Sellers of phony baloney sports memorabilia are tainting the billion-dollar-a-year sports industry. Scammers prey on individuals who love sports and are willing to lay down cash for purchases that reflect their fanaticism; their commitment to a team or favorite player.
Fearing that a rare, autographed item at the “right” price will get away, a frenzied fan often exits an auction with what he believes to be a little piece of history. However, instead of being signed by his favorite sports figure, what he has actually purchased is a replica of the real thing. Without proper authentication, an autograph is basically only worth the material on which it was signed. Fans should not allow their enthusiasm for the game to overshadow their ability to think straight.
Uncontrollable buying impulses feed right into the unscrupulous practices of dishonest vendors. It is difficult for the average fan to determine the difference between authentic and corrupt vendors and the paraphernalia they sell. But it is possible.
In a 2010 Forbes.com article entitled, “The Fragility of the Sports Memorabilia Industry,” writer Wayne G. McDonnell Jr. called Steiner Sports “one of the safest programs in the sports memorabilia industry.” [1] Steiner Sports leads the way in sports memorabilia marketing and authentication and is the top producer of authentic, hand-signed collectibles.
What this means to collectors is that the Steiner line of memorabilia is guaranteed to be authentic. The company’s motto (“the Steiner seal makes it real”) is key for sports enthusiasts and collectors.
Tips for Finding Real Sports Memorabilia
Accumulating sports memorabilia is an expensive hobby- so expensive that collectors should take great precaution to protect their investment. The following suggestions will help you to avoid memorabilia counterfeiters:
- Educate yourself on the signing habits of your favorite athletes. Some athletes will only sign autographs at organized events. Former New York Yankee Derek Jeter; famed football coach Lou Holtz; and Hockey’s Henrik Lundqvist are a few of Steiner Sports exclusive athletes. If you purchase an autographed ball from a vendor who indicates that he personally secured the signature, aside from an organized event, then you should assume the signature is a fake.
- Avoid impulse purchases. An effective way to keep from buying sports memorabilia on impulse is to place a limit on how much you will spend. Buying a piece on impulse increases the chances of purchasing a “must have“ item that hasn’t been authenticated.
- Don’t be conned into purchasing sports memorabilia that is being sold at a discounted price well below the marketed value. If Michael Jordan’s jersey is being sold for less than you ever imagined possible, then you are probably in the presence of a con man. It is too good to be true, so skip it.
- Purchase memorabilia from authorized dealers (like Steiner Sports) who stand behind their products and provide an authenticity guarantee. Major League Baseball and the National Football League have very strict authentication guidelines. Purchasing from either is a safe bet.
Attend events where athletes make personal appearances. Obviously if you are present when your sports memorabilia is signed, then you are assured of its authenticity.
- Do not purchase sports memorabilia from vendors that refuse to reveal information about their company. Assume that the lack of evidence reveals deception. A company refusing to provide background information; such as telephone, mailing address, and email address; might be hiding something.
- It may seem contradictory, but in rare cases, an authenticity guarantee is not enough proof that your memorabilia is real. Be particularly careful in the instance of second party dealers. The certificate of authenticity should bear the signature of both dealers. If the original dealer signs the certificate and the second dealer cannot authenticate, then contact the first dealer before agreeing to purchase the memorabilia.
- Determine if dealers use witnesses to authenticate memorabilia. A witness to the process and the athlete that signed the product are both proof of authentication.
- Purchase from dealers who offer a signed affidavit as proof of authentication. The affidavit will include the signature of the athlete as well as that of a company representative. The document should include a definition of the item that was signed by the athlete and the date and time that the item was signed. Additionally, the affidavit should be notarized.
- Study the market. Athletes may sign particular items over others. For instance, your favorite baseball player may primarily sign baseballs rather than jerseys or caps. Knowing this will help you to avoid purchasing forgeries. Also, keep in mind that back in the old days, sporting goods companies manufactured equipment that bore a copy of an athlete’s signature. It wasn’t intended as an authenticated item. Beware of crooked dealers who pass them off as autographed sports memorabilia.
