<< <i>If you're insulted by the comments...this is not the first time they have been posted. Link to 1st go round It all started here. I challenged him on the statement and with the exception of Basilone, everyone pretty much left me high and dry.
Regards,
Alan >>
Alan,
Sorry you feel that I left you high and dry. I thought I stated my case pretty well and received a relatively weak response from Jim.
As far as the topic at hand, I would tend to agree with many of the posts so far. This is a hobby, it's supposed to be fun, the forums are a great place to meet fellow collectors and exchange information. Jim obviously disagrees. It seems his ideal message board would include about 5 members who know everything about everything. How boring would that message board be?
Ask a question about any card ever made (any sport, nonsport, etc.), and I guarantee that someone here will know something about it. It appears that Jim is just too arrogant to believe that some small time collectors of several "vintage" sets can contribute anything worthwhile. That's a shame. I feel sorry for Jim.
Mr. Davalillo has made his statements......( I know his real name is Jim, and I use the term Mr. Davalillo as respect for addressing another person.)
Let's reflect back on a few of them for a bit...Hmmm.....
<<I believe I am the largest owner of PSA-graded cards in the country...close to 20,000...>>
Pretty much not true....What a statement that was..... I know of a couple of collectors that have more than that amount...
<<...after being a regular poster (PSA) for the past 18 months, have made the decision to stop posting.>>
If I got my a$$ fried up by the board members on almost every post, and really didn't help anyone with card knowledge, and belittled my fellow posters with my acid comments...I'd stop posting too...
<<The PSA president has to be the most customer unfriendly person I have ever seen running a company.>>
When 1 guy has a problem with Joe Orlando, and 1000 guys praise him...Most folks just dismiss it as "sour grapes"... Mr. Davalillo has a "problem" with a lot of folks... When you try to "force" an issue on ANY president, things will go negative in short order.
<<Because I am a large customer, I asked him (Orlando) to do certain favors for me.....>>
This statement sums up the entire SGC thread. Was it really Joe Orlando that was rude, or just an impatient Mr. Davalillo??
<<The trial balloon that PSA sent out about half grades was a slap in the face to their longstanding customers....>>
How naive can Mr. Davalillo be.....EVERY good manager of ANY degree knows in order to have a busisness that grows, you would have to have dialog with your customers. Most of the time, polls are used. So...How much sense does it make for Mr. Davalillo to start posting with an organization (SGC) that has more than half grades??? SCG uses 1/10th grades........BTW...No half grades at PSA.
<< I am losing a little confidence in PSA's grading..>>
If Mr. Davalillo is starting to get "shaky" on day to day operations at PSA...Well...Maybe it's time to unload that boat load of PSA product. I'm sure that there is a ready market for all those "rare" 8's, 7's, 6's, and 5's, that now reside in his collection. (IMHO, he should of bought 9's and 10's...just my $.02..). Mr. Davalillo's statement that he is building sets in 8 or better is simply not valid.
<<There are not many individuals with a broad knowledge of vintage cards of PSA's Message Boards.>>
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA............All you have to do is click on ANY forum post and absorb vast card knowledge from the collectors that REALLY know. One collectors knowledge is shadowd by another, BUT...., as a collective group, no other place on Earth will give you more sports collecting data than the PSA Registry Forum Board........NO PLACE !!!
<<To many, vintage means 1970 Kellogg>>
Life played a little trick on poor Mr. Davalillo. We all adapted to a changing world, and it looks like a few didn't get it.... ... First of all, if you get involved in collecting a set of baseball cards that require real dollars to complete, at least spell the name of the set correctly..... Yes, Mr Davalillo...1970 is considered vintage to many, MANY people...PSA says it's vintage, most of the collectors in the western hemisphere consider it vintage and most importantly....Mr. Davalillo KNOWS it's considered vintage...... All Mr. Davalillo's statements surrounding this issue are directed at belittleing fellow collectors. Nothing more. Such a non-constructive way to convey ones thoughts and desires. What a shame.
BTW Mr. Davalillo, if your reading along....3 things are still ongoing... 1) 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974 Kellogg's sets are also "vintage" (soon, I think you will also see the 1975 Kellogg's set become vintage...)....
2) After you made the statement concerning the take over of the #1 spot in 1970 Kellogg's from THEGEMMINTMAN........You hit "the wall"......And...if you are still reading the posts on this board, you would know that the upcoming "Kellogg's Super Stars"...aka STUMP and Machodoc would gladly give up their 10's to THEGEMMINTMAN to secure his #1 ranking forever....I would also do the same, because you see, this Registry has ALWAYS been more about the collecting aspects of the hobby rather than a profit and loss statement. Yes...sadly...Life has it's ups and downs Mr. Davalillo.
3) You can't BUY friendships. Your struggle with completing sets are now compounded by your brass statements. There are people on this board, and in the hobby itself that will never buy a card from you OR sell a card to you, and you can just chalk it up to the way you conduct yourself.
Lastly...
<<I have no intention of converting my collection to SGC or GAI-- too costly...>>
COSTLY??????? How costly is it to eliminate some customer base??? After all of Mr. Davalillos statements, about PSA,.. AND it's board members, why would this group of Registry members give a nickle for ANY of his cards.....
Lets see......20,000 cards to sell........minus...1000 knowlegable collectors to sell them to.......Oh..That's right...... Mr. Davalillo thinks that we probably can't add or subtract either.....Hmmmmm......
Larry
I LOVE FANCY CURRENCY, pretty girls, Disney Dollars, pretty girls, MPC's, ..did I mention pretty girls???
I am still amazed that he is mad tha psa would not help him out bc his money did not talk that makes me really mad! That is why they are the best or they would be Pro bc they just want your 8.00 for using them! Err , get a clue ther are the best bc they are not like the other graders!!
Forgive me for sticking 2 cents into a situtation that does not require it but I think that several of you may have missed a salient point. Collecting can be about fun or finance but it is sometimes about EGO. Some will only collect what they have a chance to be #1 with. To me that is merely an overactive ego.
I bring this up because I believe based on reading far too many of Mr. D's posts that his main issue is ego. He is the "biggest collector", "pays the most", etc. Just tackling this many sets in this fashion appears to be a scream for attention. I may have missed it but I don't recall anyone else being this spectacularly atttention seeking. There are two particular episodes that seemed to turn Mr. D into a very unhappy camper here on the boards. One was when he had a relatively paltry interest in viewing his collection (an offer he was making on these boards). The second (and I cannot find it) was when one of the members mentioned the "Big 4" collectors. It appeared that he was quite injured when he was not included in their company.
These blows to his ego may have been too much for him.
I for one wish him luck in his future endeavors. But these boards may have experienced "addition by subtraction."
