Colossal Auctions?

[Scott Garner]

Bombjack,
There is also an eBay seller selling a supposed Christy Mathewson check cut with a Colossal Auctions COA. Mathewson sigs must be falling out of trees!! As David stated, just more crap Most of these signatures look like they were signed with the same fountain pen.
Here is what the Mathewson check cut on eBay looks like:

[barrysloate]

Did you see lot #40, the 1932 Yankees signed team ball? The ball shows significant wear, yet somehow every signature is a gem mint 10 out of 10. Crap.

[Vintagedegu]

-

[gnaz01]

OMG!!! Roaches by another name!! If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, THIS AIN'T NO DUCK!!!! Better you DUCK from this auction! The only sig I saw missing is from the Messiah himself!

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by gnaz01

OMG!!! Roaches by another name!! If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, THIS AIN'T NO DUCK!!!! Better you DUCK from this auction! The only sig I saw missing is from the Messiah himself!

This also looks strangely like the inventory of Mr. Pris*o....
Hmmm..........................

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

This also looks strangely like the inventory of Mr. Pris*o....
Hmmm..........................

I agree, Scott. I was just looking at the Christy Mathewson cut on their home page and that's the first thing that came to mind.

[barrysloate]

What their return policy really says is don't expect to ever actually get a refund, because no matter what your forensic expert says, we will find one who will say it's good. And once that happens, you are SOOL.

[benjulmag]

Their "return policy":

Colossal Auctions certification is all you'll need to ensure the authenticity of your item.

We will issue a COA if applicable, and stand behind every autograph sold. Our money

back guarantee entitles the winning bidder to receive a full refund of the purchase price, after meeting certain criteria. First, a written statement must be submitted by a reputable forensic examiner, stating the reasons why he did not wish to render an opinion as to the authenticity of the submitted item. Next we reserve the right to challenge the findings by submitting the same autograph to another independent third party forensic examiner.



If the forensic examiner we chose agrees that the item is uncertifiable, we will issue the winning bidder a full refund.

If the forensic examiner we chose deems the autograph as genuine, contrary to your examiner, and issues a COA

to that effect, we will accept his opinion as validation that the autograph is genuine. In that case, at our discretion, we will not offer a refund. However, we will offer the new COA free of charge with no fees incurred for the additional authentication service provided. Another option would be to consign it in our next scheduled auction.



We assume no liability on any loss allegedly sustained resulting from a differing opinion by any other independent third party authenticator on any autograph that is deemed genuine by any other third party authenticator.

Translated: Only an absolute moron would bid in their auctions.

EDITED TO ADD that since Coaches Corner seems to be making money and nobody has stepped up to stop them, why should anybody be surprised that others would try to emulate their business model?

[mighty bombjack]

Scott-I saw that Mathewson on ebay, which brought me to the Collossal website. Now that I am home and can look at some of the lots more closely, I have to agree that the whole thing is laughable (though that is where I was leaning from the get-go).

A look at the Ed Plank check (yeah, ED PLANK, you see that auto everyday) shows an auto that is not only much darker than any of the other writing on the check, but that has ink blots indicating that is was drawn slowly. Akin to that is the Honus Wagner postcard, which was clearly drawn slowly.

There is also a Frank Chance (among numerous other Christmas cards), multiple Mathewsons and Ansons, as well as about 20 Ruth autos, all with no third party authentication. Whatever you think of PSA/DNA and/or JSA, there is clearly an advantage to selling with these certs, especially so with autos as rare as these. Why don't any of these have said certs? These people are clearly emulating Coaches Corner.

My name is Wayne Walker, by the way.

[sycks22]

After laughing at the scans of the 32 Yankees ball I thought "maybe there's a Ruth / Gehrig auto bat" and to my dismay surprise surprise there was one. How do auction houses like this not go to jail?

[GrayGhost]

Total Garbage again. Prob from the same consignors as coaches

[RichardSimon]

I am interested in the Colossal prices realized list. Should be a good read.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by mighty bombjack

Scott-I saw that Mathewson on ebay, which brought me to the Collossal website. Now that I am home and can look at some of the lots more closely, I have to agree that the whole thing is laughable (though that is where I was leaning from the get-go).

A look at the Ed Plank check (yeah, ED PLANK, you see that auto everyday) shows an auto that is not only much darker than any of the other writing on the check, but that has ink blots indicating that is was drawn slowly. Akin to that is the Honus Wagner postcard, which was clearly drawn slowly.

There is also a Frank Chance (among numerous other Christmas cards), multiple Mathewsons and Ansons, as well as about 20 Ruth autos, all with no third party authentication. Whatever you think of PSA/DNA and/or JSA, there is clearly an advantage to selling with these certs, especially so with autos as rare as these. Why don't any of these have said certs? These people are clearly emulating Coaches Corner.

My name is Wayne Walker, by the way.

Hi Wayne,
Nice to know your real name so I don't have to call you Bombjack!

[GrayGhost]

I wish I could see closeup scan of some of the crap, esp the Plank check. It just shows small pics of items to me.

