I’m honoured to have been asked to write a couple of pieces for the website and, at least with this one, there’s going to be a couple of controversial opinions put forward. Some I’m sure that you’ll agree with, some you may not but I hope that you will at least see where I’m coming from.

Consignments. It’s a word we see and hear all the time as we excitedly discuss new additions to the various line-ups around the world and we hurriedly pack our posters into tubes and ship them off to far flung destinations for that next bit of ink. However, it’s a word that was almost unheard of in these circles until about 3 or so years ago , suddenly it’s everywhere with various names, some known some unknown, offering help to get your items signed…for a price.

In recent years the Star Wars autograph collecting world has exploded and expanded along with the convention world and with that comes new fans eager to add names to their items whilst pouring over long term collections on social media trying desperately to play catch up and in some cases one up. The collecting world has changed, not necessarily for the better.

With that change has come the commerciality of fandom, a group of people that I like to call ‘The Consigners’ and again, the service that is offered to old and new collectors alike is fantastic and you can add anyone at pretty much any show to your items. I even run my own service, 237 Signings, but it all comes at a price.

Each signature has an additional fee ranging from $10-$25 PER SIGNATURE that’s on top of already increasing signature fee. That’s just too much isn’t it? I mean, they are at the show anyway what’s another couple of signatures right?

 It used to be that you would offer help to friends with their projects and they’d kick a couple of bucks to help you out. I mean, you are already going to the show anyway which is why you offered to help so any help to defray the costs and maybe buy you a beer was always welcomed. You did it to help out your fellow collectors and friends. A nicer way of doing things from a more civilized age. But then again, maybe I’m looking at it through rose-tinted spectacles.

The rise of The Consigners was I believed pushed by the fact that people would expect huge amounts from your time, not label things, add items that you didn’t expect  make demands of your time both before and after the show…that extra couple of bucks was not looking so good now and so a change began to creep in, you started to pay for each item on top, a nominal amount to reflect the time taken. As the old adage goes, time is money.

This is, of course, where things start to slip…sometimes life gets in the way and things snowball…you have people’s items that they are expecting back straight after the show, they don’t know nor care that you haven’t spent any time with your spouse or kids, they are excited, they want to see their items, they want to get their items back. You can’t blame them. The emails start and the messages, if you haven’t shipped within a week people are getting antsy. That nominal amount isn’t looking great either now…

The fees go up but now you are delivering a service and everyone knows that when you are delivering a service that customer is king. They are now paying, in some cases half again of the signing fee, for a service and your time. Results are expected.

The average Consigner will take 50-100 items to a show. Let’s for argument and mathematics sake say that the Consignment fee is $15. Well, you are thinking, that’s not bad at all $1500 for standing in line all day. Easy money. But let’s break that down, for your $15 you are paying for the Consigner’s time in:-

• Taking the information about what you want signing
• Receiving your item in the post
• Opening and checking your item against what you requested
• Storing your item until the show
• Labelling and packing your item for the show
• Carrying your item safely to the show
• Lining up
• Ensuring that the item is signed as you requested (as far as is practicable)
• Possibly taking photo proof of your item being signed
• Carrying your now signed item and keeping it safe
• Confirming that your item was signed
• Repacking your item
• Getting a postage quote
• Posting your parcel

All of this takes time away from their day to day life and responsibilities, if you times all of those steps by 100 then it all adds up to a lot of hours, a lot of space taken up with packaging and a lot of earache from a significant other. This is all assuming that people aren’t messaging you constantly to check if the item is signed or when it will be shipped because again, that takes time.

Consignments are the way forward and very much a part of modern day collecting, like it or not, if you are not going to or can’t make a show and you want to send your items in then you are going to have to pay for it. But, once you factor in travel expenses to the show (even if it was local), entry, food and drink etc I will pretty much guarantee you that unless you are adding a significant amount of signatures then you are still financially better off than you would be had you attended the show yourself.

HOWEVER…don’t use just anyone who offers their services. Ask around, get people’s opinions, is the person trustworthy? Will they handle your items with care?  Do you have any comeback if things go awry? Have they dealt with stuff like this before? etc, etc, – satisfy yourself as much as you can and then sit back and await the return of your items with that fresh ink.

Here are some top tips for using any Consignment service :-

1. Be very clear about what you want signing – the more information the better
2. If you want your items signed in a specific pen then send it to them.
3. Don’t expect HUGE quotes to be written out -it is unlikely the signer will have time – keep it brief
4. ALWAYS use goods and services and meet the fees yourself if paying by Paypal
5. Once the order is placed and received DO NOT send further ‘chase’ emails
6. NEVER message the consigner whilst the show is on – they are busy getting your stuff signed – if there is a problem they will contact you.
7. Be patient, within reason, in respect of shipping. Most consigners, unless previously discussed, will aim to have your stuff shipped within a week (trust me they don’t want your stuff hanging around).
8. If there are problems then discuss them with the Consigner first. There is always a resolution to be found
9. If you are happy then make a point of posting your items and tagging the Consigner in them – it’s  always good to see people happy with their new ink
10. Most importantly…always be courteous and polite . Remember, you may be paying but they are doing you a favour.

Star Wars Autograph News wants to hear from you! Join the conversation on our Facebook PAGE and GROUP and @SWAUTOGRAPH and #swautograph on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM! Click HERE to subscribe to our Youtube channel.

Subscribe to the Star Wars Autograph News Podcast on iTunes and other fine places where podcasts can be found.