Not to go down any tangents, but I have to believe that I am the "witty" guy that Jim was referring to. Why I hang out with all of you ignoramuses is beyond me.
SGC has an online price guide. Perhaps Davalillo can complain to SGC about the inaccuracies in there. If Davalillo crosses over all 20000 of his PSA cards, SGC will triple its business for 2003!
I find Davalillo's complaints somewhat strange. He complains about the SMR, even though it is by far the best price guide in the business, and is constantly improving. He complains about having to be a member to submit, as if the $99 would make a difference to him. He complains about Joe Orlando, but quite honestly, I can understand why Joe was a little irritated with him after his constant harangues about the SMR. He never says what it was that Joe woudn't do for him. Jim, if you are reading this, please give us a little bit more info about what favors he wouldn't do?
I agree with others that Davalillo is getting a little frustrated at not being able to complete his sets. After constantly telling us how easy it is to complete a large set in all 8, he hasn't been able or willing to do it, with the exception of a few sets. He originally said taht prices would be much more reasonable within a year, but instead he is finding that low pop 8's are just going up in price.
I also have to concur with others that his best talents are at putting others down. I have tried to trade 61 cards with him several times, and have been able to complete only one deal. Once, when I offered him about 30 pretty low pop cards that he needed for $27 per card (SMR is $22), he lit into me about how outrageous my prices were and that I was way out of line with the market. I offered to give him $350 for a PSA 9 1/1 (SMR at the time was $75), before they became hot, and of course that wasn't near enough. Unfortunately, he never just said that the deal didn't work for him, but he had to belittle me at the same time.
While I am not a "knowledgable" card collector of Vintage cards, I do know a little bit about the 61 Topps Market. I admit that I don't frequent the SGC boards, or the network 54 boards. This board has a great bunch of guys who, while maybe not knowledgable enough for Jim, are plenty more knowledgable than me, and I learn a great deal. Plus the board is funny and interesting.
I think that we made the deal of the century trading Davalillo for PSAtan!
It's hilarious to me that he crawled over to the SGC bored. The one thing he was always consistent about was his dislike for all things SGC. I would love to be a fly on the wall when he tries to bully his next big deal out of BMW. How much more frustration will it take before Mastro gets "the big call" ??
<< <i>I've caught the old flesh garden hose in my derriere on occasions too numerous to mention. I've actually saved scans of cards inferior to mine graded two levels above sitting in PSA authorized dealers inventories - check out Maraya's 1949 Bowman Paige: It's an 8 with bent corners. I've seen it in person. I've tried to cross over cards purchased from Bleam at ridiculous prices and haven't been able to at all (One out of ten). However, I've found the same thing with GAI and SGC. They play their own games. It's not endemic to one company. I had Baker et al explain a centering issue on a card that was 50/50 l to r and t to b. Later that day, I found the same card with 90/10 r to l that received a higher grade and didn't compare. It's how the ball bounces. >>
This is the exact reason that I am not in favor of subscribing to the graded card concept.
Davalillo's collection, and other whales like him, are holding an investment in CU not in baseball cards. Kind of scary when you think about it.
Be back soon. Just got motivated to break out more cards from their holders.
True Story. About 14 months ago I was approached by a collector-turned seller (whom I will not name) to buy some of my low pop 1967's and 1968's in PSA 8. He said he was buying them for a "friend", filling a need list. Being the nice guy I am trying to help out both the collector with the need list and the collector-turned-seller, I made several available. Although I wanted back what I had paid for them (minimally), I was told that these were the prices--just below SMR. I figured it wasn't going to break me, so I agreed on about 8-10 cards from each set.
Two weeks later checking those registry years, I figured out who the "friend" was that now had my cards. Agree that it was my stupid decision to "help" out an unknown, but suffice it to say I no longer do any business with any collector-turned-need list filler without finding out who is really getting my cards. The fact that I let him lowball the number (and provide the middle man a fee) just burned me up. I was so disgusted I let the low pop 8's go so cheap and it made me sick when they showed up in his (Dav's) sets.
Anyway, thanks (as always) for the entertainment value provided by the posts. On a night when the Red Sox didn't play, it was fun reading.
Alan--Nice.
E
"...life is but a dream."
Used to working on HOF SS Baseballs--Now just '67 Sox Stickers and anything Boston related.
Most of the this stuff isn't worth dignifying, but I believe there is one issue that two individuals need to be called out on.
Two intriguing statements were recently written on the SGC Board.
One most recently by Davalillo1 :
<<I am losing a little confidence in Psa 's grading. Certain vintage cards I see in holders sold by certain dealers look suspicious to me. All I am suggesting is that certain dealers will continue to submit high-end trimmed cards until they grade.>>
And also this one by BOTN on a different thread:
<<I have very little in the way of inventory in PSA holders and my personal collection consists of none. I did not make that adjustment until the Chicago National when I spent time speaking with several dealers who were very frank about having cards restored and how easy it is to get them into PSA holders. I knew that this was occurring but not in the numbers that I was presented.>>
A card is trimmed or it isn't. It's like pregnancy or death. You can't be kind of pregnant nor can one be kind of dead. Likewise, neither can a card be kind of trimmed. It either IS or ISN'T. If Davalillo1 is certain that some PSA dealers are getting "high-end trimmed cards" past PSA graders, then by all means Davalillo1, tell us who these dealers are.
This issue is even more absolute with BOTN, since he claims that he got this information straight from the "horses mouths". If he is aware of dealers doing this, then by all means he has a professional, ethical and moral obligation to tell the world who these low-lifes are. This is his chance to be the hero of the hobby. So BOTN, tell everyone who are these dealers?
In closing, if these accusations are true, then I'm on Davalillo1's and BOTN's side and will vigorously join their crusade to make sure these maggots never make a dime in this hobby again.
However, if BOTN and Davalillo1 can't PUBLICLY produce the names of these dealers, and specifics, then in my opinion they are worse than any of these alleged low-lifes they pretend to accuse. Once again, we are talking in absolutes. Dealers are either doing this or they are not. If you are speaking the truth, then the law is on your side and you shouldn't have a worry in the world about any legal reprocussions. But please, if you are going to make these damaging accusations against PSA and PSA dealers, then by all means stand behind them. I'm certain that both of you are reading this, so go ahead and use the SGC Board to show us who these unscrupulous dealers are.
" Sometimes i have to submit a card several times after it comes back evidence of trimming before PSA holders it but i never submit more than 4 times " So we know one guy who is submitting
or how about this from Davalillo on the subject of Joe Orlando refusing to change his mind on the status of one of Jim's trimmed cards that he submitted.
