Buckeye Autograph Sessions (all merged)

[Thump]

Not to change the subject but I work with a guy who is a BIG memorabilia collector and when we were at a basketball game tonight, I noticed he had a charm around his neck. They were gold pants. I asked him where he got them and he begrudgingly told me "from Florida." When I pressed him further about whose they were, he finally told me, "Lydell Ross."

He wouldn't tell me how much he paid for them.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Anyone who pays these prices is an idiot.

Says the guy with Troy Smith as his avatar.

The "market" for the Heisman winner will get what it can. Troy was likely the best QB we've ever had (you could argue Rex Kern was as good), one of the most popular Buckeyes ever, and the conference's only Heisman QB ever...pretty impressive resume.

If you think prices for his sig are steep now, just think what they would have been had we beat Florida...

 

[buckeyefool]

Says the guy with Troy Smith as his avatar.

The "market" for the Heisman winner will get what it can. Troy was likely the best QB we've ever had (you could argue Rex Kern was as good), one of the most popular Buckeyes ever, and the conference's only Heisman QB ever...pretty impressive resume.

If you think prices for his sig are steep now, just think what they would have been had we beat Florida...

exactly.

like the prices or not troy is smart to try to get as much as he can. there will be people that pay it.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

like the prices or not troy is smart to try to get as much as he can. there will be people that pay it.

True, and folks need to keep in mind that it isn't Troy who's setting the prices...

 

[OSU2002N.Champs]

Says the guy with Troy Smith as his avatar.

The "market" for the Heisman winner will get what it can. Troy was likely the best QB we've ever had (you could argue Rex Kern was as good), one of the most popular Buckeyes ever, and the conference's only Heisman QB ever...pretty impressive resume.

If you think prices for his sig are steep now, just think what they would have been had we beat Florida...

What the fuck does having Troy as my avatar have anything to do with my comment? :stupid: Im a huge buckeye fan, Troy Smith fan and a big autograph collector but that doesnt mean I would pay that price for his signature. Take a look at what Archie charges for his signature. Two-time winner charges around $25.00. Yes Troy probably is the best and most popular QB or player we have ever had, but that price is way too much. I dont care what Reggie Bush or Leinart charge for their signature when it gets too be that high my opinion is its too much and you're stupid if you pay it. It ruins the business for everyone. If he can get it great for him. But hes not getting that money from me, or too many others from what Im hearing.

 

[buckeyeboy]

If anyone goes to the signing this Friday or otherwise happens to be at the Beachwood Mall, please post what the line is like. I'm really interested in how many people will actually show up for this event. I'm guessing it won't be many.

 

[Miller_Time]

If anyone goes to the signing this Friday or otherwise happens to be at the Beachwood Mall, please post what the line is like. I'm really interested in how many people will actually show up for this event. I'm guessing it won't be many.

Interested in knowing this as well. But I disagree, I think there will still be a long line of people bitching about the price the entire time they wait while they still pay the price.

 

[Thump]

True, and folks need to keep in mind that it isn't Troy who's setting the prices...

I know, as we all know, NFL contracts aren't guaranteed and with him being a 3rd or 4th round pick that means not much much guaranteed money.

 

[gost8]

True, and folks need to keep in mind that it isn't Troy who's setting the prices...

I am absolutely positive that Cardboard Heroes is making a nice little profit on every signature, but what Troy (his agent) charges them to be there does dictate what they charge you to get his autograph. Like I said before if he can get it, more power to him. Seems to me the lines would longer if you would drop the prices a little.

 

[buckeyeboy]

I am absolutely positive that Cardboard Heros is making a nice little profit on every signature, but what Troy (his agent) charges them to be there does dictate what they charge you to get his autograph.

Cardboard Heroes won't make anything if no one shows. I'd bet Troy gets guaranteed money, so he wins either way.

 

[gost8]

Cardboard Heroes won't make anything if no one shows. I'd bet Troy gets guaranteed money, so he wins either way.

If no one shows they will have piles and piles of things for him to sign to sell in their stores. Make no mistake Cardboard heroes will make money. I am not sure how he is being paid. Some say he is getting a flat fee, but I am pretty sure Ginn was being paid per signature. He had a couple of guys and his father sitting there with him keeping track of what he signed and how many things he signed. Maybe he got paid a flat fee and some dollar amount per sig. Not sure.

 

[buckeyeboy]

If no one shows they will have piles and piles of things for him to sign to sell in their stores.

True, but Cardboard Heroes will make WAY more money if people actually show up to have Troy sign stuff.

The going rate for things that Troy has already signed is nowhere near what Cardboard Heroes is charging per signature. On ebay, signed 8x10's have sold for between $9.99 and $41, much lower than the $69.95 Cardboard Heroes is charging; signed mini-helmets have sold for between $25 and $102.50, and Cardboard Heroes wants $99.95 just for Troy's signature on a mini-helmet (i.e., you still have to buy the helmet yourself for about $25); and there are a bunch of signed authentic jerseys that didn't even sell for $150, while Cardboard Heroes wants $139.95 just for the signature on the jersey (i.e., you still have to buy the jersey for at least $50 for a replica and well over $100 for an authentic).

