The celebrity memorabilia business is big business. It’s also rife with fraud.
Let’s say, for instance, that you were in need of an art lithograph autographed by Gilligan’s Island stars: Signed by Bob Denver (Gilligan), Dawn Wells (Mary Ann), Russell Johnson (The Professor), and Tina Louise (Ginger) for your rumpus room.
With a quick Google search you would easily find Grandstand Sports and the prized item. Grandstand looks, by all accounts to be a reputable outfit and I have no reason to doubt them when they say….
Grandstand ensures that each signature is original and verifiable. An employee or agent of Grandstand Sports is present at each signing. Any item we cannot verify we do not sell. Period.
…and they send you a “Certificate of Authenticity” to go along with your signed item.
But, Grandstand also gives us these words of warning….
“most industry experts concede that over half of the autographed memorabilia is forged. In fact, some cooperating subjects and memorabilia experts believe that up to ninety percent of the memorabilia on the market is forged”
That’s not good, little buddy.
A new company, LiveAutographs, offers a new level of security and interaction.
Customers of LiveAutographs see stars sign their items and can ask them questions. In addition to signing the memorabilia on camera, the celebrity answers in a personalized video, which LiveAutographs sends via download, or a DVD that’s mailed with the merchandise.
Dwek said LiveAutographs authenticates items in three ways: by letting customers witness the signing via video, providing matching bar codes on the DVD and merchandise and issuing a PIN on each purchase creating a chain of title for each item.
That all makes sense but, only if you can get the items you seek from really big stars. Which celebrities are doing business with LiveAutograph?
In addition to Shatner (William), wrestlers Hulk Hogan and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, tennis star Serena Williams, actress Carmen Electra, and Raven Symone of Disney’s “That’s So Raven,” rocker Dave Navarro, Slash of Guns ‘N’ Roses! and astronaut Buzz Aldrin have signed on.
Yeah, well…it’s still a good idea.
Critics of the new company say that it will only appeal to high end customers.
Garo said most autograph seekers are looking to spend far less than the pricetags posted on LiveAutographs, where items start around $129 for a celebrity autograph and go as high as $2,500 for a replica of a Buzz Aldrin spacesuit.
Don’t know about you, but I woke up when I heard “Buzz Aldrin spacesuit”. I could totally see myself sporting this little gem.
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Tags: autographed memorabilia, Celebrity, Dawn Wells, ginger, grandstand sports, LiveAutographs, rumpus room, Slash
Caribbean Celebrity Gossip wrote,
Nice Gossip
Link | May 23rd, 2008 at 1:56 am
Caribbean Celebrity Gossip wrote,
I need some more information on Celebrity froud
Link | May 23rd, 2008 at 1:59 am
Caribbean Celebrity Gossip wrote,
I need some more information on Celebrity fraud
Link | May 23rd, 2008 at 1:59 am