ebay has ruined the fun of autographs

[U2Kitten]

I don't just mean that if you can buy one it takes the fun out of it. Personally I feel if the person didn't sign it just for you it means nothing. But also, I have heard stories that money hungry people who aren't really fans of a star or band will rush the person to get autographs to sell on ebay, often pushing away real fans who would have cherished them. And last, you cannot always be assured of the authenticity, even with a certificate. Who makes those things anyway?

 

[marik]

true to that. i could care less about an autograph that i didn't personally get. it means nothing to me. very a real personally given autograph doesn't mean as much to me as when i was a kid. the face to face meeting, and perhaps a handshake are all i would really be interested in. and a picture as a reminder. so some reasonan autograph isn't as strong of a reminder for me.

 

[ylimeU2]

I feel the same way. The very few autographs I have would mean nothing to me if I hadn't gotten them myself. And it's like you said, there is nothing to say whether or not you are getting the "real deal" just because someone has a certificate that says so. I mean, where do the certificates come from? When someone gets Bono's autograph, are they like "Hey, Bono! Would you mind signing this to, as proof you signed my CD?"

 

[celia]

yep I dont know why people pay more for somthing because its signed...

It just wouldn't mean anything to me unless I got it signed for me.

 

[starsgoblue]

I have bought a photograph that I plan (no, make that must) on getting signed by B-man this year from Ebay. I wouldn't pay for an autographed photo though....would be meaningless to me, I would want to look at a signed photo and remember what it was like to have met one of the most amazing people in the world.

 

[WinnieThePoo]

i wouldn't mind to buy a guitar or an LP signed by Pink Floyd or lennon

 

[starsgoblue]

i wouldn't mind to buy a guitar or an LP signed by Pink Floyd or lennon

Well I can see some logic in that...since it is practically impossible to get that on your own. Well practically impossible in PF's case, definetley impossible on Lennon's.

 

[one4u2]

I don't just mean that if you can buy one it takes the fun out of it. Personally I feel if the person didn't sign it just for you it means nothing. But also, I have heard stories that money hungry people who aren't really fans of a star or band will rush the person to get autographs to sell on ebay, often pushing away real fans who would have cherished them. And last, you cannot always be assured of the authenticity, even with a certificate. Who makes those things anyway?

I agree 100% What's the point unless you obtained it yourself??

 

[bayernfc]

I saw a Poster of Joe Strummer's "Streetcore" on ebay once...claimed to be signed by him. Now that album was released almost a yr after his passing. I just found it WRONG on soooo many levels....some people just have no shame.

 

[Liesje]

Once I was looking at a bunch of Russell Crowe prints also claimed to be signed by him. First of all, three of the autographs looked completely different. Second, Crowe's said himself he thinks autographs are stupid and doesn't usually sign.

I bought a Bono pic on eBay, but it wasn't supposed to be signed or anything. I don't really much care for signatures anyway; I'd much rather say hello and shake the person's hand than thrust a pen and paper in his/her face. I think these days autographs are kinda dumb. I always thought an autograph was more for an artist to sign his/her work. So I guess it would make sense for Bono to sign an album, but I always laugh when I see people pulling out Kleenex, money, sticky notes, or ANYTHING for someone to quick sign.

 

[gareth brown]

And last, you cannot always be assured of the authenticity, even with a certificate. Who makes those things anyway?

Good point, is there someone standing there waiting to hand someone a certificate when they've just had their record signed?? I always see these C.O.As on eBay and it really doesn't swing my decision...I also prefer something I actually asked to be signed...I've seen The Polysics twice this year and they all signed a poster and CD for me on both occasions and even if they do become spectacularly huge over here in the UK, I would probably never sell my signed things as they're personal items for me and I just don't see the point in getting someone's autograph just so you can sell it, what's the point?

 

[RademR]

Not a big fan of autographs myself at all, but I was running through u2 memorabilia on eBay one night and came across an awesome 8X10 picture of Edge playing guitar during an Elevation concert, great pic. And it was signed by him. It was going for $10, so I bought it. I've seen Edge's auto all over and it looked identical so Im thinking its real, but if its not, $10?? No big deal, and it looks really good in a nice frame on my wall now. I bought it cause I dont think I'll ever meet u2 unless its a total coincedence. I'm a fanatic for their music, and although meeting them would be great, it's not that important to me. Unless I could hang out with that cool mofo Adam.

