SOR
Unicron
Posts: 2,611 
|
Post by SOR on Jul 2, 2013 1:12:40 GMT -5
Why so low? I'm looking around on eBay at Sports Memorabilia and I figure "Why not check out wrestling" so I immediately write in the biggest wrestling name available and I find tons of Hulk Hogan signatures for under 20 dollars.
For someone on Hogan's level in another sport (Brett Favre for example) there is nothing that isn't a re print for under 30 bucks. A signed photo will set you back around the 60-70 dollar mark.
Mid level former WWE talent you can pick up an autograph for around the 2-5 dollar mark. Mid level NFL or MLB talent are around the 20-30 dollar mark.
Why the significant difference? I understand wrestling is in a slump right now but I am legitimately shocked that a Hogan autograph goes for under 20. I would of thought at least 50 for the lower end items and well over 150-200 for the higher end stuff.
What's the deal?
|
|
|
|
Post by Jedi-El of Tomorrow on Jul 2, 2013 1:49:49 GMT -5
Not as much demand. Hogan isn't on Favre's level, Favre's a much bigger star. Also wrestlers sign a lot more than any other sport. The events they sign at is insane, and with TNA they have the deal with TriStar, and TriStar loads their boxes with autos.
The most valuable wrestling autos are going to be Austin, Rock, Lesnar, Sting (seriously his stuff can get expensive), Stacy Keibler, and rare signers like Steph or the other McMahons.
|
|
BigBadZ
Grimlock
The Rumors Are All True
Posts: 13,923
|
Post by BigBadZ on Jul 2, 2013 2:49:15 GMT -5
Virgil's autograph is worth anything from $20-$85 depending on your haggling skills
|
|
|
|
Post by jason1980s on Jul 2, 2013 8:34:23 GMT -5
Autographs in general aren't worth a great deal. If you go to a show and pay the price you won't get near your money back.
An example is baseball player Gaylord Perry. Now he has signed a lot of autographs so he's not rare but at shows he's about $30. On ebay a ball went for about $15 and it had a Steiner Sports (premier sports autograph company) COA so as a Steiner item it had to cost double or triple what he would normally be at shows.
|
|
|
|
Post by "Playboy" Don Douglas on Jul 2, 2013 8:36:10 GMT -5
Something else to note: it seems like many wrestling fans are more adamant about obtaining their autographs in person. I remember a discussion on the Fanfest forum 2 or 3 years ago in which one of the vendors was discussing how difficult it was becoming to bring merchandise that he knew would sell. He said something to the affect of, "I've found myself rubbing the autographs off of action figures that wouldn't sell so I could sell them to people who wanted to get them autographed."
|
|
BrianZane
Team Rocket
The Finest Fibers All
The Way From France
Host of Wrestling With Wregret
Posts: 972
|
Post by BrianZane on Jul 2, 2013 12:34:31 GMT -5
It might also depend on what's being autographed. In my experience of perusing for action figures on ebay, I've found that autographed figures can command a ton more money (or at least get listed for a ton more). I saw a copy of the old NES game King of the Ring out of the box, autographed by Bret Hart, listed for $99. I saw a relatively recent Roddy Piper figure from the Jakks collection (the Toyfare exclusive with the leather jacket and the panther shirt), autographed and listed at something like $500. Just getting a photo or a piece of paper with an autograph isn't worth much in my opinion, whether it's a wrestler or another kind of celebrity (though if it comes with a cool story attached to it, the value to the owner may be greater).
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2013 12:36:27 GMT -5
I'm not sure but I would guess that wrestlers autograph way more stuff than other athletes as well.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2013 12:51:36 GMT -5
Pro Wrestling is just not as big in the collectible market as the other sports.
|
|
SOR
Unicron
Posts: 2,611
|
Post by SOR on Jul 2, 2013 22:16:31 GMT -5
Something else to note: it seems like many wrestling fans are more adamant about obtaining their autographs in person. I remember a discussion on the Fanfest forum 2 or 3 years ago in which one of the vendors was discussing how difficult it was becoming to bring merchandise that he knew would sell. He said something to the affect of, "I've found myself rubbing the autographs off of action figures that wouldn't sell so I could sell them to people who wanted to get them autographed." I have a story that kind of relates to that. There used to be this wrestling vendor who would go to local indy shows when the shows featured name wrestlers. I think he'd pay a hundred bucks for a table spot and to be honest he'd do pretty well on merchandise )At least a few hundred bucks) Anyway he'd send one of his people to meet the names and get them to autograph action figures. The name would sign like 10 or something and the guy would try to make a 10-15 dollar profit. I remember in October of 2007 he got like 10 from Sabu and then 6 months later I saw him and he still had 7 or 8 signed Sabu action figures and he was trying to sell them for just 5 dollars more then what the figure itself is worth. I like to think he has 2-3 Sabu figures still hanging around that he can't sell. |
|
|
|
Post by Bone Daddy on Jul 2, 2013 22:30:34 GMT -5
Not an autograph, but when I was in Vegas a store down there had Ric Flair's robe. Ric F'n Flair's ROBE. I was talking to the guy there about how I wished I could afford it (it was only $600) and he said "I can make you a deal, I have 3 more in the back." Sad. Also, I can't believe I didn't buy it  |
|
MolotovMocktail
Grimlock
Home of the 5-time, 5-time, 5-time, 5-time 5-time Super Bowl Champion 49ers-and Wrestlemania 31
Posts: 13,968
|
Post by MolotovMocktail on Jul 2, 2013 22:34:05 GMT -5
I'm guessing if autographs are going to be valuable, it's going to be the real old-school ones like Gotch, Hackenschmidt, Strangler Lewis, etc.
|
|
thegame415
Grimlock
Posts: 13,055
Member is Online
|
Post by thegame415 on Jul 3, 2013 2:33:30 GMT -5
A lot of it depends on what's signed. Certain WWF produced promo photos can get a lot more money (especially ones when people were a champion).
|
|
BigBadZ
Grimlock
The Rumors Are All True
Posts: 13,923
|
Post by BigBadZ on Jul 3, 2013 5:10:42 GMT -5
Not an autograph, but when I was in Vegas a store down there had Ric Flair's robe. Ric F'n Flair's ROBE. I was talking to the guy there about how I wished I could afford it (it was only $600) and he said "I can make you a deal, I have 3 more in the back." Sad. Also, I can't believe I didn't buy it Bone Daddy, my friend, I have a special surprise for you. |
|
|
|
Post by Bone Daddy on Jul 3, 2013 8:59:10 GMT -5
Not an autograph, but when I was in Vegas a store down there had Ric Flair's robe. Ric F'n Flair's ROBE. I was talking to the guy there about how I wished I could afford it (it was only $600) and he said "I can make you a deal, I have 3 more in the back." Sad. Also, I can't believe I didn't buy it Bone Daddy, my friend, I have a special surprise for you. Wait, so I could have resold it for 30,000? AAAAAAHHHHHH |
|
|
|
Post by doinkmark on Jul 3, 2013 12:22:13 GMT -5
I think a big part of it is that, at its heart, wrestling is a con game. We all know about the million "Doinks" on the indy scene, for instance. As a result the older wrestling fans want their stuff signed in person to know it's a real autograph. Most get a picture with the wrestler while they're at it - which is another benefit of buying it in person versus from a vendor. Wrestlers also travel around the world with no off-season, so there's likely many more chances to meet them than other athletes/entertainers.
|
|
