Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Carl Ryan on July 10, 2013 at 11:48pm

Hi MPB,

I will through my two cents in. And i don think you will be bashed any. All those are good reasonable questions. And i agree that in most cases, the exaggerated titles may be a little much. But i do understand where the guys here are coming from b/c they have seen what the forgers have done to the hobby, and they have deep seeded resentment, and i dont blame them. And they really are doing it for the buyer. I know that i have been a prime offender on occasion when it comes to using to much of an emphasis in a title, and i am going to refrain from doing that anymore. It really isnt fair for an ebay seller who may not know he has a bad item and is confused by the threads and hostility. Of course then their are those sellers who know what they are selling and deserve harsh titles exposing them. But you are correct, and their are ways to even make those convo titles sound better. But that i guess is a moderator issue.

As far as what makes a pro, in my eyes its all resume and experience. and unfortunately, the only way to find this out is research and time. In my opinion, the baseball guys who regularly comment are Pros. When it comes to Mantle signatures in particular, as well as Jeter, their is no better, probably in the world, than Christopher williams. He has exposed probably more fake baseball graphs than maybe anyone living. And thats not an exaggeration. I think he blows away anyone on jsa, psa, or anywhere else. He actually has a youtube channel where he has made hundreds of vids exposing forgeries and saving others money. Youtube search tom tresh and forgeries, and you will be in for some great informative and entertaining videos. And im not really even a baseball collector, but i love reading as much as i can on here on all genres, and i have listened and watched Mr. williams closely, and if i can say one thing for sure, their is no better of an expert on Mantle and Jeter, and for that matter many others, than Christopher Williams. At Mantle and Jeter, he literally is that good, and if you ask the other baseball guys, im sure you will hear the same. But with him having the impact he has, he also is targeted by forgers probably more than this site. So i can understand him being mad at the buyers and sellers, but he ultimately is doing it for the buyers, so i cant say anything. AS without him, thousands and thousands of forgeries would have been sold.

As far as JSA and PSA, i do consider them pros in the game. They work in autographs every day for a living and their batting average is pretty darn good. But those are the only two TPAs that i do consider that fall into the category in my opinion. I do think Roger Epperson is a pro in the music field and that their is no better in music. I think that Frank Caizzo and Perry Cox are pros and experts at The Beatles, and think that the beatles guys on this site for the most part are dag on near experts in their own right they are so good.

IN general i consider someone who studies autographs, or specific autographs, either for a living, or as a very very passionate collector. Of course their are many companies who sell and authenticate graphs for a living that are not pros by any stretch of the imagination, so when i look at a full time seller, the track record, experience, reputation among rivals and friends, and attitude are all factors. If those are all good, and the seller seems professional, or member, then i do consider that person to be a pro in their specific category.

This site in my eyes is very very unique among the net. I have been a member of several of the other pay per month autograph sites, and what i have found is that, the opinions given typically arent really all that accurate. Its typically very new to intermediate members. And typically a bunch of loud mouths who speak like they know everything, but are always wrong.

When i came here, i was shocked at the level of experience. Their was little to no fighting between regular members, and the information was on another level than what i had seen. Things were backed up by facts and examples. And as i explored more i found out pretty quick who the main guys were in each field and who had the experience. This really is the only site im aware of on the net where very experienced, semi pro, and pro autograph guys from all walks of life across the world gather to discuss autographs with everyone, even the little guys like myself.

Thats just how i view things. If someone is interested in a certain genre and reads the threads regularly, as well as past ones, the main knowledgeable guys can be picked out pretty quick. And typically prove very quick that they are indeed pros, even if they dont run an authentication company. It takes time for me to give someone that label, along with research, but in baseball, guys like Christopher Williams, terrior, cee gee, zipper, Ryan, etc are pros on baseball in my book. I should also add that Mr. Zipper is a space expert, and pro for sure, and works for PSA.

I should also add that Brandon Mysinger is pretty much the best their is at nascar graphs, and i do consider him a pro.

Take Care,

Carl

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on July 11, 2013 at 8:09pm

Just a clarification to Carl's comment...

I am the space and aviation consultant for JSA, not PSA as Carl indicated. I also consult with RR Auction, Moonpans.com and a number of private clients and dealers.

