Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rich on August 1, 2012 at 4:11am

DB, I'm definitely still going, though I have to confess that this year's lineup is a bit of a disappointment, as there have been eleven cancellations (!!!), most of them in the past few weeks.  Granted they weren't people I was looking forward to seeing, but the lineup was already less interesting than in years past.  

Genuine COA has posted here and there on the Wizard World's facebook page.  From what I understand, I guess they basically have a team of "witnesses" on site who wait in line with you until you get your autograph.  After getting it, they affix the hologram, put the signing details in their system and issue the COA with complete signing details.  Not a bad idea, considering that one of the chief complaints I heard last year was that people were dropping tons of cash on autos and walking away with no COAs and no ability to take proof photos for some of the higher profile guests.  Maybe I'm a bit off here, but that's how I think it works.

That being said, for $25, you can get another autograph instead.  The only person I was considering trying this out with was Stan Lee.  Otherwise, the $25 fee makes Shatner and Bakula a full $100 each and essentially doubles the cost of just about any other auto.  Ugh.

Should be an interesting year - they're running the Flashback Horror con at the exact same time right across the street. 

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Permalink Reply by DB on August 1, 2012 at 4:30am

U mean u wouldn't pony up an extra $25 for CM Punk & Vandervoort, lol!  At a show last year I had a full poster signed by the Boondock Saints and I'd be hard pressed to have added the $25.00.  Then again they were all at the same table so is it $25 or $75.   But not only do you get a cert but also a buddy in line to chat with!

Does seem it thinned out... I thought Stewart Patrick was going to be there but didn't take a snapshot.  Do they have a cancellation tab somewhere on the site?   I was looking for their whose coming (where it's supposedly listed) but don't seem to easily locate it.   One of the reasons I wait till the 11th hour to enroll as it always seem they have these attractions they announce then cancellations.  Then of course, when you get there it always seems there is an additional list.

Can you imagine people paying $800 for a VIP Tkt of The Captains and it's only 3 of them!

Description

Star Trek Captains VIP’s get:
• Chicago Comic Con 4-Day Weekend Ticket
• Exclusive Star Trek Captains VIP Badge
• Star Trek Captains 14" x 20" Lithograph
• (1) Signature Ticket From each appearing Captain (William Shatner, Scott Bakula & Avery Brooks)
• (1) Photo Op with the 3 Captains (FRIDAY ONLY)
• VIP’s get onto the show floor FIRST before regular attendees
• Guaranteed seating at the Star Trek Captains panel
• VIP Speedpass for Autographs & Photo Ops for Star Trek Captains only
• Photo Op and Autograph Tickets will be provided at VIP registration. Photo Op ticket will be collected at the Photo Ops booth for redemption. Autograph ticket will be collected at the Celebrity booth

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Permalink Reply by Rich on August 1, 2012 at 6:07am

Stewart was there last year, but I don't think he was ever officially aboard for this year's Chicago show.  Kate Mulgrew cancelled.  I think the big Vegas Star Trek Con is the same weekend, which is why booking Star Trek guests for Chicago can be a bit complex (Jeri Ryan also cancelled).

If you look at the column on the right hand side, you'll see the cancellations as you scroll down:

Due to her pregnancy, Melissa Joan Hart cannot attend.
Due to a play, Denis O’Hare cannot attend.
Due to a Directing job, Jason Priestley cannot attend.
Due to filming, Robert Knepper cannot attend.
Due to filming, Hayden Panettiere cannot attend.
Due to filming, Nina Dobrev cannot attend.
Due to illness, Frank Vincent cannot attend.
Due to deadlines, J. Scott Campbell cannot attend.
Kate Mulgrew will no longer be attending.
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino will no longer be attending.

Honestly, I'm starting to get more excited about Flashback at the Crown Plaza across the street.  It's on a smaller scale for sure, but all the prices are lower, and there are plenty of neat guests (and only one cancellation thus far).  Three Jasons and two Michael Myers, along with John Carpenter and the Halloween babysitters. 

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on August 1, 2012 at 5:52am

GAI did something similar to this at a sports memorabilia show in Long Island that I attended quite a few years ago.  There was a line to the autograph booths.  I was there to get Monte Irvin’s signature.  After you were finished GAI were set up at the end of the tables.  There was a shorter line at their booth where they simply placed a sticker on your photo and handed you a corresponding COA.  They weren’t charging a fee.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on August 1, 2012 at 6:01am

PSA did something like that at a MM show I went to last year.  They charged $8 to slap their sticker on your item, and no one witnessed anything.  Plenty of opportunity to pull a fast one on them if you really wanted to.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on August 1, 2012 at 6:51am

Yeah, that's what I've gathered.  Nice option, as long as they stick with pure "witnessing" and avoid dabbling in non-witnessed authentication.  I expect them to be pretty tied up with the Stan Lee and, maybe to a lesser extent, Quantum Leap and Shatner signings next week.  Otherwise, many of the guests are cool with you snapping a quick pic at will.  Proof photos are generally quite easy.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on August 1, 2012 at 7:16am

Genuine COA actually mentioned that Hayden Panettiere (who only charges $30 per auto) was quite nice to both guests and Genuine COA reps alike.  I doubt a rep was at her table all day, though I can see that being the case for Stan Lee, Shatner, Tom Felton and Scott Bakula, people certain to get heavy traffic and long lines (especially on what is sure to be another chaotic Saturday).  I'm guessing they have a combination of stationary reps (for the big names) and mobile reps (for the smaller ones).  Just speculation.  I'll let you know what I see next week.

I checked their site again, and, as I kinda expected, the Stan Lee COA is the top seller.

By the way, DB, there are discounts if you get multiple signatures on an item - a Boondock Saints poster signed by all three would be $35 for the COA.

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Permalink Reply by James Lafaman on August 1, 2012 at 7:51am

Here's a random thought. Why do I need a COA in the first place for an item that was just signed for me in person? It's ridiculous that I would pay hard earned money to someone to authenticate what I already know is authentic. We are all just lemmings, who have been told that the only way we can believe something is real is to have someone else who didn't see it get signed tell us that what we did in fact see signed is real. Huh? Great work if you can get it.  

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Permalink Reply by Rich on August 1, 2012 at 7:56am

It's purely about reselling it down the road.  

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on August 1, 2012 at 8:03am

That isn't as random a thought as you may believe.  I am in total agreement as are many collectors who have no interest in ever selling their collections.  I'll pass it down and let my kids worry about authenticating all of my in-person signatures.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on August 1, 2012 at 8:06am

I'm among them.  The more I've thought about it, the more I'm inclined to think I wouldn't be selling the Lee autos any time soon, even if I got more than one.  Perhaps the target is actually more dealers than casual collectors.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on August 1, 2012 at 11:55am

It makes a certain degree of sense in some instances.  I talked to a couple at last years show who'd just completed some nice prints of the Trek captains and ST: Next Generation cast.  While they were big fans and collected for fun, not really profit, they did feel a tad bit frustrated that they didn't have a COA to show for it in the event that they did ever want to part with anything.  They did, after all, pay quite a bit for the signatures.

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