Fall Expo 2013 - Autpgraph Signers

[Drewk86a]

(I do understand where the prices come from. You're not paying Mario $300 to sign your jersey. You're paying AJ's $300 for access to Mario..... that you would likely never be able to get if it were not for them paying him (likely 5 figures) to be there. When you consider that fact, the price really isn't all that outlandish - but I'm glad I was able to get an IP auto from him @ a Pens game free of charge)

Good point...They are selling a set number of tickets for each player. So, the per person price is Player's fee divided by number of tickets, then add in AJ's profit margin.

[cojosports]

I didn't see Guy Lafleur on AJ's website? Who's he signing for?

2013 FALL EXPO	Regular Item	Medium Item	Premium Item	Inscription Fee	Professional Photo Op
Bobby Hull	$45	$60	$80	XXXX	XXXX
Tiger Williams	$20 Any item
Angela James	$20 Any item
Mario Lemieux	$180	$240	$300	$70	$80
Geraldine Heaney	$20 Any item
Mike Modano	$50	$60	XXXX	$10	$40
Borje Salminq	$25 Any item or Photo Op
Vladislav Tretiak	$30	XXXX	$50	$10	XXXX
Jacques Laperriere	$25	XXXX	$35	XXXX	XXXX
Lanny McDonald	$35	XXXX	$60	XXXX	XXXX
Guy Lafleur	$20 Any item (no loose numbers)

[Phil44]

Hi guys,

I need a Tiger Williams auto on a card. Any one who's going to the Expo on Friday between 6 and 7 and can help ?

I can give 5$ + a couple of signed card for the service.

Thanks

Phil

[30ranfordfan]

I will certainly appologize if I came off with a holier than thou type attitude. Not my intent. Put me right at the top of the list, when it comes to people agreeing with the idea that people should collect what they like, and so long as they are happy with it (feel they are getting good value / enjoyment for their hobby (or whatever) dollars) then I say its a good thing.

My point is this: If I'm going to buy something that's presigned.... authentication, I totally understand the requirment for it. I question the whole "COA" thing that many sellers will send out with their signed cards (IMO - a PSA / DNA..... Frozen Pond, AJ's, etc - those are worth something. Random guy who has been collecting autographs for 10 years, and includes a COA with the cards he's now getting rid of, not so much). It's why the value of "signed cards" tanked once in-pack autographs became a thing. A 1990-91 Mario Lemiuex OPC Premier, signed, would have been worth a lot in 1992. Now?? Not much at all.

The flip side to that, is autographs I've obtained in person - much more meaningful to me than ones I've pulled from packs / purchased. They have no certification (I can think of maybe one of them where I could have hypotheticall got some kind of meaningful COA with it anyway) but I don't see the big deal. I know they're real, and that's enough for me.

You do raise a very good point though, and it's one I didn't consider, and that's a longer term value - and the eventual need (want) to sell. Be that hardship, been passed down to kids that have no interest, losing interest in the hobby yourself, or whatever the case may be - something I didn't consider. I mentioned in an earlier post that I've been lucky enough to meet Mario Lemiuex before. He signed a puck for me, that I bought a Pens gift shop, cost me about $10. There is no investment there (I don't mean that in the sense of an asset that will grown in value, but rather how much $$$ was put into owning something). If you're shelling out $180+ to get someone to sign something.... that's quite a bit different. There is an investment there, and taking a small step to protect it does come across as a good idea.

You don't have to be flipping an item to want authentication. Yes, the trill of meeting the player and getting his auto/picture is what you're paying for, but I like the idea of having an insurance on something I payed so much to have, in case I do need to sell my cards because of a hard ship or something. Also when I die, I would rather my kids not get fleeced on selling my collection when the time comes. Plus I like for my collection to have intrinsic value, how much is a raw IP gretzky rookie worth vs a slabbed authenticated?

I love the attitude here. If you don't understand the point, why would you assume it's for a flip? Yes there are people out there that make money off autos and stuff, that doesn't change the fact that some actual collectors like having things in their collections that are authenticated. If you don't want that, then that's fine, but don't have a holy than thou attitude towards people that do. Some collectors don't want graded cards either, doesn't change the fact that there's a lot that do.

[30ranfordfan]

Another dealer has Lafleur coming on the Sunday. Will be set up at their booth (I think).

I didn't see Guy Lafleur on AJ's website? Who's he signing for?

[Drewk86a]

Another dealer has Lafleur coming on the Sunday. Will be set up at their booth (I think).

The info I received has Guy Lafleur listed as an "Expo Customer Appreciation Guest." No more info than that