• Obtain Proof of Authenticity

• Autograph Shopping Tips

• Popular Types of Sports Memorabilia

• Find Sports Memorabilia on eBay Australia

• Buy with Confidence

• Need More Help?

• Legal Disclaimer

Obtain Proof of Authenticity

Obtain Proof of Authenticity

Make sure you buy the real thing. Plenty of services strive to meet the growing demand for sports memorabilia authentication. Each service typically provides its own unique proof of authenticity in the form of a Certificate of Authentication (COA). Some COAs come from divisions of publicly-traded companies while others come from individual dealers and collectors offering their own personal guarantees. The credibility of a COA depends on the issuing party's track record. Some sellers may be members of Universal Autograph Collectors Club (UACC), adding to their credibility. Some authentication companies include PSA/DNA, Upper Deck Authenticated (UDA), and Steiner Sports to name a few.

Autograph Shopping Tips

Autograph Shopping Tips

Obtain prized autographs for top athletes in AFL, cricket, rugby league, rugby union, basketball, soccer, motor racing, tennis, golf, boxing, wrestling and more. eBay Australia sellers offer a wide selection of signed photos and signed memorabilia. Make sure you know which type of item a listing describes before you buy. When evaluating an item online:

• Carefully read listing descriptions: Good item listings include a lot of valuable information, including a detailed description of an item's attributes, signature location, and any wear. Listings for reprints should include the word "reprint," "print," or "copy."

• Look at pictures: Sellers should include at least one detailed scan of an item and its COA. Familiarise yourself with an athlete's autograph and make sure you can clearly see it in a photo to evaluate it for yourself.

• Get an item's history: Find out how a seller came to possess an item. Some obtain athlete autographs in person and others sell licensed autographed items. Research the item's serial number and find out if it has a tamper-proof hologram.

• Learn about licensing: Athletes usually have exclusive deals to sign for a particular company. Know which company offers licensed items with his or her autograph. Many companies will provide a notarised affidavit stating that a representative from the company witnessed the signing. Some even use a PenCam to record the signing and offer the video verification on CD.

• Know how much to pay: Get a sense of the current market value for memorabilia by searching Completed Listings. The results will tell you how much similar items sold for on eBay Australia in the past 14 days.

Always use common sense while you shop and stay away from items that seem too good to be true.

Popular Types of Sports Memorabilia

Popular Types of Sports Memorabilia

Some sports memorabilia will fetch a higher price than other items. Expect to pay more for items signed by popular or Hall of Fame athletes, limited editions, items from big-name sporting events such as the Ashes, World Cup, and items in mint condition. Beside autographs, popular items include:

Official Licensed Merchandise

Score a deal on team jerseys, jumpers, jackets, t-shirts, shorts, scarves, hats, pins, keyrings, and other official licensed merchandise endorsed by a professional athletic association such as AFL, NRL, NBA, NASCAR and more. A sticker or tag indicates the licensing.

Limited Editions

Manufacturers can choose to produce a limited number of a certain item or allow a certain number of licensed autographed items to enter the marketplace. These limited editions display two sets of numbers. The higher number indicates the total number produced while the lower number indicates which one you (or a seller) have. Limited editions often come with a COA, even if they do not have an autograph.

Collectables

Other items, such as game-used items and signed replicas, also qualify as "collectable."

• Cards: Collect trading cards featuring your favourite AFL, basketball, rugby league, cricket, soccer, baseball, rugby union, and gridiron superstars, past and present.

• Pieces of sports history: Own a piece of sport's history. eBay Australia has rookie cards, cricket balls, pennants, photos, plaques, and more.

• Vintage equipment: Collect old-school jerseys, badges and cards.

• Game souvenirs: Pick up souvenir programs, covers, and ticket stubs from historic games.

• Modern collectables: Decorate your cubicle, den, or office with posters, prints, lithographs, flags, banners, number plates, and mugs.

To determine how much you should expect to pay, search Completed Listings to find out how much similar items sold for on eBay Australia in the past 14 days.

Find Sports Memorabilia on eBay Australia

Find Sports Memorabilia on eBay Australia

Now that you know how to buy, narrowing down item listings to the memorabilia you want shouldn't take much time. Go the Sports Memorabilia portal and click the link for the category that interests you most. Options include AFL, Rugby League, Motor Racing, Basketball, Cricket, Soccer, Rugby Union, Summer and Winter Games, Horse Racing and more.

• Categories: Links in each Categories list, located on the left side of a page, will help you narrow down item listings to the products you want. For example, if you click Cricket, you'll find further links to Signed Memorabilia, Unsigned Memorabilia, Merchandise and Trading Cards. Keep clicking on these category links until you run out of options that apply to your search.

• Keyword Search: Let eBay Australia find items for you by entering keywords into the search box. For example, if you want a Michael Jordan basketball card, type "jordon card" (without quotation marks) into the search box. Visit eBay Australia's Search Tips page for more advice about searching with keywords.

If you can't seem to find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Australia community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save your search on My eBay and eBay Australia will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy with Confidence

Buy with Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Australia and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Australia (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Australia are not covered by eBay Australia protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay Australia item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay Australia sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay Australia and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorised payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,500.

eBay Australia Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay Australia's quick and efficient resolution tools.

Need More Help?

Need More Help?

Visit our help pages or start a thread on one of our Community Discussion Boards - If you have a quick question that needs answering, try posting it on our community Answer Centre - there's bound to be a seasoned eBay Australia veteran with just the information you're looking for! 

Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

Buying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service.