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What is the "real deal" with autographsamerica.com??

I have been doing some extensive online reading tonight regarding this company. To put it frankly: I feel ill. Over the past couple years i have purchase about 10 autographed record albums (total dollar value - $450 - $500) from them without ever contemplating the possibility of a fake (my fault completely!!). Some of them I still figure to be real because of the overall insignificance of the artists and the low dollar value.
However, I purchased an autographed album of Stevie Ray Vaughan for roughly $100 on a 75% off sale (again I feel like an imbecile!). I know that is quite inexpensive (and naive on my part) but I felt I was buying the real deal.
Just tonight I came across a pile of damning accusations toward these guys (autographsamerica.com) and, like I said, now I feel that at least half of the purchases I have made may be fake. For the money value I may as well chalk it up as a life lesson but what can I do to ensure what I do have is authentic without it costing me an arm and a leg? I am just a music fan who wants a few nice pieces of memorabilia for my listening room...now I feel like a dupe.

The artists autographs that are in question are as follows:

Stevie Ray Vaughan
ZZ Top
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
Judas Priest
Def Leppard
Rory Gallagher
Journey

Any information or advice would definitely be well received and greatly welcomed...thanks in advance!

I can post photos of the aforementioned records if that may help with the situation.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on May 2, 2011 at 8:00am

Good work! We helped someone get a $20,000 VISA charge-back against them. And then Burkel put the bill into a collection agency! Who dropped Burkel once they figured out what's going on.

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Permalink Reply by Thomas on December 27, 2011 at 5:55pm

I too have been ripped off by Autographs America. I have several autographed albums that I bought during 2009-2010, which I could submit as evidence (or at least digital photos) if a valid lawsuit were to ensue, I would love to see those guys, espcially Burkel, out of business and in jail. I feel like an idiot as well.

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Permalink Reply by Vince Salvitti on May 1, 2011 at 8:12pm

Wow, if you're gonna try to forge stuff you should be consistant. The Zappa stuff is a joke. Conveniently, the band used contrasting colors for eye appeal. They also all changed their writing style to keep it new.

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on June 12, 2011 at 8:02pm

A Led Zeppelin "signed" guitar from Autographs America:

http://cgi.ebay.com/290573124615

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Permalink Reply by Neal on June 21, 2011 at 8:12pm

I noticed that their LED ZEPPELIN AND ORIGINAL LYNYRD SKYNYRD AUTOGRAPHS the R in RONNIE VAN ZANT and R in ROBERT PLANT were almost identical,HOW COME THIS SCUMBAG IS NOT IN JAIL!!!!!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Surprised one on July 2, 2011 at 11:39pm

Post removed, sorry. Profanity and sexual content aren't allowed here.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on July 3, 2011 at 7:26am

Ditto!!!

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Permalink Reply by Surprised one on July 3, 2011 at 7:27am

Its an open forum of complaints here. I forgot to mention how he threatened me to have someone come take care of me?

This site is an open forum for collecting and consumer related complaints. From what we know, Brian Burkel (www.AutographsAmerica.com) is among the largest and most flagrant sellers of music forgeries in the world today. He deserves to reap what he's sowed. But what you posted here goes beyond the forum's purpose. Hope you understand.

But we have kept a copy of what you posted in case anyone needs the information.

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Permalink Reply by Loren Serritella on July 3, 2011 at 8:00am

LOL. Well, you seriously can't make that stuff up folks. [Inappropriate content removed.]Yeah, her name is Jinny, and she is on my facebook account. I added her when all the drama was going on about me not getting a refund, The things my boyfriend and I found out about this guy while talking to the Attorney General were AWESOME!!!!!!! I mean, we knew his address, attorney, business tax codes, when he paid, when he didnt pay, we talked to his soon to be ex wife (Who, I think he is divorced now, and that was only a few months ago)...I could've told you his shoe size if we decided to keep on going. But, after discovering all of this stuff, and the fact that he is a dazzling and BRILLIANT con-man at heart, we just decided to let it go. What attorneys do (He's about to lose his), what the tax man will do (Seems he doesnt like to pay them), From what bands say (Did you know writing lyrics on a guitar and signing a name is a violation of copywright laws?) and from what everyone has told me, they will catch up to him soon. We dont need our 300.00 back, as much as he needs a priest. Or a shaman. or whatever's going to save his sorry a--. So I patiently wait the arrival of Karma's foot all over Mr. Burkel [Inappropriate content removed.]. It may not be next week, but its going to hurt. Please have Jinny put it on her facebook. Thanks, Loren

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Permalink Reply by Surprised one on July 3, 2011 at 9:12am

Post removed, sorry. Profanity and sexual content aren't allowed here.

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Permalink Reply by 029r4yc06b4rr on December 28, 2011 at 1:06pm

Last night i went through that site and truly had a laugh. I had been their before and knew their items were bad but hadnt been back for a while. And steve and everyone is right, it is quite obvious if you look at enough of them that they are singed by the same person and that its probably a female. The writing is very feminine on alot of the sigs, and really too neat to be some of the artists in question. Another huge give away to me was that each and every item that is multi signed uses the same pens over and over. Their is a black one, a red one, a blue one, and i foget the other one or two. But its obvious its those same pens being used on each and every item. So do you think that that bald dude is walking around with the same 6 multi colored pens in his pocket asking the artists to alternate what color they used. Absolutely not. What a major forger. Its a shame that email you have steve wont shut them down. I hope many mmore are leaked to you. It was also quite funny how their were like 5 signed beatles guitars and numberous beatles drumheads, numerous Morrison signed items and guitars, numerous hendrix signed guitars etc. Right up their with prestige and ne autographs. I too was fooled by sites like these at the beginning Robert so dont feel that bad. It happens to us all at first. But i can almost guarantee you for certain that every item you bought from them is absolutely fake. With no doubts what so ever. I would try and start getting a return right now.

Sincerely

Chris

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Permalink Reply by Alice Rose on February 27, 2012 at 8:00pm

I thought I would update everyone that Autographs America has shut down and reopened under the name Autographs Network. I guess this is their way of trying to hide their horrible reputation from future buyers. To everyone with online complaints about this company, be sure to update your posts with the new name.