Comment by rob kunne on May 26, 2020 at 4:44am

the only thing i know is that steiner is good but to let go their items from the past is strange.i can't imagin they have something to hide. it would make sence that for example global did this to their site but they didn't?.

Comment by Paul Cross on May 26, 2020 at 8:07am

"Their" items do not include items purchased many years ago.  The new ownership did not make any money on past sales, so they didn't do the work to include those COA's on their new website. 

It took many, many phone calls to have a manager call me back.  I simply kept calling, being told a manager would get back to me, hang up, call again, be told the same, hang up, call again until a manager from Florida actually called me back.  She asked for images of the old items and would forward them to the individuals who could take care of the situation.  Obviously that was just a way to get me pacified for the time being.

The new ownership purged everyone from the original Steiner Sports, including the owner.  THEY DON'T CARE.

Comment by Steve Zarelli on May 29, 2020 at 4:56am

Steiner is a hot mess in my opinion. They spent way too much time selling vials of stadium dirt, cheesy displays and on and on rather than focusing on the security of their core business -- autographs.

Now, their holograms have become corrupted by counterfeits (or stolen real labels) and you can't track the ones that may be real. 

When questioned about this, they have ignored or blocked the people who provide feedback. They blocked me on Twitter when I respectfully brought their attention to a bunch of obvious fakes being sold with their sticker. They put more effort into blocking people who provide feedback than stopping crooks selling fakes.

The product actually sold by Steiner was all good. But through their lack of care, they really let their brand reputation slide. Regrettably, it will get to the point where a Steiner hologram means nothing... you'll need credible third party authentication on "Steiner" items.

Comment by terrier8HOF on May 29, 2020 at 6:02am

I agree with Steve about the dilution of their product due to the vast amount of forgeries being passed off with the Steiner sticker.  It could end up like Scoreboard, good product, but worthless documentation.  I have some original Steiner items, which have the hologram sticker on the item, and matching cert (in the form of a folded card).  To the best of my knowledge, Steiner never had a database for those original items, so that is probably the reason why it is not available in the current site.

Comment by Steve Zarelli on May 29, 2020 at 6:13am

I believe Tony is correct. Throughout their history, they sporadically had serial numbers on some of their certs. To my knowledge, there was never a way to look them up.

Comment by Paul Cross on May 29, 2020 at 9:38am

If I remember correctly, back in the early 1990's a company, I believe was Mounted Memories, began using numbered holograms.  They "patented" it.  Steiner began using them.  MM took them to court.  While the court proceedings were going on, Steiner was using holograms without numbers.  When the court ruled that numbered holograms were too general of am item, the case was dropped and Steiner, an many other companies, began using the numbered holograms again. 

The problem is Steiner's website produces the message that the hologram number is invalid if you insert a hologram more than about five years old.  That means if you have three Jerry Rice jerseys, which I purchased in the 1990's, the hologram comes up as invalid.  They can not be sold using the Steiner cert and hologram, which at the time was very expensive.

Comment by Steve Zarelli on May 29, 2020 at 9:43am

You touch on on what I believe is the most salient point. The fact of the matter is, Steiner product was sold for premium pricing under the umbrella that authenticity was ironclad. Yet, they didn’t protect their brand and now product that people pay premium prices for, has been seriously diluted. They have not protected their customers.

Comment by Paul Cross on May 29, 2020 at 9:57am

BUT the new ownership views Steiner as just one of their properties.  There is no "This is my creation.  I am proud of what we have accomplished and we are the best" attitude.  Now they have sales people who answer the phone to take orders.  

I am not sure who bought Superstar Greetings.  When Marty passed away, the company was sold.  I called the number listed and asked if they were still involved in the wholesale part of the company.  I talked to two people who stated they had no idea who Superstar Greetings was.

Comment by Steve Zarelli on May 29, 2020 at 10:03am

No doubt that when Fanatics bought Steiner it was the final nail in the coffin. They don’t give a damn about the Steiner brand. They just wanted all the athlete contracts. The remaining Steiner inventory will probably be re-stickered with Fanatics labels and that will be the end of it.

Comment by Paul Cross on May 29, 2020 at 10:07am

But they will still use the Steiner name and website because they can put a premium price on the items.  The difference of clientele buying anything on ebay and Steiner is tremendous.  

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