Some of these auctions have true tales about someone selling somebody else's collectibles.

More often than not, they are just scams to dupe people and dump card lots to people and people buy them because they think they may get a Gem Mint 1952 TOPPS Mickey Mantle, they never do.

People should look at the lot descriptions instead of the girls.

The other topic is a bit of a pet peeve of mine and some may disagree. I would be interested in your thoughts Chris. As far as the Benoit items up for sale, in my opinion, people have the right to sell them and I have absolutely no problem with it. It should be noted that there are different mentalities between "buyers only" and "sellers only" on EBAY . There are are also people who are "buyers and sellers" on EBAY. I fit in the latter category.

If you have an extra genuine signed 8x10 and they are selling for $50 this week, why not sell it? This time next year, you will probably only get $10 for it. Just show some tact when you are selling the item. If someone comes from some kind of moral high ground, then do not put it up for sale now or do not buy it if it bothers you. I respect that.

It takes two to tango, a buyer and seller.

It amazes me that everytime someone dies, people shoot to EBAY, check the auctions, and then complain. It is as if there is a segment of the population that scours around for opportunities to vocalize complaints. An increase in signed items on EBAY after a death is not an exception to the rule, it is the rule. If it bothers people that there are more autographed items listed when a person passes, they should stop the rubber necking and look away. When someone dies, no matter in what manner, there will ALWAYS be an increase in the number of items listed. The timing of selling genuine autographed items is not one of things I would consider on the top of my list of global problem areas, it would not even rank high in hobby problem areas. It is not as if these sellers were hoping for this tragedy, licking their chops in wait, come on.



Some sellers are a bit tasteless in their item descriptions and I think that turns some people off(including myself). This time probably brings out some forgers too, that is never good.

There are probably a few collectors out there that buy an autographed item with the notion that when the players passes, it will become more valuable and then they may sell it eventually, that happens every day. Wrong? Opportunistic?

What I usually find interesting is that there are some very unique signed items that come to EBAY after someone passes away. Some unique stuff that you have never seen before. It is an interesting time to see the diversity of items offered.

The reality is that there are more people looking for signed Benoit items this week on EBAY than ever before and maybe ever again. Objectively speaking, you have to identify and react sudden shifts in the market when they occur,this makes good financial sense. The autograph is not a necessity like I mentioned in a previous post. It is not like gauging someone on food, medicine or shelter when tragedy strikes.

If you sell autographs as a business, you tend not to view them in an emotional light, they are just inventory. The fact is that some Benoit fans who are buying signed stuff this week really want the item and it is very important for them, and it makes them happy or adds to their collection, whatever.

Are newspapers and TV shows taking advantage of his death by running stories about this tragedy over and over talking with anyone and everyone who has a hypothesis? They are bombarding the family and close friends with news trucks and constant phone calls 24 hours a day to get a snippett of news, that probably bothers the family more. Give them privacy.

Sellers are in business to make profit, buyers buy things because they want them. In an isolated small window of time, they are more people "wanting" something and in this environment, there is more profit to be made. Economics 101. Capitalism.

I think the family has much more on their minds than EBAY right now.

I agree with Dave on the fact that there are alot of actions that people use to get rid of useless junk.

Every collector accumulates useless cards throughout the years, and this seems to be a very astute way to get get rid of it, for a few feasons. 1)Give the illusion of getting something worth while. 2)Selling the story of the "ex", which makes people belive that she is out for revenge. And 3) By using sex, to a predominantly male market, to sell anything for that matter.

Frankly, I don't believe it. If you look at the auction there are many "red flags".

A few of these are as such: 1) There are no gaurantee's. This means that there are probably no good cards. 2) She mentioned that they are 20 card "unsearched lots". If she knows the word "searched", someone else is pulling the strings. And 3) She is giving two graded cards for every ten lots purchased. We all know that just because its graded doesn't mean it's worth anything. It's just a ploy to order more.

There are more resons that I hope we can all figure out, so in closing my take is DON"T BOTHER.

Altough It is fun to talk about'

Brad

My theory on selling items from the recently deceased is pretty simple... I think if the athlete died tragically, like Benoit, Tillman, Kyle, etc, then there should be some sort of a waiting period to avoid looking like you are taking advantage of this tragedy.
When it is not a tragic death (when someone dies of old age etc), like when Red Auerbach passed last year I had less of a problem.
Either way, the seller will always look kinda tacky, but a tragedy is one thing and a non-tragic death is another.

Just my two cents.
chris

Chris,

Tragic or not, if you have some of this guys stuff, now is the time you want to throw it out on eBay if you're looking to sell it. If I were a family member, this topic would be the last thing on my mind, primarily because it was part of his job to be in the public eye. This tragedy would be so overwhelming, that some signed items surfacing on the internet would be irrelevant.

In all honesty, if I did own some Benoit items, I wouldn't want them anymore for obvious reasons. I'd sell them in a heartbeat if somebody was willing to pay for them. Being a father myself, hearing about what he did to his own son made me sick.

In summary, if you're a hobbyist - I do not believe there is any disrespect in selling a deceased celebrity autograph......especially when they pass and all the buzz is created.

If some freaking idiot wants to pay for it so be it.

Just like your rag if somebody offered you a better paying job would you not take it!! Matter of fact your publications days are number and your owner will sell it and you be working at the MCD so get your resume handy and make sure you call and thank CCSA for your income as well lol

Goodbye

tommie tolbert
razorandmrt@knrb.com