Getting IP Autos for resale

[RGM81]

If a player told me he does not want to sign because of possibly someone selling it...then I'd tell him his auto is worth $2 anyway...so no worries..

[Drewk86a]

If a player told me he does not want to sign because of possibly someone selling it...then I'd tell him his auto is worth $2 anyway...so no worries..

So, in your world, if a player who signs for fans, but not for profit-seekers, your response is to insult the player?

Is there ever any sunlight in your world?

[mooneyes]

$2.75 actually...its rough out there, :/

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MARTIN-ST-LOUIS-2009-10-UPPER-DECK-SP-AUTHENTIC-HOCKEY-AUTO-CARD-/371395235005?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid =p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=Z92cuvid2cpaSbAg5j%252 FVP%252FzY8WU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

[comfortably9numb]

If a player told me he does not want to sign because of possibly someone selling it...then I'd tell him his auto is worth $2 anyway...so no worries..

If all you care about is the re-sale value, aren't you the problem we are talking about here? Generally people want an autograph of someone they admire or respect within a given arena, regardless of value. Unless I misunderstood your post...

Anyway,

Awesome story, I remember when I volunteered at an LPGA event and one guy had a binder, yes, a binder, FULL of 8x10's. He was getting 5-10 from each golfer. It was sickening. Most signed all of them too. I get it if you want a couple of your all-time favorite athlete, but people that get auto's just to sell them make things brutal for everyone else.

[BGH]

I started IP autos late. It was roughly a week or two before my city lost its last team. At first, I just carried a card or two for anyone I had. Then I got burnt on several players both current and retired who would not sign certain cards, teams, or even photos on the card front. So I started noticing what other folks were doing. I now carry binders with up to 8 cards on a page. That way if a player does not sign certain things I still have a shot. Some sign 1 or 2, some signmore, some even sign all 8. Regardless of how many they sign I appreciate it and say thanks. The binders make it easy to flip to people quickly and travel well without risking damage. My point is that binders don't make autograph peddlers...nor do blue markers.

That said, I think some are correct, some of these people spoil it for everyone. If someone doesn't sign, no problem. I just say thanks anyway. I have seen people not only taunt players but actually yell at them and even call them wife-beaters when the wouldn't sign...in front of 20 or more people. I have also seen people ask players to sign a dozen stick blades...and even 20 pictures. Some players will sign them. I saw HOFer Bill Barber not only do this at a draft, but when the guy walked up, he asked, "How many do you have for me this time?" The guy said, "Not many." It was 20 8x10s. Luckily, he still was in a signing mood by the time I got to him. When asked why he signed everything put in front of him, Iginla once said to a teammate as they walked away that it made each one worth that much less...except to the people who really wanted them. I get that. Over some seasons, I ended up with some extras. Some I gave away. Some I traded to other IP hounds I have met along the way.

I am now one of those "older" autograph seekers commonly mentioned. I am still the collector gassed to get them in person. I would say the bulk of the stuff I care about has little market value. I don't collect for resale. That said. I may at times fit the obsessive category. But then, even many of you who buy company-released autographs/cards/etc could probably fit the same description. I say all of this because while it is easy to communicate in generalizations it can sometimes lead to assumptions about who people are, or what their motivations might be. Years ago Robert Esche, who I had never seen in person before, told me he wouldn't sign for me because he was tired of signing for me all the time. He did this loudly and in front of people. I told him each time he said this that I'd never seen him in my life. Later I was approached by someone who said they had season tix to his team's games and hit him up all the time and that he's never seen him like that. BTW, he did sign for everyone else who asked. C'est la vie! Everyone has a bad day. Some of the statements above won't make the sort-term or the long-term better. I would hate to see the great autograph situation in hockey become like that in baseball...but I can almost see why it happens.

[geschrocks33]

First of all, I'm literally laughing at my desk at work at this LOL












This story is brilliant and I love what the player did.

I do a lot of attempting to get IP Autos, however I NEVER sell them. Have I given some away? Yep, but I'm not a seller. I like my stack of pictures, or displaying pucks everywhere to look at. All for my collection, and I've met some cool people in person.

