"Silver Stupidity"

An eBay auction that cracks me up.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2006-S-FULL-SIL...ryZ41112QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Who in their right mind would buy a brand new silver set and then get it graded by SGS? :mouth:

 

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Aboncom the Seller is the actual owner of SGS....sneaky

 

It seems to me that that would lower the value

 

Aboncom/Star Grading/SGS has been doing this for a good bit.

They take their own coins from inventory and then package them in their OWN plastic with gold foil tape and MS70 labels so that they appear they have been "independently" graded...when it is NOTHING of the sort.

The sad part is that somebody will bid on this thinking they are getting a true "third-partied-graded" coin set. Worst yet, recently this seller has ventured into MS67 and MS68 Morgans and is getting ridiculous prices for his "slabbed" coins.

"Put some lipstick on that pig and sell it"...that pretty much sums up SGS "slabbed" coins.

 

Ha Ha Ha!!!

After viewing the e-bay add it dawned on me that these guys might have just gotten to smart for their own good. If their reputation for being "less" then reputable gets around enough to keep anything they sell down below fair market then it may be possible to buy a 2006 silver proof set from them and get it for less then what the mint has sold it to them for. The mint is selling this set for 37.95 and the current bid for their "MS70" slabbed set is still under 23.00 with 18 hours to go.

These guys kill me. I have to laugh when I see their adds but then I cry thinking of all the unhappy buyers that get sucked into this fake out, then I just get mad.

However this time unless they can get alot more then 37.95 for their trouble the joke will be on them. And the buyers eventhough they may not know they have been dooped, have still purchased a real decent set of silver proof coins, once they get them out of those sick phoney boloney slabs.

Yeh, I know it probably won't work out that way but is was fun thinking about it. Their day is coming, if there is any justice left in the world, their day is coming.

 

Actually, this is how I got my 1999-S silver Delaware quarter. The SGS PF70's were selling for less than the raw coins were selling for which was less than anything graded PF64 or better by any of the big 4 was selling for.

I was able to get a coin that would grade PF68/9 DCam (by a reputable TPG) for about $10 less than I would have paid for a raw coin just because it was graded by SGS! It has been freed and I am happy with the result.

 

check out the shipping. 2 pounds. I just emailed them for shipping cost.. See what they come back with.

 

Way to go CT. Now thats what I'm talking about.

 

Here is the reply I got when I tried to bid on something from aboncom.


Transaction Blocked
Unfortunately, this seller has decided that you are not permitted to bid on their listings. You may contact the seller via the Ask Seller Questions feature if you want additional details.


Hmmm, I have been a member of ebay for almost 10 years, 100% positive feedback and blocked.. What ya think guys?

 

This guy aboncom probably is a lurking member of this list and saw the recent post about his questionable coin slabbing service and blocked anyone who took part in the discussion...
http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=14880


Bone

 

If he wants to block me too I'd consider it a favor so I don't accidentally bid on any of his stuff, lol. Though how would he know your eBay user ID?

 

We all know that the dealings of SGS and Aboncom are nothing if short of shady. If I remember, a member or 2 or 3 here listed information proving SGS and their website is owned by Aboncom. If Aboncom tells a potential buyer that he has no relation other than master seller and there is proof otherwise, what would the consequences be? I inquired about the relationship between SGS andaboncom and here is the response i received:

This message was sent while the listing was active.
aboncom is the seller.



Hi,

We have 0 % ownership in SGS Star Grading Service.

We are a MASTER DEALER for SGS and quite proud of that.

It now takes 11 months to get a coin certified if you are not a Master Dealer.

Thank you for asking.

Larry L. Bence
CEO
Respond to this question in My Messages.



And please.....ELEVEN MONTHS?????

 

So,,, assuming that is correct... the 11 month thing. I would have to say they in fact are minting 2006 S Silver Proof sets. I was advised by the mint they just went on sale a week ago. Yet they have them slabbed and listed on ebay.. Talk about time flying!

