first chance to get a jersey with the new captains patch

[RKGIBSON]

If there were 10 Champ Bailey jerseys that could be verified as real on Ebay, this jersey certainly would not be worth $4K. I do not know where you get a real Bailey jersey if you want one.

I will use the Dolphins as a example. I am a Zac Thomas fan. I have bought 3 from NFL auctions. The first one was more expensive that the next and the last one less yet. I see them for sale all the time now. The going price seems to be about $600.00 to $700.00. When I bought my first one I paid $1500.00. At the time, I was glad to pay that and still enjoy owning it. If the Broncos put out a Bailey jersey every game or two this year the prices would go down. The more real items that are out there the lower the price. Is buying the first one on the market economically smart, I don't now. It just gets down to wheather you want it. It may be the only one this year.

I bid on this jersey. I placed a bid at what I wanted to have in it, it was not enough today. If Champ was one of my favorite players I would have paid more.

I have gotten, what I beleive, is a great deal on jerseys before. Others think the price I paid is crazy. I see others pay prices that I would not dream of. Just different likes and desires. Not wrong.

Jake51. Please post good picture when you get your jerseys.

Mvandor. Fraud is exactly why I pay more for a item with a history that an be verified. I have said it here before, I would rather have one real jersey than 20 that might be real.

Roger

[RKGIBSON]

Jake51,

I bought a Issac Bruce, from the Panthers game, in the first NFL 911 Auction. I have probably bought 50 jerseys and helmets from them over the years.

To answer your question, they do ship within a couple of days. I have had a few issues with them in the last year and a half. They changed who runs it or something. I have received the wrong item, but eventually got the correct thing. I have seen several mistakes in listing or infomation that was inaccurate when the item arrived.

The jersey will arrive in a evidence bag. Usually when you open it you'll take a step back. I cut the label off the bag and save the shipping tags to prove where it came from. I wash he jersey that I get. Attached are some photos of jersey that I have washed. Very little is lost except the smell. The one on the floor is before and the manniquin is after. The others are after.

This has been discussed a few time, some don't want them washed. I prefer they are not washed before I get them. For the long term preservation they need to be clean of germs and such. I wash them in a way that it leaves most of the stains. I feel it make the jersey no less real.

Roger

[Jake51]

Roger,

That is an amazing collection you have! Thanks for the information on NFL Auctions [hopefully they don’t have any mix ups on this go round!].

Is there a specific setting you use on your washing machine to get rid of the smell but preserve the grass/field stains? Both of the ones I picked up have so very distinct markings – the Bailey has big grass stain on the shoulder and the Cutler has a field mark down the back with a grass stain on the 6 – I want to make sure I don’t wash either of those out but my wife and daughter already are reluctant to come in my den because of the ‘gamer’ smell so I better not add to it!

To your other comments, I’ll post pics as soon as I get the jerseys. To the other reason that I picked them up, there was an element of them being an investment as well [not for me as I don’t sell but maybe my daughter when I’m long gone..] as I believe Champ has a real shot at the HOF and this would be his first home/regular season jersey with the Captain’s C on it – granted the value will dip if the Broncos sell more of his jerseys this year but I can still prove this is the first home one. To the Cutler, like I mentioned, if he has the career I hope he does then I feel it could be a good investment to have this jersey. Again, none of this really matters to me as I collect for the pure enjoyment of it but looking long term I’d want them to at least hold their value should she want to sell them someday.

Thanks again.

Tom

[jayt1234]

I got an Akin Ayodele G/U Uniform fro Game Exclusives and the smell of that jersey was terrible....I lightly hand washed it with normal laundry detergent in the sink, rolled it up twice in two large beach towels then layed it out flat on our front deck to air dry and that helped give it a better fragrance, and I did not lose any of the game used features....But I would be careful because you do not know how much could be lost...Also I got into this hobby in January of last year an I am almost 100% certain that many of those bidding on the autographed "authentic" Jersey's believe that they are "game used" or "game ssued"...I would have thought back then that I was receiveing something from the lockeroom...I would think the auction shoul make note that these are pro shop jersey's that have since been autographed.

Jay

[jayt1234]

You are corect and in good company for collecting just for the enjoyment of it, rather than the investment. I could justify spending any amount of money on something I enjoy knowing that i am probally not ever going to get a return on my investement. There are alot better certainty in a lot of other investments if that was someones objective.

Jay

[808jerseys]

Tom,
I wash my jerseys the way Jay would do his, but also add WHITE VINEGAR. Let soak for 1hour. Smell will be gone.
Good Luck,
REX

[otismalibu]

Again I am pretty new to this hobby, but I cannot believe the prices some people pay for some stuff.

For many of the big ticket purchases, this seems to be a faith based industry.

Fiat money.

How often do you see an auction house offer a big ticket item, with some sort of visual evidence to substantiate the claim? I'm not talking a photo match, but simply a style match. And when contrary visual evidence is presented on this forum, how often is it addressed?

I called GFC once about a jersey that had been questioned on the old GUF site. Mr. Russek simply told me "the jersey is good". This was an offering with atypical lettering and I was looking for a little more proof. Gotta give them some props, because they will at least take a call or reply with an email. I've never once received a reply from AMI.

If something has a letter from a major auction house, someone is going to believe it's the real deal...whether or not it is or not. And if that buyer subsequently has doubts about his/her purchase, they can rest easy knowing there is another rube not doing their homework who will most likely happily purchase the item.

As long as there are people who have confidence in the currency being passed around, it will always have some value.

[RKGIBSON]

I use the handwash setting on my washer. I put it on the smallest load setting with 1 tablespoon of detergent. I also add about 4 table spoons of salt. I was told years ago that this can be used to set colors in new clothes the first time they are washed. Does it do any good, who knows, but I do it. I usually let the jersey soak at some point in the cycle. I always pull it out between the wash and the spin hand rinse it. If it still smells, I run it through the handwash cycle again not using any more soap.

One more thing I always photo all my jerseys, in detail, before they are washed. If there is ever any question that this is the jersey it can be proven. I have only had one that washing it effected it enough to bring it in question. It was caked in mud from a rainy game. Before and after attached.


Roger

[Jake51]

Thanks everyone for all of the good advice. I'll be honest Roger, seeing that last example you posted makes me nervous to wash mine - I understand why they have to be washed, just hate to lose any of the 'use'. The idea of taking pictures of them when they first show up is a good one, I'll do that and post them to the forum.

Thanks again.

Tom

[RKGIBSON]

Tom,

The keep in mind, the Thomas jersey was caked with mud. That is a lot different than yours or any that I posted pictures of. When I opened the bag there must have been a shovel full of dried dirt that had fallen of the jersey. I took the jersey out and used a hose to get the worst off it before it could be put in the washing machine. The Thomas is still stained brown from the mud. Does anyone thing I should not have cleaned it?
I would not buy a muddy jersey like that again unless it was something really significant that I just had to have. I like to see the game use also, enough so the photos of the game let you know that is the jersey.

At the end of the day its your jersey and choice. If you do not want to wash it don't.

Roger