How to Save Money on Sports Memorabilia
Sports fans are always searching for new memorabilia to add to their collection. Jerseys, autographs and other such items aren't necessarily difficult to find. They can be very expensive, though. Spending a few hundred dollars on an autographed football helmet may not be something that interests you. Luckily, you can purchase these collectibles without emptying your checking account. By knowing where, when and how to shop, you can save money on all kinds of sports memorabilia.
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Instructions
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Know how much the memorabilia is actually worth. The easiest way to do this is to purchase a pricing guide, such as Beckett (see Resources). These magazines list cards, autographs and other items.
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Become friendly with the owner of a local card and collectibles store owner. Once you have a good relationship with one of these individuals, he will notify you of any deals they come across. The owner may even give you discounts on some of the memorabilia he is selling.
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Shop for memorabilia on eBay. Many times, users will post memorabilia on the website at a much lower price than the item is actually worth. Track these pieces and bid on any of them which interest you. This is a trick that many collectors use to save money on their memorabilia.
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Log onto the Cheap Seats Sports Cards website (see Resources). This company sells discount memorabilia from all major sports including NASCAR, Olympic sports and even professional wrestling. To shop, utilize the links to the left of the screen underneath the “Sport” heading. Cheap Seats even has its own eBay store, making online shopping even easier.
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Attend local sports memorabilia conventions. Many collectors will bring items to these conventions simply to get rid of cards, jerseys and other memorabilia they no longer wish to have. You can save up to 50 percent by purchasing items at a convention.
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Tips & Warnings
Shop at the right time. Searching for an autograph of a player who just broke a record, for example, isn't smart as the price for that autograph will be higher at that time. Be patient and wait for prices to decrease.
Compare shopping for sports memorabilia to car shopping. There should be some back and forth negotiating between you and the seller. By doing this, you can lower the price on the item you're hoping to purchase.
Always be careful of scams. Many people will claim to have autographs for sale at "50 percent" less than book price. If these autographs don't come with some sort of authentication, don't purchase them.
