When I started collecting very very few athletes or anybody charged. Remember that there was no Ebay. There were autograph shows here and there but that was mainly to see what everyone else was doing. I have never paid for an autograph and I won't. These people have made PLENTY of many because of people like us. They should be thankful for what they have or had. If they blew the money well that's on them. Take responsibility.

[quote="tommie"]I'm glad that he was successful. This is America and everyone has the chance to better themselves. That is still no excuse for charging such large fees. .[/quote]

$10 is a large fee? i guess if you can't afford to spend $10 on an autograph then you should find a cheaper hobby such as scrapbooking or bird watching. how can you be a collector for 40 years and not know about athletes charging?

[quote="tommie"]I'm glad that he was successful. This is America and everyone has the chance to better themselves. That is still no excuse for charging such large fees. I have been doing this for 40 some years. Before Ebay and all the rest. I collected because I enjoyed it. It will be a **** shame if the kids get where they get nothing but RTS or some guy charging. If a few guys want to try and supplement their income so be it.
This hobby should be for everyone especially the kids. They are the ones that will keep it going.[/quote]

I don't think this hobby will last for anybody much longer. It's the selling of them that celebs don't like and the majority of them don't like internet sites like this one that makes it easy too get addresses.
I know a very well know famous actress that lives in my village that I have spoke too her and she the amount of fanmail she gets because of this actual site is ridiculars and very time consuming signing and pleasing everybody where 10, 15 years ago when she was more popular she only received 10% of what she receives now. It's a pain in the arse she says.

I'm glad that he was successful. This is America and everyone has the chance to better themselves. That is still no excuse for charging such large fees. I have been doing this for 40 some years. Before Ebay and all the rest. I collected because I enjoyed it. It will be a damn shame if the kids get where they get nothing but RTS or some guy charging. If a few guys want to try and supplement their income so be it.
This hobby should be for everyone especially the kids. They are the ones that will keep it going.

[quote="tommie"]As far as Sayers not making money and not paid like today's athletes. When he played inflation was low and you could actually buy something for a dime. The dollar was worth a dollar not like today.[/quote]

[color=#0000FF]In the NFL draft of 1965, he was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears of the NFL. Sayers himself negotiated a four-year contract with the Bears that paid him $25,000 a season and included a signing bonus of $50,000.
[/color]

Somehow I don't think inflation will make up the difference with today's players...that salary plus bonus is worth $280,000 per year in today's dollars (according to an inflation calculating website), [i]slightly[/i] less than first round money in 2014. Gale has made his money after football.

The SCN failures section hilariously includes failures with known fee charging athletes with the comments section citing "didn't know he charged" yet it's almost always a athlete who has been charging for years, like Rollie Fingers or Gaylord Perry.

[quote="tommie"]I think so but I'm not sure. I was at sportscollectors.net.[/quote]

If you were on sportscollectors.net you would have see that every one before you sent $10, there was also a note posted on his TTM page that stated his list of fees.

Always pays to do research a complete research on signing habits, not just the last few posts on autograph ttm sites.

As for a fee, I would rather the players all get together and start a set fee program to counteract the few who do resell their ttm autos. It would guarantee a response for the fan, would garner money for either the player or a charity of their choice and the ones who will take advantage will have to pay up.

I'm sure, all the players have gotten their kindness taken advantage of, even if at least a time or two. 10 years ago there was a bum getting in touch with elderly players and their wives to "buy" their memorabilia and the checks wound up bouncing. Thankfully, justice prevailed rather quickly.

As far as Sayers not making money and not paid like today's athletes. When he played inflation was low and you could actually buy something for a dime. The dollar was worth a dollar not like today.

I think so but I'm not sure. I was at sportscollectors.net.