We are an eBay affiliate and may be compensated for clicks on links that result in purchases.

Elvis Presley Autograph: Authenticity Opinions Please

Please tell me what you think of this Elvis Presley autograph:

Thanks,

Steve

Tags: autograph, elvis presley, signed

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael T on September 29, 2012 at 3:52pm

I have to agree with DB on this as well.

I have written on many occasions about my concerns about what I call 'blanket statements' that are written on this site, especially statements made without any supporting evidence presented for the readers consideration.

I personally think we need to tone down the use of 'always' and 'never' and 'everything' comments and temper them with some common sense. Common sense is the key, after all.

Part of the problem, in my opinion, is that it really does appear that Cyrkin has focused his energy on only one authenticator and If you look at his posts you can spot that.

As a moderator, he needs to be fair and impartial (I wrote before that he is really the site administrator and not really the moderator). Otherwise this just becomes another negative autograph bashing site.

I don't believe anyone here wants that.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 1, 2012 at 12:55pm

Michael,

There are a number of "third-party" authenticators whose autographs that I've seen on the market, or owned by consumers, are likely not to be genuine in my opinion. They include Christopher Morales, Don Frangipani, STAT, TTA, AAU/Drew Max, PAAS, AMA (very small and not often seen), GAI and, yes...GA.

I don't think I've ever used always, never or everything in describing GA. There are many genuine autographs certified by them. But from what I've seen, there are more that I think are not.

And as I said before, you're right. I'm not simply a moderator and follow your advice and change my title to site administrator or something similar.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael T on October 1, 2012 at 3:24pm

Steve, it is my strong opinion that the way you word things (quite often) purposely implies that EVERY autograph certified by, (insert 3rd party certification company name here), was unlikely to be authentic.

However, unless you personally viewed EVERY signed autograph certified by that company and happen to be an EXPERT in every autograph you viewed then you cannot state nor imply such as an absolute truth.

I am being a stickler about this, with you, simply because I don't think it is right for to do this no matter which authentication company or person you chose to make this broad statements about. I, and I am sure, many others, would prefer that you take a more conservative approach.

I suspect if your blog was not hosted in California and in a state that is more friendly to libel litigation, you might have already been sued over the statements. But, California is a tough state to win such a lawsuit and not worth the trouble. At least that is what my attorney advised me about the topic.

I make this request knowing that this is YOUR blog and that I am simply a guest and hoping you will agree with me on this.

And I appreciate the coming title change. It really makes sense to me. I also hope you might assign some trusted users to 'moderate' as well. It would certainly help reduce your workload on the blog.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Carl Ryan on October 1, 2012 at 4:17pm

I think people here keep missing a few things. First, is that Steve has been sued before and is constantly threatened with it from what i have heard him say. Yet he purposely avoids things that will put him up for libel/slander charges. Not only that but he will message/email members who are making statements that qualify as slander/libel and tell them they may not want to do that b/c of the consequences and that it doesnt belong on the site. I know b/c he has talked with me about it. I think its extremely safe to say that if Steve was doing something he could be successfully sued for he would have been a long time ago.

The second thing, and while i think steve would disagree, this is how i see it. This is Steves site.... period. Of course his favorites are going to be held higher than those he doesnt like as much for whatever reason. In most instances that ive seen, the companies he doesnt favor are based on the items alone, not the people behind them. So absolutely no one should be telling steve how to run his site or really anything. I think steve encourages this, but it doesnt change the fact that we are all guests on this forum, and we should take it as a privilege to be here. For those that dont like it, their are many other sites to join. Not only that but this site is a huge huge credit to every autograph collector. And this site ends, with one button click from the individual who created it. So i think we all need to be more respectful of that.

The odds are that b/c of the position that Steve is in that he knows far more than most any of us as far as whats going on in the industry. Far more than dealer and collector alike. So when certain items are being brought forward or certain companies mentioned the reason typically is very good. PSA and JSA get their items grilled here just like everyone else, but they have a better trackrecord than most, so they dont get grilled as much. ITs that simple. The site seems to promote who is doing the best to rid the hobby of forgeries. And most of us, including myself dont have any idea of how deep that runs.