I'll share a few stories:

In relation to the OP, with personalization, about 2 years ago I got word the Joe Sakic was in town coaching his sons team. Now I'm a huge Avs fan, so after about 2 hours of detective work to figure out what team he was coaching, and where/what time etc, I finally figured it out, printed off 2 pictures, and grabbed my 2001 Stanley Cup Champions Puck I had, threw on an Avs jersey, and went to the arena where we was coaching. There were maybe 15 people in the entire place? Watched the game, waited for him to emerge from the locker room, and he asked why 2 pictures? I said 1 for me, 1 for my friend, he agreed but said he would personalize them both, which I really don't mind as they are for myself...so signed the 2 pictures, and the puck, as he clearly could recognize I was a fan. Very cool dude

2 Bad Stories:

Patrick Roy - He only signs 1 thing, no acceptions apparently. Some guy tried to get smart with him and try and swoop in for a 2nd one, Roy chuckled, said nice try, I said 1 thing per person and walked off. Some people always gotta get greedy.

Ryan Miller - This is my absolute favorite of them all that I've witnessed IP

I was at Sabres training camp a few years back, before they moved it to First Niagara Center it was at a local rink, where the players basically had to park where us fans park, so it made it hard for them to avoid us. One guy had been trying to get him to sign a specific picture for quite some time and Miller kept refusing. The picture was an overhead shot of him after he had been scored on in overtime in the Olympics, and Crosby had already signed it. Miller finally signed it and told the guy "This is the last (insert expletive for freaking) thing I'm ever signing for you"
Not sure why you would ever ask a player to sign a picture like that, but was funny to see Miller go off on the guy.


The autograph hounds that sell ruin it for everyone really. I've had my fair share of bad experiences with them, and have been called a "silly little kid" by them, last I checked being 23 doesn't make me a little kid, but ok. Some people suck

[Sharky94]

Have I given some away? Yep,

I give away cards for Halloween, instead of candy. The kids like it because its different than everything else they get it, and the parents love it because it isn't candy. About every fourth or fifth pack, I stick in a Caps auto that I've gotten in person. So they think they are just getting some cards, and all of a sudden, there's an auto of somebody they know! If it creates one or two future collectors, then my mission is accomplished...

[BGH]

The Ryan Miller story is funny and sad. Did he ever tell him why he wouldn't sign it prior to getting mad? I hate to say it, but as a fan and collector of Wade Flaherty, and knowing Wayne Gretzky's last NHL goal was scored on him, I would kill for a puck signed by them both. My dad collects Gretzky...and we'd both gush over it.

I have a close friend who collects with similar interests but from his home city with his main focus on one particular player. He's been collecting since he was a kid and followed this player through minors, into the WHA, NHL, and several team front offices. He is known to this player and said player loves seeing all the stuff he has collected...much of which he never knew existed. We see him from time to time at games, drafts, etc. He will joke and ask, "What do you have this time?" My friend used to hit him years ago with a couple of things here and there...and admittedly, if we were with him, we'd do a couple for him. I remeber years ago he asked, "How much of these oddballs do you have?" Bad question in front if his wife...who proceeded to tell him. He laughed and said to bring it all next time he was in town. His wife said it wasn't possible. He said to bring whatever he could carry each time. Fast forward... I have witnessed him sign more than 100 items several times, then spend a couple of hours gabbing. He's also given him his draft badges, sticks, etc. He's even sent them anniversary gifts for the collection. Now I covet his collection!!! It's pretty amazing...and you can't beat someone who is THAT generous with his time. Hockey is a great sport.

[EliasDevil]

If I got scored on in OT to lose a gold medal I would absolutely not sign anything pertaining to that moment. I'm actually kinda surprised Ryan caved in there

[BGH]

I am not sure what Miller is like these days, but when he was still in the AHL I saw him regularly and he was very generous...even after particularly disheartening games. Not that they compared with losing gold but I wanted to clarify that he was always generous with fans.