Is it worth it?

[JustinD]

Well, I was thinking I would maybe be in the minority. I am wondering who all those people in line are?

I agree with the special items thoughts. Whereas I am at a point I just don't stand in line and pay up anymore, I do have one card I have been watching to get signed. If I was going to the National (I had to back out for health obligations) I would likely drag myself to the line for Dale Murphy. The reason being is that I still do not have a completed signed Lance Parrish rookie and I have always wanted to add one to my player collection. I do have one with the really hard Bo Diaz already out of the way and just need Murphy and Whitt. I guess I would knock one off that list if the line was decent, so I agree with those folks.

[shelly]

I agree that there are times that you have a certain item to be signed. It is expensive but necessary'
Like I said in my above post. Don't spend money on baseballs or bats or items you can buy on the secondary market.

[icollectDCsports]

To me, the issue isn't necessarily the cost of getting the signature, but the regret I may have at never meeting a particular player. For instance, I wish I'd taken advantage of the opportunities to get Mantle and Musial to sign at shows years ago. There aren't that many players in that category for me and I almost never go to signings anymore.

[mrmopar]

Look at any amusement park, theater, ballpark or any other place where people come for entertainment and you see the same thing. I marvel and the $$$ spent on things that seem entirely unnecessary. I tend to be a bit cheap in general, so I can't see spending ballpark prices on food and beer, for example, when I can eat before and/or after a game for a fraction of the price. I will sacrifice just for the principal of it. That is a trait my family doesn't care for when we are out doing things though, so sometimes I just have to loosen up and spend.

I guess money is only good for spending when it comes time to cash in the chips, so to speak though so why not enjoy. I guess as long as it is worth it and you aren't going to run out too soon, people will spend like there is no tomorrow.

[thenavarro]

If there is a piece I need signed like a multi-signed cast poster, stormtrooper helmet, cast photo, etc., I much prefer just to pay someone else to get the graph for me, even if I'm going to be at the same show doing other stuff. I have no desire to spend hours in line standing on concrete lugging crap around.

However, for a run of the mill cut, photo, ball, single signed piece etc, I'll just buy it already signed.

I enjoy the photo ops so much more than the signings these days anyway. Too much signed crap out there of most of these guys/gals that work the show, comic con circuit.

[ChiSoxTony]

I I want a specific player to sign a specific or unique item or add very specific inscriptions, I might bite the bullet and pay to stand in line with full knowledge that I'm almost certainly not making an investment. If this is not the case and I just want a ball signed with a HOF inscription or something like that, I'm probably buying that off of eBay or similar, with certification, for a cheaper price.