....that mans he had to intentionally delete the reserve prices in the system). Then he claims the amount of lots was too voluminous to put all those reserves in...….which was never communicated to me. I have countless texts to support my need to be financially protected.....and got the "yeah don't worry" from him.

At the end of the day, I am assuming any bidder who "won" will get their items.....the only one screwed is me !!!

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by CJDave

Thank you Michael for those kind words. Here's the deal, I'm a history buff/nerd at heart. To have documents signed by George Washington, Ben Franklin, John and Samuel Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, and so on to me is like Doc Brown showing up with the DeLorean and taking me back to the Colonial days. I gave Aaron a signed document and/or a cut signature from EVERY U.S. President (From Washington to Trump) and EVERY U.S. Vice-President (From John Adams to Mike Pence). I mean has anyone even heard of John C. Calhoun who was VP for both our 6th and 7th Presidents - John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) and Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) or Hannibal Hamlin, VP for one of our most famous Presidents, Lincoln (1861-1865)…...I have, but I'm a geek. I further gave Aaron signed documents from 52 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Basically I could have recreated the Declaration with authentic signatures (John Hancock, Charles Carroll, Benjamin Harrison.....some top names here). Everyone of these Presidential, VP or DOI signatures mentioned above were authenticated by either JSA, PSA or Beckett so you know they are real. Many of these items were beautifully framed in a reddish brown Cherrywood frame from the individual I bought these from who had the same love of preserving history as I do. Each frame cost well over $1,000 (he showed me the receipts) and they were all meticulous.

Now these documents were kept in a locked facility, temperature controlled for years. It is beyond disgusting to have left these out in front of my home in either 95 degree heat and/or a tropical storm. No warning, no protection, no nothing !!! And not to mention leaving $500K - $1MM worth of high end collectibles out in the open to anyone passing by to take !!!

There was over $75K-$100K in coins between thousands of silver half dollars, quarters and dimes from the 1800s and early 1900s plus high end coins like large cents from the 1800s and complete sets that he was instructed NOT to break apart and to list as a set, which he chose to ignore my instructions so now I am left with 2/3 complete sets.

This is not to mention the Blacksox memorabilia (ticket stubs to the games, signatures from almost every player on the team (except Shoeless Joe but I did have 5 Joe Jackson signatures from his wife as he was illiterate, plus a ton of other Blacksox items).

Then there was a ton of Yankee memorabilia 1923/1927/1928/1932 stubs/programs/autographs/bats/etc.

Historical autographs, Wright Brothers, Charles Lindburgh, Thomas Edison, Houdini, Civil War Generals, too many to list.

I could go on and on with the list of items he was consigned but bottom line is he lied to me, he screwed me, he avoided and hid from me, he had no regard for my items by dumping them and risking being ruined or stolen.....all to make the mighty dollar. Save those dollars, you will need them !!!!

I can't imagine consigning all this to a new and unproven AH. All the time, effort and expense it took to accumulate and preserve these pieces of history and you give it all to a new company called Crazy Uncle? No excuse for the deplorable actions of CU, but man it just seems very cavalier.

Hope it all works out for you. Really hate to see irreplaceable pieces of history ruined.

[perezfan]

Condolences.

But would still love to hear the other side of the story. You'd think Aaron would at least make a brief appearance here to defend some of these accusations. Otherwise, I have got to believe his company is toast.

Sorry this happened to you. Hope the courts can root out the truth and award proper restitution. Also hope you'll consign the unsold items to a more proven auction house such as REA or LOTG.

How about posting pics of a few items, just to give us a "sneak preview" and provide some free publicity for what's coming down the pike?

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Condolences.

But would still love to hear the other side of the story. You'd think Aaron would at least make a brief appearance here to defend some of these accusations. Otherwise, I have got to believe his company is toast.

Sorry this happened to you. Hope the courts can root out the truth and award proper restitution. Also hope you'll consign the unsold items to a more proven auction house such as REA or LOTG.

How about posting pics of a few items, just to give us a "sneak preview" and provide some free publicity for what's coming down the pike?

I welcome Aaron's responses.....and I would love to catch him in any lie that spews from his mouth. I know if someone was making falsehoods about me, rest assured I would be responding and defending myself.....can only assume he has no comebacks. Remember, he sent me the following emails and if he did nothing wrong, then what would cause him to send me this email: That said, we should handle this privately. In regard to your satisfaction as a customer, we blew it... I truly am sorry, I didn't want to have our relationship end after this auction and never on a bad note.

Or why would he email me: I would like to work this out in private and would appreciate if you did not post again on the board about this - we can find a path forward not in the public eye. You would think if he did nothing wrong, why keep it private???

You'd think if for some crazy reason I was making this up about dropping stuff in front of my house, he would respond with something like he called me the night before and coordinated a drop off date/time/place. He knows full well that I was at work and that I work long hours, he was at my office on many occasions. Furthermore, the fact that he picked up all of my items from my office would ask the question, why not drop the stuff off where it was initially picked up? Or, regarding the failure to place the reserves, he'd say that he has an email or text to me prior to the start of the auction that stated he could not handle putting reserves on, how do I wish to proceed? But that hasn't happened and we can all see he has been on the website.

