Auction Letters - BEWARE

[Jacklitsch]

Originally Posted by MEARSauctions

Frank,

Not quite sure why you decided to post on this matter, is there an unresolved issue? Jimmy or his staff reviews each item in our auction. For higher dollar items, we request the full auction letters are produced.

I am not exactly sure of the month, maybe last June or July, when you received items with JSA Auction letters, that when shown to Jimmy for full upgraded letters, there were rejected.

When asked what happened, Jimmy rightfully replied that they had never been looked at.

Although an embarrassment to our organization, Jimmy (JSA), was correct. During the summer, we hired two new writers. They missed the protocol and automatically listed every autographed item with a JSA letter.

Both items in question were under review by Jimmy, and we were informed of that fact. They should not have been included in our auction.

When the incident was brought to my attention, a full refund was immediately issued. Additionally, I sent Jimmy a written apologize and had the individuals responsible call Jimmy and apologize, as they should have known better.

As a direct result, one MEARS staffer is now made responsible to check, double check, and then triple check that all items listed in our auction were inspected by JSA.

There was no excuse for the mix up, and I have personally apologized to all involved. Since the summer and my constant monitoring of the autograph process, no similar instances have been brought to my attention.

I just felt that I needed to clarify that in this particular instance, Jimmy Spence and his company, JSA, were not responsible for this mishap.

For our customers that have continued to support our auctions, I am very confident that there are no other instances similar to this to report. We were able to go back and cross reference JSA's approval list versus items sold. There were no more discrepancies to report.

Furthermore, any items purchased from MEARS Auctions with a JSA auction letter that would be found to be issued in error (hope there are no more!), would be subject to a lifetime money back guarantee.

When the two above issues were brought to my attention, a refund was immediately sent, protocol adopted, and apologies issues.

Respectfully,


Troy R. Kinunen/MEARS

Thanks for the reply Troy. Now had the seller on the card side done the same in a straight forward manner as you have that thread wouldn't have reached 350+ posts and counting.

Seems to me the OP was properly taken care of in this matter and makes me wonder why he posted in the first place.

Disclaimer: I am not connected in any way to Mears; don't know Troy; and have never bid on any of their auctions.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by Jacklitsch

Thanks for the reply Troy. Now had the seller on the card side done the same in a straight forward manner as you have that thread wouldn't have reached 350+ posts and counting.

Seems to me the OP was properly taken care of in this matter and makes me wonder why he posted in the first place.

Disclaimer: I am not connected in any way to Mears; don't know Troy; and have never bid on any of their auctions.

I have to agree with Jack here and I have to respect Troy's reply and his immediate attention to this matter months ago. If this matter was resolved months ago what was the point to this particular thread.

[Piedmont Sport]

Posted it because we have more auction letter rejections and i'm sick of it - HEADING READS BEWARE AUCTION LETTERS - if we all let this continue the hobby goes down the shitter - why should more buyers be burned - maybe they don't understand how these letters work - I never mentioned but i will now - i have 2 baseballs same auction same problem - and i know it's continuing to go on with many aution houses - they should step up and supply a full letter - if i didn't think the auto's were bad i'd still be walking around with an aution letter and my customer would and should hold me reasonsable. Isn't this forum meant to make everyone aware of issues.

[RichardSimon]

The auction letter was a PSA invention, designed to pick the wallets further of collectors who buy items with auction letters. An auction letter means little in the after market.
19% buyers premiums plus pay the 3rd party authenticators more $$$ if you want an official LOA for your item.
Good luck with all that.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by Piedmont Sport

Posted it because we have more auction letter rejections and i'm sick of it - HEADING READS BEWARE AUCTION LETTERS - if we all let this continue the hobby goes down the shitter - why should more buyers be burned - maybe they don't understand how these letters work - I never mentioned but i will now - i have 2 baseballs same auction same problem - and i know it's continuing to go on with many aution houses - they should step up and supply a full letter - if i didn't think the auto's were bad i'd still be walking around with an aution letter and my customer would and should hold me reasonsable. Isn't this forum meant to make everyone aware of issues.

I can definitely appreciate that.

[RichardSimon]

This is not meant to be an endorsement, just a statement of fact, but there is a major auction house out there that does not use 3rd party authentication and its top two officials know more about autographs than anyone at the 3rd party authentication companies. Kudos to Josh Evans and Mike Hefner,from Lelands, for that fact.
A huge advertising budget has helped make the 3rd party companies what they are today. And look at what has happened. One controversy after another.

[Jacklitsch]

Same here Frank. My only thought is that a "generic" warning would have alerted us to this problem without mention Mears. Post just came off as a slam against this one particular auction house.

[Shoeless Moe]

and am glad you started it. I was unaware of the difference and potential problems. I recently (this week) inquired to an auction house about one of their current items and it comes with the "letter". He actually explained that it was not the "full letter", so between them and Frank heres post I have become enlightened.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by Shoeless Moe

and am glad you started it. I was unaware of the difference and potential problems. I recently (this week) inquired to an auction house about one of their current items and it comes with the "letter". He actually explained that it was not the "full letter", so between them and Frank heres post I have become enlightened.

I echo your comments, Shoeless. I don't deal with any auction houses myself, but I have been educated and enlightened today.

[RichardSimon]

Anybody think 3 card monte when you read this thread?