Don’t Get the Slip When Buying Memorabilia of “The Gloved One”

Immediately following the announcement of Michael Jackson’s death, individuals began selling memorabilia online. Not surprisingly, the quantity of goods offered on eBay increased dramatically the morning after Jackson’s death.

Your Better Business Bureau is advising that the value of most memorabilia and commemorative items is sentimental. The currently inflated prices will drop over time. Already, memorabilia and commemorative items, including t-shirts, special edition newspapers and magazines, autographs, gloves, posters, newspapers and more, are being mass produced and sold to fans. Because the value of collectibles is largely dependent on their rarity, these mass-produced items are unlikely to appreciate in value.

For those looking to purchase items to help remember the King of Pop, your BBB has the following suggestions:

Get educated
Collectors should research the value of all before they make a purchase.

Confirm authenticity
Confirming the authenticity of memorabilia is not easy. Autographs can be verified by a third party, but for other items, the collector should ask the seller questions such as how the seller came to own it. If the seller can’t answer simple questions, the collector should walk away.

Make purchases with a credit card
Purchase items with a credit card. If the seller’s merchandise turns out to be fraudulent, the consumer can dispute the charge with the credit card company and may be eligible for reimbursement.

Purchase items from a reputable seller
When shopping online stores, collectors should look for the BBB seal on Web sites and click on the seal to confirm the company’s legitimacy. If there isn’t a BBB seal on the site, shoppers can check out the potential seller at www.bbb.org.

Also when purchasing items from an individual on eBay, research the seller’s track record by reading buyer reviews. When shopping on Craigslist, go local and never wire money as payment.

Don’t be fooled by empty advertising claims
Just because the seller claims that an item is of limited edition, it doesn’t mean there weren’t millions made. If the item is being widely advertised, chances are, it’s too common to actually gain much value over the years.