 

Well, I can find no registration for Star Grading Service on the OH Sec. of State website, but there is a company called Star Collectors Ltd. registered to Larry L. Bence are people relating that to SGS? Not that I really doubt Abon & SGS are the same, but how was the connection proved (just curious)?

I was just looking at the SGS 'website'. You know there's something not quite right when the only way to contact them is by mail or email. No phone number & a shoddy one page site tell me 'stay away' without even knowing their history or grading 'quality'.

 

AnemicOak:

If I recall Kuhli and Nuzak(?) were the ones who first mentioned the relation between SGS and Aboncom. one such thread I found was http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=3171&page=2&highlight=sgs

This may all be circumstantial and irrevelany seeing how most of us kow not to trust either of them any further than we can throw boulder up hill.

 

Exactly. If he saw us complaning about his coins, why in the world would we buy them. He's just wasting time blocking us. (Not that I care, I don't do much eBay, just one).

 

Consider the following...

Run that address through InterNic WhoIs and you get:

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

For www.abon.com information, you have to go through directNIC and you get:

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

I noticed at the SGS Website that their "new" address is:

38 Church St
Bellville, Ohio 44813

According to Mapquest, this address is only 10.93 miles (19 minutes) "down the road" (Hwy 13, just off of I-71) from their 115 Park Ave West location in Mansfield, Ohio, which is where their ebay powerseller Aboncom is located.

Since many cited the fact that Aboncom and SGS are one in the same due to their same address, I believe this is an attempt to try to "distant" the two entities so they appear independent.

Remember, ANYBODY can set up a separate entity, LLC, S-Corp, etc. and claim they have no interest in each other, but you be the judge!

 

Now to continue

This makes for interesting food for thought:


First we start with Abcon. Registered to "Eric Sparks" of Mansfield, OH.

So....we end with "Mr. Sparks" of Mansfield, OH.
(emphasis added)

Now, when we cross-reference SGS into the picture (Abcon's manufacturing supplier), we have ANOTHER Mr. Sparks: "David Sparks". Okay, now you can say coincidence, right? So say it now: C-O-I-C-I-D-E-N-C-E......NOT! Take a very close look at the Registration information. The phone number is showing an area code from Arizona for Mr. Sparks of Bellville, OH. So, let's assume a typo then and he meant area code 419. Ok, that places him back into OH under the prefix district for Lima. But, that is over 60 miles west of Mansfield, and Bellville is less than 10 miles SOUTH! So, we know that something is wrong with this DNS registration! We have a name VERY similar to the registrant to Abon.com (Abcon) and within the same municipal area. The clue lies in the registrant's email contact!

(emphasis added)

So, now we have come to the webmaster of bassplayinninja.com (which I find interesting). The first clue we have is the pictoral that "Mr. Sparks" (or should we say Chad Crider at this point?) kindly placed up for us. The Mapquest map clearly identifies Mansfield, Oh and NOT Bellville, OH. Try it! Go to Mapquest, and query Mansfield, OH and zoom out a bit. Then try it with Bellville, OH. See! The owner of bassplayinninja is clearly self identified as being from Mansfield, OH. And it is not "Mr. Sparks" as we had first been led to believe, but a Chad Crider....or is it??? He claims to be going to school to be a web designer.....hmmmm......

Off to round four....ccrider@baranlaw.com....

So, who is Baran Law, anyway? And why does some punk kid trying to learn web design have to do with them? And even more, what do they have to do with SGS and Abcon!?!?!?! Well, they are some kind of law firm based in Mansfield, and Portsmouth, and Toldeo, and (get this) LIMA! They are self-proclaimed as an "agressive" law firm. You find no indication of any of the lawyers' names appearing anywhere in connection with Abcon and SGS, nor are either company listed as a "client". But one interesting point is that this company claims to offer services related to "Insurance Defense and coverage issues".