[mschwade]

Originally Posted by mighty bombjack

These people are clearly emulating Coaches Corner.

Colossal Coaches Corner!

[mighty bombjack]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Bombjack,
There is also an eBay seller selling a supposed Christy Mathewson check cut with a Colossal Auctions COA. Mathewson sigs must be falling out of trees!! As David stated, just more crap Most of these signatures look like they were signed with the same fountain pen.
Here is what the Mathewson check cut on eBay looks like:

This Mathewson has been removed from ebay.

[D. Bergin]

They're like a shyer, more coy version of Coach's Corner.

Maybe we'll show you a blurry photo of a bad autograph.........and maybe we won't. How bad do you want it?

I had several dates like this in High School. They never ended well.

[sylbry]

Type their address into Google Maps.

4396 Dixie Hwy
Waterford, MI 48329

The place is called Colossal Closeouts and is pretty much a thrift store in a strip mall.

Edited to add:

Colossal Closeouts is now open at 4396 Dixie Hwy. in the retail center on the northwest corner of Dixie and Sashabaw in Waterford Township, adjacent to Papa Romano’s and Rite-Aid.

The store purchases closeouts and liquidations of high-quality merchandise including new Holloway brand jackets, golf shirts, sport pants, bags, hoodies, sweats, stadium blankets and more at low prices.

Colossal also sells jewelry, brand name petites, plus sizes, military wear, Michigan colleges apparel and trendy fashion accessories for men, women, teens and young adults.

The store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

For more information, call 248-461-6170.

From: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/artic...4133674977.txt

And don't forget to check out their ebay store: http://stores.ebay.com/ColossalCloseouts

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by sylbry

Type their address into Google Maps.

4396 Dixie Hwy
Waterford, MI 48329

The place is called Colossal Closeouts and is pretty much a thrift store in a strip mall.

Edited to add:

Colossal Closeouts is now open at 4396 Dixie Hwy. in the retail center on the northwest corner of Dixie and Sashabaw in Waterford Township, adjacent to Papa Romano’s and Rite-Aid.

The store purchases closeouts and liquidations of high-quality merchandise including new Holloway brand jackets, golf shirts, sport pants, bags, hoodies, sweats, stadium blankets and more at low prices.

Colossal also sells jewelry, brand name petites, plus sizes, military wear, Michigan colleges apparel and trendy fashion accessories for men, women, teens and young adults.

The store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

For more information, call 248-461-6170.

From: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/artic...4133674977.txt

And don't forget to check out their ebay store: http://stores.ebay.com/ColossalCloseouts

Sweet!! That's who I want to buy my vintage Matty, Babe and Lou Gehrig signed items from. Some company that specializes in blowing out cheezy unsellable merchandise. Give me a ****ing break!

[sylbry]

From another web search on Colossal Auctions:

35 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS MICHIGAN'S PREMIERE SPORTS CARD AND COLLECTIBLES DEALER. 3 TIME SPONSOR OF THE NATIONAL SPORTS COLLECTORS CONVENTION. PROMOTER OF OVER 300 SPORTS CARD AND COLLECTIBLES SHOWS.

Reverse phone lookup brings you to a Barbara J Fisher. Any one heard of her?

This person appears to be involved as well.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sports..._edit_sections

Rick Behar is the owner.

http://www.manta.com/c/mmdzs5z/sportscard-central

[RichardSimon]

This is on the Colossal website:

"There are some authenticators who cater to major auction houses extensively. They get more visibility and recognition when their company name is listed in the auction catalogs. These auction sites and venues choose
to allow only a few of these selected high profile authenticators to be associated with their collectibles. As such, many collectors are more familiar with those high profile authenticators, and they perceive signatures authenticated by them to be more credible, and therefore more valuable. It is unfortunate that this view is common in the field of authentication, because being a familiar name may enhance the authenticator's reputation, but certainly doesn't mean they are the best in the business. So if you choose to use an alternate authenticator, consider your options and choose wisely.
Please note that eBay policy allows only a select few authenticator's COA associated with autographs sold there.
Most autographed items will be delisted if they don't have the appropriate COA."


--
Yet when their return policy was questioned via e mail, Rick Be from Colossal stated in an e mail:

"We issue our own COA with a 100% money back guarantee. If you wanted to get a another third party opinion, we would suggest using AAU, ACE or Morales Forensics. If you got a negative opinion from any 3rd party authenticator you choose, we have the right to challenge that with a different 3rd party authentication also. We would probably choose Morales Forensics."

So they are "educating" the collector about various COA's on ebay yet they would probably choose a 3rd party authenticator who is on the ebay banned list.
To sum it up,, if you buy something from them and you send it to PSA, JSA, me, David, Keating or anyone else and we do not think it is authentic then in order for you to get a refund, you have to wait for them to send the item to someone else. That would probably be Morales Forensics, and if MF says it is authentic then you are the owner of it, along with a COA from MF and a turndown letter from another 3rd party authenticator.