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GFA

Does anyone know what's going on with GFA? It seems like they are a great forensic resource to evaluate memorabilia but its so hard to find anyone or websites that use them.

Can someone let me know how I can find people or websites that use them? Appreciate it!

Also, what do you guys think?

Chwa

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Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on July 13, 2014 at 7:18pm

AtAuction is focusing on fancy displays to sale their crap. When I toured their sports memorabilia warehouse they had a ton of signed baseballs. Most were 500 club and a couple hundred signed Mantle hats. They bought photos for less then 5 bucks a piece. Higher margin for them.

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Permalink Reply by Chwa Harps on July 13, 2014 at 7:20pm

Hey Rick,

Whats your role in the memorabilia industry? You seem to be pretty well established

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Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on July 13, 2014 at 7:25pm

Just a collector.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Ryan on July 13, 2014 at 7:21pm

I agree with the others that you should search this site and google, if you search this thread, or google GFA, or go on any autograph website and ask about them, you will most likely get similar sentiment. Guys like Chris Williams, Ryan, and many others have exposed countless items on this site that were certed by GFA. I believe there COA is Steve Rochii (sp?), and you can research him further to see what opinions of him are.

As far as Coaches Corner, in my opinion, it truly is shocking the feds havent gotten involved. I suppose its b/c they can claim they are an auction house, and not the consignor, and that that is a loop hole of sorts. They do sell some authentic items i have seen, but it really is beyond amazing the items that they sell week after week. The rarest of the rare, and some that i am familiar with are laughable forgeries. Coaches corner is another google term you might want to search for as far as opinions go. I think you will find the sentiment very consistent.

I have talked to several forensic document examiners that were well respected, and the sentiment has always been the same. And that sentiment was that forensic examiners cant realistically open a competitive business, solely authenticating autographs. The reason for that was that during an actual forensic examination, many methods and tools are used to analyze the piece. This analization can take weeks if not more, working only on one piece. The amount of man hours to do such a thing is staggering, to do with accuracy. And thus authenticating autographs would not be very realistic. For one because it would take so long and so much time to analyze each piece, and 2 b/c of the cost. As sometimes forensic examinations can easily go above 1,000 dollars. And even to analyze one piece accurately would cost well well over what an authentication from PSA or JSA would cost. Its not that an FDE cant analyze autographs, they certainly can. But the cost they would have to charge for there time and skill would not be practical for most customers.

And b/c of this, i am not aware of even one FDE out there who analyzes solely autographs that i dont see regularly brought up on this site and others in a less than positive light.

Just some things to take note of

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Permalink Reply by Erich Jerozal on July 13, 2014 at 7:17pm

Chwa these are your words. "It seems like they are a great forensic resource to evaluate memorabilia but its so hard to find anyone or websites that use them."

To me this is stating that you want to use them. Go ahead. After what people have told you......you still insist on using an FDE. Its your money buddy. Do what you want.