nWhat Should You Do With Signed Sports Memorabilia

For every piece of signed sports memorabilia that sells for big money, there are countless others that rise and fall in value until their better days are well behind them. (And some poor collector is left holding the bag.)

Michael Jordan is just one of the many examples of memorabilia volatility. A $738,000 card sale from January 2021 is now worth just $400,000!

It’s a jungle out there. But it’s one that you can successfully navigate if you stick to the following rules.

Understand What Makes It Valuable

People who do well with sports memorabilia know what they’re selling. They are big enough fans of each sport to know what makes the memorabilia valuable.

This helps them to find the right audience. Even if it’s not the most popular sport in the world, they can find value by drilling deep enough into the niche to find and connect with the right buyer.

Find a Trusted Authenticator

It’s not enough to be authentic with your audience, though. That’s certainly essential, but the merchandise itself must be authentic, even if it’s something as simple as a signed T-shirt.

There are many replicas and forgeries to be leery of. Buyers know this, and that’s why they turn to top-brass organizations like Beckett Authentication to attest it’s the real deal.

State Your Objective

Say you have a signed ball from a current Major League Baseball player. That might fetch a pretty penny for now while the player rides a wave of popularity, but it’s less likely to hold up in the way that a signature like Babe Ruth’s has.

It’s important that you know the nuances surrounding the memorabilia. Is the player trending? If so, what for? What sport is he or she in?

Exploring these questions will help you devise an objective. It will give you a clue as to what you can expect to earn, where you should sell, and how to go about brokering the deal.

Market Your Listing

Knowing where to market sports memorabilia is the difference between maximizing revenue and kicking yourself later. Learn where the collectors hang out.

That goes for both online and the “real world.” Attend conferences and conventions. Doing so will help you learn who’s looking and willing to pay close to what your expectations are.

Vet Prospective Buyers Thoroughly

There are many reputable sports memorabilia stores eager to buy the next highly valued piece of merchandise for their customers. (You can shop here for one example.) Selling and buying, however, are different things so do your homework before choosing to sell to a dealer.

After all, they do have to turn a profit. You may feel better served to hit the direct market. If you do, however, be mindful of shady buyers, and never send out your product before payment has cleared.

Be Patient

The goal is to get the best return on investment. You also may want the merchandise to end up with the right buyer. (Someone who will cherish, respect, and preserve the memorabilia.)

Be patient, and don’t jump at the first chance to sell unless it really is the right fit for your expectations. Make sure they’re right for the merchandise once it leaves your hands.

Signed Sports Memorabilia Can Bring Bank

Signed sports memorabilia is definitely worth pursuing. That’s especially true if you have deep knowledge and passion for the sports memorabilia you’re selling.

Do your research, make the right connections, and be patient for the right buyer to come along, and you’ll hit a homerun most every time. For more selling articles and tips, check out some of our other posts!