" I told Joe Orlando how important it was for me to have that card holdered and he still said he would not"
I really wish someone would step up the plate either for Jim to sell his collection cut a sweetheart deal with Rocchi (because you know they will kiss his feet like he wants) and get those cards into a company's holder he respects
Im not good at pulling up old threads but i know they were from the past 9 months and im sure the one about Joe Orlando was in 1420sports thread about not having a card grade when a grader looked at it at a show
Here is the exact quote made by Jim . The first one was made on memory and as you can see the card Joe would not holder was not trimmed but it just wouldnt cross to Jim's liking
"Lastly, in case people think large collectors, submitters, dealers get favors from psa, I gave joe Orlando another 2400 cards to grade and a 1953 Bowman Color Pee Wee Reese SBC 98(gem mint) that I wanted to crossover to a psa 9 or 10. I also told joe it was important to me. It was indicated as an 8 and would not cross."
Well, its clear this will probably start a new round of bash Davalillo--all by people I have never met and 90 percent by people I have never heard of who say I promised to never post again. Its also clear I will never win a popularity contest...but that was never my goal. It was just to have a plave to have a frank discussion concerning issues regarding the collecting of vintage sportscards. Even though I like those of you I have met--Zardoz, Luxury Wines, Jay, Mike Scmidt, David Vargha--I have never viewed this as a place to make friends. It does not matter to me if I am liked. Simply, I am trying to complete over 100 vintage sets in psa 8 on a limited budget and the message boards are a great way of advertising that. I get offers in every day to buy cards or to sell cards--many of which I do. Just this week someone wanted to sell me two nearly complete vintage topps baseballsets all psa 8 in the 1950s at a reasonable price. I have way more opportunities than money to buy them and ToppsGun is just incorrect when he suggests I am hitting the wall. I(f I wanted I could finish many in the next monthy but I try to avoid paying exorbitant prices for low pop cards. Thanks to those who focused on the message and agreed with many of my points which were is brief: 1)Its not unreasonable for a big customer to ask for certain favors--we are talking clerical here, not grading. 2)The trial balloon that Joe Orlando put out on half grades after Zardoz said that he was leaking it to dealers which was a slap in the face to existing collectors. 3)I am responding here to recent threads on psa and sgc message boards where cards just do not look right--I am hardly the first one to mention this. 4)SMR is a joke--seems everyone agrees with this so lets move on 5)Membership mandatory? I really don't care as I will submit through one of the $4 per card guys and I do not care about SMR. Conceptually, I think its a bad decision. 6)Statement that seems to have aroused the most ire is that there are not many individuals with with a broad knowledge of vintage cards. I think I went on to say that while many posters had detailed knowkledge about particular set in the 1960 and 1970s, I did not feel that many posters had broad vintage card knowledge. Like many old-time collectors, I believe that true vintage sets go through 1959--1960 are semi-vintage. After that mass produced. This message board has a number of people who know a lot about modern cards--such as Mike Castaldi. Rob, even though he holds a grudge against me knows a lot about 1961. John Basilone knows 1965s. There are a lot of guys who know 1969--sorry, but I do not view these as vintage and at the risk of repeating myself many collectors knowledge are limited to just a set or two. 7)I will not convert my psa card collection.
Lastly, I have resubmitted cards to psa that came back trimmed. I go over them carefully with major dealer friends of mine and if they say resubmit I do.
Once more lastly, for those of you who took me seriously, I do not view myself as having one of the four most valuable graded card collections out there...you guys forget Don Lucious who is huge. I do think it is somewhere between 5 and 10 though.
Again, you don't have to like me, but I would ask that you keep your comments on the topics.
If any of you feel I have insulted you personally, I'm sorry. I have a very direct no bs personality. But I do love sports cards every bit as much as any of you.
I'm not sure if I ever met Davalillo or not, but I found some of his comments insulting and egotistical, and they werent even directed at me. Not everyone could afford to put sets together in the grades we all would love to. Does that make them any less a collector? I dont think so. What does it matter what someone collects, as long as he collects. It doesnt make a 1952 collector anymore important than say someone who collects Kelloggs or stamps or Pez containers for that fact. You do it because you love too. If your pocket can afford 1952's , I'm happy for you. If its something much less expensive thats great too. Where all in a similar boat, we want to have fun with our collections and try to aquire the best we can. PSA is PSA, they'll make grading mistakes as will all the others. I've had my issues with them in the past and still have a few, but I truly feel they as well as SGC and GAI do a relatively good job. If we want to pick on a company lets pick on the ones that grade on a consistent basis, altered cards. Just my 4c as I'm too big to give just 2c.
I find it totally laughable that on the SGC board he boasts of "spending close to $100,000 on grading fees" with PSA yet in his message above he says he's just a guy simply "trying to complete over 100 vintage sets in psa 8 on a limited budget." Gee, I wonder how many of us have such a limited budget -- just for grading, let alone purchase of the cards. Spends $100,000 on grading, yet the membership fee is the straw -- or one of the straws -- that broke the camel's back?
He says above "SMR is a joke--seems everyone agrees with this." I don't agree with this. The SMR is a guide. It's not an absolute. It's not perfection. I like the SMR very much. Perhaps because he can't obtain all those PSA 8 cards -- particularly the low population ones --at SMR pricing is frustrating him.
Insists that vintage ends in 1959. OK, you go by your definition while most others accept the PSA definition.
This is why I love this hobby. You have to be young at heart to want to collect cards. As such, no one should be suprised that a wealthy "kid" like Davalillo, with his impressive collection gets upset because he can't get special treatment. Brats who get upset will typically insult everyone as he has done. If and when he grows up, I would guess he will be embarrased by his immaturity.
I don't agree that the SMR is a joke - and we did go around about that last month. I think that he has a large amount of cards that were reflected as going down and he didn't like that. The SMR is a guide - that's it, use it for multiples or fractions of what things are worth buying or selling. It is most important because it shows price relative to other cards in the set. When he commented in his SGC desperation that:
When I point out that he (Joe) should take the responsibility for putting out a publication with accurate prices he gets angry and defensive.
I would get defensive and angry too. Joe has explained over and over to him and others what goes into the SMR. When he keeps hounding him, saying that it's trash, Joe has every right to get upset in the defensive of himself and every employee he represents. And you would too, if you were getting bashed about something you took pride in, effort in, and thought about every day of your life.
It just shows that people can be part of the problem, or part of the solution. Jeremy
In Davallilo's defense, he may indeed have a "limited budget". It's just that his limitation may be several hundred thousand dollars, while my limitation is a few hundred bucks that I can ferret away from my wife.
Just because a man's got money doesn't mean that he shouldn't spend it wisely or try to avoid getting ripped off . . .
