The eBay BS Game: Questionable items, Stephen King signatures, sellers

[Rahfa]

I also don't blame Ebay for these problems.

The problem I would have is that you're then letting somebody at Ebay - hardly an expert - make decisions about signatures, or anything else like that.

Do you want to be a customer who informs yourself and can have faith in your own decisions....

OR

Do you want a company without any real knowledge to make those decisions for you? Or rather, decide what auctions are available and which aren't?

Personally, I'd let the buyer be the one to decide. Paypal allows for refunds, etc., so you can always get your money back within a window - so there IS recourse.

[sgc1999]

this is the kind of thing that makes me think of one of my favorite lines from Tommy Boy, " If you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed i will, I got spare time..."
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEPHEN-KING...0AAOSwNRdX4o8F

[tippy4]

this is the kind of thing that makes me think of one of my favorite lines from Tommy Boy, " If you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed i will, I got spare time..."
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEPHEN-KING...0AAOSwNRdX4o8F

I actually believe there is a good chance that signature is legit.

Now this Dreamcatcher and this Tommyknockers are dumps in a box.

[Randall Flagg]

This one actually irritates me.
The seller has a lengthy "babble-speak" (Corporate word, not even in a dictionary) going on and on. Purporteldy traded an 1851 Navy Colt Drawing.
Doesn't matter.
I wouldn't want it.

Note on provenance. I am an acquaintance of Michaerl Wheelan (Illustrator for all of King's Dark Tower series) and he was kind enough, in exchange for a drawing of an 1851 Navy Colt (pictured above), to have Mr. King sign my Grant Editions of the aforementioned books, along with a number of bookplates and other volumes. Please note also that the original return letter etc from Mr King is NOT included in the auction. As written below in the Provenance section, it relates to other items I received from Mr King and is a personal correspondence between myself and the author and contains his home address. It is also a well known fact nowadays among all serious King collectors that he will no longer sign back copies of any of his work, even at signing/promotional events. As a result such older genuine signed volumes are now at a premium..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Signed-Steph...UAAOSwLnBX5xnp

[Room 217 Caretaker]

It's a terrible signature. I love how he spells Michael Whelan in his auction.......ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!

Mulleins

[peripheral]

Love how he goes on and on with all the bullshitty tangential details (sleight of hand) to help persuade you of his legitimacy... ("the letter from Mr King is NOT included.") hahaa. Start by spelling your acquaintances names correctly, strunza...

[Ivo]

Looking at all the pictures around the stories made me hungry and crave some wagon wheels pasta.

[Br!an]

It's a terrible signature. I love how he spells Michael Whelan in his auction.......ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!

Mulleins

I find it amusing that he corrected the spelling of Michael and left the spelling, "Wheelan."

It is also passing strange that "Wheelan" didn't sign the books himself.

[Br!an]

It is also a well known fact nowadays among all serious King collectors that he will no longer sign back copies of any of his work, even at signing/promotional events. As a result such older genuine signed volumes are now at a premium.

I must not be a serious collector.

I do agree that "older genuine signed volumes are now at a premium." Too bad he isn't selling any.

[Randall Flagg]

I'm not fond of this:
Stephen King Art Collage Hand Signed 8x10 Photo

[Brice]

I'm not fond of this:
Stephen King Art Collage Hand Signed 8x10 Photo

I could be wrong, but I can't imagine King would sign across someone's artwork.

[Br!an]

[Randall Flagg]

Less than thrilled with this sig:
SIGNED NEAR FINE 1ST/1ST EDITION~ CELL ~ STEPHEN KING

[tippy4]

Less than thrilled with this sig:
SIGNED NEAR FINE 1ST/1ST EDITION~ CELL ~ STEPHEN KING

It is no bueno.

[tippy4]

More crap from Greyfell:

Signed Cell

[Randall Flagg]

Seller has posted a bunch of questionable signed books recently.
Stephen King signed MR MERCEDES

[Randall Flagg]

Ruined a perfectly good book.

