This article serves to analyze public information and ask further questions about original prop authenticator “Global Antiques”, its eBay selling accounts/agents “Auction Depot LA” (auctiondepotla1), “Auction Shop USA” (auctionshopusa), and “Historic Souvenirs” (historicsouvenirs). Also, determining the locations of retail stores in which items matching “original film props” have been identified – “T.J. Maxx” and “Big Lots!” – along with where these businesses are located with respect to one another and the businesses selling like items as authentic memorabilia.
In the past week, a fellow collector in Los Angeles visited the area in which the businesses “Auction Depot LA” and “Auction Shop USA” are located – Culver City, CA – as well as the area where “Global Antiques” shows as a business address listed in several online directories – neighboring Marina del Rey.
Global Antiques
As noted in past articles, eBay sellers “Auction Depot LA”, “Auction Shop USA”, and “Historic Souvenirs” do not provide any material information about the consignor/authenticator “Global Antiques” that certifies these pieces of Hollywood and historical memorabilia as “authentic” and “original”.
Information posted in the listings is limited to examples such as the following:
Q: How do I know this prop is authentic?
A: Global Antiques is the curator of all of the props available for auction through Auction Depot LA. They acquire these props from collectors and studio personnel. The item is authenticated by Global Antiques after its provenance has been validated and certified. Every prop we sell is accompanied by a Silver or Gold Certificate of Authenticity. No other documents are included with the auction.Q: What does the date on the COA represent?
A: That is the year (or year range) that the item was acquired. This acquisition date may vary from the production date if it is a Film/TV prop.Q: How can I contact Global Antiques or the original owner?
A: We act as an agent for Global Antiques and would be happy to answer any other questions you have. We cannot disclose contact info for our private sellers but you are welcome to call us toll free at (877) 337-6852
In performing searches for the business “Global Antiques” in Los Angeles, a number of online business directories report such a business as located in Marina del Rey, CA (adjacent to the Culver City-based operations of “Auction Depot LA” and “Auction Shop USA”):
Sample Directory Archive:
These listings report simply “Marina del Rey” or the following complete business address:
Global Antiques
4140 Lincoln Blvd
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292-5616
However, a visit to this address shows a business other than “Global Antiques”:
The business at 4140 Lincoln Blvd. in Marina del Rey is “Schwartzkopf Exclusive Customs” (see FatHarley.com).
Note the address on the Contact Us page of their website, and in the photo:
So, following further investigation, the existence of a business address for “Global Antiques” remains an unknown.
Auction Depot LA
Per the “Auction Depot LA” website (www.auctiondepotla.com), as well as in each eBay listing (auctiondepotla1), the business address is:
Auction Depot LA
4201 Sepulveda Blvd
Culver City CA 90230
Webpage Archive:
Auction Listing Archive:
This was confirmed by the same collector who visited the listed address of “Global Antiques”:
Auction Shop USA
Unlike “Auction Depot LA”, I have not found a website for “Auction Shop USA”. An address is not provided in eBay listings either. However, searches on the Internet return results with online directories reporting a business address:
Auction Shop USA
11485 Jefferson Blvd
Culver City, CA 90230
Directory Archives:
This was confirmed by the same collector who visited the listed addresses of “Global Antiques” and “Auction Depot LA”:
“T.J. Maxx” & “Big Lots!”
As reported in previous articles, items have been found for sale, new at retail, that match items offered for sale on eBay by “Auction Depot LA” and “Auction Shop USA”, with Global Antiques COAs, that are marketed as authentic original film and television props:
- Auction Depot LA & Global Antiques: I Love Lucy, Harmony Rose, and T.J. Maxx – Part 1
- Auction Depot LA & Global Antiques: I Love Lucy, Harmony Rose, and T.J. Maxx – Part 2
- Auction Depot LA, Auction Shop USA, Global Antiques: The Lord of the Rings and “Big Lots!”
