VOLUME 2, NUMBER 199
**HOT**BUTTON**STORY**
(SHOELESS JOE COMES TO SOTHEBYS)
** NAXCOM HAS RECORD FIRST QUARTER
** MORE BAD NEWS ON THE TOY FRONT
** UPPER DECK ACQUIRES RARE FILM ITEMS
** HERITAGE FORMS P-R DEPARTMENT
** DENNY MCLAIN AUCTION, OWES BUCKS
** UD FORMS DEAL WITH 4KIDS
** MORE HOBBY FEEDBACK, DEALERS COLLECTORS
DETAILS ON THESE STORIES AND MORE IN TODAY'S TBR: THE BRILL REPORT
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(NAXCOM SETS SALES RECORD FOR QUARTER)
Amidst all the negative financial news, in the industry and outside of it, some good news always seems to come along. The folks at NAXCOM say they've set sales records for the quarter. Spurred along by a new auction business, a month long free shipping program and increased marketing, the company put up some big numbers.
"We had a phenomenal first quarter in 2008 with growth pretty much in all facets of our business," said CEO Eric Beckerman. "Our transactions grew an incredible 40-percent, our user base exceeded the 200,000 user mark and our VIP membership grew to the largest in the company's history."
Beckerman also credits the companies new feedback program which allows NAXCOM users to carry over their eBay feedback to their auctions on the new site.
"We really underestimated the number of frustrated sellers out there looking for a new viable alternative for selling sportscards and collectibles," added Bill Elder, VP of Marketing for NAXCOM. "Since the recent eBay fee hikes and changes were announced a couple of months ago sellers have been calling and emailing non-stop to add their feedback and to start dedicating themselves to selling on NAXCOM."
The NAXCOM system is not dis-similar from eBay but with lower fees and more user friendly regulations for sellers of sportscards.
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(BAD NEWS ON THE TOY FRONT STILL)
As rising costs continue in the toy industry consumers are cutting back. This is the indication coming from this week's numbers as earnings were out for both JAKKS Pacific and RC2 Corporation.
(Barbie helps keep Mattel in the black.)
RC2 reported a first quarter profit drop of 75-percent and a 17 percent loss in revenue. JAKKS wasn't far behind with quarterly profits dumping 73-percent Revenue was up a mere six percent, or, much less than expected.
Earlier in the week Mattel reported a loss as well although Hasbro reported a profit. With the price of gasoline over $4 a gallon in many places and home mortgages under siege toys are the last thing on the minds of bread winners and this is where it all stems from.
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(UPPER DECK ACQUIRES NUMBER OF FILM USED ITEMS FOR PIECE OF HISTORY)
Upper Deck is going all out for the movie-worn memorabilia acquiring items worn in films by Jack Nicholson (left from "A Few Good Men.") and from Brad Pitt in "Spy Game." The product is MLB Piece of History and it includes a wide number of items worn by celebrities.
With Donruss Americana and Celebrity Cuts going great guns and Topps with everything from a piece of George Washington's hair to seats from stadiums where presidents threw out the first ball, UD had to come back strong.
Among the other items the company picked up for the product are Christopher Reeve's Superman suit from "Superman III," Demi Moore's clothing from "GI Jane," Jennifer Garner's Pajama's from "Time of Your Life" and Jim Carey's shoes and clothing from "Bruce Almighty."
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(SHOELESS JOE'S BAT UP FOR BID AGAIN)
SOLD! For $301,000!
There are only two known to exist and one sold a few years ago. The other went up for bid this week by Sotheby's and SCP Auctions. This is of course the Black Betsy Bat used by the famous and banned slugger during his days playing ball in the early part of the last century.
The items in the auction, mostly come from one of the richest sports estates in the world, the Dr. Richard Angrist estate. The Black Betsy wass expected to sell for up to $300,000. It did to a private American collector.
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(BECKETT LOOKING FOR WRITERS)
Beckett Media is looking to add to it's stable of free lance collectibles writers. The company cut back on free lancers several years ago and is now trying to hire some. The ad was placed in www.Workinsports.com, a sports placement web site.
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(HERITAGE AUCTIONS FORMS PR DEPARTMENT, PROMOTES WITHIN)
Kelley Norwine, the current VP of marketing at Heritage Auctions is taking over the new position heading up the firm's new Public Relations department. Debbie Rexing is moving up to take over marketing. Rexing has been at Heritage for several years working her way up helping with the product photo shoots to now an executive vice president.
