autograph_fanatic Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I've just checked out the Autographica site and was astounded that they are now asking for an extra £5 for a personalization on autographs. This, to me, is nothing more than a RIP-OFF! I've pre-ordered in the past and the prices at e.g. £15, INCLUDED a personalization if you wished back then. I've no objection to paying the £2 P&P fee, but to now ask people for an £5 if they want a dedication (on top of the already £15 signature fee) is just out of order. What do you reckon people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Showmasters Admin showmasters Posted January 16, 2010 Showmasters Admin Share Posted January 16, 2010 Hello everyone I reckon it is a very fair system we now have in place. If you want an autograph personalised it takes us twice as long to get it done. We have to make sure the right dedication goes on the right photo. We then have to of course pay someone to get all these done in the first place. If you have ever gone around the entire show for two days getting literally hundreds of autographs all personalised to different people on different photos you will know just how difficult the whole process is. One further thing to remember is this. If you pre order you do not have to pay admission to the show and why penalise our regular attendees by charging the same price. After all those people attending have to pay for travel, Hotel and food during their stay. If you really want an autograph from someone and do not want to travel to get it then the preorder system is right for you. Last show i personally posted out hundreds of preorders with no complaints so i guess we must be doing something right. Dave phillips 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dufresne Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 When MSPG did the preorders, they charged a fee whether it was personalised or not ! That's no criticism of MSPG, just an observation. I've seen dozens of threads on here over the years, people asking strangers to help them out and offering recompense - what's the difference when the organisers offer it directly ? Dave makes a perfect argument (don't tell him I said so but). Get fifty undedicated sigs from a guest and come back later and get fifty dedicated - it will take MUCH longer ! Invest your own money and energy to attend in person, or get someone else to do it - but you won't find many doing it FOC ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
18blue78 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 £5 ain't that bad. I was recently looking at the details for a sports autograph show in the USA. To have an item personalized, while you are attending the show, by the biggest named guest would cost you an additional $125. And yes, that's on top of what you'd have to pay for the autograph in the first place. At current exchange rates that is roughly an extra £77!!! The average price for personalization at the show, depending on how famous/successful the guest was, is around $50. £5 extra to have someone obtain a personalized item for you is not really that much. (BLOODY HELL!!! Is that me defending paying more for autographs?! I must be getting soft in my old age ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avengers7 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 (edited) I have used the new pre ordering system which is excellent - autos are normally sent out within days of the show, however, I have to agree with autograph fanatic about the extra £5 for a personalization. Hence the reason, when I pre order I never have a personalization. In my case though, I can't afford to go to all events and the pre ordering system is the only way to get autos at events I am not attending. Edited January 16, 2010 by reddragon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruffy Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 £5 is surely a cheap fee to pay to have something personalised as it is bound to take more time than a mass generated autograph. I reckon one needs to add up the savings made on NOT attending in person , and the time one would have taken to stand in queues against paying £5 for the priviledge of someone doing it all for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Showmasters Admin showmasters Posted January 16, 2010 Showmasters Admin Share Posted January 16, 2010 Actually guys the pre orders are not given to a crew member. And i believe that someone normally me still needs to punch all this information into a computer and physically pack the photos into the correct packaging. This cannot be done on a computer and a computer cannot walk to the post office and post them. I have yet to meet one that can operate a sellotape dispenser like i can anyhow. ! So the bottom line is if you want a preordered photo inscribed to you. Pay the extra £5 or you need to come along in person and get it yourself. If not use our pre order service in the usual way. Dave Phillips 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonsanddaffodils Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I think it is a cracking service! eg A guaranteed Leslie auto with personalisation? If you cant afford to go to the event, think of all the money you save AND you can still get the auto! Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruffy Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Well said Dave , but hey if you find a computer that does all these magic things including going to post office , let me know , I could do with one in my house Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonsanddaffodils Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Could I have one too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Fooku Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I would also like a computer that skips the light fandango and turns cartwheels 'cross the floor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonsanddaffodils Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Could it be singing as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Fooku Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Perhaps we should leave the running of the shows to the experts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeDonovan Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 (edited) I would also like a computer that skips the light fandango and turns cartwheels 'cross the floor I'd like an encounter with Lucy Lawless that is not only a) highly sexually charged, but is also b ) at least 90 minutes long and involves a three course meal and a couple of bottles of (good) red wine. Dave please arrange this for a forthcoming Autographica event. Edited January 17, 2010 by MikeDonovan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autograph_fanatic Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 Dave/Showmasters, Can I ask why this year you have started charging a staggering £5 extra for personalization? I mean that's all it is, PERSONALIZATION!! As I said before, I personally think this is way too steep and over the top, as last year I pre-ordered and paid £15 for an autograph which included a dedication back then (oh happy days!) Is it anything to do with the recession or owt?!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Fooku Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 (edited) Hello everyone I reckon it is a very fair system we now have in place. If you want an autograph personalised it takes us twice as long to get it done. We have to make sure the right dedication goes on the right photo. We then have to of course pay someone to get all these done in the first place. If you have ever gone around the entire show for two days getting literally hundreds of autographs all personalised to different people on different photos you will know just how difficult the whole process is. One further thing to remember is this. If you pre order you do not have to pay admission to the show and why penalise our regular attendees by charging the same price. After all those people attending have to pay for travel, Hotel and food during their stay. If you really want an autograph from someone and do not want to travel to get it then the preorder system is right for you. Last show i personally posted out hundreds of preorders with no complaints so i guess we must be doing something right. Dave phillips Actually guys the pre orders are not given to a crew member. And i believe that someone normally me still needs to punch all this information into a computer and physically pack the photos into the correct packaging. This cannot be done on a computer and a computer cannot walk to the post office and post them. I have yet to meet one that can operate a sellotape dispenser like i can anyhow. ! So the bottom line is if you want a preordered photo inscribed to you. Pay the extra £5 or you need to come along in person and get it yourself. If not use our pre order service in the usual way. Dave Phillips Dave's already answered this question twice in this thread alone (see above) and I believe Jason has covered this off in various other topics on other sections of the forum. Edited January 24, 2010 by Count Fooku Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Showmasters Admin showmasters Posted February 2, 2010 Showmasters Admin Share Posted February 2, 2010 Dave/Showmasters, Can I ask why this year you have started charging a staggering £5 extra for personalization? I mean that's all it is, PERSONALIZATION!! As I said before, I personally think this is way too steep and over the top, as last year I pre-ordered and paid £15 for an autograph which included a dedication back then (oh happy days!) Is it anything to do with the recession or owt?!! well this little gem again wow i think this is the forth time now ok lets explain we used to let MSPG do this job as we did not want to have to provide this SERVICE and felt someone else could do this leaving us to run the events . well after some time we felt that this SERVICE could be looked after us so we took it back under our wing for all the events Derek at 10th planet looks after it all for all the Showmasters 10th planet & Massive events shows and Dave looks after this for the Autographica events we also have a really great crew member to help out at each event to make sure all the items get singed so that's who dose the work now to explain why we provide a SERVICE and we charge for this , THAT'S IT it takes TIME to pack them up which costs money it takes TIME to get the right pen , right photo, and text if there is any , which also cost money it takes TIME to put all the orders together and not forget any of them now also there is another big thing not to forget we do not want you to just buy this on line through the mail , we run event we run them so fans get to meet the guest , we want these event to keep running and that means fans going to the events and buying tickets now some of you may know that we run some of the events at a loss , Autographica is one of these events , we do not do this to get rich quick or make loads of money , we do it so we get to meet the guest we want to meet to , so we provide this pre order SERVICE to help the fans that really cannot come to the events we run , but we really want everyone that can come to the events to just attend and keep them alive for the future . also when you buy an auto though the pre order SERVICE remember that you do not pay any entrance fee or travel costs so really you are getting a really good deal for your £5 on top to get it personalised . i just want to say is this we offer this SERVICE and no one is making anyone buy anything at all if you think the £5 extra you pay for your autograph or the extra £5 for the dedication then please do not buy it ether get someone else to get it for you or come to the event as that's what we do run events for fans that really want to meet the guest to come to we will still offer this Service for everyone as we do know some of you really cannot get to the event as we all know what that is like so we will keep this going as i know there are many very happy fans out there that use this service that are also very happy with what we do . i hope that this clears all this up for the last time thank you for taking the time to read this Jason 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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