As a summary of the “T.J. Maxx” finding, “Auction Depot LA” was offering a miniature “Harmony Rose” pitcher, certified by “Global Antiques” to have been used in “I Love Lucy” and owned by Hollywood star Lucille Ball. I purchased this exact same item, with matching pattern, measurements, and manufacturer hallmark last month, new at retail, which originated from the national chain “T.J. Maxx”:
Seller: “Auction Depot LA”
eBay Listing: “ORIGINAL HARMONEY ROSE CONTAINER OWNED BY LUCILLE BALL”
eBay Item #: 320253524164
Global Antiques Certification: “I Love Lucy Show”, “Lucille Ball – TV Prop” and “1959 to 1960″
Analysis: Photos, measurements, marking/hallmark of this item match same newly manufactured item purchased at retail store “T.J. Maxx”.
Comparison Photos:
Click for Full Resolution Version
As a summary of the “Big Lots!” findings, “Auction Depot LA” and “Auction Shop USA” each offered an item for sale on eBay, certified by “Global Antiques” as “original film props” used in the “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy by Peter Jackson. The buyer of one of these two items contacted me to inform me that they had found the exact same item, new at retail, at the national chain “Big Lots!”. I myself found one of the two items for sale at a “Big Lots!” store near me and purchased and photographed it last month. Yesterday, I found the second of the two matching items and purchased it and took additional comparison photos myself.
Seller: “Auction Depot LA”
eBay Listing: “THE LORD OF THE RINGS FILM PROP ORIGINAL BIRD HOUSE”
eBay Item #: 320243542943
Global Antiques Certification: “The Lord of the Rings”, “Film Prop – Original”, and “2004″
Analysis: “Lord of the Rings Prop Original” photos match birdhouses sold at retail store “Big Lots!”
Comparison Photos:
Click for Full Resolution Version
Seller: “Auction Shop USA”
eBay Listing: “Original LORD OF THE RINGS Movie Film Prop LOTR NR!!”
eBay Item #: 350063644105
Global Antiques Certification: “The Lord of the Rings”, “Film Prop – Original”, and “2004″
Analysis: “Lord of the Rings Movie Film Prop” photos match medallion sold at retail store “Big Lots!”
Comparison Photos:
Click for Full Resolution Version
Click for Full Resolution Version
This is a photo that the buyer of the “Lord of the Rings Bird House” had taken inside her own “Big Lots!” store, showing two items for sale at retail that match the two “Lord of the Rings Film Props” listed on eBay by “Auction Depot LA” and “Auction Shop USA”:
The collector who took the photos of the businesses, as outlined above, discovered that there is both a “Big Lots!” store and a “T.J. Maxx” store very close in proximity to both “Auction Depot LA” and “Auction Shop USA”, all in Culver City, California.
The “T.J. Maxx” retail store address is:
T.J. Maxx
11020 Jefferson Blvd
Culver City, CA 90230
The “Big Lots!” retail store address is:
Big Lots!
5587 Sepulveda Blvd
Culver City, CA 90230
Here are photos of the two Culver City store locations:
So where are “T.J. Maxx” and “Big Lots!” in relation to “Auction Depot LA” and “Auction Shop USA”?
Mapping “Auction Depot LA” and “Auction Shop USA”
Here is a map showing all four businesses: “Auction Depot LA”, “Auction Shop USA”, “T.J. Maxx”, and “Big Lots!”:
Per Google Map, various distances (reported in miles):
- “Auction Depot LA” to “Auction Shop USA”: 1.6 miles (about 6 minutes)
- “Auction Depot LA” to “T. J. Maxx”: 1.3 miles (about 4 minutes)
- “Auction Depot LA” to “Big Lots!”: 1.5 miles (about 5 minutes)
- “Auction Shop USA” to “T.J. Maxx”: 0.7 miles (about 3 minutes)
- “Auction Shop USA” to “Big Lots!”: 0.2 miles (about 56 seconds)
Here is another view of the same map, via Google Earth:
This is a close-up, street-level map showing the close proximity of “Auction Shop USA” and retail store “Big Lot’s”:
Door to door, utilizing sidewalks, it appears that the walking distance from “Auction Shop USA” and “Big Lots!” is about 1,000 feet, or less than 0.2 miles by car. The raw distance is about 200 yards, less than the lengths of two football fields.
