eBay is killing off the celebrity
autograph
The pastime of celebrity autograph hunting is dying
out according to experts who blame the internet
auction site eBay.
Leading memorabilia dealers reckon the eBay created
a lucrative black market trade in the star
signatures, many obtained purely for sale.
Ringo Starr is now dumping items sent to him for
signature and experts reveal that he is not alone in
boycotting autograph hunters.
And professional memorabilia dealers say that many
celebrities have wised-up and are refusing to sign
items handed to them in public.
Instead they are opting only POSE for photographs
with fans so as to make the artefact 'virtual,'
personal and not salable online.
Among the most common signature sold for cash online
are the autographs of premiership footballers.
But players, have previously been happy to sign
mementos for supporters are now being banned from
signing by their agents in a bid to stem eBay
exploitation.
Experts also say that the number of fake autographs
hawked online has risen dramatically because
unscrupulous private dealers are forging signatures.
One of the UK's leading experts in authentic
autographs reckons it is only a matter of time
before the autograph dies out completely.
Director of Memorabilia UK, Mark Riddle said: "eBay
has ruined it for genuine fans to get an autograph
as celebrities just assume the signature will be
sold.
"Many stars are becoming sick of people trading on
their name and image so refuse to sign any
autographs instead opting for a quick photo instead.
"Stars started to find people following them
everywhere or queueing for hours just to get their
signature that would usually end up on eBay.
"Football has become a massive industry and signed
memorabilia is very much sought-after but the
players' agents have wised-up to the idea their boys
are not getting any money from the trade.
"Players do not like the idea of being exploited and
told not to sign any more.
"It will only be a matter of time before anyone
wishing to get an autograph will have to order it
from the celebrity's very own website.
"I cannot blame the celebs for this, in recent years
there has been a sharp rise in forgeries.
"Around 80 percent of all signed memorabilia on Ebay
is fake which only makes it worse for the true fans.
"It all comes down to money and because of the
internet anyone can sell a signature and make a
handsome amount for themselves.
"Some celebrities dedicate their signatures or even
put a date next to them which devalues the name if
they are ever sold but many stars just shun signing
anything.
"This is a shame but it is becoming more and more
common and eventually the genuine autograph will die
out all together."
*Yesterday there were 9000 celebrity autographs on
sale on eBay ranging in price between 99pence and
£35.