"Basically we will be taking a more global look at all aspects of the Heritage business," said Norwine.
Heritage has expanded it's auction universe and does very well in coins and not just cards and memorabilia. The Dallas based company understands there is more to the vintage auction business than just what is available in the U-S and apparently is looking to expand it's treasure hunting venture.
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(DENNY MCLAIN AUCTION)
Mark your calender for April 29 if you are interested in buying stuff which belonged to convicted criminal and former baseball player Denny McLain. A court has ordered his belongings auctioned off to settle debts in Romulus, MI. McLain won 31 games for the Detroit Tigers in 1968 and took his team to the World Series but fell on harder times later.
In 1985 he was convicted of racketeering. The conviction was later overturned on appeal. He also spent time in prison for embezzlement but has recently spent time as a writer for a Michigan magazine and did a stint as a talk show host. He authored a book about his life.
As for the auction, it was originally to settle a $7100 judgment which ballooned due to lack of payment and interest added on. He owes court fees and former lawyers as well.
"The assets of Mr. McLain's estate include his personal sports memorabilia," said Judge Stephen Cooper who was appointed receiver. "They also include photos, framed jerseys and copies of his autobiography."
The sheriff went to his own with orders from the court hoping to get back the money they are owed, $17,000 to a legal firm for starters. While trying to negotiate the McLain's said they didn't have the money. The end result is the auction.
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(UPPER DECK SIGNS DEAL WITH 4KIDS ON DINO'S GAME)
Upper Deck and 4KIDS Entertainment will release a joint game likely in time for the holidays based on dinosaurs. Based on the Dinosaur King animated series the game will be like most other CCG's. A Sega video game comes out in August and a DVD in November. A toy line is being developed for the spring of next year.
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(TOPPS OFFERS SIGNED ROOKIE CARDS OF MAGIC & BIRD)
Topps went out and purchased 50 Larry Bird/Magic Johnson rookie cards and had them signed by the two great players. The cards will be available via redemption when pulled from packs. The redemption's will be inserted into Elevation, Sterling, Letterman, Luxury Box and Finest packs. There will be five different ink colors as well.
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(DEALER COMMENT ON TBR STORIES)
On our story about Forensic Examiners and Hobby authenticators from a dealer quoted extensively in the article
"Your cherry picking of our conversation coupled with the misrepresentation of statements and tone once again showed an industry bias to anyone who challenges the status quo. It's not at all unexpected when I mentioned my association with Mr. Frangipani and Mr. Morales your attitude and tone changed, which showed in your writing. Many inaccuracies and mis-statements need to be corrected."
Rich Solis
R&S Collectibles
(Eds Note: Solis went on to pinpoint what he called our inaccuracies which would take too much to put here. We will agree to disagree with Mr. Solis as to the accuracy of the quotes.)
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"I fully believe the likes of Morales and Frangipani are nothing more than fraud artists and belong in jail. On a weekly basis people bring in items to our store that have been authenticated from these guys. It pains me to inform them they have spent thousands of hard earned dollars on memorabilia and at the end of the day have nothing to show for it. I wish the government could intervene because thousands of people are getting defrauded by the likes of Morales on a daily basis."
Grey Flannel Gallery
Lakewood Ranch, Fl
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The following was one of several negative opinions on Upper Deck Premier Baseball. Evidently we saw the best of the best when we opened it, as we've had nothing but negative emails regarding the product since we praised it so highly.
"I opened a case of that sh-t, spent $3000 on it and was totally disappointed. That crap was worthless. I kept two cards and sold the rest and got $264 for all of it. That just about turned me off to Upper Deck."
Gene Brassfield, Collector
Santa Paula, CA
The following person also complained but added something else about his experience with UD Customer Service, which, has been very good lately.
"Recently we returned several high dollar cards to Upper Deck which came out of the pack damaged. A few weeks later I receive the same cards back accompanied by two packs and a letter stating that they can't trade with the collector!!!!! Evidently UD has adopted a policy whereby if you return a card which came damaged from a pack they will not replace it. They are apparently the only card company who does not stand behind their products."
Blake Meyer,
Lone Star Sportscard Company,
Carrollton, TX
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A foreign customer did get replacement cards but would have rather had the original card he pulled, but was very thankful anyway.
"They have been exceptionally fast and they are nice cards."
Vincenzo Lucarelli, Collector
Italy
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