subject: Music Collectables- Top Tips When Buying [print this page] Anyone with an interest in collecting music memorabilia is probably interested in original autographs, rare CDs and records, and other types of music collectables. Today's access to the Internet and technology has made finding such collectables easy, but also has increased the risk to buyers. You should always be careful as some scrupulous sellers will attempt to sell bogus music collectables.
Many results will be returned when you do a simple Internet search for music collectables. When the collectables you find are authentic, you are in for an exciting adventure. However, if the collectables are fakes or reproductions, it can be a huge waste of money and very disappointing. How can you be sure your buying authentic collectables? There are a few things you should always watch for.
Once you start looking on-line for music collectables, you will soon discover that there are all kinds of fakes for sale. There are many sellers offering phony autographs, trying to pass them off as originals. A good way to protect yourself from these sellers is to be wary of the website itself. If the website doesn't belong to reputable reseller of collectables or looks a little sketchy, you should probably think twice before making a purchase. It's much better to be safe than sorry.
With all the reliable and popular on-line sites offering music collectables, it is in your best interest to frequent them. Why bother risking the purchase of a bogus autographed item if you do not need to? A simple web search will yield you the results you need to find the most reputable memorabilia resellers.
Pricing also can help you spot music collectable fakes. If you happen to see a listing for a Beatles LP signed by all four members for only $25, you probably are not getting the real thing. Do a little research and see what such memorabilia sells for and use your better judgment. Usually, if the price seems too good to be true, it usually is.
With the large amount of music memorabilia that's offered legitimately, many of today's celebrities don't even sign their full name. It's very common for celebrities to autograph items with just their initials or their first name, which makes forgery easier than ever. Being able to identify original autographs is the ideal way to detect fake memorabilia. There are experts and collector websites that can help with this.
When buying original autographs and music collectables, you can minimize your risk by carefully reading the description. If there is any mention of auto-pen, stamp, pre-print, facsimile, copy, or re-print, you should go elsewhere. You can be sure that these aren't original autographs. You should also look for a close up picture of the autograph.
A money back guarantee is an excellent way to determine which music collectables are real and which ones are fake. While reassuring, a certificate of authenticity is not fail safe. Sellers that are offering fake items usually don't offer a guarantee - they usually just take your money and run.
