Pricing information

Hi all,

This is my first time posting in the forums, but I have ghosted around and checked things out before. I was hoping that someone out there could answer a couple of questions for me.

Each year, I attend the Canadian National Expo's FanExpo in Toronto Canada. Until this year, the focus of the con has been sci-fi, horror, comics, gaming and anime. It's a large con, and they bring in big names in the above genres for autographs, and it's usually easy to budget what a signature will cost (now it's running, on average, about $30.00, with a few a little lower, and a few a little higher, but it's within that price range).

This year however, FanExpo has added a sports package to their con, and they are bringing in some massive names that I would love to meet and get signatures from. Joe Montana, Martin Brodeur, Joe Sakic, Hulk Hogan, Gordie Howe and Bobby Orr are among the names being added to this con, and I'm very excited by the prospect of meeting some of these greats.

However, I have a terrible feeling (based on seeing autographed merchandise for sale on the 'net), that most, if not ALL of these names are going to be well outside of my price range. $30-$50 is one thing, but $200-$500 (which is the cost I have seen for autographed merchandise for sale online).

So I am turning to you good people with the hopes that maybe someone might know (roughly of course, as there is no exact way to know what a person is going to charge until one gets to a con) what some of these athletes will charge for their autograph?

If anyone has any information on the above names and their general cost(s), I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for any and all help!

Paul

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Permalink Reply by Gatsby on March 17, 2013 at 7:14am

prices vary depending on many variables from the celebrity, promoter to show... and typically some shows have advance information on prices or if not an inquiry might garner a responce. Not sure how the canadian comic con works though.

at a wrestlecon event in feb 2013 Hogan had a meet & greet that was $200 for the package that included upto 2 signed photos (1 if you brought one) plus a photo op. Additional ones with the package were $75/per.

Here for example are bobby hull -vs- bill russell prices at a show signing they are doing next month. I consider Hull reasonable and Russell expensive.

Bobby Hull

Flats (Cards, 8x10, 16x20) - $35.00 (No Inscription)
Flats (8x10, 16x20) - $45.00*
Pucks - $45.00*
16x20 / Mini Helmet / Cap - $55.00*
Hockey Stick - $65.00*
Jerseys - $65.00*
Add'l Inscription - $10.00

*Includes 1 Inscription

BILL Russell;

8x10 - $175.00
8x10 Multi* - $200.00
16x20 - $225.00
16x20 Multi* - $275.00
Banner, Statue,
Cap - $200.00
Mini Basketball - $200.00
Basketball - $250.00
Basketball Multi* - $300.00
Chair / Floor - $250.00
Chair / Floor Multi* - $300.00
Jersey - $300.00
Jersey Multi* - $350.00
Artwork - $400.00
Greatest 50 Item - $300.00
Inscription (NO HOF) - $75.00

NO MEDAL OF FREEDOM ITEMS

* "Multi" - Any item that has one or more signatures already on it.

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Permalink Reply by Paul B on March 17, 2013 at 7:28am

Hi Gatsby,

Thanks for your help. I've posted to Hobbystar (the company that puts on FanExpo) and there hasn't been an answer yet. And generally they don't put up the costs beforehand, so that's always a pain.

I do appreciate your advice. If I may impose and ask one more question. Do the costs I see on the internet (Amazon, autograph sale sites, etc) reflect what the costs would be when I meet the celebrity in person? I've never been to a sports con, so I don't know how much of an increase there is between what the celebrity charges and what people turn around and charge later.

Cheers!

Paul