• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Should Artists/Creators upcharge to sign certain issues if witnessed?
0

36 posts in this topic

I am throwing this out there for discussion, because it really bothered me after cracking my books prior to have signed just to find out how much it would be to get them signed. I just came back from Fan Expo in Vancouver BC over the weekend. Tony Moore was there and was signing for $25 per signature, but was upcharging Walking Dead Issues 1-6 for $125. I get artists/creators do cons to make money off of their creations and there are those that make money off of them by flipping said SS books. But for an average Joe that loves the work and wants a SS in their collection, I feel that upcharging for certain issues is ridiculous. Rob Liefeld is the same way for witnessed NM 98 and NM 87, where he charged $85 (and $50 for everything else). Thoughts?

Edited by Bowchigabowwow
Supposed to be Fan Expo not Fan Fest
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Bowchigabowwow said:

I am throwing this out there for discussion, because it really bothered me after cracking my books prior to have signed just to find out how much it would be to get them signed. I just came back from Fan Fest in Vancouver BC over the weekend. Tony Moore was there and was signing for $25 per signature, but was upcharging Walking Dead Issues 1-6 for $125. I get artists/creators do cons to make money off of their creations and there are those that make money off of them by flipping said SS books. But for an average Joe that loves the work and wants a SS in their collection, I feel that upcharging for certain issues is ridiculous. Rob Liefeld is the same way for witnessed NM 98 and NM 87, where he charged $85 (and $50 for everything else). Thoughts?

Yeah this is a practice a few creators use. Sometimes it is towards specific characters as well. If that is what they set then that is what they set. There are celebrities that charge based on the type of item and item size and clearly have that listed.

If I use that logic then the creator is saying yes I will allow you to get my sig, but that certification is a type of item. The creator has clearly laid out that in advance.

 

Edited by reddwarf666222
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Bowchigabowwow said:

was upcharging Walking Dead Issues 1-6 for $125.

$125 per issue? That seems a little high from what I've seen... On his website it's always stated he charges $20 per Walking Dead single issue issue and $20 if the issue was to be graded. 
When I saw him last in Cincinnati, at the con he co-created, the fees were in line with what his website lists. (That was 2 years ago though, so he could have changed stuff up a bit without changing his site.)

To me, it just depends on the issue, condition of the comic and what you've already invested in the book. If I think something is too much, or not worth it I won't pay for it. (shrug)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, austinhg said:

$125 per issue? That seems a little high from what I've seen... On his website it's always stated he charges $20 per Walking Dead single issue issue and $20 if the issue was to be graded. 
When I saw him last in Cincinnati, at the con he co-created, the fees were in line with what his website lists. (That was 2 years ago though, so he could have changed stuff up a bit without changing his site.)

To me, it just depends on the issue, condition of the comic and what you've already invested in the book. If I think something is too much, or not worth it I won't pay for it. (shrug)

You must not know the Moore's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe the artist/writer/celebrity should charge what they want for their signature. I really don't have an issue with Rob Liefeld wanting to charge $1,000 to sign New Mutant 98's, that's his prerogative. I really hate the $10 per book if it is going to a grading service. The fact that I'm less a fan than someone not getting it graded irks me. Just my 2 cents.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, Pirate said:

You must not know the Moore's.

I was actually just commenting about how I saw the photo of his booth from that convention over in the Event board, but didn't reply fast enough. The prices hurt my eyes... a lot. $150 for a graded modern comic is pretty dang high.

I've met him a few times, and while I've never had any bad experiences with him, or his wife for that matter, I've always been kind of curious how they equate his body of work to the prices that he charges. I get that he co-created the Walking Dead that's cool and all, but most of the books he's worked on he's only been on for a handful of issues here and there. Am I missing something? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎11‎/‎13‎/‎2017 at 12:19 PM, Bowchigabowwow said:

I am throwing this out there for discussion, because it really bothered me after cracking my books prior to have signed just to find out how much it would be to get them signed. I just came back from Fan Fest in Vancouver BC over the weekend. Tony Moore was there and was signing for $25 per signature, but was upcharging Walking Dead Issues 1-6 for $125. I get artists/creators do cons to make money off of their creations and there are those that make money off of them by flipping said SS books. But for an average Joe that loves the work and wants a SS in their collection, I feel that upcharging for certain issues is ridiculous. Rob Liefeld is the same way for witnessed NM 98 and NM 87, where he charged $85 (and $50 for everything else). Thoughts?

Whatever the market will bare. If I am trying to make my living as a working artist and people dig something I worked on why not? especially for something that can be flipped for profit even if your not. Personally I will never pay for someone's signature...well I did pay David Prowse $5 for one in the early 90's because I felt bad no one was asking for his but the pornstar in the booth next to him was 30 deep. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I find myself at odds with this.  Some creators, like Layton, charge $5 for books that are going to be graded.  However, he doesn't charge for raw signatures.  What I do find aggravating is when creators charge $50 for their signatures, regardless of what its being signed for (We know who I'm talking about here).  Another thing that bothers me is when creators charger higher fees for "key" books, or "popular character" series.   There has to be a common ground, and I get it that some creators feel like they're being slated because of the graded resale market.  However, that being said, most of these creators are being paid for their attendances at conventions.  

What will happen eventually is that no one is going to pony up and pay higher premiums for signatures, thus creators either being forced not to charger, nor not attend conventions.  

