Changes at Krause (F&W)

[blades3]

Guys,

There is no demise of Collect.com Auctions. I have launched and ran the business the entire time and I'm currently working (with others) to purchase the assets from F+W Media so there will be a seamless transition. There may be a slight name change and an address change, but that will be the only difference (besides quicker payouts for consignors). The new-and-improved version will have its next big auction from March 22 through April 7, with a consignment deadline of Feb. 12.

As for the rest of it, I'm saddened to see friends leaving the building. Having been at the company for 16+ years, it's difficult to see Tuff Stuff go and SCD continue to get thinner, but it's especially difficult to see someone like TS go. He showed me the ropes when I arrived here and has been a close friend the entire time. I don't post here much but thought I should in this case. Thanks.

Steve Bloedow
director of auctions

[Tony Gordon]

Steve,
Sorry, I didn't intend to express misinformation. I look forward to your future auctions!

[blades3]

Tony,

No problem at all. I have been wanting to communicate about what is going on, but many things were still up in the air. I'm kinda glad someone mentioned it so I could explain what was really taking place. I'm very excited about the chance to do this privately and working hard to get any kinks out which may have existed.

[bbcard1]

Anybody else remember Ernie White hawking Tuff Stuff at his various very small shows in the south...it did have a good run...Trivia question: What failed product led to White selling Tuff Stuff?

[Bob Lemke]

It looks like I, too, need to post a clarification or two.

As of now, the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards is staus quo. The 2102 edition is scheduled as normal.

To clear up another apparent misconception, I am not now, and have not been since 2006, on the staff of SCD, or its parent company. I have allowed T.S. O'Connell to pick up material from my blog for reprinting in SCD, since much of it is pertinent to my work on the SCBC.

[toppcat]

TS was a large part of the magazine-this is going to be an interesting transition. I just hit my 30th year as a subscriber and while they have been sparse, there are still some good stories and tidbits in SCD. I thought they should have gone back to biweekly a long time ago. I hope this does not mean my other F&W Subscription (Goldmine) is about to enter uncharted territory as well.

[Rich Klein]

Which is always dangerous, but I did post that I suspected because of the early deadlines that both baseball annual volumes are not affected for their 2011 calendar release.

I am concerned about the 2012 releases though

Rich

[judsonhamlin]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

Anybody else remember Ernie White hawking Tuff Stuff at his various very small shows in the south...it did have a good run...Trivia question: What failed product led to White selling Tuff Stuff?

I saw Ernie White a couple of years ago at a postcard show - I fondly recall snooping through his store in Richmond for Goudeys and T-cards when I was in college - although I still don't know why I bought the Topps Big Baseball cards or whatever the pre-57 sized cards were called then.
What was the failed product, anyhow?

[buymycards]

I am going to miss the monthly articles by TJ Schwartz in the now defunct Tuff Stuff's Sports Collectors Monthly. His article is usually on the last page, and I always read his article before I look at the rest of the magazine. I have been a subscriber for many years and I will miss the magazine. Maybe TJ can write weekly items for SCD?

Rick

[bbcard1]

Originally Posted by judsonhamlin

What was the failed product, anyhow?

Ernie made a deal with Charles Schulz to do a licensed set of "Peanuts" cards. It was a serious bomb...the kind of bomb that you could hardly conceive of in those days. The printer took Tuff Stuff as payment for the printing of the cards and flipped it to Krause...or at least that is my recollection. I always thought the publication had pretty good content and decent writer, but a name that was seriously stupid and also pretty misleading.

[Rich Klein]

Concept of who would believe this -- I just received a subscription flyer from Tuff Stuff today.

I don't know who is charge of mailings at F&W -- but somehow the word should have gotten out to stop those mailings.

Rich

[Leon]

Originally Posted by blades3

Guys,

There is no demise of Collect.com Auctions. I have launched and ran the business the entire time and I'm currently working (with others) to purchase the assets from F+W Media so there will be a seamless transition. There may be a slight name change and an address change, but that will be the only difference (besides quicker payouts for consignors). The new-and-improved version will have its next big auction from March 22 through April 7, with a consignment deadline of Feb. 12.

As for the rest of it, I'm saddened to see friends leaving the building. Having been at the company for 16+ years, it's difficult to see Tuff Stuff go and SCD continue to get thinner, but it's especially difficult to see someone like TS go. He showed me the ropes when I arrived here and has been a close friend the entire time. I don't post here much but thought I should in this case. Thanks.

Steve Bloedow
director of auctions

Steve,
I know we have discussed this and I wouldn't have brought it up had someone not already mentioned it. I fully support whatever you do. You are one of the good guys in the hobby and regardless of what you do, I support you in your endeavors. The hobby needs more good guys like yourself!! Good luck and Godspeed.