I don't buy autographs because I honestly don't see the fun in it. I like writing the letter and sending it off in the mail. It's a personal experience and it's something that the celeb signed to just you. It's all part of the experience in autograph collecting to get them yourself (or atleast that's how I see it). But I do see why people do buy them. I just would never do it.

I would not buy an autograph of someone who is alive or has been alive during my lifetime and I would NEVER buy an autograph on it's own, an autographed book maybe as it is like almost just a sign that it is their work but if I bought an autograph on it's own it would feel like stealing as it wasn't signed for me.

[quote="zanne"]Lastly, it's never impossible to get your most wanted TTM - I have.[/quote]

Unless the person is no longer alive {thumb2} :lol:

Hi! ;)

I have never and never will buy (or sell) any autograph. I just feel that that bought autograph will never be really [i]mine[/i]. :? The celebrity signed it for someone else. :lol: But when I write a letter TTM or meet someone in person, then the celebrity specially signed the autograph for only me - it is [i]my autograph[/i]. :)

Lastly, it's never impossible to get your most wanted TTM - I have. :mrgreen:

Thanks,
zanne

i mostly buy signed playbills from closed shows.

[quote="cazcaz"]Well, whatever, that's just my opinion. :) I think getting autos through the post is much more exciting, but that might be just me. I love the idea that there's a chance (however remote) that they might read my letter.

If I get an autograph TTM from the UK, it's only cost me about £1 so even if it's fake it's not like I've wasted a lot of money. I would be rather miffed if I'd spent a lot of money on an autograph which turned out to be fake, on the other hand.

It's not a case of me being a lazy person who can't be bothered to research autograph stores and find the best dealers.
I think writing to the same person lots of times, especially if they're really long letters (lots of mine are 10 pages or more) demonstrates I'm not a lazy person.
I just don't like buying autos. I prefer writing letters. It's as simple as that, really. {thumb2}[/quote]


I totally concur with you there (in the main anyway) I love opening up my letterbox/mailbox, to find my handwritten brown envolope with a wonderful signed photo/index card/letter or even an autograph, on a ripped piece of paper, I'm really not too fussed if it's authentic, then that is what counts.

But dispite the above, I do have a lot of respect for Andy, and if and when I have enough money, I love going to autograph shows and meeting the stars, having a photo taken with them, and getting an authentic autograph, for one it takes all the guesswork out, as to me it does not matter one jot, how good or how honest any autograph website is there's still that little doubt.

I did have a long look at the Autographworld website yesterday, and some of the starting prices where so low, the alarm bells went off in my head, and some of the autographs, esp the ones from older stars seem like they where got TTM, and yes some of them where. Some autographs they say are the real thing like Rex Harrison, are not. REALITY CHECK Rex Harrison hated signing autographs, and would shout at the top of his voice, if anyone he thought was within 50 feet of him would ask for an autograph, Ceaser Romero only ever signed TTM, Betty Davis nearly impossible to get unless it was secretarial. But I do believe the Olivia de havalland to be authentic, clearly some are, but not all of them.

[quote="Shambler"]I'll [b]never[/b] buy an autograph - I have no trust in people. Also, I enjoy the chase of obtaining it myself, and if I can't get that person in my lifetime, that's alright.[/quote]


i agree with you completely - even with your siggy! although i must say i did buy an authentic emma watson, just because i know how hard she is to get...

Well, whatever, that's just my opinion. :) I think getting autos through the post is much more exciting, but that might be just me. I love the idea that there's a chance (however remote) that they might read my letter.

If I get an autograph TTM from the UK, it's only cost me about £1 so even if it's fake it's not like I've wasted a lot of money. I would be rather miffed if I'd spent a lot of money on an autograph which turned out to be fake, on the other hand.

It's not a case of me being a lazy person who can't be bothered to research autograph stores and find the best dealers.
I think writing to the same person lots of times, especially if they're really long letters (lots of mine are 10 pages or more) demonstrates I'm not a lazy person.
I just don't like buying autos. I prefer writing letters. It's as simple as that, really. {thumb2}

[quote="cazcaz"][quote="Shambler"]I'll [b]never[/b] buy an autograph - I have no trust in people. Also, I enjoy the chase of obtaining it myself, and if I can't get that person in my lifetime, that's alright.[/quote]

I completely agree. Buying autos is expensive[/quote]

No its not. It CAN be - depending on who you're buying - but as a sweeping generalisation, thats completely incorrect.

[quote] they're often fake,[/quote]

Again, no. There may be a lot of fakes out there, but there are also a lot of authentics. If you buy from the right places and/or do your research, then you wont get stung.

Saying "they're often fake" just smacks of laziness (no offence intended). Like I said earlier, if you're willing to put effort in, then the amount of fakes become an irrelevance.

[quote] you'll never get them personalised,[/quote]

If you buy a personalised autograph then it would be personalised. May not have the "emotional attachment" that a TTM auto has, but its still personalised.

And to be fair, a lot of TTM stuff has secretarial personalisations anyway, so - in my opinion - the fact that "buying = no personalisations" doesnt matter.

And I prefer personalised autographs, so its not like I prefer them un-personalised.

[quote] and where's the sense of satisfaction and achievement if you go and buy one from a shop?[/quote]

I cant speak for anyone else, but I collect autographs. I'm happy whenever I get an autograph to add to my collection, whether its TTM/VV/IP/purchased/gift or whatever.

I dont think Ive ever had "a sense of achievement" on the majority of my autographs.

The only time Ive really felt any kind of achievement would be some IP successes, and maybe my Neve Campbell via venue success. But even then, its pushing the limits of what "achievement" actually means.

[quote] It's such a great feeling if you manage to get a rare autograph TTM at last after multiple tries.[/quote]

I agree here, but it doesnt have anything to do with buying or not buying really.

Dont misunderstand me here, Im not having a go or anything even close to that - Im just giving my opinion on your points ;-)

[quote="Shambler"]I'll [b]never[/b] buy an autograph - I have no trust in people. Also, I enjoy the chase of obtaining it myself, and if I can't get that person in my lifetime, that's alright.[/quote]

I completely agree. Buying autos is expensive, they're often fake, you'll never get them personalised, and where's the sense of satisfaction and achievement if you go and buy one from a shop? It's such a great feeling if you manage to get a rare autograph TTM at last after multiple tries.

The only time I bought an autograph (sort of) is when I couldn't attend a book signing for John Barrowman's autobiography but Waterstones kindly reserved me one and sent it in the post. This felt fine though because I'm sure he wrote it and also I would have bought the book anyway, I figured I might as well have a signed copy for the same price. {thumb2}