I understand that particularly if the item is for your personal collection, there is added value to meeting the player and being there when he signs the item. However, my point still is that Cardboard Heroes is charging much more than what the market will bear. Accordingly, if no one shows up and they just have him sign a bunch of their stuff for resale (which they will undoubtedly do), then the secondary market is the proper source to which to look, and all signs indicate that Cardboard Heroes will not make much money.

 

[Padraig]

Seems to me the lines would longer if you would drop the prices a little.

Look at it this way:

I believe A.J.'s promoter was charging 10 grand for a 2 hr sitting. From what I was told this weekend, Troy's cost is $40k for 2 hrs. Maybe they won't be able to book small town USA malls and card shops for that kind of cash, but he'll be able to pull in in 5 shows what it would have taken Hawk's people 20 shows (he could do that in Cleveland & columbus alone I would imagine)...and Troy and his people will be working much less to make the same $$.

The ones that will be "losing" out are the the fans who won't / can't pay those prices, small-town venues and promoters, & merchandise companies...but in all honesty I don't really see Troy as being responsible to "take care" of those people.

In fact, by pricing himself so much lower he's probably only hurting himself by a.) having to work harder while trying to prepare for a Draft & b.) attracting huge lines of people would only cause ill-will when over half of those standing in line might not even get the opportunity to get a sig anyway (talk to anyone who got turned away from one of A.J.'s events last year).

Troy became a member of a select group of men who can call themselves Ohio State University Heisman winners (for a school that has the most rabid fan base in the world), and as I believe mentioned earlier in the thread, the first QB in the Big Ten to do so. He'll have enough shows to do (in Ohio and around the country in he chooses), there will be plenty of people willing to pay that much (what can you sign in 2 hrs, 500 items???...I think he'll attract that many). If he charged $25 per autograph, you'd have to show up 5 or more hours early to get in line and then everyone would be pissed for having to wait so long, or get shut out from getting something signed.

 

[Bucklion]

Look at it this way:

I believe A.J.'s promoter was charging 10 grand for a 2 hr sitting. From what I was told this weekend, Troy's cost is $40k for 2 hrs. Maybe they won't be able to book small town USA malls and card shops for that kind of cash, but he'll be able to pull in in 5 shows what it would have taken Hawk's people 20 shows (he could do that in Cleveland & columbus alone I would imagine)...and Troy and his people will be working much less to make the same $$.

The ones that will be "losing" out are the the fans who won't / can't pay those prices, small-town venues and promoters, & merchandise companies...but in all honesty I don't really see Troy as being responsible to "take care" of those people.

In fact, by pricing himself so much lower he's probably only hurting himself by a.) having to work harder while trying to prepare for a Draft & b.) attracting huge lines of people would only cause ill-will when over half of those standing in line might not even get the opportunity to get a sig anyway (talk to anyone who got turned away from one of A.J.'s events last year).

Troy became a member of a select group of men who can call themselves Ohio State University Heisman winners (for a school that has the most rabid fan base in the world), and as I believe mentioned earlier in the thread, the first QB in the Big Ten to do so. He'll have enough shows to do (in Ohio and around the country in he chooses), there will be plenty of people willing to pay that much (what can you sign in 2 hrs, 500 items???...I think he'll attract that many). If he charged $25 per autograph, you'd have to show up 5 or more hours early to get in line and then everyone would be pissed for having to wait so long, or get shut out from getting something signed.

Typically they'll only sell a certain number of tickets in such a scenario, but you are correct in gereal of course. I remember when I was in Columbus in January 2003 and Doss did his Tuttle signing...the line went all the way around the mall,out the door, and into the parking lot. I think I remember hearing everyone got their stuff signed because they sold a certain number of tickets, or else they sold more but didn't guarantee that the items would get signed (people got a refund of course). With Troy given that amount they are charging I'm sure it is a flat fee for the time, because Cardboard Heroes always has a ton of stuff for the guys to sign. Whatever rpice they charge is based on careful research, so one has to figure they are charging what they are in order to a) generate a certain amount of customers, b) keep that number within a limit of some kind, and c) leave enough time for him to sign all of their stuff that they'll slap a 150 dollar price tag on.

 

[hawaiianbuckeye]

I remember when I was in Columbus in January 2003 and Doss did his Tuttle signing...the line went all the way around the mall,out the door, and into the parking lot.

Only b/c they WON the NC!

People are not turning out this year b/c of the ass wooping these guys took at the hands of Florida and they're bitter about it!

Remember these guys were 12-1 and OUTRIGHT B10 Champs! However, people are only remembering the LAST game. It would be MUCH different had we beat Florida. Sad really.

HAYN