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Suspicious Listing for Tom Franklin Bracelet on Ebay

What is the value of a piece of poker history? What would you pay for one of Doyle Brunson’s WSOP Main Event bracelets? Some of you would probably put up some serious money.

What if that same bracelet came from a random WSOP event in 1999 won by a second or third-tier poker pro? Would you be willing to shell out significant money then? Well, it appears that someone is trying to find out if someone has more money than they have sense.

Recently, a bracelet won by Captain Tom Franklin was put up for sale on e-bay and it is commanding an insane price. The question is whether anyone is willing to pay more for a non-Main Event bracelet than for a brand new car.

Tom Franklin Bracelet for Sale for $50,000

Presently, there is a listing on e-bay for what is supposedly Captain Tom Franklin’s bracelet from his win in the 1999 WSOP $2,500 Limit Omaha event. Franklin defeated a field of 104 players, including Eli Elezra and the late Minneapolis Jim Meehan at the final table to win the bracelet and $104,000.

Amazingly, the price for the bracelet is an astounding $50,000. The bracelet is listed as being 18k gold and has the inscription “World Series of Poker – Captain Tommy Franklin.” The item is listed as a “Buy It Now” item with a “Make Offer” button available.

Listing Looks Suspicious

I have been a buyer and seller on e-bay for about a decade and there are a few things that stick out like a sore thumb on this listing. Firstly, the account posting the event has zero feedback and the item is listed as “New” condition. A used item, even if in perfect shape, is not allowed to be listed in new condition unless the item is in its original packaging. Next, the user selling the item has only been on e-bay since February of this year.

Something else that sticks out is that the item, if won, will be sent in a First Class package. It would seem that for $50,000 that the person would ship by something like FedEx or UPS. If someone gave me $50k for an item that’s probably worth about $2,000, I wouldn’t ship it through the post office. I’d spend $25 bucks, insure the hell out of it, and send it through UPS, FedEx, or even DHL.

A few years back, a bracelet from Eskimo Clark was listed on e-bay and I was one of the bidders. I ended up being the backup bidder as someone outbid me in the last couple of hours. However, shortly afterward I received a notification that the item had been and it was recommended that the winner not pay for the item. I received the notification as a courtesy in case I was contacted by the original seller.

I mention that because outside of the price, the terms on this deal are very similar and makes me suspicious. Personally, I would not touch this item with a ten-foot pole. You can make your own choices with this one, but I’d avoid it.

What’s WSOP History Worth?

If this listing is legit, it makes me wonder the reason for the price. I know in the past, I’ve put crazy prices on items I was selling to see if they would stick. However, I wouldn’t put $50k on a $2,500 item. I might do something like $10k, but even then I would know that my odds of selling that item are very slim.
The thing about this bracelet is that it is not connected to a significant WSOP event, a significant moment in WSOP history, or even a top-tier pro player. Don’t get me wrong, Captain Tom Franklin has made more money in poker than most of us ever will, but a Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth, or even a Daniel Negreanu he is not.

I’m not even going to get into the debate over whether you should buy someone else’s bracelet. There are collectibles of all types. I know this from my own experience in that market. Someone out there will want this type of item, but not at the insane price offered. Offer some type of assurances that this isn’t a scam listing and put up a price a lot more reasonable, and someone will buy it.

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