I wish you the best with your collection, which truly is impressive. I believe your points all have at least a modicum of validity, although I don't feel anywhere near as strongly about them as you do. I believe that's the problem with many of us on this board-- we don't have the same perspective as you when it comes to the hobby. I for one don't see things better or worse than you, just different. It truly is difficult for me to relate to someone who has spent enough on grading fees to pay nearly half of my remaining mortgage, and who then asserts he is working with a limited budget.
Many of the criticisms leveled at you in this thread appear legitimate, at least those that cite your own words. Many others are just petty and/or part of the circle the wagons and "us versus them" mentality that in my opinion just diminishes the board. The two questions I would ask, though, are 1) are you happy with your collection? and, if not 2) what are you going to do about it?
ToppsGun is just incorrect when he suggests I am hitting the wall.
OK, prove it. You have, just like all the rest of us, until the end of this life to prove it.
If I wanted I could finish many in the next month but I try to avoid paying exorbitant prices for low pop cards.
Therein lies the rub, n'est pas? Heckfire, I could complete 100 sets too if I didn't have to buy obscure, low pop commons for $200, $400, $800. Of course you could settle for PSA 7 or 6 in these toughies. They're called fillers and even the Duke has them in his sets.
You, too, Dav-ey, will run short of money or run short of 100 complete sets someday. The noose is tightening.
<< <i>Once more lastly, for those of you who took me seriously, I do not view myself as having one of the four most valuable graded card collections out there...you guys forget Don Lucious who is huge. I do think it is somewhere between 5 and 10 though. >>
Finally...my Big 4 list is now confirmed by Davalillo! (I put Dave somewhere in the #5-7 range).
First off, Davalillo must not be too disenchanted with PSA as he is still registering his cards in his sets????? All of his points make no sense to me.
1. He is pissed because PSA does not do everything he says. This means that PSA has bad customer service. No it means that PSA is not taking any Sh*^ from any bully. Just because you send in a multitude of cards to be graded, doesn't mean you can run the show.
2. Complains about ideas that PSA has to improve their business. Half grades were discussed to see if that was something that dealers wanted to see in PSA. That discussion was not suppose to be leak out to the public . Somehow it leaked out and then a huge thread began.
3. SMR is not right.. Neither is Enron, American Airlines, Nokia, Sisco, and countless other stocks that I have owned. Cards are not stocks, they are overpriced cardboard. If you are doing this for the sole purpose of cashing in your chips at a later date.................you are going to be sorry.
IMHO, Davilillo was looking at cards to be his "stock market". He was also looking at buying 100 sets in all PSA 8 so he could be known as the big dog. First off, you will NEVER have every card in PSA 8 or better. And to do it in 3 years was a very poor and foolish goal. You still have one year and two months left, so good luck.
1954
Looking for high grade rookie cards and unopened boxes/cases
By limited budget, I meant that it has limits and is not open-ended. I am competing in some sets against at least one guy who easily spends seven figures per year. Membership fee meazns nothing to me--just right bus. decision as I said before. You may like smr but there have been threads here recently which talk about its utter uselessness--the problem is management puts little effort into adjusting prices and tells collectors to make thye changes. Not frustrated over not completing my sets--there are huge opportunities to buy cards. Most of my purchases are when fellow collectors or dealers e-mail me with stuff for sale. I also have dealers working for me that have open-ended authority to buy at predetermined prices. My use of ebay is sporadic given demands on time.
Curmudgeon,
I am delighted with my collection. I realize I compete on a different playing field but I love the idea of trying to complete so many sets in high grade. Every set I am aiming for 8 or better and in a few easy ones(1964 Topps Giants, 1970 Kellogg, 1969 Topps Super) psa 9 or better. This will never put me first in any given set but it is not what I am striving for. Maybe 3-5 years from now over half will be completed in psa 8--hard to say. If wall street returns to health, perhaps I could up the budget but I realize things could happen that could make it go the other way. Whatever--it is a long-term strategy that I have not wavered on--only added to. Like when John Basilone e-mails me about his 1961 Golden Press set last week or Jay Wolt selling me a set that will close next week. Or an unnamed collector who is prepared to sell me two 1950s psa 8 sets in a transaction or anothyer one who has 4 partially complete football sets for sale. It is people on this registry who keep coming at me with opportunities.
Toppsgun,
Maybe at some point I will have to settle for psa 7s as fillers--to date have not done this. The 7s or less that I do have in my sets are a result of the submission of raw cards that I have owned a long time. You are undoubtedly right on your final comment--but it is going to be fun trying--and without the help of many on the registry I wouldn't be as close as I am now.
1954,
Sorry you feel that way--I guess Murcerfan is right. Anyway, in my will I leave my cards to my son--and I do think vintage sports cards have been and will continue to be a good investment.
As Davalillo stated, we do have a transaction slated for next week at Fort Washington. I have dealt w/ Jim several times, and I would like to say he is one of the easiest buyers I have ever dealt with. If I have something that he can use, I contact him and explain exactly what is being offered and at what price I need. If he needs it, he agrees. No counter offers at 1/2 the price, just a simple transaction which may pertain to many cards. I don't think Dav is evil or a bad person, just venting a little on these boards like we all do, be it an eBay seller selling fakes as legit cards, high shipping costs or the toughness of the grader of death. I'm glad he's back to posting here, even if its just to address some comments he made. This is a hobby to many, so have fun and enjoy yourself with it. ..jay
On a note about the SMR, there was some effort to coordinate the market research that we've all done and feed it to Joe Orlando through that coordinator. We'll I've learned that to this point, only two people have followed through with their inputs. If we don't like the way the SMR is being updated, then we must participate in the solution. PSA has offered to consider our inputs when updating the price guide. I think that's a fair offer and they have come through in updating some prices as a result (e.g., 1969 Lou Brock).
If PSA will tell us how the information contributes to changes, I will be happy to invest my time in providing the information. Currently, I don't understand it so I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not bitter about it...just the facts. If this changes, please let me know.
On this topic, it seems to me most of the people that have a problem with Davalillo are speaking about his strong personality. Certainly, people with strong personalities usually are very direct and may even have a short fuse.
However, I would hope all of us can agree that he is correct when he states (1) SMR is a joke, and (2) he has the right to talk with J.O. without the attitude he supposedly got. Like it or not, HUGE contributors to any company should be able to have their voice heard respectfully. It's not like he asked for higher grades.
God knows I'm only seeing fall-out on this issue, and some of you have your own reasons for disliking this person. I for one think anyone with this much knowledge and love for the hobby is good for the boards. I'd love to see him stick around and patch things up. Too many threads are being wasted on negativity.
There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"
Davalillo- Murcerfan is ALWAYS right. He is a mean mother. I don't screw around with that bar fighting fool. Don't screw with him or he will take a picture of you and post it here on the message board. Next thing you know you will have a bling, bling in both ears.
