A Sports Memorabilia Buying Guide

As any fan of sports knows, owning a piece of sports memorabilia is truly special. There is just something about having a collectible signed by your favorite player or a keepsake from your favorite team. Whether you are a seasoned collector or buying your first sports memorabilia item, it’s important for you to be wary of the item that you are purchasing. Unfortunately, since there is such a high demand for these items, there are many people out there that take advantage of sports fans by selling them counterfeits (and at high prices too).

Here at Sports Fanz, you have nothing to worry about when you shop from our sports memorabilia, however, we want to help you avoid spending money on a fake item. That’s why we bring you this buying guide to provide you with some tips when your shopping for sports memorabilia to ensure that you are buying authentic pieces. If you would like more information, then please feel free to contact us today, and if you’re looking to add to your collection then go ahead and browse through our shop! We carry items from all of your favorite sports organizations including the NFL, NBA, MLB, college sports, and more.

Tips For Finding Authentic Memorabilia

While there are some really good fakes out on the market, there are a few things that you can do to check the memorabilia for authenticity. Make sure to take note of the following tips:

Do Some Research

One of the worst things that you can do is to make your purchase blindly. While we wish that everyone could be trusted, this is just simply not the case, especially online. Before you decide to buy a piece of memorabilia, do a little bit of research. Compare the signature on the item that you are considering buying with photographs of certified autographs from the same athlete to see if they match. Also, compare the prices of the same item online. If the one that you are looking to buy is priced significantly lower, this could be a tell-tale sign that it is a fake.

Too Good To Be True

To go along with the last point, if the offer seems too good to be true, then it probably is. As an example, NFL great and former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith charges $285 to sign helmets. And that is only for the signature, it does not include the price of the helmet. So if you find an Emmitt Smith autograph that is going for less than this, it’d be a wise move to avoid purchasing it. Use common sense when shopping for memorabilia.

Go Through Reputable Dealers

It’s important to shop for sports memorabilia through legitimate dealers that have a history, reviews from customers, attend autograph shows, and are able to prove the authenticity of their products. We also highly recommend only buying memorabilia that comes with a COA (Certificate Of Authenticity).

Use an Authenticator

To really play it safe, it’d be a good idea to have autographed collectibles checked by a professional authenticator. Since we are dealing specifically with sports memorabilia, you’re going to want to go through the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). This organization’s sole purpose is to check the authenticity of sports collectibles. Other reputable third parties include JSA (James Spence Authentication) and BAS (Beckett Authentication Services). Everyone makes mistakes, but when you go through a reputable dealer, the chance of making a bad investment will be significantly less.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Maybe the most important thing that you should keep in mind is to not be afraid to ask questions. This is a big investment for you, not only the cost but the sentimental value as well. You want to make sure that you are getting exactly what you are paying for. Whether it is the seller of the product or your third party dealer, ask all of the questions that you can think of!

Protecting Your Memorabilia

Whether you are more focused on the value of your memorabilia or you just love having it in your possession, you obviously want to keep it in the best condition possible. For those new to collecting memorabilia, specifically signed items, the most common mistake that is made is not having something to protect the product. Signatures will wear over time and sports cards can easily be damaged if the proper actions aren’t taken. There are a variety of storage and display supplies on the market that you will want to look into. This includes binders and holders for your cards, storage boxes, acrylic display cases, and much more.

When you shop with Sports Fanz, you can rest assured that the item that you will be receiving is authentic. We love our customers and are proud of the vast collection that we have available. We offer a wide range of sports memorabilia (from autographs and keychains to photos and banners), from all of your favorite sports. Browse through our sports memorabilia shop now for something special for yourself or a loved one.