Girlfriend's Guide to Sports Memorabilia
Posted by Brianna Stumpf on
Ok ladies, I'm writing this for you to help you navigate the world of Sports Memorabilia. If you are like me, I have a hard time figuring out what to get my husband or son for Father's Day, birthdays, and Christmas. If they are any kind of sports fan, getting them a signed piece of memorabilia is a great gift. I want to help you make sure you get the best piece for their collection. There are a ton of products out there but there are several things you should look for from a dealer. Below are some frequently asked questions that we get and that hopefully these will clear up some confusion.
1. Make sure the item is authenticated and preferably by a leading third party authentication company. Beckett Authentication (www.beckett-authentication.com), JSA Authentication (or James Spence Authentication) (www.spenceloa.com) and PSA (www.psacard.com) is who we use here at The Jersey Source. Ideally, you want to look for items that have been witnessed by the authentication company that the athlete signed the product. Usually the item will have a date and location on when the item was signed. These items will also have a tamper-proof numbered sticker on the item and a matching numbered card to ensure authentication. That is the number you would look up on the company's website to verify the authenticity.
2. What is the difference between a Replica full size helmet and an Authentic (or sometimes called ProLine)? On the outside, the Replica helmet and Authentic look almost exactly the same. Same decals and paint as the Authentic but the major differences come on the inside of the helmet. Replica helmets do not have any padding on the inside so its lighter weight than the Authentic. The Replica helmets could have never been worn out on the field. The Authentic helmets have all the padding on the inside and could actually be worn to play football in. Not that you would as it's a collector item, but you know what I mean. It's truly a personal preference if the recipient would want a Replica or the Authentic. Since the Replicas do not have all the padding, they are also less expensive than the Authentics.
3. Pieces that are signed along with inscriptions cost more. So if you are looking at a piece that looks the same as another but has an inscription like HOF, that piece might be more expensive.
4. Our jerseys are custom made jerseys. They are not NFL licensed and do not have the team name or logos on them. That also makes them about half the cost of the real jerseys. The jerseys themselves are quality material and the names and numbers are cut and sewn onto the jersey and not screen printed in any way. They look great framed and would look awesome on a game room or man cave wall.
5. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Compare to other sites to see the general idea of what the item should be priced at. If it is too low, the person should be questioned on the authenticity to make sure it's legit. Make sure the seller has been around for a while and has good reviews. We offer a thirty day return policy so that if you aren't satisfied for any reason, you can return for a full refund.
I hope that helps in your search for the perfect gift. And if you read the whole post, congrats! Use the coupon code Christmas2020 for 10% off your next purchase on our website. But if you still need any questions answered, send me an email at Brianna@thejerseysource.com and I'll do my best to help you out.