- Report: #1136636
Complaint Review: Autographs Network - Internet
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Author Not Confirmed
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Autographs Network
Internet, USA
Web:
http://web.archive.org/web/20120306232944/http://autographsnetwork.com/product_list.asp
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Autographs Network Claimed the product they sold sold 2 yrs ago was likely a fake! Unknown Internet
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It's simple. I was initially interested in purchasing this item: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Bass-Guitar-found-in-storage-unit-with-signatures-on-body-/171291233971?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27e1c0ceb3. The guitar was claimed to be one of many found in a storage unit after the original buyer had passed away and the Ebay seller was beginning the auction at only $49.99 and similar previous guitar auctions this wk from that individual had sold for around $500. I couldn't help but be interested, but I also wanted to research whether the guitar might be legit before bidding.
While researching the authenticity, I found out that this exact same guitar had sold approximately 2 yrs ago for $5,9750.00. You can view the archived Autographs Network web page here: http://web.archive.org/web/20120306232944/http://autographsnetwork.com/product_list.asp
The guitar being mentioned is the one labeled: The Doors Band Signed Vintage 60s Cahuenga Sunburst Bass Guitar for $5,975.
It all sounded too good to be true, especially after viewing other authenticated autographs from Heritage, Christie's and Sotheby's. I'm an amauteur, but these signtures looked quite a bit different to me. I wasn't able to match this guitar's signatures up with the authenticated ones, so I decided to contact Autographs Network for an explanation. Here is the entire email exchange that took place:
#1.
Me to them:
Can you provide COA information for a signed bass guitar that you sold a couple of years ago for close to $6,000? The authentication number is C20014. What is the history behind this guitar? How were the signatures verified?
Thank you,
Charles
#2. Response from Autograph Network:
Thanks for writing!
First, we never sold any such item, or at least not by that number, and price. It's not any such number ever in our inventory.
Second, if it was, we don't provide information to non customers as it takes time, research, and communication contacting that we don't have time to do unless we charge a fee.
If you have a picture of it I can probably tell you if it came from us.
Best regards,
Christopher Franklin
Autographs Network
Customer Service
Customer Service
#3 Reply:
It is listed on your page for $5,975.00 and labeled "The Doors Band Signed Vintage 60s Cahuenga Sunburst Bass Guitar". Here is the archived link: http://web.archive.org/web/20120306232944/http://autographsnetwork.com/product_list.asp.
That COA number is on the reverse of guitar. Current photos attached.
(I attached two photos at this time. One of the from, one of the reverse. Ripoffreport will not allow me to attach those same pictures. If there is a way to do so, please email me and I will attach those photos.)
#4 Response from Autograph Network:
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5:43 PM (2 hours ago)
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Thanks for writing back!
I need to see the autographs on the guitar to see if I recognize it. Nothing you gave me does that!
Best regards,
Christopher Franklin
Autographs Network
Customer Service
Customer Service
#5 Reply:
No problem. Here you go. (A closer up photo was attached that ripoffreport does not appear to let me attach. Please let me know if there is a way to do so.)
#6 Response from Autograph Network:
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6:09 PM (2 hours ago)
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Hello again!
My opinion, NOT authentic, and certainly did not come from us by my best recollection. I've only seen 1 other item where Jim Morrison wrote something. He wrote 'I've never been so high! Which was a joke because he signed it while on the observation of the Seattle Space Needle. Other than that, I've never seen him write anything.
Again, only an opinion, which you can get from any other authentication expert. I'm quite certain it never came from us, but I could be wrong, yet I have seen every Doors item we've ever had. I do not recall the guitar. Does it have a brand name?
Best regards,
Christopher Franklin
Autographs Network
Customer Service
Customer Service
#7 Reply:
I agree that it looks fake, but unlike you, I am quite confident that it was sold by your company. Feel free to refer back to the archived photo that I initially emailed or to your own records.
#8 Response from Autographs Network:
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6:29 PM (2 hours ago)
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Thanks for writing!
I'm sorry, but I cannot keep eating up hrs of time on this. I've got work to do, and can't spend any more time on this, unless you were our customer.
Best regards,
Christopher Franklin
That is the end of our email exchange at this point.
That being said, I absolutely think that the photos speak for themselves. In my opinion, these Ebay photos match up 100% to the 2012 photos from Autographs Network. I feel genuinely sorry for the man who purchased this guitar from them for close to $6,000. How fair of a deal could he have gotten when that same memorbilia company later claims (less than 2 yrs later) that they themselves believe that it's likely a fake... Sadly, it appears that the original buyer may also have purchased 4 more additional signed guitars at a similar price range. I haven't had the time to research each of those, but my own personal guess is that they will also turn out to be fakes.
Again, if I am able to post photos, please send me an email on how to do so. I would really like to include that information with this post. I don't blame the current seller. They appear to have genuinely found unknown items in a storage unit, but I absolutely feel that Autographs Network was being other than truthful after being presented with factual evidence.
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