1954
Looking for high grade rookie cards and unopened boxes/cases
Hey thats funny. Whats a bling bling? And can I get it slabbed?
Also for the record I have never had any bad dealings with Jim. He said what he said and although I dont take offence to it I also do not agree with all of it. I beleive he was just a little frustrated and needed to vent. I for one have learned alot about vintage and semi vintage here and will continue to post here. I do get a little tired of the bashing but after all this the USA and we do have freedom of speech.
Stump- A bling, bling is fancy jewelry that is worn by many of the rappers today that have approximately 10 karats of diamonds per earring. A very nice addition to the common folk. Unfortuanately, Murcerfan took down the art that he did on my picture that was posted last week here on the message board. He disguised me with a huge earring and crown (that only belongs to KingKellogg) I guess to look vogue. As far as the Davilillo thing. I am telling my opinion of the situation. Would I be upset if I had $1,000,000 in baseball cards and the world was falling in on me? Sure, if that was my intent to invest in that arena. I am sure that Davalillos' collecting is not all for financial gain. But the SMR has not and never will be the true guide to what something is worth.
1954
Looking for high grade rookie cards and unopened boxes/cases
<< <i>. I have dealt w/ Jim several times, and I would like to say he is one of the easiest buyers I have ever dealt with. If I have something that he can use, I contact him and explain exactly what is being offered and at what price I need. If he needs it, he agrees. No counter offers at 1/2 the price, just a simple transaction which may pertain to many cards. >>
dude - I will bet money that Moser (psa-card, neverpayfullprice.com, etc.) has gotten a significant number of altered, trimmed, recolored, or otherwise not PSA-gradeable high dollar cards past PSA that he knew full well had been doctored. The Alcindor threads gave plenty of evidence of that (especially if you do what I did and research a hundred serial numbers around that card). I would love to see other people's discussion (especially Davalillo and BOTN) of which other dealers are systematically slipping things past PSA.
SMR is making progress. They did update some sets I follow fairly closely this last issue, including 1954 Topps, where almost everything in a 7 was selling for over SMR on eBay.
SMR is only a guide. Although I feel it needs some help I still use it as a measuring tool. Maybe some kind of factor could be added for population. The low pop cards are generaly above SMR.
Comments
<< <i>If you're insulted by the comments...this is not the first time they have been posted. Link to 1st go round It all started here. I challenged him on the statement and with the exception of Basilone, everyone pretty much left me high and dry.
Regards,
Alan >>
Alan,
Sorry you feel that I left you high and dry. I thought I stated my case pretty well and received a relatively weak response from Jim.
As far as the topic at hand, I would tend to agree with many of the posts so far. This is a hobby, it's supposed to be fun, the forums are a great place to meet fellow collectors and exchange information. Jim obviously disagrees. It seems his ideal message board would include about 5 members who know everything about everything. How boring would that message board be?
Ask a question about any card ever made (any sport, nonsport, etc.), and I guarantee that someone here will know something about it. It appears that Jim is just too arrogant to believe that some small time collectors of several "vintage" sets can contribute anything worthwhile. That's a shame. I feel sorry for Jim.
JEB.
Regards,
Alan
Mr. Davalillo has made his statements......( I know his real name is Jim, and I use the term Mr. Davalillo as respect for addressing another person.)
Let's reflect back on a few of them for a bit...Hmmm.....
<<I believe I am the largest owner of PSA-graded cards in the country...close to 20,000...>>
Pretty much not true....What a statement that was..... I know of a couple of collectors that have more than that amount
<<...after being a regular poster (PSA) for the past 18 months, have made the decision to stop posting.>>
If I got my a$$ fried up by the board members on almost every post, and really didn't help anyone with card knowledge, and belittled my fellow posters with my acid comments...I'd stop posting too...
<<The PSA president has to be the most customer unfriendly person I have ever seen running a company.>>
When 1 guy has a problem with Joe Orlando, and 1000 guys praise him...Most folks just dismiss it as "sour grapes"... Mr. Davalillo has a "problem" with a lot of folks... When you try to "force" an issue on ANY president, things will go negative in short order.
<<Because I am a large customer, I asked him (Orlando) to do certain favors for me.....>>
This statement sums up the entire SGC thread. Was it really Joe Orlando that was rude, or just an impatient Mr. Davalillo??
<<The trial balloon that PSA sent out about half grades was a slap in the face to their longstanding customers....>>
How naive can Mr. Davalillo be.....EVERY good manager of ANY degree knows in order to have a busisness that grows, you would have to have dialog with your customers. Most of the time, polls are used. So...How much sense does it make for Mr. Davalillo to start posting with an organization (SGC) that has more than half grades??? SCG uses 1/10th grades........BTW...No half grades at PSA.
<< I am losing a little confidence in PSA's grading..>>
If Mr. Davalillo is starting to get "shaky" on day to day operations at PSA...Well...Maybe it's time to unload that boat load of PSA product. I'm sure that there is a ready market for all those "rare" 8's, 7's, 6's, and 5's, that now reside in his collection. (IMHO, he should of bought 9's and 10's...just my $.02..). Mr. Davalillo's statement that he is building sets in 8 or better is simply not valid.
<<There are not many individuals with a broad knowledge of vintage cards of PSA's Message Boards.>>
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA............All you have to do is click on ANY forum post and absorb vast card knowledge from the collectors that REALLY know. One collectors knowledge is shadowd by another, BUT...., as a collective group, no other place on Earth will give you more sports collecting data than the PSA Registry Forum Board........NO PLACE !!!
<<To many, vintage means 1970 Kellogg>>
Life played a little trick on poor Mr. Davalillo. We all adapted to a changing world, and it looks like a few didn't get it.... ... First of all, if you get involved in collecting a set of baseball cards that require real dollars to complete, at least spell the name of the set correctly..... Yes, Mr Davalillo...1970 is considered vintage to many, MANY people...PSA says it's vintage, most of the collectors in the western hemisphere consider it vintage and most importantly....Mr. Davalillo KNOWS it's considered vintage...... All Mr. Davalillo's statements surrounding this issue are directed at belittleing fellow collectors. Nothing more. Such a non-constructive way to convey ones thoughts and desires. What a shame.
BTW Mr. Davalillo, if your reading along....3 things are still ongoing...
1) 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974 Kellogg's sets are also "vintage" (soon, I think you will also see the 1975 Kellogg's set become vintage...)....