Steve Zarelli

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Carl Ryan on July 11, 2013 at 9:54pm

Sorry about that Mr. zipper,

I guess the flourine in the water is working its magic, lol. In any event you are most definetly a space expert.

take care

Carl

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Null on July 11, 2013 at 7:18am

M P B,

1. Most of the ones I point out are indeed hideous/putrid/horrific forgeries, which is why I call them as I see them. How else can you describe something that is 100% garbage created to rip off and deceive people of hard earned money?

2. "Professional" is a deceiving word. There are tons of "Professionals" who are scam artists, who authenticate anything. Myself and others do this on a voluntary basis, which means we are so passionate about this we spend our time helping others here. I consider myself very knowledgeable on several athlete's signatures, and I stick to those discussions. 

3. eBay pulls suspect items that are reported to them via eBay.

4. I know I personally have not been proven incorrect on any discussion I have started on an eBay forgery seller. I only call the seller out when I am 110% sure it is a forgery. If someone requests help on an autograph and I am not 100% sure, I will use "in my opinion" and people are wrong sometimes, we're human.

5. Common request, and myself and others refrain from sharing this info because the forgers will "fix" the problems. For a brief overview of Mantle forgeries see my discussion here:
http://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/most-common-mantle-f...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mister Bigstuff on July 10, 2013 at 9:27pm

An authenticating professional to me is someone that is experienced, dedicated and honest. Someone who has years of experience and education of examining autographs thoroughly. Someone who has an accurate database to go by when comparing autographs. Someone who gives their just opinions on what they believe is genuine. Someone who can notice differences in pen pressure, fluidity, autopen usage and have the proper tools and equipment to do so. 

What I don't consider a professional is someone who bashes autographs using words like piece-of-crap, putrid and horrific and calling out various eBayers by name who could be a person that probably doesn't know any better or are just plain ignorant to the situation they're in. Someone who scours eBay for what they believe aren't real autographs and putting it on a forum to discuss how pathetic the autograph is. To me, that's amateur and unprofessional. 

Now I'm not trying to judge you, because I don't know you or what your experience or education is. However, I do disagree with the way you handle things and that is my opinion. If you enjoy looming over eBay for hours on end looking for any non JSA, PSA or what-have-you authenticated autographs that you believe are fake, then good for you. I do not study autographs nor do I even collect them anymore as I see it as a lost cause and simply a waste of time.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on July 10, 2013 at 9:49pm

You signed up just for this thread? Just out of curiosity are you an EBAY seller who had auctions listed here?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Null on July 11, 2013 at 7:24am

"Someone who gives their just opinions on what they believe is genuine. Someone who can notice differences in pen pressure, fluidity, autopen usage" Most of us who post threads like this can.

"What I don't consider a professional is someone who bashes autographs using words like piece-of-crap, putrid and horrific and calling out various eBayers by name who could be a person that probably doesn't know any better or are just plain ignorant to the situation they're in" How else do you describe a forgery? The eBayers are called out by name so that if someone does a Google search before purchasing it will show up in the search and they will be warned not to buy the forgery. THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT. 

"If you enjoy looming over eBay for hours on end looking for any non JSA, PSA or what-have-you authenticated autographs that you believe are fake, then good for you." Wrong. We look for FORGERIES plain and simple. I don't even look at the COAs. 

"I do not study autographs nor do I even collect them anymore as I see it as a lost cause and simply a waste of time." Then why are you here wasting our time? 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mister Bigstuff on July 11, 2013 at 7:42am

Wasting your time? Haha! Clearly you all have plenty of that... and I mean plenty...Anyways, I got what I came here for. Don't expect any further replies from me. I bid you adieu kind sirs... Wasting your time, haha man that was a good one! 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Null on July 11, 2013 at 7:52am

Farewell, just another eBay seller whose forgery we exposed.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brian M. Wazac on July 11, 2013 at 10:10am

Sure looks that way, IMHO. LOL

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on July 11, 2013 at 8:43am

Later. We'll keep an eye out for your EBAY auctions. Looks like somebody has found them once and I'm sure it wont be long before they are found again.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by 2si9gjw9em85g on July 11, 2013 at 4:41am

I appreciate the replies so far and appreciate the time that Mr. Ryan put into his response.  Thanks for the information on the various people that post here and what their experience is in your opinion.  That provided me with a lot of information and food for thought.  I should point out that I am not a sports guy per se as it is not the area that I buy within the most.  I do have sporting autos but they all have in person authentications from places like JSA, GTSM or me getting them personally like my Pete Rose cards from a signing he did at a mall in St. Petersburg, FL about 10+ years ago.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next ›
• Page