Autograph Auction LOA's Do they mean anything?

[Exhibitman]

I agree with everything you say, Travis. I am absolutely disgusted by the whole situation. I have gotten to the point now where I will not buy a signature unless it is on a mfg-certified card that doesn't 'need' any more 'authentication' or is one that I know and feel good about regardless of whatever spurious piece of paper they are handing me. It is also beyond silly that an Ebay seller has to warrant their product and accept returns but a big AH can tell you to piss off with one of these fake certificates.

What we need to do is to start letting AHs know that we will no longer bid on autographs that require us to turn around and spend more money to get a valid certification. If enough consumers say no to the practice and the AHs start to feel concern over the situation, the nonsense will stop, I guarantee it.

I also commend Hake's, which supplies its own LOAs for items it sells, and Lew Lipset, who gets the full certs from the TPAs he uses. Having the nards to stand behind one's products or make sure that one's customers are taken care of is a quality few AHs have.