Buying Autographs Safely: How to protect yourself against buying autographs that aren't real.

It's not hard to protect yourself against buying fake autographs, but so many people end up buying ones that aren't real—especially when they're new collectors. Share your tips, experiences and ask questions here.

Tags: autographs, autopens, buying, fake, fakes, forgeries, preprints, protection, safe, secretarials

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Permalink Reply by billy plattner on September 27, 2009 at 7:46am

how do people feel about gai

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Permalink Reply by Michael Kasmar-AutographPros.com on September 27, 2009 at 8:46am

My tip for anyone just starting out is to join sites like this and autograph collecting newsgroups and post scans of their potential buys. NEVER jump into a purchase because you don't want to miss out on a 'great deal'. You'll be burned more times than not in the beginning so instead, ask for help from these types of venues. You'll be surprised how much insight you can learn that way. Also as you get more into the hobby, try to create relationships with 1 or 2 larger in-person autograph dealers. That way if they don't have what you want but you find it elsewhere, you can ask them their opinion. As a dealer myself, I pretty much know all my REAL competition as to who is selling real items and who has the fakes.

Michael Kasmar
www.AutographPros.com

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Odom on January 15, 2010 at 8:31pm

Who is real competition? I'd like to know some good dealers.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Hall on September 28, 2009 at 5:48am

My recommendation is stay away from eBAY!

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Permalink Reply by brent kennedy on January 16, 2010 at 4:11pm

i recently posted a pics of a detroit tigers jersey that my wife bought for me a couple of years ago. The feedback i recieved so far has been positive. She also bought me a joe dimaggio signed photo and a manny ramirez signed bat.... through ebay. I sent the bat, and photo to psa/dna, along with a baseball that was signed by yogi berra (in person) in florida during spring training. I knew the ball was real because i was there and met yogi but was not %100 sure of psa's reliability so i included the ball just out of curiosity to see if they would pass it. Everything came back fake..........accept for the yogi sig!!! I was happy that psa's screening process works. I was also kinda pissed that the bat and photo were fake. The bat came with a "loa" fabricated by the person that sold the bat. I know this because i 411'd the name on the loa. I know the bat is fake, i know who sold it to me.........what can i do about it?????????

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Permalink Reply by Sheldon Gajarian on January 16, 2010 at 5:15pm

There's no need to stay away from Ebay, just educate yourself. There's great stuff out there and not everything is fake.

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Duncan on January 17, 2010 at 2:31am

Agreed, don't stay away from Ebay. There are TONS of very rare memorabilia that might fit well in your collection. Also, you can find some real signed books especially within the first couple days of an artists signing, if you do your homework well and watch carefully over your shoulder. Check out http://www.therisingcollection.com/the_collection.html Most of these non autographed items were purchased post tour on Ebay.

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Duncan on January 17, 2010 at 2:37am

2010 is seriously becoming a record year for so many in person autograph shows, book signings, personal celebrity appearances, etc...... Here is what all collectors, veterans and newbies, have wished for for years: A chance to obtain so many quality celebs signatures direct and first hand from the artist themselves. Just bring your wallet and you'll sleep well with that REAL signature under your pillow.

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Permalink Reply by brent kennedy on January 17, 2010 at 8:18am

i would suggest sending a bulk order to psa in california. It may cost you a few hundered if you can spare it for now but you'll be able to sell your stuff fast, not to mention for a lot more money.