2) After you made the statement concerning the take over of the #1 spot in 1970 Kellogg's from THEGEMMINTMAN........You hit "the wall"......And...if you are still reading the posts on this board, you would know that the upcoming "Kellogg's Super Stars"...aka STUMP and Machodoc would gladly give up their 10's to THEGEMMINTMAN to secure his #1 ranking forever....I would also do the same, because you see, this Registry has ALWAYS been more about the collecting aspects of the hobby rather than a profit and loss statement. Yes...sadly...Life has it's ups and downs Mr. Davalillo.
3) You can't BUY friendships. Your struggle with completing sets are now compounded by your brass statements. There are people on this board, and in the hobby itself that will never buy a card from you OR sell a card to you, and you can just chalk it up to the way you conduct yourself.
Lastly...
<<I have no intention of converting my collection to SGC or GAI-- too costly...>>
COSTLY??????? How costly is it to eliminate some customer base??? After all of Mr. Davalillos statements, about PSA,.. AND it's board members, why would this group of Registry members give a nickle for ANY of his cards.....
Lets see......20,000 cards to sell........minus...1000 knowlegable collectors to sell them to.......Oh..That's right...... Mr. Davalillo thinks that we probably can't add or subtract either.....Hmmmmm......
Larry
email....emards4457@msn.com
CHEERS!!
Waiter: The pure venom is very fresh tonight. It is some of ze finest and purest venom you will find anywhere. I highly reccommend it.
Board: Very well then! I will have 1 order of fresh venom with a cool glass of sarcasm to wash it down with...no make that a pitcher.
I bring this up because I believe based on reading far too many of Mr. D's posts that his main issue is ego. He is the "biggest collector", "pays the most", etc. Just tackling this many sets in this fashion appears to be a scream for attention. I may have missed it but I don't recall anyone else being this spectacularly atttention seeking. There are two particular episodes that seemed to turn Mr. D into a very unhappy camper here on the boards. One was when he had a relatively paltry interest in viewing his collection (an offer he was making on these boards). The second (and I cannot find it) was when one of the members mentioned the "Big 4" collectors. It appeared that he was quite injured when he was not included in their company.
These blows to his ego may have been too much for him.
I for one wish him luck in his future endeavors. But these boards may have experienced "addition by subtraction."
Sandy
Watch it, Vargha! If we ignoramuses could vote anywhere near Palm Beach County effectiveness, you might be the next to go.
Besides, based upon Davalillo's posts alone, what does he know about wit?
I agree with others that Davalillo is getting a little frustrated at not being able to complete his sets. After constantly telling us how easy it is to complete a large set in all 8, he hasn't been able or willing to do it, with the exception of a few sets. He originally said taht prices would be much more reasonable within a year, but instead he is finding that low pop 8's are just going up in price.
I also have to concur with others that his best talents are at putting others down. I have tried to trade 61 cards with him several times, and have been able to complete only one deal. Once, when I offered him about 30 pretty low pop cards that he needed for $27 per card (SMR is $22), he lit into me about how outrageous my prices were and that I was way out of line with the market. I offered to give him $350 for a PSA 9 1/1 (SMR at the time was $75), before they became hot, and of course that wasn't near enough. Unfortunately, he never just said that the deal didn't work for him, but he had to belittle me at the same time.
While I am not a "knowledgable" card collector of Vintage cards, I do know a little bit about the 61 Topps Market. I admit that I don't frequent the SGC boards, or the network 54 boards. This board has a great bunch of guys who, while maybe not knowledgable enough for Jim, are plenty more knowledgable than me, and I learn a great deal. Plus the board is funny and interesting.
I think that we made the deal of the century trading Davalillo for PSAtan!
The one thing he was always consistent about was his dislike for all things SGC.
I would love to be a fly on the wall when he tries to bully his next big deal out of BMW.
How much more frustration will it take before Mastro gets "the big call" ??
<< <i>I've caught the old flesh garden hose in my derriere on occasions too numerous to mention. I've actually saved scans of cards inferior to mine graded two levels above sitting in PSA authorized dealers inventories - check out Maraya's 1949 Bowman Paige: It's an 8 with bent corners. I've seen it in person. I've tried to cross over cards purchased from Bleam at ridiculous prices and haven't been able to at all (One out of ten). However, I've found the same thing with GAI and SGC. They play their own games. It's not endemic to one company. I had Baker et al explain a centering issue on a card that was 50/50 l to r and t to b. Later that day, I found the same card with 90/10 r to l that received a higher grade and didn't compare. It's how the ball bounces. >>
This is the exact reason that I am not in favor of subscribing to the graded card concept.
Davalillo's collection, and other whales like him, are holding an investment in CU not in baseball cards. Kind of scary when you think about it.
Be back soon. Just got motivated to break out more cards from their holders.
MBT
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
Two weeks later checking those registry years, I figured out who the "friend" was that now had my cards. Agree that it was my stupid decision to "help" out an unknown, but suffice it to say I no longer do any business with any collector-turned-need list filler without finding out who is really getting my cards. The fact that I let him lowball the number (and provide the middle man a fee) just burned me up. I was so disgusted I let the low pop 8's go so cheap and it made me sick when they showed up in his (Dav's) sets.
Anyway, thanks (as always) for the entertainment value provided by the posts. On a night when the Red Sox didn't play, it was fun reading.
Alan--Nice.
E
Used to working on HOF SS Baseballs--Now just '67 Sox Stickers and anything Boston related.
Two intriguing statements were recently written on the SGC Board.
One most recently by Davalillo1 :
<<I am losing a little confidence in Psa 's grading. Certain vintage cards I see in holders sold by certain dealers look suspicious to me. All I am suggesting is that certain dealers will continue to submit high-end trimmed cards until they grade.>>
And also this one by BOTN on a different thread:
<<I have very little in the way of inventory in PSA holders and my personal collection consists of none. I did not make that adjustment until the Chicago National when I spent time speaking with several dealers who were very frank about having cards restored and how easy it is to get them into PSA holders. I knew that this was occurring but not in the numbers that I was presented.>>
A card is trimmed or it isn't. It's like pregnancy or death. You can't be kind of pregnant nor can one be kind of dead. Likewise, neither can a card be kind of trimmed. It either IS or ISN'T. If Davalillo1 is certain that some PSA dealers are getting "high-end trimmed cards" past PSA graders, then by all means Davalillo1, tell us who these dealers are.
This issue is even more absolute with BOTN, since he claims that he got this information straight from the "horses mouths". If he is aware of dealers doing this, then by all means he has a professional, ethical and moral obligation to tell the world who these low-lifes are. This is his chance to be the hero of the hobby. So BOTN, tell everyone who are these dealers?
In closing, if these accusations are true, then I'm on Davalillo1's and BOTN's side and will vigorously join their crusade to make sure these maggots never make a dime in this hobby again.