I was smart enough to document every conversation we had, keep every email, keep every text. It is possible, though I can not be certain or recall, that maybe I have additional proof of a conversation, or two, or three.....but I'm guessing if I do.

[sportscomicfantasy]

Originally Posted by CJDave

Thank you Michael for those kind words. Here's the deal, I'm a history buff/nerd at heart. To have documents signed by George Washington, Ben Franklin, John and Samuel Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, and so on to me is like Doc Brown showing up with the DeLorean and taking me back to the Colonial days. I gave Aaron a signed document and/or a cut signature from EVERY U.S. President (From Washington to Trump) and EVERY U.S. Vice-President (From John Adams to Mike Pence). I mean has anyone even heard of John C. Calhoun who was VP for both our 6th and 7th Presidents - John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) and Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) or Hannibal Hamlin, VP for one of our most famous Presidents, Lincoln (1861-1865)…...I have, but I'm a geek. I further gave Aaron signed documents from 52 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Basically I could have recreated the Declaration with authentic signatures (John Hancock, Charles Carroll, Benjamin Harrison.....some top names here). Everyone of these Presidential, VP or DOI signatures mentioned above were authenticated by either JSA, PSA or Beckett so you know they are real. Many of these items were beautifully framed in a reddish brown Cherrywood frame from the individual I bought these from who had the same love of preserving history as I do. Each frame cost well over $1,000 (he showed me the receipts) and they were all meticulous.

Now these documents were kept in a locked facility, temperature controlled for years. It is beyond disgusting to have left these out in front of my home in either 95 degree heat and/or a tropical storm. No warning, no protection, no nothing !!! And not to mention leaving $500K - $1MM worth of high end collectibles out in the open to anyone passing by to take !!!

There was over $75K-$100K in coins between thousands of silver half dollars, quarters and dimes from the 1800s and early 1900s plus high end coins like large cents from the 1800s and complete sets that he was instructed NOT to break apart and to list as a set, which he chose to ignore my instructions so now I am left with 2/3 complete sets.

This is not to mention the Blacksox memorabilia (ticket stubs to the games, signatures from almost every player on the team (except Shoeless Joe but I did have 5 Joe Jackson signatures from his wife as he was illiterate, plus a ton of other Blacksox items).

Then there was a ton of Yankee memorabilia 1923/1927/1928/1932 stubs/programs/autographs/bats/etc.

Historical autographs, Wright Brothers, Charles Lindburgh, Thomas Edison, Houdini, Civil War Generals, too many to list.

I could go on and on with the list of items he was consigned but bottom line is he lied to me, he screwed me, he avoided and hid from me, he had no regard for my items by dumping them and risking being ruined or stolen.....all to make the mighty dollar. Save those dollars, you will need them !!!!

I have been reading all the replies to both threads so I gathered how high quality, rare, and diversity of your collection. I also hate that the so well cared for items you had were treated like they were. I hate the ungrouping of your sets, I hate the reserves not put on your items, but the unforgivable item for collectors is what he did with your items by leaving them to the weather and anyone who happened by your house.

So of course I would not consign anything to him after hearing your story, but now I can't even think of bidding on anything because he obviously is not someone who cares about the items. I know some collect to make money in the future, but most of us collect because we love the item, the person, the team, or just for the historical value the items might have. I cannot contribute to this person making more money or saving him from his eventual demise in this endeavor.

I know he was on this board, don't know if he still is but he had plenty of time to put up his point of view, opinions, or opposition to all the things people have been saying. It just seems that Dave's problem trumps all of the others I have heard. His silence on here since the auction ended saying all I need to know!

[CJDave]

Originally Posted by sportscomicfantasy

I have been reading all the replies to both threads so I gathered how high quality, rare, and diversity of your collection. I also hate that the so well cared for items you had were treated like they were. I hate the ungrouping of your sets, I hate the reserves not put on your items, but the unforgivable item for collectors is what he did with your items by leaving them to the weather and anyone who happened by your house.

So of course I would not consign anything to him after hearing your story, but now I can't even think of bidding on anything because he obviously is not someone who cares about the items. I know some collect to make money in the future, but most of us collect because we love the item, the person, the team, or just for the historical value the items might have. I cannot contribute to this person making more money or saving him from his eventual demise in this endeavor.

I know he was on this board, don't know if he still is but he had plenty of time to put up his point of view, opinions, or opposition to all the things people have been saying. It just seems that Dave's problem trumps all of the others I have heard. His silence on here since the auction ended saying all I need to know!

Again, I welcome Aaron's replies and rebuttal. I have done business with many on this site, both as a buyer and a seller. Most of you do not know me. I could be a BS artist (I'm not), I could be a drama queen (I'm definitely not), and there are always two sides to a story. I've given mine....where's the other side??? And Aaron, if you do reply, I can support everything I have said here...…..can you back up your story (or lack of story)???