Is eBay Improving?

One ripple from the FBI's Operation Bullpen is that eBay, the world's largest garage sale, refuses sports memorabilia items bearing certificates of authenticity by such guilty parties as Sports & Celebrity Authentic Autographs (SCAA) and the J. DiMaggio Company. Because of the uncertain authenticity of the certificates from Donald Frangipani - he's maintained that people are forging them, others say he approves bogus material - items bearing his certificate also have been removed from eBay. Simultaneously, eBay has been working to implement new procedures that would give consumers opportunities to get help from two authenticating companies, PSA/DNA and Online Authentics. Yet, the moves have not necessarily kept people from placing bogus items on eBay. In fact, experienced observers contend that vendors using eBay are out of hiding and have returned to placing forged Ruths, Gehrigs, Cobbs and Mathewsons, et. al., all produced by the convicted Marino family of Operation Bullpen fame.

The good news is that people are either scared off or smarter (better informed?) as a significant amount of bogus items that fail to reach minimum bids or receive bids at all. Still other signatures attributed to legends are sadly meeting lower than market minimums. In addition, vintage items continue to make their way onto the Internet site without photographs, usually sure-fire evidence of suspicion.

Rob Chesnut, general counsel for eBay, said the company is implementing its diligent plan to give consumers the tools they need to make smart decisions. Jerald Gibbs of Online Authentics said the public is responding to the availability of the service, though clearly not enough to stem the flow of bad items to the electronic marketplace. Watchdogs Rich Simon and Dan Cariseo say the purveyors of forged material are back at it. Dealer Kevin Keating said consumers are too cost-conscious and must exercise diligence in putting together collections carefully.

Chesnut, Gibbs, Simon, Cariseo and Keating offer more insights into this issue. To read the entire article,press Read More if you are an Online subscriber or Subscribe Now!