 

[U2Kitten]

I don't buy pictures on ebay. I have no real place to keep them and they only get lost and ruined. Almost all of the cool U2 stuff I collected in the 80's disappeared over the years having them on the computer is safer and more handy for me (unless the computer breaks which my old one did)

 

[isabelle_guns]

I 100% agree with you U2 kitten. I think a lot of people feel the same way 'cause I never see those autographs get high bids. A signature is just that, a signature unless the person was right in front of you and did it is it worth while for me. A COA means nothing.

 

[isabelle_guns]

Well I can see some logic in that...since it is practically impossible to get that on your own. Well practically impossible in PF's case, definetley impossible on Lennon's.

I agree signatures from dead people are worth it but I would still be suspecious.

 

[isabelle_guns]

I saw a Poster of Joe Strummer's "Streetcore" on ebay once...claimed to be signed by him. Now that album was released almost a yr after his passing. I just found it WRONG on soooo many levels....some people just have no shame.

You should've reported it to fruad, that's what I do.

 

[isabelle_guns]

Once I was looking at a bunch of Russell Crowe prints also claimed to be signed by him. First of all, three of the autographs looked completely different. Second, Crowe's said himself he thinks autographs are stupid and doesn't usually sign.

I bought a Bono pic on eBay, but it wasn't supposed to be signed or anything. I don't really much care for signatures anyway; I'd much rather say hello and shake the person's hand than thrust a pen and paper in his/her face. I think these days autographs are kinda dumb. I always thought an autograph was more for an artist to sign his/her work. So I guess it would make sense for Bono to sign an album, but I always laugh when I see people pulling out Kleenex, money, sticky notes, or ANYTHING for someone to quick sign.

I agree, I would rather talk to the celebrity myself. When I met David Bowie people thought that I was lying 'cause I didn't have an autograph for proof. In truth, I respected the man too much to do the typical pen shoving and most stars appreciate that.

 

[isabelle_guns]

Not a big fan of autographs myself at all, but I was running through u2 memorabilia on eBay one night and came across an awesome 8X10 picture of Edge playing guitar during an Elevation concert, great pic. And it was signed by him. It was going for $10, so I bought it. I've seen Edge's auto all over and it looked identical so Im thinking its real, but if its not, $10?? No big deal, and it looks really good in a nice frame on my wall now. I bought it cause I dont think I'll ever meet u2 unless its a total coincedence. I'm a fanatic for their music, and although meeting them would be great, it's not that important to me. Unless I could hang out with that cool mofo Adam.

$10 ain't bad...no sking off your back

 

[Popmartijn]

I don't think this has anything to do with eBay or the Internet. Even before eBay there was this offering of autographed photos/items. Then, it was through advertisements in magazines, now it is through eBay. What is the difference?



Marty

 

[U2Kitten]

I don't think this has anything to do with eBay or the Internet. Even before eBay there was this offering of autographed photos/items. Then, it was through advertisements in magazines, now it is through eBay. What is the difference?



Marty

Because it's much worse now with all the activity there, and as I said, there are people out there pushing real fans who want an autograph out of the way to get one they don't even want just to sell it on ebay. It's become a racket.

Isabelle, good to hear they are not being bid on much! Hopefully the fad will fade away.

 

[isabelle_guns]

Isabelle, good to hear they are not being bid on much! Hopefully the fad will fade away.

people are smart and it is a laugh how much these autographs go for.

 

[arw]

I'm certainly no expert on U2's signature's and I don't personally have anything with their autograph's but I saw this on Ebay last year and knew that it had to be fake....take a look at Edge's signature. "D" Edge. This person also had tons of other autographs for sale. One of them was Gene Simmons. Back in the day Kiss was my band and I have tons of stuff that I personally had autographed by Gene when I met him. The signatures I saw on Ebay were not even close to the stuff I have.

 

[Queen Bee]

There's a kiosk at a local mall here that sells autographed pictures of celebrities ranging from $40 to $400. It's ridiculous.