Who knows what is right, and what is wrong.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I️went to a con over the summer in NJ and got Captain America / Steve Rogers 1 signed by Greg Hildebrandt - he was signing anything else for free but was charging $50 for the variant cover he did - I’m okay with that because he is only signing 50 total got (26/50) which helps with exclusivity - but $50 although sets me back - it isn’t astronomical 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

40 minutes ago, A-DONIS said:

I find myself at odds with this.  Some creators, like Layton, charge $5 for books that are going to be graded.  However, he doesn't charge for raw signatures.  What I do find aggravating is when creators charge $50 for their signatures, regardless of what its being signed for (We know who I'm talking about here).  Another thing that bothers me is when creators charger higher fees for "key" books, or "popular character" series.   There has to be a common ground, and I get it that some creators feel like they're being slated because of the graded resale market.  However, that being said, most of these creators are being paid for their attendances at conventions.  

What will happen eventually is that no one is going to pony up and pay higher premiums for signatures, thus creators either being forced not to charger, nor not attend conventions.  

Who knows what is right, and what is wrong.

What does creators being paid to be at con have to do with it? People want something from them that is unique to them. I am sure there are times they give it away for free. I bet If I bumped into someone outside a con and asked them to sign a napkin or whatever they would. I don't understand what the appeal is to having someone's signature  on a witnessed slab. If you are there and you witness it why do you need another person to "verify" it? Just so a company will put a yellow label on it? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

48 minutes ago, WoWitHurts said:

What does creators being paid to be at con have to do with it? People want something from them that is unique to them. I am sure there are times they give it away for free. I bet If I bumped into someone outside a con and asked them to sign a napkin or whatever they would. I don't understand what the appeal is to having someone's signature  on a witnessed slab. If you are there and you witness it why do you need another person to "verify" it? Just so a company will put a yellow label on it? 

what if you're not there?  what if you just want a sig on your book but you can't go to the show?  I get that sigs aren't for everyone, but you honestly can't see a situation where someone would want a signed item from their favorite artist/writer/actor, and wouldn't pay a little more to have the item encased and the sig personally witnessed by a trusted independent third party?  Do you honestly not see how that peace of mind of the veracity of the sig would have some value to some people?

There's grading and provenance trails for a million types of things, because not everyone can get everything directly from the original source, from fruit, to diamonds, to collectibles.  Its to give people certainty about things they buy or own, and/or to give potential future buyers/owners that same level of certainty. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/13/2017 at 12:19 PM, Bowchigabowwow said:

I am throwing this out there for discussion, because it really bothered me after cracking my books prior to have signed just to find out how much it would be to get them signed. I just came back from Fan Fest in Vancouver BC over the weekend. Tony Moore was there and was signing for $25 per signature, but was upcharging Walking Dead Issues 1-6 for $125. I get artists/creators do cons to make money off of their creations and there are those that make money off of them by flipping said SS books. But for an average Joe that loves the work and wants a SS in their collection, I feel that upcharging for certain issues is ridiculous. Rob Liefeld is the same way for witnessed NM 98 and NM 87, where he charged $85 (and $50 for everything else). Thoughts?

I think it's entirely up to the artists' discretion. As consumers, we can choose to pay or pass.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, WoWitHurts said:

If you are there and you witness it why do you need another person to "verify" it? Just so a company will put a yellow label on it? 

I can make money one day if it has a yellow label on it. That's the difference.

Also, what if I can't be "there" in person to have an item signed? Yellow label gives me a fair bit of assurance that I haven't been ripped off.

 

Edited by newshane
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, newshane said:

I can make money one day if it has a yellow label on it. That's the difference.

Also, what if I can't be "there" in person to have an item signed? Yellow label gives me a fair bit of assurance that I haven't been ripped off.

 

Precisely why no one should have a problem of someone charging for their sigs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, revat said:

what if you're not there?  what if you just want a sig on your book but you can't go to the show?  I get that sigs aren't for everyone, but you honestly can't see a situation where someone would want a signed item from their favorite artist/writer/actor, and wouldn't pay a little more to have the item encased and the sig personally witnessed by a trusted independent third party?  Do you honestly not see how that peace of mind of the veracity of the sig would have some value to some people?

There's grading and provenance trails for a million types of things, because not everyone can get everything directly from the original source, from fruit, to diamonds, to collectibles.  Its to give people certainty about things they buy or own, and/or to give potential future buyers/owners that same level of certainty. 

That is the crux of it I think. People should not expect something that has intrinsic value like a Frank miller sig on DK 1 for free. IF Frank Miller believes his sig is worth $125 and some people can't afford that then who's problem is that? I saw Gene Simmons of KISS at a Chicago con and he was charging over $100 for an autograph. Now, I don't understand how this was worth his time as he is estimated to have over 100 million but he wants to make some more so I don't begrudge him asking whatever he wanted and plenty of people were lined up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

56 minutes ago, WoWitHurts said:

Precisely why no one should have a problem of someone charging for their sigs.

I certainly don't have that problem. I spent criminal amounts of money for a Miller signature...back before he did signings every weekend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

50 minutes ago, WoWitHurts said:

 IF Frank Miller believes his sig is worth $125 and some people can't afford that then who's problem is that?

I totally agree.

Regarding Gene Simmons, the guy has probably found a way to charge the Kiss Army every time he stops to take a dump. That man does NOTHING for free.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
0