In most categories you bid on an object. Here you bid on an object and a story, and the story is the part that can be wrong.
The question that matters
"How do you know?"
Ask it plainly and listen to the shape of the answer:
- "I was there, here is the photograph" — the strongest answer there is
- "It came from the player's family, and here is what I was told" — real provenance, worth weighing
- "It has a certificate from X" — worth whatever X is worth, so ask who X is
- "It came in a lot and I am selling it as unverified" — honest, and should be priced as unverified
- A confident "it is genuine" with nothing behind it — the weakest answer, however certain it sounds
A seller who says "I cannot confirm it" is more trustworthy than one who cannot imagine doubt.
Worn, issued or replica
Ask which. The three words are the biggest single price difference in this category, and a replica described as match-worn is the most common serious misdescription here.
What else to ask to see
- The signature close up, still, in even light
- Shirt labels — maker, size, any player or squad numbering
- A bat's maker marks and any stickers
- The certificate itself, with the issuer readable
What protection does and does not cover
If a replica arrives sold as match-worn, or a shirt arrives that is not the one shown, that is not as described, and buyer protection covers it for seven days from delivery.
A signature you accepted as unverified and now doubt is not covered, because nothing was misdescribed. That is exactly why the price you pay should match the certainty you were given.
Questions people ask
Is a certificate proof?
No. It is a statement by somebody, and its weight is their reputation. Ask who issued it.
Can Metzee authenticate a signature?
No. Metzee handles the money, the delivery and the dispute if an item is not as described. Authentication is a specialist job and not something any marketplace settles from a video. What Metzee will not do.
Should I ever bid on an unverified signed item?
Yes, at unverified prices, if you want the object. Problems come from paying verified prices for unverified things.
More: provenance, and why it matters, how to find a seller you trust.