How do you avoid one of the biggest mistakes a collector can make—accidentally purchasing an inauthentic piece? Whether you are buying sports memorabilia as a personal keepsake, special gift, or an investment, the “true value” can often be questionable.
Do your homework: “Good value” doesn’t necessarily equal “cheap.” We’ve all found pieces of memorabilia that seem too good to be true, and usually that’s because they are. Before purchasing a collectible, research that item on the Internet. If you find a Derek Jeter signed baseball at the current rate of $450.00, but then a Google search brings you to a site where the same baseball is offered for $200.00, that should immediately make you suspicious.
Always know exactly where the item comes from. Every reputable collectibles dealer will be able to produce certificates of authenticity from a top company, such as Authentic Sports Collectibles, Steiner Sports, Mounted Memories or Upper Deck, just to name a few.
Invest in the future, but don’t buy randomly. Always make sure whomever you are buying from has a good reputation. It is important to research rookies before buying their collectibles.
Take care of precious finds. You probably will want to invest in a good storage system, such as a display case, so your valuable items can be enjoyed, but at the same time kept protected from wear and tear. (This will be a topic for a future post.)
You know they are out there, and, unfortunately there are a lot of unscrupulous people trying to take advantage of the novice collector. Don’t be another one who falls victim to their tricks!
