Mastro Auctions, the largest sports memorabilia auction house, has closed amid an FBI fraud investigation. Three Mastro executives have purchased the company’s assets and will launch a new company called Legendary Auctions. Part of the investigation by law enforcement is focused on charges of “shill bidding”. [Read more…]
An article published in 2007 (see Auction House Buying Considerations, Part II: Chandelier Bid (“Sham Bidding”) Legislation) discussed proposed legislation related to “sham” or “chandelier” bids, described by a New York legislator as “chicanery perpetrated by auction houses,” with auction house Sotheby’s opposed to the legislation. [Read more…]
The website TrekCore, which offers a significant amount of free resources that is of value to original prop and wardrobe collectors, is having a fundraiser to raise capital to operate the site and keep it advertising free. [Read more…]
Back when I first joined eBay (over 10 years ago), I remember that member feedback seemed to have real meaning. I believe the original intent behind the system was to quantify how people do business, which would create some semblance of an “online reputation”. [Read more…]
Comic-Con International in San Diego for 2009 has nearly sold out of the 4-day passes for attendees, having been on sale for less than a month. Comic-Con (formerly “San Diego Comic Con”) is generally considered to be “the” pop culture event of the year. [Read more…]
As reported Thursday, Michael Jackson has filed a lawsuit against Julien’s Auctions over the upcoming auction event in April, liquidating Jackson’s personal property and memorabilia from Neverland Ranch. Now Auction Network, the online bidding service provider, has announced on their website that they are withdrawing as a partner in the auction “unless or until the controversy is resolved”. [Read more…]
In January, WSIL-TV Channel 3 and KFVS Channel 12 each broadcast reports about Jim Hambrick’s “Americana Hollywood Museum” being flooded due to a broken pipe, with Mr. Hambrick estimating over $100,000 in damages. Today, The Paducah Sun updates the story with Mr. Hambrick declaring $111,500.00 in memorabilia damage. [Read more…]
There has been a great deal of controversy in the news in the past week with regards to three unrelated auction house events, including Christie’s auction of “national treasures” originally looted from Beijing in 1860, India’s attempt to halt the sale of Mohandas Gandhi memorabilia scheduled for auction today by Antiquorum, and Julien’s Auctions upcoming sale of Michael Jackson memorabilia (which today Jackson is threatening with lawsuit). [Read more…]