However, if BOTN and Davalillo1 can't PUBLICLY produce the names of these dealers, and specifics, then in my opinion they are worse than any of these alleged low-lifes they pretend to accuse. Once again, we are talking in absolutes. Dealers are either doing this or they are not. If you are speaking the truth, then the law is on your side and you shouldn't have a worry in the world about any legal reprocussions. But please, if you are going to make these damaging accusations against PSA and PSA dealers, then by all means stand behind them. I'm certain that both of you are reading this, so go ahead and use the SGC Board to show us who these unscrupulous dealers are.
" Sometimes i have to submit a card several times after it comes back evidence of trimming before PSA holders it but i never submit more than 4 times " So we know one guy who is submitting
or how about this from Davalillo on the subject of Joe Orlando refusing to change his mind on the status of one of Jim's trimmed cards that he submitted.
" I told Joe Orlando how important it was for me to have that card holdered and he still said he would not"
I really wish someone would step up the plate either for Jim to sell his collection cut a sweetheart deal with Rocchi (because you know they will kiss his feet like he wants) and get those cards into a company's holder he respects
Im not good at pulling up old threads but i know they were from the past 9 months and im sure the one about Joe Orlando was in 1420sports thread about not having a card grade when a grader looked at it at a show
CU turns its lonely eyes to you
What's the you say, Mrs Robinson
Vargha bucks have left and gone away?
hey hey hey
hey hey hey
"Lastly, in case people think large collectors, submitters, dealers get favors from psa, I gave joe Orlando another 2400 cards to grade and a 1953 Bowman Color Pee Wee Reese SBC 98(gem mint) that I wanted to crossover to a psa 9 or 10. I also told joe it was important to me. It was indicated as an 8 and would not cross."
I have historically used sgc as a place to send my cards if they come back from psa as trimmed, altered etc. Typically about 1/3 come back graded where if I send them back to psa I get less than 10% graded. (Davalillo Thursday November 21, 2002 11:41 AM)
CU turns its lonely eyes to you
What's the you say, Mrs Robinson
Vargha bucks have left and gone away?
hey hey hey
hey hey hey
Well, its clear this will probably start a new round of bash Davalillo--all by people I have never met and 90 percent by people I have never heard of who say I promised to never post again.
Its also clear I will never win a popularity contest...but that was never my goal. It was just to have a plave to have a frank discussion concerning issues regarding the collecting of vintage sportscards. Even though I like those of you I have met--Zardoz, Luxury Wines, Jay, Mike Scmidt, David Vargha--I have never viewed this as a place to make friends. It does not matter to me if I am liked.
Simply, I am trying to complete over 100 vintage sets in psa 8 on a limited budget and the message boards are a great way of advertising that. I get offers in every day to buy cards or to sell cards--many of which I do. Just this week someone wanted to sell me two nearly complete vintage topps baseballsets all psa 8 in the 1950s at a reasonable price. I have way more opportunities than money to buy them and ToppsGun is just incorrect when he suggests I am hitting the wall. I(f I wanted I could finish many in the next monthy but I try to avoid paying exorbitant prices for low pop cards.
Thanks to those who focused on the message and agreed with many of my points which were is brief:
1)Its not unreasonable for a big customer to ask for certain favors--we are talking clerical here, not grading.
2)The trial balloon that Joe Orlando put out on half grades after Zardoz said that he was leaking it to dealers which was a slap in the face to existing collectors.
3)I am responding here to recent threads on psa and sgc message boards where cards just do not look right--I am hardly the first one to mention this.
4)SMR is a joke--seems everyone agrees with this so lets move on
5)Membership mandatory? I really don't care as I will submit through one of the $4 per card guys and I do not care about SMR. Conceptually, I think its a bad decision.
6)Statement that seems to have aroused the most ire is that there are not many individuals with with a broad knowledge of vintage cards. I think I went on to say that while many posters had detailed knowkledge about particular set in the 1960 and 1970s, I did not feel that many posters had broad vintage card knowledge. Like many old-time collectors, I believe that true vintage sets go through 1959--1960 are semi-vintage. After that mass produced. This message board has a number of people who know a lot about modern cards--such as Mike Castaldi. Rob, even though he holds a grudge against me knows a lot about 1961. John Basilone knows 1965s. There are a lot of guys who know 1969--sorry, but I do not view these as vintage and at the risk of repeating myself many collectors knowledge are limited to just a set or two.
7)I will not convert my psa card collection.
Lastly, I have resubmitted cards to psa that came back trimmed. I go over them carefully with major dealer friends of mine and if they say resubmit I do.
Once more lastly, for those of you who took me seriously, I do not view myself as having one of the four most valuable graded card collections out there...you guys forget Don Lucious who is huge. I do think it is somewhere between 5 and 10 though.
Again, you don't have to like me, but I would ask that you keep your comments on the topics.
If any of you feel I have insulted you personally, I'm sorry. I have a very direct no bs personality. But I do love sports cards every bit as much as any of you.
Davalillo
He says above "SMR is a joke--seems everyone agrees with this." I don't agree with this. The SMR is a guide. It's not an absolute. It's not perfection. I like the SMR very much. Perhaps because he can't obtain all those PSA 8 cards -- particularly the low population ones --at SMR pricing is frustrating him.
Insists that vintage ends in 1959. OK, you go by your definition while most others accept the PSA definition.
Skycap
Enjoy the hobby. It is elective and not required.
I think that he has a large amount of cards that were reflected as going down and he didn't like that. The SMR is a guide - that's it, use it for multiples or fractions of what things are worth buying or selling. It is most important because it shows price relative to other cards in the set. When he commented in his SGC desperation that:
When I point out that he (Joe) should take the responsibility for putting out a publication with accurate prices he gets angry and defensive.
I would get defensive and angry too. Joe has explained over and over to him and others what goes into the SMR. When he keeps hounding him, saying that it's trash, Joe has every right to get upset in the defensive of himself and every employee he represents. And you would too, if you were getting bashed about something you took pride in, effort in, and thought about every day of your life.
It just shows that people can be part of the problem, or part of the solution. Jeremy
Just because a man's got money doesn't mean that he shouldn't spend it wisely or try to avoid getting ripped off . . .
POTD = 09/03/2003
I wish you the best with your collection, which truly is impressive. I believe your points all have at least a modicum of validity, although I don't feel anywhere near as strongly about them as you do. I believe that's the problem with many of us on this board-- we don't have the same perspective as you when it comes to the hobby. I for one don't see things better or worse than you, just different. It truly is difficult for me to relate to someone who has spent enough on grading fees to pay nearly half of my remaining mortgage, and who then asserts he is working with a limited budget.
