SGS touting ANA CREDIBILITY!

OK, Clembo I followed your lead.... submitted to sgs@stargrading.org the following...

Why can't your company be a little more "fair and balanced" in your NEWS presented on your web site?

You also need to include the PNG ITCA 2006 COIN GRADING SURVEY in your NEWS, which could read as follows
__________________________________________________________
News:On April 10, 2007, Star Grading Services was requested to submit a proposal for exclusive grading services for the American Numismatic Association. While we do not currently have the resources to do this, we viewed the request as a wonderful recognition of our growing popularity and market acceptance.

Our inclusion in the PNG ITCA 2006 COIN GRADING SURVEY further shows our acceptance in the hobby and the survey results are: "Star Grading Services (SGS) of Bellville, OH. were listed as "Unacceptable."

An Independent Study has recently found that SGS currently accounts for 7% of all Graded Coins sold on the internet auction site eBay."
__________________________________________________________

BTW, do you really believe that the American Numismatic Association, because of the proposal request believes that it was because of a "recognition of our growing popularity and market acceptance", or rather an attempt by the ANA to be fair and balanced, just to be able to DENY any request you submit to them via that proposal?

I am inquizative as to how you can equate a proposal from the ANA to mean it "IS" a "wonderful recognition of our growing popularity and market acceptance"?

I really cannot believe your claim that the request came from the ANA? Would you care to share a copy of that ANA proposal?

 

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I like it!

Now you know SGS will hate you. If you're like me you will not lose sleep over this.

To the other folks reading this thread Silver Striker has been kind enough to supply the email address to SGS. I urge you all to feel free to ask them questions. They will hate you for this as they hate me and Silver Striker at this point.
They already know a lot of people are on to them. Bet they read these threads actually.

Make your voice heard by voicing your opinion. Your opinion is, after all, just that. It's like grading. Some just honestly state their opinion while others hide under the guise of subjectivity.

 

Clembo,

I have been a staunch opponent of SGS from back when they started slabbing my Casino Silver Strikes.

I think they really hate me more because of THIS WEB PAGE that I created during their silver strike slabbing days.

PROUD TO BE HATED BY SGS!:hail: :hail: :hail:

 

That's REAL good!

I have a blog (that I can't even remember how to access) that deals mainly with TPGs. Guess who got a real good write up.

So I guess that make us both.....


PROUD TO BE HATED BY SGS!:hail: :hail: :hail:

 

Since you're mentioning it, is there some good review that covers all of the TPG's?

I'm seeing a lot of coins on eBay graded by National Numismatic Certification that are too good to be true.
This evening an NNC 1919-S MS-65 RD Lincoln (PCGS value of $30,000) sold for $150.

 

I asked: Could you please reply to the fact that PNG has you listed as unacceptable and has issued a consumer advisory against tpg like you? ( not exact email, just guessing here)

Reply from Larry Bence, CEO Abon.com

" I was not aware of that and feel it only fair and should have a copy to read. Please if you could email me a copy, I would be very grateful and happy to comment....Larry Bence , CEO Aboncom.

lbence@abon.com

 

Ok, now who here did a post listing the address's and owners names ( same ) of SGS and Abon? Could you please email or repost?

I'll get my project together and post it here. Ebay fraud, Self Slabbers, and how Ebay handles it sort of thing. Done many times before, but this should be different.....

 

I just sent my own email to SGS. Sometimes I wonder how much mail like this they get. As for me, I'm going to constantly bother them by both email and physical mail. If abon and sgs ever do get stopped I want to be one of the reasons they are

 

Arizona Jack,

The information below was what was on the WHOIS database back in 2004 since then the information has changed several times. I posted this information on the silver strikers message board and it is archived HERE.

Star Grading Service (SGS) (stargrading.org)

and

E-bay Seller aboncom

Are one in same...

I checked SGS's whois Internet information and here's what is revealed.

Registrant Name:Larry Bence
Registrant Organization:Star Grading Service
Registrant Street1:115 Park Ave West
Registrant Street2:
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:Mansfield
Registrant State/Province:OH
Registrant Postal Code:44902
Registrant Country:US
Registrant Phone:+1.4195225346
Registrant Phone Ext.:120
Registrant FAX:+1.4195226379
Registrant FAX Ext.:
Registrant Email:lbence@abon.com
Admin ID:tuE9knShR87KNKVq
Admin Name:Larry Bence
Admin Organization:Star Grading Service
Admin Street1:115 Park Ave West
Admin Street2:
Admin Street3:
Admin City:Mansfield
Admin State/Province:OH
Admin Postal Code:44902
Admin Country:US
Admin Phone:+1.4195225346
Admin Phone Ext.:120
Admin FAX:+1.4195226379
Admin FAX Ext.:
Admin Email:lbence@abon.com

Next I checked abon.com whois Internet information and here's what is revealed.

Registrant:
Abon Limited
115 Park Ave. West
Mansfield, OH 44902
US
419-522-5346

Domain Name: ABON.COM

Administrative Contact:
Sparks, Eric esparks@abon.com
115 Park Ave. West
Mansfield, OH 44902
US
419-522-5346

abon.com website contact address is
Abon Enterprises
115 Park Ave West
Mansfield, OH 44902

Star Grading Service website mail address is
Star Grading
1610 State Route 60 South
Ashland, Ohio 44805

 

Ok folks,

I have been attempting to do some OHIO research and there is information on the Ohio Secretary of State web site that lists two business entities using ABON in the name.

Here are links to copies of the actual business documents.

ABON CARDS & COINS, LTD


ABON, LT


BTW, both business entities are listed as active.

Both come up with ownership by Larry Bence.... What do you know, this name is also associated with the WHOIS search done in 2004 for stargrading.org (SGS).

