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Modern Certified Auto vs. Signature via mail or in person...

GuruGuru Posts: 3,127
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Here's an arguement that myself and some fellow collector friends recently got into. Some say that having a card with an auto on it, be it sticker or not, from a card company is better because it's certified from day one. Some say they'd rather get the auto in person or through the mail and then have it authenticated. Which would you prefer? I think there are good arguements for both sides. One side said that it's horrible to have to pay tons of money to rip open packs with no guarantee of finding something. The other side they hated to wait with no guarantee that the card would be sent back. Where do you stand? Thanks.

Comments

  • BobaFett72BobaFett72 Posts: 7,304
    I'd rather have an auto, i got, in person, face to face then a stupid sticker on an insert card.
  • MeteoriteGuyMeteoriteGuy Posts: 7,140 ✭✭
    Depends on what you mean by "better." If you mean, which is worth more, in our internet age, the certified auto is.
    Collecting PSA graded Steve Young, Marcus Allen, Bret Saberhagen and 1980s Topps Cards.
    Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
  • prscott933prscott933 Posts: 1,976
    my preference

    1) In Person
    2) Certified Auto
    3) TTM
    4) Purchased from a seller
    White Whales:
    1996 Select Certified Mirror Gold Ozzie Smith
    2006 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor Chris Carpenter
  • torctorc Posts: 341
    That's easy
    if it is for your personal collection with no intentions or ever re-selling, then the IN PERSON,

    If you are going to re-sell, then Hard Signed from the Card producer, followed by sticker (All graded of course)
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    They are all equal, IF the are in a PSA/DNA holder.
    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • OnlyThe10sOnlyThe10s Posts: 1,850
    In my mind an autograph is special in it's own way and thus should have nothing to do with it's "resale value"

    I'd rather have it in person.

    These silly sticker autos of today are annoying.

  • ripkenintheminorsripkenintheminors Posts: 2,186 ✭✭✭
    Depends. on the card. I don't get caught up in the numbers game but there are certain cards that would have a certain value with a certified sig. However, in those cases the values are inflated because they're usually with a piece of patch or from a rookie year.

    Personally I'd enjoy meeting some of the guys I collect, but I shouldn't expect a TTM to sell for what a trading card with a certified sig to sell for.
    -Chris

    image
    Ripken in the Minors * Ripken in the Minors Facebook Page
  • DrJDrJ Posts: 2,213
    My preference is as follows:

    1.) In person
    2.) TTM (gives more of a personal interaction)
    3.) Certified Signature

    For some guys the only way to go is purchasing or finding a certified issue. Now if you are looking to sell, some guys gotten TTM or In person are not worth the authentication fees, making their signatures tough to move.

    J
  • GuruGuru Posts: 3,127
    I think that if I didn't resell things that I definitely would go with the in person auto. But, a lot of times, well at least in the past, I would see an auto card and really like it. I'd then get it and display it for awhile before wanting something diiferent. Then I would sell it to get something different. With a certified copy from a card company, I think it's definitely easier to resale.
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