Many of the criticisms leveled at you in this thread appear legitimate, at least those that cite your own words. Many others are just petty and/or part of the circle the wagons and "us versus them" mentality that in my opinion just diminishes the board. The two questions I would ask, though, are 1) are you happy with your collection? and, if not 2) what are you going to do about it?
ebay id: nolemmings
ToppsGun is just incorrect when he suggests I am hitting the wall.
OK, prove it. You have, just like all the rest of us, until the end of this life to prove it.
If I wanted I could finish many in the next month but I try to avoid paying exorbitant prices for low pop cards.
Therein lies the rub, n'est pas? Heckfire, I could complete 100 sets too if I didn't have to buy obscure, low pop commons for $200, $400, $800. Of course you could settle for PSA 7 or 6 in these toughies. They're called fillers and even the Duke has them in his sets.
You, too, Dav-ey, will run short of money or run short of 100 complete sets someday. The noose is tightening.
<< <i>Once more lastly, for those of you who took me seriously, I do not view myself as having one of the four most valuable graded card collections out there...you guys forget Don Lucious who is huge. I do think it is somewhere between 5 and 10 though. >>
Finally...my Big 4 list is now confirmed by Davalillo! (I put Dave somewhere in the #5-7 range).
John
1. He is pissed because PSA does not do everything he says. This means that PSA has bad customer service. No it means that PSA is not taking any Sh*^ from any bully. Just because you send in a multitude of cards to be graded, doesn't mean you can run the show.
2. Complains about ideas that PSA has to improve their business. Half grades were discussed to see if that was something that dealers wanted to see in PSA. That discussion was not suppose to be leak out to the public . Somehow it leaked out and then a huge thread began.
3. SMR is not right.. Neither is Enron, American Airlines, Nokia, Sisco, and countless other stocks that I have owned. Cards are not stocks, they are overpriced cardboard. If you are doing this for the sole purpose of cashing in your chips at a later date.................you are going to be sorry.
IMHO, Davilillo was looking at cards to be his "stock market". He was also looking at buying 100 sets in all PSA 8 so he could be known as the big dog. First off, you will NEVER have every card in PSA 8 or better. And to do it in 3 years was a very poor and foolish goal. You still have one year and two months left, so good luck.
1954
i bought from him but forgot his ebay id.
anyone?
ps...
it's only vintage if davalillo says it is.
By limited budget, I meant that it has limits and is not open-ended. I am competing in some sets against at least one guy who easily spends seven figures per year. Membership fee meazns nothing to me--just right bus. decision as I said before. You may like smr but there have been threads here recently which talk about its utter uselessness--the problem is management puts little effort into adjusting prices and tells collectors to make thye changes.
Not frustrated over not completing my sets--there are huge opportunities to buy cards. Most of my purchases are when fellow collectors or dealers e-mail me with stuff for sale. I also have dealers working for me that have open-ended authority to buy at predetermined prices. My use of ebay is sporadic given demands on time.
Curmudgeon,
I am delighted with my collection. I realize I compete on a different playing field but I love the idea of trying to complete so many sets in high grade. Every set I am aiming for 8 or better and in a few easy ones(1964 Topps Giants, 1970 Kellogg, 1969 Topps Super) psa 9 or better. This will never put me first in any given set but it is not what I am striving for. Maybe 3-5 years from now over half will be completed in psa 8--hard to say. If wall street returns to health, perhaps I could up the budget but I realize things could happen that could make it go the other way. Whatever--it is a long-term strategy that I have not wavered on--only added to. Like when John Basilone e-mails me about his 1961 Golden Press set last week or Jay Wolt selling me a set that will close next week. Or an unnamed collector who is prepared to sell me two 1950s psa 8 sets in a transaction or anothyer one who has 4 partially complete football sets for sale. It is people on this registry who keep coming at me with opportunities.
Toppsgun,
Maybe at some point I will have to settle for psa 7s as fillers--to date have not done this. The 7s or less that I do have in my sets are a result of the submission of raw cards that I have owned a long time. You are undoubtedly right on your final comment--but it is going to be fun trying--and without the help of many on the registry I wouldn't be as close as I am now.
1954,
Sorry you feel that way--I guess Murcerfan is right. Anyway, in my will I leave my cards to my son--and I do think vintage sports cards have been and will continue to be a good investment.
Davalillo
Website: http://www.qualitycards.com
If PSA will tell us how the information contributes to changes, I will be happy to invest my time in providing the information. Currently, I don't understand it so I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not bitter about it...just the facts. If this changes, please let me know.
Regards,
Alan
However, I would hope all of us can agree that he is correct when he states (1) SMR is a joke, and (2) he has the right to talk with J.O. without the attitude he supposedly got. Like it or not, HUGE contributors to any company should be able to have their voice heard respectfully. It's not like he asked for higher grades.
God knows I'm only seeing fall-out on this issue, and some of you have your own reasons for disliking this person. I for one think anyone with this much knowledge and love for the hobby is good for the boards. I'd love to see him stick around and patch things up. Too many threads are being wasted on negativity.
Murcerfan is ALWAYS right. He is a mean mother. I don't screw around with that bar fighting fool. Don't screw with him or he will take a picture of you and post it here on the message board. Next thing you know you will have a bling, bling in both ears.
1954
Hey thats funny. Whats a bling bling? And can I get it slabbed?
Also for the record I have never had any bad dealings with Jim. He said what he said and although I dont take offence to it I also do not agree with all of it. I beleive he was just a little frustrated and needed to vent. I for one have learned alot about vintage and semi vintage here and will continue to post here. I do get a little tired of the bashing but after all this the USA and we do have freedom of speech.
Dave
A bling, bling is fancy jewelry that is worn by many of the rappers today that have approximately 10 karats of diamonds per earring. A very nice addition to the common folk. Unfortuanately, Murcerfan took down the art that he did on my picture that was posted last week here on the message board. He disguised me with a huge earring and crown (that only belongs to KingKellogg) I guess to look vogue.
As far as the Davilillo thing. I am telling my opinion of the situation. Would I be upset if I had $1,000,000 in baseball cards and the world was falling in on me? Sure, if that was my intent to invest in that arena. I am sure that Davalillos' collecting is not all for financial gain. But the SMR has not and never will be the true guide to what something is worth.
1954
<< <i>. I have dealt w/ Jim several times, and I would like to say he is one of the easiest buyers I have ever dealt with. If I have something that he can use, I contact him and explain exactly what is being offered and at what price I need. If he needs it, he agrees. No counter offers at 1/2 the price, just a simple transaction which may pertain to many cards. >>
DITTO, DITTO, DITTO....to what Jay said.
Jim is rock solid to deal with.
John
SMR is making progress. They did update some sets I follow fairly closely this last issue, including 1954 Topps, where almost everything in a 7 was selling for over SMR on eBay.
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
Dave