ComicLink Auction Highlights

[djpinkpanther67]

I wonder if Stamp Freaks (Philatelists) go through these same type of discussions?

I wonder if ther was ever a "stampkeys" of the stamp collecting world...

for the derailment

Back to regularly scheduled Metro bashing

[burntboy]

I'm not seeing Tim's question as being out of line here, since it is technically an opportunity for CL to distance themselves from Heritage, regardless of how observers may feel about the latter

 

I guess what I'm saying is that just because I have strong feelings about Heritage's modus operandi doesn't mean I give the others a free pass. I'm also trying not to interject the anecdotal stories we've heard here on the boards about alleged misconduct, since none of it was ever proven. I'm sticking strictly to what I observe firsthand about the setup.

 

You two almost having a go again???

 

2 observations so far;

 

I think it would be prudent for CLink to come back and emphatically state that their ees are NOT permitted to bid in the auctions. it would widen the gap between them and Heritage insofar as practices that many deem less than desireable...

 

secondly, as an owner of a HG X-men #1, i took a peek at the 8.5 that they are auctioning - looks pretty darn sweet to me, albeit with a smallish scan (and, no, it's not mine).

[Red Hook]

No Harry, I said my piece and that's it. And yes, it would be good if CL assured us that they themselves are restricted from bidding.

[jduran1]

When their employees can bid, I am outta' there. End of story.

 

Are the employees allowed to bid as collectors for their own accounts or do you suspect shill bidding?

 

 

Be careful when dealing with these auction houses. Only buy what you absolutely have to have no matter what the price....There is no internal audit by or for the public of their suspected shill bidding. Their final prices reflect that possilby something is going on.............but it is hard to prove unless they get sued and the bidding records are deposed....... Just buy Ebay's buy it now if it is your right price..........I would like to see all the major auction co.s come under some government scrutiny.........IMO

[Red Hook]

I'd love to see the auction houses hold themselves to the kind of standard CGC does, ie not allowing employees to sell and buy comics. Seems only natural. The potential for abuse and sale price inflation seems extremely high.

[batman_fan]

Classic misdirection. Start your own thread if you have any evidence of that, Heritage lover!

 

Come on, Tim. You know that Heritage is the one issue we disagree on! They made you a boatload of $$$......and you love them for it, ethical practices be damned!

No, I fully appreciate that Heritage has a shadier side, although I've never had as much of an issue with their employees bidding on stuff as others, so long as the employees didn't have inside information on what 3rd party bidders' max bids were. And they've sworn up and down that they don't.

 

I'm just saying that you seem to be giving everyone else a free pass without confirming one way or another what their actual policies are. It would be nice to assume that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but there's so much dirt in this hobby and there are so many incestuous relationships that I think it's naive to give the benefit of the doubt anymore. I remember when everyone was holding up Mastro as the white knight to balance out the evils of Heritage, with no basis for saying that Mastro was cleaner other than that they weren't Heritage. And then all sorts of dirt started coming out about Mastro (in comics and other fields).

 

Anyways, I think I presented a perfect opportunity for Josh to flat out say that CL does not permit its employees or affiliates to bid on their auctions, and therefore establish that they are indeed superior to Heritage in that area.

 

I'm not giving everyone else a free pass, Tim and you know it. Heritage is simply who we're discussing here, and I have a very clear opinion about them, and they're the biggest cat on the block, the most visible and the most aggressive in their promotion.

 

Start a thread about someone else and I'll be happy to chime in. I have never taken part in a Mastro auction, don't know them so I can't comment one way or the other.

 

Read the book "The Card" and you will never bid on a Mastronet auction ever.

[TeddieMercede]

Care to elaborate on what this book said about Mastro and their auctions ? Truncated version of course.

[arexcrooke]

Care to elaborate on what this book said about Mastro and their auctions ? Truncated version of course.

I too am interested as well

[Sal]

i'm guessing it's about the Honus Wagner card that was cut from an uncut sheet and then recut again and then sold, but my memory could be off

[batman_fan]

Care to elaborate on what this book said about Mastro and their auctions ? Truncated version of course.

 

He was part of the crew that took the Honus Wagner card that was originally part of an uncut sheet and cleaned up the edges then sold it without disclosure. Very deep into the shady side of the card and sports item game.. The book list several items that ended up being fakes. Billy Crystal paid a fortune for a glove which was later veriifed to be fake!

[batman_fan]

i'm guessing it's about the Honus Wagner card that was cut from an uncut sheet and then recut again and then sold, but my memory could be off

 

Your memory is very good. Also it shows the shady side of the grading where the Honus Wagner card was graded as unrestored even though it was known to have been trimmed. I recommend it highly.