And do not forget....THIS IS WHERE THE REGISTRATION FOR SGS/ABON (home of the MS/PR70 Everything) ABSOLUTELY ORGINATES!!!!!!!

Now, we have to dig a bit deeper than just domain registries. Let's start with Edward Baran of our originating law office. There is an Edward Baran that resides in (where else?) LIMA, OH. Can we say coincidence? Now, take a close look at the photos provided by our ninja dood and by our law office. Doesn't Mr. Baran look ALOT like the "minister" in the photo? Just remove his obviously fake tupee and focus on the nose, adding a few pounds ('cause obviously the photo from the law office is older). Coincidence...

Law Office Photo
ninja dood's photo

....coincidence? consipracy?? NPCoin is a nutcase????? Anything is possible..... ok then....

well... Ninja dood lives on Lind Ave. and only 1/2 mile from "Mr. Sparks". Mr. Sparks is right off the highway! A nice cozy office within walking distance.

um...Carol Fleming does not appear on the law office's counsel, so it must be an administrative employee, but why the 330 area code phone number for OH? Does area code 330 even exist? Is this registration "really" from the law firm or is somebody covering their hind quarters? And the address doesn't exist! Or does it? 500 Richland Trust Bldg certainly is not what the law firm claims to be their address on their home page. And how did Mr. Crider ever obtain an email address from their domain???

Ok...OK....GD should know that I am very winded But I always have a point, and I ALWAYS have facts! So....here is the final piece I'm going to give you. Anybody that really wants to dig and request a criminal investigation by the proper authorities, should be able to finish the preliminary info on the law office fairly easily. Email me if you need more leads. I'm involved in too many other legal issues right now (still haven't lost one yet since 1994!) of a totally different nature to try to tackle this one at the moment. (And, no, I am Not a lawyer...I drink milk and water...not blood).

Ready?????

Here it is: "Chad Crider's (or is it "Mr. Spark's" or was that "Mr. Larry Bence"...or should we just say "Bubba's future girlfriend" Yahoo Profile. Con artists and fraudulent conspirators will ALWAYS get caught because the webs they weave will still be attached to their behind

It's 2AM here and I work in 12 hours, so I'm off to read more and talk less. Sorry for the intrussion

 

LOL that is some outstanding reseach you have done there NPCoin. Now all we have to do is file complaints with the BBB, State BBB, Attorney General's Office and the Secret Service ( just for good measure) then we can go back to a happier life in Ebay land lol

Speaking of happier life, I went back to look at a mistake I made when I first began Ebay coin hunting. GCC, Gallery Grading Company and their primary seller JoJaxx arent doing too hot of a business lately. Seems like the 5.50-7.45 shipping may be dissuading people from buying his whizzed coins. Such a shame lol

 

I would add the Postal Inspectors to that list of CC: on the complaint. In fact, the Postal Inspector and FBI would be the prime recipients because the main indicators in the research point to insurance fraud against the U.S.P.S. The beginning of the chain starts with the lawyer's office, with a service in defending insurance claims. The "professional grader" grades coins using primarily MS/PR70 designations. They then alude to ANA Standards by alluding to pricing quotes from a TPG and likening the value of their coins to such. The TPG, PCGS, publishes retail (not market) pricing based upon coins grade in accordance with ANA Standards. Therefore, if the grader SGS is NOT grading in accordance with such guidelines, is directly invovled with both the manufacture as well as final distribution to the public of the product, and holds the insurance claim against products based upon a price that is inflated and false, then this is fraud, both mail fraud [B ]and[/B] insurance fraud.

But, most lawyers believe that "lay" people are stupid....and with the fees some people pay, I don't blame them

Now, here is the BIG whopper! BECAUSE there is reason to believe that eBay had prior knowledge that this business partner was using their venue to commit fraud against the State and against the People, they could very well be indicted on conspiracy charges.

Food for thought!