THE MARKEL REPORT: Are Graded Baseball Cards Being “Juiced” (Aesthetically Enhanced)?

[WhenItWasAHobby]

I agree with Leon’s assessment regarding fraud in the hobby. In fact, this investigation started before Mr. O’Keefe’s book, “The Card” was published. However, I’ll be the first to applaud Mr. O’Keefe for his coverage of many hobby related issues over the past several years. Leon is also correct in that this investigation was quite more expansive and thorough than what the article revealed. The study had diverse and extensive sources of scans and auction data of raw and graded cards won by eBay member “scottsusor” for evidence so that it would deflect any accusations of this being a one source conspiracy.

This brings me to my next point. As for the statements made by Susor’s attorney regarding that the cards were altered before his client received them - allow me to point out the utter absurdity of this assertion. First, you would have to believe that a significant number of raw card sellers on eBay, who generate large scans of mid-grade raw cards on their auctions, decided to conspire against their best raw card buying customer: “scottsusor”. The two ’63 Topps Jim King cards on page one of this thread would be a pair of many examples. You would also have to believe that when eBay member “scottsusor” won these cards, rather that just drop these mid-grade cards in the mail, these dealers would then have to go to painstaking efforts to alter these particular cards using some sophisticated paper modification techniques that if submitted to PSA, these cards would grade higher than advertised in raw form and be worth a lot more money in the marketplace. But no, rather than use these sophisticated alteration techniques to generate huge profits for themselves, they decided they wanted to facilitate some public spectacle that would humiliate and ban their best customer and only their best customer since one else has reported this problem. To compound the absurdity of this conspiracy, there were scans taken from eBay of graded cards “scottsusor” won, which later showed up for sale in different PSA holders with higher grades with a visually improved corner or a modified edge, etc. That’s how ludicrous this assertion is.

Also, I can’t help but mention that about two weeks ago I received an e-mail from Susor’s attorney. It used words such as “deformation” and stated that my allegations were "absolutely false", etc. So I called up the law firm out of morbid curiosity and talked to his attorney. This guy gave me his full assurance that all I wrote was false and he client was completely innocent. The funny thing was that the attorney wasn’t even sure how to pronounce his client’s last name, which made me burst out laughing saying, “How can you possibly convince me you even know anything about this guy if you don’t know how to pronounce his name?”

And yes Jeff, I too found the defamation lawsuit remark laughable.

Finally, I hope I’m not reading too much into the article, but the last line seems to imply that law enforcement had some involvement with the eBay ban, which would be great if that’s the case.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

And yes Jeff, I too found the defamation lawsuit remark laughable.

Maybe the idea of a defamation lawsuit is laughable, but I'd be more then a little concerned that his attorney threatened you with a "deformation" lawsuit.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by Matt

Maybe the idea of a defamation lawsuit is laughable, but I'd be more then a little concerned that his attorney threatened you with a "deformation" lawsuit.

LOL! "Deformation" has a lower standard of proof, but a higher degree of pain.

[slidekellyslide]

Obviously Susor's mailman is the culprit.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Obviously Susor's mailman is the culprit.

I was actually thinking the same thing. It's fairly clear that Newman delivers Susor's mail.

[Anthony S.]

It's a shame JT Walsh is no longer with us as he bore more than a passing resemblance to Susor, and would have performer admirably in the inevitable big screen adaptation of the whodunnit mystery, "The Cards that Trimmed Themselves." As for who would portray the elves who magically appear in Susor's house every night and alter his cards unbeknownst to him, I'm thinking Vern Troyer and Elijah Wood.

[WhenItWasAHobby]

There is one other crucial issue that I didn't discuss in my prior analysis of Mr O'Keefe's blog and that was following statement:

"....Houston-based attorney Bennett Fisher said Susor is an honest dealer......."

First off, as a practice I don't drag in other people's non-sportscard related activities on these types of message boards, but since the person of interest mentioned it himself on the Collectors Universe Board, then I think it's fair game to mention that he has a disc jockey business:

http://forums.collectors.com/message...92&STARTPAGE=2

Furthermore, in the communication I received from Mr. Susor's legal representation, it stated "....we are the attorneys for Susor Enterprises, Inc. and Scott Susor". So let's look at the website Susor uses to advertise his mobile disc jockey service, which is clearly identified with Susor Enterprises, Inc.

http://www.yourdjhouston.com/

Please scroll down and look at Reason #1 why his DJ business is superior to others:

"....and we are not part timers. This is our full time business....."

Just to be clear, this statement didn't show up immediately after being a Non-Registered User on eBay last week. As many others involved in this investigation will attest, this statement was there before this thread was started and electronic copies have been made to validate that. But in case someone decides to edit that website, please look at this internet archive website, "Wayback Machine", particularly in 2007 and 2008 and look at Reason #4 regarding this same DJ business in those two years:

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://...djhouston.com/

It's also worth pointing out that this statement, "....and we are not part timers. This is our full time business....." wasn't used in their Nov. 2006 website or earlier. So it's clear that this current #1 Selling Point was deliberately added by design, while around that same time eBay member "scottsusor" receives POWER SELLER status and was grossing typically $10,000 to $15,000 a month by selling these tough to find, low pop commons and typically buying about 300-500 raw vintage commons a month on eBay too. It's also important to note that both the eBay entity, "scottsusor" and this DJ business identify themselves strictly as Scott and Doreen Susor.

So with his attorney vouching for his client's honesty, is it crystal clear that this eBay account is in no way a business, and that all of this buying and selling by "scottsusor" with a feedback of over 10,000 was just a time-wasting, money-losing hobby? If that's true, then Susor should now be thanking me that he's not longer allowed on eBay!

So if Mr. Bennett Fisher's client, Scott Susor, is as honest as Mr. Fisher claims on the widely viewed New York Daily News Blog, then why have I been harrassed by Mr. Fisher and his law associate claiming I've damaged Susor Enterprises, Inc. when this eBay Power Seller account, "scottsusor" is not even a business according to their honest client?

Has this been a case of brazen abuse of the legal system by several out-of-control, malicous attorneys who disregarded their client's honesty and attacked me over some inconsequential hobby issue?

Any input here would be greatly appreciated.

[Potomac Yank]

Dan, are you sure you weren't talking to the janitor?