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I mean, really. There must be some way to stop the sale of autographs on eBay. That site is slowly hurting the hobby, and I for one want to do something about it. I hate when stars don't sign anymore "because it will be sold/end up on eBay." Does anybody have any ideas? I'd certainly like to hear them.

I don't think there is a way to stop it completely.

Unfortunately, I think a lot of celebs just use it as an excuse not to sign. Even if it was stopped, I think sadly a lot of them would find another excuse.

Although Ebay has slowed the signing by certain celebrities, it does provide and excellent source of vintage autographs. I buy many vintage signatures from there and will continue to do so.

There is too many forged items of the newer celebrities. Wish there was a way to combat this problem.

I agree with the statement that some celebs use it just as an excuse not to sign because all they have to do is personalize it to you and that makes it almost unsellable on ebay because 90% of the people do not want and won't pay very much for something made out to someone else.

johnnylightning wrote:I agree with the statement that some celebs use it just as an excuse not to sign because all they have to do is personalize it to you and that makes it almost unsellable on ebay because 90% of the people do not want and won't pay very much for something made out to someone else.

yeah but people get real photos signed and clean the personalization off with acetone. But really it is just an excuse since most people wouldnt pay much for something off Ebay without proper documentation (photos or video of signing or coa from reputable dealer like Steiner or UDA). I dont care if a signature looks perfect current celebs sign really sloppy for the most part and are extremely easy to forge.

I sell on Ebay but mostly convention posters that I had to pay for. People do pay a big premium on Ebay for ttm promos that the studios produce to send out. Examples are Terminator tv show, Prison Break, Chuck, Smallville and early Supernatural. It would be extremely hard to get these promos unsigned to be able to forge on in the first place so it makes authentication easy.

I don't think selling on eBay is half the problem that selling fakes on eBay is.

I think if you wanted to stop the selling of autographs on eBay, especially those obtained through the mail, shutting sites like this one down would be part of the solution along with keeping addresses in a lockbox away from the masses.

Now, you don't want that, do you?

I'm just talking about eBay in general. I have read and seen celebs use eBay as a reason why they don't sign anymore, or make snide remarks about eBay when they do sign. They stop signing because "fans" ask them to sign things, and then they turn around and sell it for profit. The celebs feel betrayed.

WildChild96 wrote:I'm just talking about eBay in general. I have read and seen celebs use eBay as a reason why they don't sign anymore, or make snide remarks about eBay when they do sign. They stop signing because "fans" ask them to sign things, and then they turn around and sell it for profit. The celebs feel betrayed.

But in order to stop it, you have to cut off the sources that many dealers use.

It ticks me off anytime that I report an address when I see a celeb's kindness being taken advantage of on eBay, but I've accepted it as part of the hobby. It's a part I don't like much like celebs charging an arm and a leg, but I've accepted it.

On the flip side, there are many celebrities that sell autographs on eBay for a reasonable price.

I guess...but I hate seeing videos on YouTube of dealers throwing all those photos into their faces for them to sign, and they just sell it for money.