Outstanding Questions
Of course, this information adds to the outstanding questions about “Global Antiques”, “Auction Depot LA”, “Auction Shop USA”, and “Historic Souvenirs”:
- Who is “Global Antiques”? Where are they located? Who owns it?
- Does “Global Antiques” have permission to represent themselves, on their COAs, as “City of Los Angeles”?
- What are the relationships between “Global Antiques” and “Auction Depot LA”, “Auction Shop USA”, and “Historic Souvenirs”? What are the relationships among each of those companies?
- Why did “Auction Depot LA” and “Auction Shop USA” stop listing “Global Antiques” consigned/authenticated memorabilia?
- Why did “Historic Souvenirs” begin selling “Global Antiques” consigned/authenticated memorabilia?
- Why did “Historic Souvenirs” adopt the selling tools, format, and content of “Auction Depot LA”, yet change the “About Us” terms, contradicting the “Certificate of Authenticity” and overall marketing of the product, as well as violating eBay’s “Authenticity Disclaimers” policy?
- What does “Not Museum Quality” mean?
- What does “Not Intended For Investment Purposes” mean?
- What does “Entertainment Purposes Only” mean?
- What is the official position of “Global Antiques”, “Auction Depot LA”, “Auction Shop USA”, and “Historic Souvenirs” with regard to pieces that have been identified along with researched facts indicating that the pieces cannot be what they are claimed to be?
Addendum: Update from Deb (nascarpitcrew)
As I was preparing to publish this article, Deb (nascarpitcrew) published a “Reader Comment” to the last topic related to “Global Antiques” (see “”Global Antiques”, “Auction Depot LA”, “Auction Shop USA”: Customer Comments“), copied below:
nascarpitcrew on June 9th, 2008 1:20 pm
Nascarpitcrew here again! I have more information to add! I received 3 more calls from Greg Jones (identifies himself as the curator of Global Antiques in Culver City, CA). During my first phone call with him, he stated that Global Antiques had been in business for 32 years as a reputable company. But when you do a Google search for said company, there is none in Culver City, CA. There is Global Antiques Holland (in Holland) and a Global Antiques in Bulgaria. Neither of which deal with hollywood memorabilia.
Here is the real interesting piece of info for today! When I did a google search on the phone number (on my caller ID) he was callilng from, 213-702-0000, you get a list of harrassing phone call reports for this number. Even OBSCENE phone calls in the middle of the night. In some reports, the number is linked to telemarketing calls. Also, I check through google.com about a company called “Wildgate” which is the name that comes up with the phone number above on my Caller ID. Wildgate, Inc. is a Culver City, California based telecommunications service, not a Antiques business. AKA a telemarketing business????
With the 3 nasty calls I got this morning from this Mr. Jones claiming SLANDER on my part, I finally told him if he called me again, I would file charges for harrassment. He has not called since. I have been working with criminals for over 20 years and this man is a smooth talking con! But if you keep him talking long enough, like every criminal, he can’t keep his stories straight and always trips over himself.
My complaints have been filed through ebay, paypal and IC3 now. This morning, paypal refunded one of my paypal payments to AuctionDepotLA. As soon as I ship 3 packages back to AuctionShopUSA today and provide tracking numbers to paypal, they CALLED me and told me they would be immediately refunding my payments to them. So I am recovering some of my funds that were spent in the last 45 days, but there are a lot yet to recover dating back to Dec. 10, 2007. So my wrath for justice continues! Please file your complaints with ebay, paypal and IC3 against these people so we can stop them from taking any one else’s money and to hopefully get ours back!
My hats off to Originalprop.com for collecting all this information to produce a collaborative area for evidence collection! If you got additional proof……log it on here!
Thanks and will keep y’all updated!
Deb
Jason De Bord
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