I dont think that anyone has the right to be telling the creator of such an informative site how he should be running his site or doing his job, when this site is helping virtually everyone in terms of collecting. Its his site afterall, and if it was my site, or your site, we would all have those that we favor. I think we all need to look at it from the point of view that none of us need to be telling the creator of such a helpful site how to do his job or what the flaws of the site are. That is something that the conflicting parties themselves should discuss. Not us members on here who have no stake in things and are just visitors to a great site.

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 1, 2012 at 5:13pm

Carl,

Thanks for the kind words of support. I'm actually fine with people telling me how they feel, because if we don't have passionate members we don't have a community.

I need and want to hear what people have to say, as long as it's appropriate.

You're right, I try to be careful with what I say and not say as a fact what I don't know to be true. Not just because of the risk of lawsuits, but because it's the right thing to do.

But it's a learning experience every day.

Permalink Reply by sling on September 30, 2012 at 2:34pm

I put forward that they way the sites contributions should be managed (other than profanity & clean for kids issues) has much to do as to whether it is a collector's site (of which there are millions or collectors) or is it a profesional's site (of which there are perhaps a few thousand professionals out there), or of course possibly steve cyrkins site.

Which is it?

Collector and professional? Can it be done as both> probably can but ...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on September 30, 2012 at 3:04pm

This is a collector's site, period. But professionals are welcome to participate, and encouraged to do so...but they have to use their real names.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Sipe on September 29, 2012 at 12:13pm

Ok last post from me on this matter folks. Why is it that Steve Cyrkin makes any mistake that we should make into a murder trial? Why is it that with regard to ANY issue with PSA or JSA things are responded to with a one liner or the discussion is shoved into oblivion (moderator's have absolute privledges you know). It is because this IS a personal matter for Mr. Cyrkin to publically harass my business/person.

I am confident that if any of you who are sticking their necks out and supporting Steve Cyrkin in this matter were having this done to you there would be a much different course of action on your part. So Steve Cyrkin let me ask you this question, are you saying that I am a liar with regard to what I stated about you? Really? You think I could have made that stuff up? Wow.

All I have ever asked Steve Cyrkin to do when something like this comes up is to email me so that I can get with the respective person that actually certified the item and assess it. Why is it that you must publically harass and make false assumptions BEFORE you can allow ME to address it? Can you answer that question Steve? Does this sound like someone who wants to bury the situation or just blow it off? Not in the least bit.

At least I do actually do something when things come up on an item which is much more than I can say for PSA or JSA mistakes that have been exposed. Isn't that what you want to happen after all to see that if a company does admit to a mistake that they take care of it? If not. what is the point in making all of those unkind remarks towards me Steve?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bob Shinn on September 29, 2012 at 1:52pm

Steve

I do have a lot of respect for you coming here to participate in these discussions about your company. And I am very happy That you did address the situation very quickly, when you were made aware of it.

From what I have read here, you did the right thing.

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 myself always contact the seller or Authenticator first with my concerns about authenticity issues.

When they blow me off, I take my concerns here.

I would hope in the future all here would contact the seller or Authenticator first with concerns about Authenticity issues, It is only fair.

But if they fail to respond, in a timely manner, I see no problem with discussing the issue here, in a professional and courteous manner.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 1, 2012 at 1:14pm

Bob,

Members are welcome and encouraged to contact the seller or authenticator first with their concerns, but that's not my job. I'm here to promote discussion in the autograph community, especially on authentication and customer protection issues.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on September 30, 2012 at 3:01pm

Steve Sipe wrote me yesterday, which I only replied to a couple of hours ago. Just want to say I'm going to answer Steve's questions fully, but I try to keep weekends family first.

Regarding Starbrite, the claims that any fraud was involved with me not continuing to operate it are absolutely false. It was a very small business we operated for a couple of years, and I don't think there have ever been ANY claims for refunds for authenticity purposes since we owned it, let alone any paid. We offered a lifetime authenticity guarantee that just required it to fail PSA/DNA if we disagreed with the claim.

Steve, if you have evidence or information that disputes this, please present it.

This was more garbage brought up by the fine anonymous folks behind Autograph Alert and Autograph News Live. Total poppycock.