Stephen King Skeleton Crew 1985, First/1st Signed

[Randall Flagg]

Sig looks possible. I don't recall (even in The Plant) King writing "Merry Christmas".
Bag of Bones by Stephen King (1998, Hardcover) signed copy w/special inscription

Edit: The "M" looks pretty good.

Second edit:

[T-Dogz_AK47]

Ruined a perfectly good book.

Stephen King Skeleton Crew 1985, First/1st Signed

A blatant forgery!

[cit74]

Seller has posted a bunch of questionable signed books recently.
Stephen King signed MR MERCEDES

They deleted their previous description which said recently bought from a signed lot sale - therefore I cannot tell the authenticity of the signatures. But I think he can - since he poorly forged them all

[Randall Flagg]

Thoughts on the BOB?

[hyraxia]

Hi all,

It's been a long time. I'm sorry to have been absent. It's always a joy being here. Anyway, I'm just writing a note as a client of ours mentioned that someone on here had been questioning our reputation. I'm just here to address any concerns, because there's nothing more important to us than our reputation.

Anything you think we have that's not right. Tell me, I'll take it off right away. I know the experts here and I value their opinions. I've been appraising King signatures for years, but of course, many opinions is better than just one. I'm here to protect our reputation and if that means disposing of a few hundred quid of books that I clearly think are authentic, then so be it. Of course, every signed King we get through the door we examine. We dismiss probably nine out of every ten signature we get offered, it's such a minefield now that it's barely even worth it. Let me know your thoughts.

Other than that...how are you all?

[dnemec]

Hi all,

It's been a long time. I'm sorry to have been absent. It's always a joy being here. Anyway, I'm just writing a note as a client of ours mentioned that someone on here had been questioning our reputation. I'm just here to address any concerns, because there's nothing more important to us than our reputation.

Anything you think we have that's not right. Tell me, I'll take it off right away. I know the experts here and I value their opinions. I've been appraising King signatures for years, but of course, many opinions is better than just one. I'm here to protect our reputation and if that means disposing of a few hundred quid of books that I clearly think are authentic, then so be it. Of course, every signed King we get through the door we examine. We dismiss probably nine out of every ten signature we get offered, it's such a minefield now that it's barely even worth it. Let me know your thoughts.

Other than that...how are you all?

I don't recall someone questioning your reputation, but I do recall other members here touting your quality service when I was looking for a particular Joe Hill book. And my experience with you was quite good!

[peripheral]

Hi all,

It's been a long time. I'm sorry to have been absent. It's always a joy being here. Anyway, I'm just writing a note as a client of ours mentioned that someone on here had been questioning our reputation. I'm just here to address any concerns, because there's nothing more important to us than our reputation.

Anything you think we have that's not right. Tell me, I'll take it off right away. I know the experts here and I value their opinions. I've been appraising King signatures for years, but of course, many opinions is better than just one. I'm here to protect our reputation and if that means disposing of a few hundred quid of books that I clearly think are authentic, then so be it. Of course, every signed King we get through the door we examine. We dismiss probably nine out of every ten signature we get offered, it's such a minefield now that it's barely even worth it. Let me know your thoughts.

Other than that...how are you all?

I don't recall someone questioning your reputation, but I do recall other members here touting your quality service when I was looking for a particular Joe Hill book. And my experience with you was quite good!

Yes, some months ago there was a discussion on this thread around a suspect signed book for sale at Hyraxia. This was the book at the centre of that discussion.

Stephen King - IT - Signed - Viking

[Randall Flagg]

The "F" in "For" is unlike any I've seen on King inscriptions beginning with "For". King doesn't create an almost nazi symbol bringing the left side of the cross of the "F" directly up. He rarely tops the "F" with a straight horizontal line equal in length (on each side) atop the vertical part of the "F". I've never seen the "...or" part of "For" look like oz. (as in ounces).
Looking at the year "87", I've looked through numerous inscriptions from King in the 1980's, and the "8" never has the long stroke extending above the top when finishing the "8".

Those are just a few things that IMO make the inscription highly questionable.

I could cite more things, but I'd like other members who are highly regarded collector's (I consider myself to be a competent, but not great expert on King signatures) chime in.