Monday 8 November 2010

Fake Pujols autos verdict.

Yesterday I posted this. This is an auction from the same seller featuring 2 different Albert Pujols cards. Both cards are 1/1 autographs and both looked fake to me. What did everyone else think?

Well after postings about this on SCR and TheBench everyone who viewed the posts agreed that they were fake.

I also email Gelman from SCU, since hes always posting about fakes. He got back to me very quickly also agreeing they were fake.

The Hairylemon started a thread on SCF, where the majority believed they were fake. There is one idiot on that thread who swore blind they were real and even provided the proof in the form of a Beckett checklist. Unfortunately for him the cards in the checklist were different to the cards in the auction.
A thread was also started on FCB, surprise surprise, the consensus there was also fake.
I even contacted the seller to voice my concern. I thought maybe he didnt know what he had, since I have since learned that many people have been duped by fake Bowman Original buybacks.

Here are the messages I sent followed by the replies:

ME - Hi, Do you have anymore information about this card and the other Pujols you are selling? Why are they in Bowman original cases when neither card are a Bowman product and neither appear on the checklist? Thanks

SELLER - they are hand signed single cards they did not come from packs

OK. So that sounds like they are IP autos, right?

ME - Thanks for the response. How did they end up in a Bowman Original case? What company has authenticated them?

SELLER - The holo can be confirmed w them for confirmation of authenticity.

ME - Sorry but I do not believe Pujols signed either card for the Topps company. The Bowman Originals product is very well known for having forgeries and many dealers have been burned with these cards.
Even comparing them to other autos of him in other peoples collections, they aren't even close.

SELLER - been there done that mate, its all Kosher. Those in the know, bid and win. Cheers for your cynicism.

Notice he didnt actually answer any of my questions.

Well that seller has made himself around £250 on two fake autos. Good work if you can get it.
I feel bad for the people who bid on these cards but seriously if your dropping that sort of cash on a card you must have a basic idea of what your buying. I always check the seller out, maybe google them if I think something might be wrong. If something doesn't look right I'll ask a question. I have made mistakes by not reading the description properly and have ended up winning a damaged card, like this Lind TTT but that was no big deal.
I hope the buyer tries to get the card graded and learns the hard way and then does a chargeback on the seller.
This seller, silvermakergems, does not sell many cards but incase he does you should avoid them like the plague.

4 comments:

  1. I don't feel bad for anyone who buys a card, fake or not. Buyer Beware. I do however think it sux that any seller would knowingly sell a card like that. Just in his/her responses, it's obvious the seller has not proof the cards are real.

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  2. Most of us in card collecter world know that the Pujols buyback is the most faked auto in the business,so it is buyer beware.Like Tony I checked his feedback and noticed he was not a card seller,this usually sets my spider sense tingling.

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  3. Heys guys. I just purchased a 2006 bowman chrome refractor Albert Pujols 1/1 buyback from a dealer in my town, and through my research came across this blog. I was told by some friends (fellow collecters) that this card may be a fake? They informed me that 2005 was the last year they did the pujols buybacks?? Is this true? Is there anyway i can track the serial number on the back of the card to a 1/1 pujols? any info on this matter would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

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  4. @rlholliday - I'm assuming it is a Bowman Original buyback? There were only 6 Pujols buybacks in that set. They used cards from 2001 - 2004. Without seeing a picture of your card there will be no way of knowing for sure if its fake or not. Also as far as I'm aware there is no way of tracking the serial number, Topps are no help with them.
    Theres a group of collectors discussing the Pujols fakes. Take a look at this site http://www.thebenchtrading.com/thebench/showthread.php?t=344797. We will be able to advise you better there.

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