Do Your Due Diligence and Don’t Get Conned
Sources in a 2000 Federal Bureau of Investigation sting reported that the majority of vintage memorabilia is made up of forgeries.[2] In the 15 years since, progress has been made in cleaning up the industry. However, forgeries are still out there, as proven by a sting where millions of dollars in fake memorabilia was seized prior to the 2015 Super Bowl.[3]
Collectors should also defend the industry by reporting unscrupulous dealers. In the end, collectors should just be proactive in protecting themselves against the illegal practices of crooked dealers who are bilking consumers.
[2] http://www.fbi.gov/sandiego/about-us/history/operation-bullpen


over the counter antibiotics: antibiotics cheap – cheap antibiotics
https://stromectol.reviews/# stromectol reviews
antibiotics cheap: over the counter antibiotics – over the counter antibiotics
https://antibiotics.cheap/# antibiotics cheap
https://antibiotics.cheap/# antibiotics cheap
antibiotics cheap: antibiotics cheap – over the counter antibiotics
stromectol coronavirus [url=https://stromectol.reviews/#]stromectol cream[/url] stromectol reviews
https://stromectol.reviews/# cost of ivermectin medicine
ivermectin lice oral: stromectol price us – ivermectin 2%
weight loss drug semaglutide [url=https://semaglutide.life/#]semaglutide life[/url] rybelsus buy
does semaglutide make you depressed: semaglutide life – legal online pharmacies in the us
https://antibiotics.cheap/# uti antibiotics online
how to get rybelsus: does insurance cover rybelsus – online pharmacy
stromectol reviews: stromectol otc – ivermectin 6
https://semaglutide.life/# does semaglutide expire after 28 days
https://stromectol.reviews/# stromectol reviews
п»їorder stromectol online: ivermectin topical – stromectol reviews
buy zithromax antibiotic: over the counter antibiotics – buy antibiotics online
rybelsus vs jardiance: semaglutide life – п»їinternational drug mart
https://semaglutide.life/# rybelsus for diabetes side effects
stromectol ivermectin buy: stromectol reviews – stromectol coronavirus
https://stromectol.reviews/# ivermectin 200mg
why am i not losing weight on semaglutide [url=https://semaglutide.life/#]semaglutide life[/url] rybelsus medication
ivermectin 8 mg: stromectol reviews – stromectol reviews
rybelsus vs ozempic vs mounjaro: semaglutide life – no prescription pharmacy paypal
stromectol tablet 3 mg: stromectol tablets uk – buy stromectol uk
https://antibiotics.cheap/# over the counter antibiotics
stromectol reviews: ivermectin tablets – stromectol online canada
https://semaglutide.life/# max dose of rybelsus
stromectol reviews: stromectol reviews – ivermectin 3mg
https://antibiotics.cheap/# antibiotics cheap
stromectol reviews: stromectol for humans – ivermectin nz
https://semaglutide.life/# how to take rybelsus and levothyroxine
https://semaglutide.life/# oral semaglutide rybelsus
when is the best time to take semaglutide: semaglutide life – online pharmacy without scripts
semaglutide shelf life unopened: trulicity vs rybelsus – overseas online pharmacy
rybelsus weight loss in non diabetic patients: semaglutide life – best mail order pharmacy
https://semaglutide.life/# semaglutide injection site reaction
https://antibiotics.cheap/# uti antibiotics online
stromectol price us: stromectol reviews – stromectol reviews
over the counter antibiotics [url=https://antibiotics.cheap/#]over the counter antibiotics[/url] over the counter antibiotics
https://antibiotics.cheap/# over the counter antibiotics
https://stromectol.reviews/# stromectol reviews
https://stromectol.reviews/# price of ivermectin
over the counter antibiotics: antibiotics cheap – antibiotics cheap
https://antibiotics.cheap/# uti antibiotics online
https://stromectol.reviews/# stromectol ireland
why is rybelsus so expensive: semaglutide life – online pharmacy without scripts
stromectol reviews: stromectol otc – stromectol reviews
how long does semaglutide last in fridge [url=https://semaglutide.life/#]semaglutide life[/url] how to inject compounded semaglutide