Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on September 29, 2012 at 7:11am

guys is it too much to ask to have you deal with these personal "discussions" off line?  Steve, I know its your site, but I see no benefit to anyone by having these personal attacks publicized, and it can do nothing more than scare prospective members away.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on September 29, 2012 at 7:46am

I agree with Terrier.  Although you are criticizing each other with the hope that people will see things your way the reality is that the discussion is self-destructive in that it will only turn people off to both AML and GA.  Just agree to disagree and move on.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on September 29, 2012 at 8:57am

I'm not sure what to do. If I delete Steve Sipe's personal attacks and allegations against me, I think that it looks like I'm trying to cover things up...even though little of what he says about me is true. Yet if I leave them up and respond, and I'm not responding with personal attacks, I look like I'm fighting with him.

Are you suggesting that I don't call out Global Authentics for what I have found to be the poor quality of their authentication? If so, that's something I can't do. But I would love to have an open discussion with Steve Sipe, and I would use proof to back up what I say.

Just like I'd be happy to have an open discussion about our old company Starbrite, since he accused me of fraud involving it. That's absolutely untrue, and I'm willing to discuss it publicly with him.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on September 29, 2012 at 9:28am

I'd call them out if their work has proven to be poor quality. Steve Sipe might be an expert authenticator of a few particular people but I dont believe he is on everything they have been authenticating.

Question for Steve Sipe, if I send a an item for authentication to Bobby Gryder and he says good in an email reply  does that mean GA actually authenticates the item and stands behind it or is this authenticator doing this freelancing on his own?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on September 29, 2012 at 9:45am

I can't answer for Steve, Bob, or anyone else at Global. However, If someone sends me an image to authenticate ( I usually get anywhere from 5-20 items to look at a day through my personal email ). I make it clear that this is simply a CURSORY opinion.  I also make it clear that I am rendering an opinion on the photo / scan. To be able to fully authenticate an item, It must be seen in-person ( to avoid any prints or copies being named original ).

After that, I also let them know that my email response is not a form of a standard "COA"  while the response from me would serve as proof of my opinion regarding the image that was sent. It does not serve as a COA or letter of opinion until the item is seen in-hand to ensure it is an actual signed piece.

The same goes for die-cast cars or race-used items. If someone wants a true LOA or COA, they must follow the process of sending the item in to me or to Global if they choose to get the Global Authentics Motorsports coa ( which bears my name and signature and is to only be used for Motorsports items ).

I will say that everyone at Global is very good about forwarding any NASCAR items to me for my opinion. Even if they are in the field ( at a show or event ). Am I always able to answer quickly? NO! So, the customer may have to choose to wait or forgo an opinion of the item at that time ( until I can view it ).

Steve Sipe knows that I have been unhappy about some of the mistakes made by the other authenticators at Global. However, I can say that Steve Sipe has ALWAYS done whatever he feels is right to correct the problem. Even taking a little too much of the "heat" himself.

Again, this is how I demand the Motorsports coa to be handled. I know it's not related to the topic. Still, I thought it gave you an answer to compare to.  Like I said though, I can't answer for Bob Gryder but I hope that he follows the same process.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on September 29, 2012 at 10:57am

Thanks Brandon. Just was curious if GA was backing your opinions that you do outside of GA. I always wondered why the reputation of GA should be on the line for items that were not being officially submitted to GA. Interesting though.

I don't know Steve Sipe personally but he did help me once and did it for free. I still appreciate that.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on September 29, 2012 at 11:21am

Rick,  I'm my own authenticator. If I render an opinion, I want MY name to be the one on the line.  That's what I think is itiful about the PSA & JSa model. How do customers know who is rendering the opinions?  One would certainly hope that the "Elvis Expert" is rendering opinions for ALL Elvis items submitted. Right?

As far as a COA, I let the customers decide if they want a Global Cert or not.  I don't work FOR Global, I work with them. I won't put myself in a situation where I could be dictated to.

As always, I render opinions for free.  While Global may charge a fee for the COA / Database entry, I refuse to take one penny for authentication. How can someone really pay for an opinion? Even if it is an educated opinion. That's me though...I understand that Global, PSA, JSA, etc are businesses and MUST charge for the coa / database service.

However, I can certainly choose to not accept money on a personal level. 

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on September 29, 2012 at 10:58am

Brandon,

Until you said this, I didn't realize that there were NASCAR authentications at Global that you don't see. You only see ones issued with the Motorsports COAs, the ones with serial numbers starting with GM, is that right?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on September 29, 2012 at 11:17am

There aren't Steve...That's what I was saying. Steve Sipe, Bobby G, Steve W, etc. are all very good about not rendering coas for NASCAR items that I have not opinionated on.  They send them to me. I thought that I stated it clear enough, my bad.

This is A VAST difference from the Rocchi/ Priddy days when I had to argue quite often that I need to see ALL NASCAR items.

In the Sipe era, there have been a few items that I have authenticated that have received the standard Global Cert and not the Motorsports specific cert.  That's not the norm now though.

Steve Sipe knows that I raise total hell if I ever think that someone else has issued a coa for a NASCAR item that I didn't see.  So, if it happens, I'm not aware of it and it certainly isn't the practice.

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on September 29, 2012 at 1:25pm

For your sake and for collectors, Brandon, I think all GA NASCAR should all have their Motorsports COA. It just leaves questions otherwise.

For instance, if you go to Pristine Auction and search the current auction and the last 90 days, not one item has a GA Motorsports COA or serial number out of roughly 40 items (there are maybe 10 GAI that I'm not counting). But you say that you've seen everything since the Sipe era and only a few have not received a GA Motorsports COA. Is Pristine Auction an exception?

Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on September 29, 2012 at 2:15pm

Correct I knew of the cert use. Still, the bigger stipulation of me rendering the opinion(s) was met.

I said that I'm not aware of any I haven't seen. Which would be addressed if discovered.

As we know, each system is imperfect and should always allow for wiggle room to grow or restrict as needed. This is where common sense goes a loooong way.

Just as pristine could ask for my opinion on items and get no Global coa. It depends on what the customer requires.

Global can check the items and know who rendered the finding. This info should ALWAYS be available to the customer. Why some companies hide this from customers is beyond me.

Permalink Reply by Bob Shinn on September 29, 2012 at 10:11am

Steve

I would call any of the 3rd Party Authenticators out if their work is not up to par.

I do have a lot of respect for Steve Sipe coming here to participate in these discussions about his company. And he did address the situation very quickly.

Same cannot be said for PSA/DNA. How many times have we begged Joe Orlando for a response like during the "Heston" situatioin, only for it to fall on deaf ears.

I say "Call em all Out"

They make the big bucks , let them anwer for their mistakes!!!!!!!

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• …
• 15
• Next ›
• Page