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How can we improve Autograph Live?

Do you have feedback about the new cell-friendly design? Are there things we need to do better? Are there things you'd like us to add?

Let's talk about it here.

Tags: Improve autograph live

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Permalink Reply by Rich on December 19, 2015 at 9:16pm

Few types of bad dealers, so a comprehensive list might be problematic just in defining what we're talking about.

Just on Ebay, you'll find the the following:

1) Straight forgers who suck. These guys scribble the most obvious forgeries on stacks of photos or other items and are easy to spot from a mile away, even without decent knowledge of the signatures in question. Laziness gives them away: Same pen(s) used again and again, no effort to disguise the handwriting (i.e. clearly all signed by the same person), signature placement perfect on every item, endless supplies of difficult signatures, etc.

2) Straight forgers who make you stop and look but ultimately fail because of too many mistakes. Music seller autographedmusicphotos.com (aka Ebay seller oilcitynights) is a good example of someone who at least gave it a good try based on at least a moderate competency in the signatures they're forging. It takes a decent knowledge of some of the signatures in question to ID that something is wrong.

3) Out of touch old dealers who buy way too much crap. I'm pretty sure the internet has changed the landscape of IP autograph collectors/dealers and how they do business, and I see plenty of these old UACC Registered Dealers who seem to be lost as far as what is what and who to trust. They have good and bad, which isn't helpful unless you know what to look for in the signature being purchased.

4) Individuals who collected for years, trusted everything with a COA, never did their homework and have mostly garbage they're trying to sell under a lazy assumption that it's real (or utter indifference that its probably not).

5) Otherwise excellent dealers whose names have been tainted by one particular high profile issue in which they refuse to do the right thing because of the financial impact. This affected several AFTAL dealers a few years ago, following the MJ/McCartney forgery scandal.

6) In-person collectors who get most of their stuff in person, but not all of it . . . but characterize it as all in person. Sometimes harder to figure this one out, unless they make a glaring mistake.

7) Huge Ebay powersellers who can pass anything through PSA or JSA because their volume of business and resulting "in" with the company. Press Pass is a prime example here. Good stuff? Yep. Bad stuff? Yep. Do they care? Nope.

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on December 19, 2015 at 7:18pm

The more I think about it, I think any dealer list may not be the best idea. Perhaps developing a library of signature specimens would be better. I think really what I enjoy about this site; seeing signatures and getting unbiased opinions. We have buy, sell, and trade area where sellers can promote some of their items and have the opportunity to direct members to their web site. Education is better than recommendation. In my humble opinion.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on December 19, 2015 at 7:55pm

I agree with you that education is the most important thing. And considering buying something from a dealer on the recommended list doesn't mean you don't get discuss it here. You still want to follow safe buying practices. But we could save a lot of people from being burned by giving them a convenient list to use.

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Permalink Reply by Chad B on December 19, 2015 at 8:10pm

I'm unsure if this is possible but an amazon feedback style system would be nice. A seller can be listed and given a rating of 1-5 stars. Each ISP# can only grade a seller one time. Comments and experience with the seller can be listed below their name. If a company or seller obtains 4.25 or better they are recommended (or a similar designation), under 2.75 and they are not recommended.

I don't know if this is even possible but is an idea.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 15, 2016 at 9:58pm

Chad,

Sorry to take three months to answer you. This is an interesting idea and is possible. I think there needs to be at least two ratings: one for authenticity and one for customer service.

Setting standards for rating them would be best.

A concern I have is someone rating a dealer low to hurt their score, or visa versa. Some of these things can be worked out, though.

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Permalink Reply by PICTURE PROOF AUTOGRAPHS on December 19, 2015 at 9:42pm

This has nothing to improve Atutograph Live, but autograph Collecting as a whole.
I have a dream,
Sometime in the future, everyone that obtains autographs would be smart enough to make sure that they would take a picture of every autograph being signed by the person signing the autographs to make every autograph a Picture Proof Autograph.
You would have no need for authenticators because their would be no more forgers because their would be no autograph collector dumb enough to buy an autograph that did not come with an In Person Picture Proof Photo (I.P.P.P.)
Is it only a dream, or can it really be possible?

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Permalink Reply by Rich on December 19, 2015 at 9:57pm

It's a nice thought, but it's not realistic. I think it's safe to say that most circumstances in autograph collecting don't allow for that. Many IP sellers try, and several do a good job with it. Perfect photo proof all the time though? Not even close. Even controlled environments like sports shows and comic cons - in many instances you can't take photos even there because of restrictions.

Most circumstances I'm in when I get autographs just aren't ideal for even trying. Bad angle, it's dark outside, bad timing, etc. I also usually just don't photograph people when they're signing something for me because it feels a bit awkward - sometimes even rude. I even feel a bit uncomfortable taking candid shots and videos at times in these situations.