Strange now how the name David Sparks now is on the current WHOIS search for stargrading.org (SGS).

Strange too is the name Eric Sparks for the current and past WHOIS search for abon.com

We need to remember that the CURRENT Ohio business information for ABON is held by Larry Bence, and I believe that since there is NO OFFICIAL business listed by the Secretary of State in OHIO for SGS or Star Grading Service that this business, because of the 2004 WHOIS search is also fully linked to Larry Bence.

BTW, here's another WHOIS search document done approximately sometime in 2006. Check out the names associated and the e-mail addresses.

I believe that it was here on cointalk that a message was posted that claimed no link between ABON and SGS!

Forgot to mention check out the address in the 2004 WHOIS for Stargrading.com and compare it to the address on the ABON business forms!

So who owns ABON and Who owns SGS? I think we all know the answer to that now! AND WE KNEW IT ALL ALONG!

 

Okay, for the record, it is customary for the ANA to request samples from each (and every) grading service.
This is NOT a recognition of them as a legitimate service.
It is requested so that they (the ANA) can determine the quality of the service.
So, sure, they asked, but that is NOT an endorsement.

So, what, they asked SGS (Sal's Grading Service) for a sample.

 

Oh please, I was given the best time insult to eat my own shorts by the SGS seller while he was active here in this forum at one stage. I'm sure he's reading it somewhere only to be eating his own. Gave me the best impression of what kind of person he is.

 

Got you there Treashunt,

I think what is irritating a lot of us is that NOW SGS is twisting the meaning to imply that they were approached by SGS to be an exlusive slabber.

They don't have the current resources to satisfy the ANAs needs because they would actually have to grade coins pure and simple. That goes way beyond whizzing and finding the "proper" MS sticker to affix.

I, for one, will be keeping an eye on their site to see what the next "fairy tale" is that they come up with.

LB and comany(ies) are crafty but methinks the hounds are closing in.

 

And if they did submit samples, do you really think they would submit one of thier pocket change ms70 coins.:hammer: And if they would have to submit an actual customer coin they would be out of luck. Mabey thats why they are unable to fill the request at this time.

 

MORE INTERSTING INFO FROM THE STATE OF OHIO...

Ohio must be a state that doesn't care about its business tax revenues. I hope the taxpayers don't care about peole not paying their fair share to do business in that state.

I sent a message via the Ohio Secretary of State regarding not being able to find a business filing for Star Grading Service (SGS), I used several shortened name searches and found nothing.

Since there is NO business on file for SGS in OHIO I just wonder how and IF the federal taxes are being handled and or paid. Maybe there is something at the local level I am missing.

At any rate here's the reply from my message.

Reply-To: "Ted E. Brown II" <tbrown@sosohio.us>
From: "Ted E. Brown II" <tbrown@sosohio.us>
Date: 17 Sep 2007, 03:48:05 PM
Subject: Re: From the Web site

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Customer,

Anyone conducting business in Ohio by any other name than their own given
name would be required to register with our office. However, since we are only
a filing office we cannot advise on what your next steps would be as we are not
a policing agency.

Business Services
Ohio Secretary Of State

For More Information
Visit Our Website;
www.sos.state.oh.us

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 3:21 AM
To: info
Subject: From the Web site

Can a company do business in OHIO without an official business filing?

I have been attempting to find information regarding a company "Star Grading
Service" (SGS) who is doing a major online coin grading service via the
internet who's address is listed as

38 Church Street
Bellville, OH 44813

I have been unable to find any offical information via your web site for
this company.

The internet site is found at...

http://www.stargrading.org

Can you provide me with the business ownership of record?

Thank you,

 

Not sure what you're looking for, but have you tried the Better Business Bureau?
Guy~

 

clembo wrote:

"I HIGHLY doubt that the ANA would choose SGS for slabbing. After all, how many of you people that routinely ridicule SGS (as I do) would stand for it? The ANA would be committing "numismatic suicide"."

I missed this salient point in my original reading of the thread. The ANA might as well do an OJ. The rumor mill is flying, and we all might as well take a deep breath.

If (think about it) SGS would become the official grader of the ANA, then we are all done. The whole coin market will collapse. Like it or not, the graded coin market, and the trust we as individuals have in the various graders is what drives
the market. EVERY big dollar coin is now graded, and has been for years.

Ebays move to cancel the bull s--t graders is a good thing, although I would have included one more TPG as per my previous posts.

 

clembo:
Oh, I agree!
Please don't get me wrong.
I am in favor of kicking them out, just pointing out that they (ANA) ask for samples from all
TPG'ers.

 

Not to worry,

I understood Treashunt. You were doing your Joe Friday "nothing but the facts ma'am" and it was needed in this thread.
Just wanted to make sure everyone else understood (basically those that jump into the discussion late).

We've all basically ripped into SGS at some point. Now they are in the process of cutting their own throat it seems.

Ebay's new policy is far from perfect. I'm sure we could pick it apart all day. However, it sends a pretty STRONG message to SGS and others. The "informed" community has had enough.

We need to continue the pressure on these self slabbers. SGS is the main one - I think we all know that. They have effectively backed themselves into a corner as far as ebay is concerned. Now they're going to "twist the meaning" on their own site. I'm willing to bet they'll do this on ebay as well. Problem there is that they'll start to break the rules. The same rules WE could not break now apply to them. They are NOT allowed to openly criticize a PCGS coin at auction NOR even compare their coins to PCGS.

As an "informed" community we need to question EVERY statement they make if it's NOT 100% true. Make them explain EVERYTHING they claim. Gonna get interesting.

 

My nomination for the understatement of the year!