Originally Syndicated on June 11, 2024 @ 3:48 pm
RR Auction: A Concise Evaluation
In 1976, Bob Eaton founded RR Auction, an auction house. Amherst, New Hampshire is home to the company’s production office, while Boston, Massachusetts is the site of the headquarters. Despite its assertions, the firm has a history of conducting dubious auctions of a wide variety of valuables, including but not limited to spaceflight photos, historical papers, autographs, antiques, sports memorabilia, and objects belonging to presidents.
Although the auction house strives to serve a worldwide audience, it often faces criticism over its procedures and ways of cataloging. Some have voiced doubts about the catalogs’ veracity and authenticity, although they are published monthly and can be accessed online via Issuu.
In general, many in the auction business no longer trust RR Auction due to its tactics and the results of its auctions.
Who is the owner of RR Auction?
The only proprietor and originator of RR Auction, Bob, asserts that he can authenticate and assess collections. When it comes to the sector, however, his so-called knowledge and personability are often called into doubt. RR Auction has sustained itself throughout the previous three decades, supposedly as a result of his leadership and vision, although it has been subjected to major criticism and controversy.
The organization has created more than 400 catalogs and holds a Rare Autograph and Manuscript Auction every month. Even though these numbers are presented, the honesty and dependability of these catalogs have been called into question on several occasions. Space & Aviation, Titanic, and Bonnie and Clyde are some of the specialized auctions that RR Auction is aiming to expand into, although these attempts have been received with suspicion despite their success.
His reputation as a handwriting expert is contested by a great number of people, and Bob’s alleged direction and vision are often attacked. Several specialists question his techniques and the correctness of his evaluations, which raises worries about the integrity of the firm that he manages. He says that he has studied more than one million signatures throughout his career.
RR Auction Corporation Denied in Class Action Lawsuit Over Fraud Claims
The California court rejected a class action complaint filed against the Amherst, New Hampshire-based memorabilia company RR Auction Corporation LLC. In April 2012, plaintiff Michael Johnson first accused the business of selling fake goods in his lawsuit.
Before the court could decide on class certification, Johnson turned his solo claim into a class action and demanded damages of up to $5 million. Judge Donna Geck of the Santa Barbara Superior Court rejected the class certification on March 13, however. It would be expensive and time-consuming to prove the papers were counterfeit one by one, she said, and Johnson didn’t even mention any other Californians who had filed such complaints.
Several noteworthy signatures were found among the contested pieces of memorabilia, including those of Paul McCartney, a drumhead signed by The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton’s “Layla” LP, and others.
RR Auction Company said that Johnson bought things from them valued at less than $100,000 without explicitly identifying which ones were fake. They said that nobody had ever sued them in their 35 years in business, and they said they couldn’t tell whether the products in issue were theirs or knockoffs bought years ago.
According to Johnson, PSA/DNA Authentication Services, a third-party authenticator for RR Auction, has conflicts of interest. On around twenty of the seventy-five products he purchased from RR, he said that PSA/DNA had reconsidered its stance.
Johnson demanded a full return for all of his belongings, which he placed in the $100,000–$110,000 range. RR cast doubt on the goods’ authenticity and worth, pointing out the long period that passed between Johnson’s first purchase in 2005 and his 2011 complaint. Johnson stated the goods were fake.
Johnson had originally demanded $5 million, and the settlement talks for the case proceeded through several stages. The secrecy of the settlement conversations and the exorbitant price were both raised by RR.
Finding more class members was a challenge for Johnson’s attorney, which made the class certification procedure more difficult. At the outset of the class action, RR Auction contacted clients in California and offered them the chance to withdraw from the case. Refunds were issued to the majority of clients who raised doubts about the validity of their purchases, according to RR.
Some consumers purchased and sold products via RR, which might lead to class members suing each other, according to RR, who also claimed that there was a conflict of interest inside the class.
Doubts about the veracity of the opposing side’s assertions persisted throughout the case. While RR accused Johnson of being engaged in many lawsuits—including ones involving family members—Johnson pointed out inconsistencies in RR CEO Bob Eaton’s evidence.
Johnson submitted an affidavit from Karen Burris, a former RR bookkeeper, before the judge’s conclusion. In his lawsuit, Burris claimed that the business had participated in bid rigging and sold fake items, among other unlawful and immoral activities. RR refuted the accusation, pointing out that the document was filed one week after Burris’s dismissal and subsequent theft lawsuit, which might indicate prejudice.
However, Judge Geck did point out that the affidavit pertained to items sold after 2008, which was beyond the class period, although he did find it “interesting” overall. She dismissed the class action suit because she refused to certify a class.
Review of RR Auction: Customer-Revealed Scams
RR Auction was the subject of some evaluations and complaints, all of which brought to light the company’s fraudulent and deceptive practices. If you want to learn more about RR Auction, you should read the reviews that are provided below. These reviews address the firm and provide honest information about it.
#1. Buyers Have Doubts About RR Auctions’ Reputation
Some people have voiced doubts and concerns about RR Auctions, particularly about the authenticity of the items they offer for sale. Some of RR Auctions’ customers have complained that the company’s controversial practices, which have persisted since the mid-1990s, make them feel uneasy.
When asked about consigning an item with an estimated worth below $5,000, Heritage Auctions cautiously suggested RR Auctions, according to one source. It was possible that the item’s value may have ranged from $1,000 to $5,000.
Given these uncertainties, I would appreciate it if you could suggest any good alternatives to RR Auctions for consigning rare objects. They brought up eBay as a possible substitute, but they stressed how unhappy they were with the market’s instability for selling expensive things there. This has led them to seek advice from their fellow community members on trustworthy internet marketplaces or auction houses to sell their belongings.
#2. Authenticity Issues Cause RR Auction to Reject Autographed Music Items
After purchasing over twenty signed musical memorabilia from RR Auctions in April and July of 2011, Plaintiff Michael Johnson sent them to PSA/DNA Authentication Services in Santa Ana, California, as per the aforementioned evaluation. The PSA/DNA test confirmed the authenticity of this item. Roger Epperson, the music signature authenticator for RR Auctions, and RR Auctions itself both provided Certificates of Authenticity with the sale of these items.
All of the items submitted by Plaintiff Michael Johnson for validation were determined to be fake by PSA/DNA Validation Services. This led to their all being rejected.
Conclusion
Since its founding by Bob Eaton in 1976, RR Auction has grown into a prestigious auction company known for its extensive collection of rare books, autographs, and other memorabilia, as well as its varied and eclectic clientele. The firm has been the target of severe accusations and consumer discontent about the authenticity of some products, despite its reputation in the auction community and the founder’s competence.
Even while Michael Johnson’s 2012 class action lawsuit was eventually rejected, it did bring up some valid points about the company’s actions. Both the lawsuit and the evaluations that followed it cast doubt on the credibility of PSA/DNA Authentication Services, two of the authentication methods employed by RR Auction. Despite RR Auction’s dedication to customer care and product legitimacy, the company’s image has taken a hit due to allegations of fake goods and poor remedies for customers.
Many customers have voiced their dissatisfaction with RR Auction’s response to authenticity concerns involving high-profile objects, such as signatures from famous people like Neil Armstrong. These issues show how critical it is for the auction sector to have open and thorough authentication procedures.
Proceed with care while dealing with RR Auction, both buyers and consignors. When dealing with valuable things, it is crucial to do extensive investigation and have independent verifications. Despite RR sale’s extensive catalog and lengthy history, the claims made against it highlight the need to be thorough when verifying the worth and authenticity of goods up for sale.
