SCD Drops Coachs Corner from advertising

csmtampa

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/iteam/2009/06/sports-collectors-digest-drops.html

June 12, 2009

Sports Collector's Digest drops major advertiser

by Michael O'Keeffe
Here's one sign that the scandal-stained sports memorabilia biz is getting serious about cleaning up its act: Sports Collector's Digest, the hobby Bible, will stop accepting advertising from Coaches Corner, one of its biggest advertisers.

Collectors and memorabilia industry leaders have complained about Coaches Corner for years, saying the autographed balls, game-used bats and other memorabilia offered by the Souderton, Pa., auction house appears fraudulent and doesn't pass the sniff test.

The marketplace certainly doesn't have much respect for the company's offerings. As the Daily News reported in a story last year, prices for items sold by Coaches Corner are often a fraction of the prices for similar items offered by other auction houses. In a January 2007 Coaches Corner auction, a Josh Gibson-signed ball sold for $1,158, a real steal, since the Negro League star's autograph is very rare and expensive. Robert Edward Auctions, meanwhile, sold a Josh Gibson postcard for $81,000.

Coaches Corner executives did not return calls; SCD publisher Dean Listle declined comment.

Robert Edward Auctions president Rob Lifson was one of those who urged SCD to purge Coaches Corner from its pages. "I think there was a groundswell of opinion that forced them to do something," Lifson said.

mccardguy1

Wow if true this is huge!!

I might even subscribe again if they are serious about cleaning up their act over there

storm888

I will be VERY surprised if SCD does NOT rent/sell its
mailing lists to CC.

SCD subscribers may well expect to soon begin receiving
CC flyers/catalogues in the mail.

bobsbbcards

Kudos to SCD. I was just about to cancel my subscription over this issue--glad I waited.

justmichael

Let's all give them a round of applause because it only took how many years?Once your in bed with crooks you're always in bed with crooks.
Mike

qualitycards

Good! Glad to hear it!
Its about time!

MAD

Gee, they were blind and now they can see....

Amazing!!

Bottom9th

It's about time!!!

divecchia

It's great to hear that Coach's Corner will no longer advertise, hopefully SCD will be able to make ends meet some other way.

I wish them luck...Donato

KbKards

They already figured out a way with the creation of their own SCD auction house. Booting CC now makes it look they're just eliminating some competition. Or maybe they're clearing some pages to make room for doing more auctions on a weekly basis like the old Teletrade auctions.

jivan

teletrade ??? WOW, THAT IS A NAME FROM THE PAST.. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THEM??

Stone193

csmtampa

lol yea I remember Teletrade. In fact all the old magazines iv'e been looking at the past few days has Teletrade ads in them.... specifically Sports Card Trader

Archaninator

.

heritage

Wow if this is true, Good for SCD for taking a stand.

schr1st

Congrats to those that applied the pressure to SCD, Krause, and F+W for applying the pressure.

Mintacular

Does anyone think that our recent criticism (and previous threads no doubt) had any impact on this decision, or is that wishful thinking? In other words, did this forum strike a chord with someone at SCD or this just a coincidence?

The reason for me asking is to find out whether or not opinions on this board actually make their way to big shots in the industry or whether we are just blowing smoke up our own arses.

It seems to me like the community can actually make a difference, as evidenced by Summer of '69s ability to get some major eBay pack resealers off of eBay and maybe even SCD's recent decision to drop Coach's Corner like a high school prom dress.

talonmm

Yes, i believe we all made a difference. Tom Tresh and I tried very hard on many different channels to get the word out that the SCD and CC relationship was unacceptable.

I would like to commend and thank Sports Collector's Digest for doing the right thing and taking a stand. I realize it's easy for people like me to write and demand that you walk away from tremendous advertising revenue, and that Coach's Corner has never been convicted of anything and why should your company pass up an opportunity to accept advertising.

Without rehashing all the arguments from the last few months, I think it's great that Sports Collectors Digest took action. While a cynic might feel rejecting Coach's Corner advertising might have more to do with your new auction site and competing against them, I believe they heard our voices and listened and that some of the insiders (employees of the organization) stood up and was heard by ownership and upper management.

TS - I hope you will reconsider allowing comments on your blog again. I believe there will be much more intelligent dialogue. two way dialogue between you and your readers would be a great thing.

Last, I just want to say my fight is not over. The owners at Coach's Corner are corrupt but not stupid. I am sure they will continue their auctions. With all the money they are saving by no longer being allowed to adverte in SCD, they can apply those funds to internet search. This means anyone who google's sports auctions or Babe Ruth autographs will find the Coach's Corner web site. I am sure their auctions will continue and I will do everything I can to alert people that their products are garbage. Hopefully SCD and TS O'Connell will join the fight too.

Thanks Everyone! sorry for the shamless self promotion but please continue to leave comments about CC on my blog: www.sports-rings.com/blog.htm

thanks,

Mike the ring guy.