Collect.Com Auction Catalog on-line

[drc]

CC is an advertiser, this appears to be the company's own auction house. Excluding the discussed lot and looking through the auction catalog, it's easy to differentiate the two. To start, the third party autograph authenticator for this auction is JSA. It should also be noted that many, including many on this board, thought SCD did a reliable job of grading and authenticating baseball cards, but weren't able to get a foothold in the market. If anything, recalling their defunct card grading unit, and their old game used authentication unit (SCDAuthentic), points out the company's abilities in those particular areas.

I also think that auction errors should first be pointed out to the auctioneer. If it is then not corrected, then it can be brought public. It's duly noted that in this case Bob initiated the thread and the initial sign post was only a question.

I hope the auction is a success for SCD and bidders. Success means SCD makes a good honest profit and bidders win good authentic stuff.

[wonkaticket]

First off this is not directed at Bob Lemke the guy is a super star and a hero in this hobby just a bad case of association here with a bogus item.

I’m sure Bob and the team will pull this lot. Although I’m very surprised and shocked this one got by Bob and the team as it’s so obvious like a blue eyed Wagner or Fro-Joy set…your first auction and a highlight lot? Not buried in the back of some huge catalog but lot 2 is a super well known commonly questioned item..I'm shocked.

Bob must have been out the day of the YouTube PR video shoot; no way has a guy like Lemke missed this one?

In regards to SCD it’s all about feeding the system…you can’t play both sides of the fence.

On any given day you can’t play the side of a publisher whose job it is to play a neutral field in the form of accepting advertising from anyone who is willing to pay, to running an auction house for profit. One can’t do the second and be so neutral one must be willing to boot lots ask questions of sources and consignors the luxury of see no evil hear no evil won’t apply to the latter.

Also taking money from guys like Coaches Corner and the sort is only feeding the system of fraud and giving a known bad guy if you will an avenue to 92,000 collectors as they are so proud to admit to reaching.

A person recently emailed me a great analogy imagine if REA was partners of PRO or was owned by PRO and then in direct mailings REA told folks about their legitimate honest grading service PRO….one would certainly scratch their head…something to think about.

Cheers,

John

[J.McMurry]

I didnt feel anyone was attacking Mr. Lemke,but they were commenting on SCD's loss of credibility.

I remember hearing complaints about the SCD grading/authenticating setup and then it was gone. it lasted what, 1-2 years? That just dosn't bring "successful" to mind.

I too hope it's a win-win for SCD and those who buy their auction items,but as a former subscriber,I wish they would have focused more on making a great hobby magazine with 100% credibility. jmo.

[Rob D.]

Maybe some people easily can ignore the relationship between the two companies. Others might -- rightly so, in my opinion -- look at the association with a more critical eye.

[drc]

From a practical standpoint, it would seem a good way for SCD to free itself from CC is for this auction to succeed financially. If you want SCD to drop CC, you should hope SCD's own auction is a success. If you wish SCD to remain financially dependent on CC's advertising money, you should hope its auctions fail. The former may not free SCD of CC, but the latter will almost certainly keep the CC advertising alive and well.

[drc]

From a practical matter, it would seem a good way for SCD to free itself from CC is for this auction to succeed financially. If you want SCD to drop CC, you should hope SCD's own auction is a success. If wish SCD to remain dependent on CC's advertising, you should want SCD's auction to fail.

If someone wishes to boycott SCD and their auctions (which I assume means he doesn't own a Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards!) that is fine by me. However, I hope the above illustrates that relationships and, in particular, practical cause-and-effect are often different than one believes.

One of my favorite quotes of Yogi Berra is, "In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."

By the way, do I think the magazine should drop CC advertising? Sure.

[calvindog]

I disagree with David: once an auction is made public, it can and should be publicly critiqued if so merited. The energy spent supporting those who would commit fraud or otherwise sell bogus items (and this is not directed at Bob L. who clearly is above-board even if this item is not) is almost comical here. How does one expect to avoid being defrauded in this hobby when even the targeted victims will exhaust themselves apologizing to those who would defraud them?

[Leon]

I think it's ok to critique things publicly but as a business person I hope folks would give me a chance to make something right before going public.

[wonkaticket]

Jeff I agree.

It seems pretty simple to me if you’re taking the time to print catalogs and shoot YouTube videos for items you should be taking the time to make sure said items are legit.

It’s all about personal responsibility if you’re in the auction business make sure what you’re selling is legit or don’t list it for sale. And if you list something for sale without doing your homework expect somewhere a few folks may call it out as Jerry and I did. It's nothing personal and there really is no said protocol to follow either regarding private or public nobody’s throwing anybody under the bus just calling out a questionable item.

I don’t think this is a huge deal here (Stall & Dean) I’m sure Bob and the team will pull the lot if they agree with us on the questionable authenticity of the item.

The SCD and CC connection well that’s a whole other topic and not so easily responded too and the real embarrassment IMO. As the Stall & Dean can be chalked up to a mistake but years of taking advertising money from a known bad guy well…..

Cheers,

John

[Leon]

I agree with what you said for the most part. I doubt there is an auction house that is in business today that hasn't made some mistakes. It's all about how you handle them. I am sure Collect.com will investigate and make the right decision. regards