Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 2, 2012 at 12:26pm

I agree, Michael. They elaborate displays are because that what their customers often want. But authenticity is a huge problem at most memorabilia galleries in tourist spots. The Autograph Source in Aspen is reliable, but I'd be hard-pressed to name another one.

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Permalink Reply by Michael T on October 2, 2012 at 12:36pm

Hey Steve, things have gotten bad. I go to Vegas on a regular basis to hang out with my friends who live there and, if we happen to end up in Casino that has a mall attached, I usually find my way to the memorabilia store and I can confirm that the stores I have visited over the years had a lot of, in my opinion, bad stuff for sale.

The sad truth, in my opinion, is that I suspect they have no idea the items are bad.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 2, 2012 at 12:53pm

Every one I'm aware of knows. 

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Permalink Reply by DB on October 2, 2012 at 1:42pm

For Steve that would be 1/10th or 1 percent as the other thousands of people who get ropped in daily haven't a clue!  How could a place sell forgeries that is part of

C E A S A R S Forum mall.

Your dead on mike with this but it not that it's gotten bad, it has been bad for a long time and everynow and then AML hears of one.  Typically, it's not for chump change either...  

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 2, 2012 at 1:44pm

DB, I think you're right about their customers. I thought Michael meant that he didn't think the galleries thought they were selling fakes.

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Permalink Reply by Michael T on October 2, 2012 at 1:54pm

To clarify, I did mean the galleries did not know.

Of course the customers have no idea or they would not make the purchase.

Steve are you saying that many of the galleries know they are selling fakes?

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on October 2, 2012 at 2:15pm

I believe that the majority of the galleries know they are selling forgeries.

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 2, 2012 at 3:49pm

Michael,

I would be shocked if any didn't. They offer things like Beatles albums and Led Zeppelin albums in quantity for a fraction of what they'd be worth if real. They use authenticators like Morales, AAU/Drew Max and Don Frangipani. They fight refunds to the death, and generally require confidentiality agreements in the rare chance they do refund. They tell stories that aren't true. They buy from some of the same sources that American Royal Arts, and Coach's Corner and now others since the names of most of their authenticators have been exposed for who they are.

Permalink Reply by DB on October 2, 2012 at 1:55pm

just like used car salesman with buyers who have no idea what a reconstructed title is.  They know what they are selling but could care less as after all it has a certificate of authenticity.  It's called the blind eye Michael  it's not the salespeople jobs to question authenticity it's their job to sell whats in the store.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Dorazio on October 2, 2012 at 2:44pm

Hello this is Bill and yes I still own this worthless piece that I shelled out close to $4000 for. I'll own it forever, the story behind this and my effort to try and get restitution for this with FOD Franchise owner and VP Jorge Salvat is beyond your wildest imagination. I have pages of e-mail documentation back and forth that would send your head spinning. I thought I was purchasing a keepsake that would continue to rise in value with the ultimate goal of handing it down to my eldest grandson someday. Those Dreams are know shattered and gone!

Permalink Reply by DB on October 2, 2012 at 2:52pm

Bill, u should post some of the more salient email exchanges especially the ones where they must be obviously refuting the claims of it being a forgery.

Permalink Reply by Michael T on October 2, 2012 at 2:52pm

I'm glad we got out of those FOD stores. I know we had only the best intentions when we owned our stores but that was back in the 90's. Its obvious times have changed.

I don't remember us ever having a Ruth for sale. Back then most of our inventory came from Stacks of Plaques, Steiner and Mounted Memories. So they certainly were not holding signings with Ruth.

DB, I was actually thinking of the owners knowingly putting bad material on the sales floor.

I personally have no idea how to authenticate Babe Ruth but if in fact the Ruth that spurred this thread is a fake and FOD store owner and parent company are unwilling to do the right thing that is really sad.

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