Since today is “Black Friday”, I thought it would be appropriate to republish an editorial that I posted last year as the holiday season approached, warning consumers against the purchase of television and movie props, costumes, and other assets as gifts for loved ones. Essentially, the purchase of any type of memorabilia in which authenticity is a factor is a very risky proposition, especially for non-hobbyists.
A cursory review of the applicable categories on eBay reveal that there are those who appear to perhaps be capitalizing on the prospect of uninformed non-collectors seeking entertainment memorabilia for friends and loved ones. Additionally, it is my opinion that eBay as a marketplace has become more problematic over the past year, as eBay has cut back on its Trust and Safety staff, and the “Original” memorabilia categories appear to have limited oversight with regards to identifying and removing listings offering material for sale which is questionable to fraudulent.
As an alternative to taking a risk of buying memorabilia, a few of the reputable prop dealers do offer gift certificates, which would at least allow the recipient the ability to find a piece that meets their own personal standards of provenance and authenticity.
Below is the editorial published last year:
A Case Against Buying “Original” TV & Movie Props, Costumes, and Memorabilia as Gifts
This will probably be the shortest editorial I’ve written, as it is an easy argument to make. My view is – and this is something I’ve personally stressed to friends and family for years – buying an “original” movie or television prop or costume as a gift is a well-intended but very bad idea. 
The fundamentals of non-hobbyists buying a presumably authentic piece of memorabilia in a marketplace rife with fraud – especially during the Christmas and holiday season – is too dangerous to warrant the risk.
As collectors and readers of the Original Prop Blog know well, the market is flooded with both “inconclusive” as well as fake and fraudulent pieces offered for sale, from the full range of selling outlets (eBay, prop dealers, auction houses, etc.). Aside from officially sanctioned studio resellers, no company or individual is a 100% safe place to buy from, in terms of being assured of authenticity.
Certificates of Authenticity (COAs) are most often not “guarantees” of anything, and even with those very few who offer money back guarantees, you must demonstrate the piece in question is inauthentic in order to enforce it, which is not always possible with inauthentic pieces.
Personally, the only thing that I can imagine that would be worse than being ripped off and sold fake goods through my own direct efforts is to have a friend or loved one get taken advantage of and defrauded in an attempt to do something nice for me.
Imagine opening a gift for Christmas or any other holiday or event only to realize someone has acquired a piece that is not what was described nor consistent with how it was marketed to them (i.e. not “original” and authentic).
Obviously, the only reaction one can have is to 1) outwardly react as though it is legitimate in order to not hurt the feelings of the one who made the gift, or 2) to identify it as fake and try to work together toward a resolution and refund, which may be challenging to impossible. In either event, it definitely turns a positive and giving exchange into something filled with negative emotion.
So in the event that someone stumbles across this article, who is not an active participant in the hobby, looking for a movie prop gift guide or gift-giving advice for their movie prop collector friend or loved one, I would urge you to reconsider, as the marketplace is truly too problematic for someone to come to terms with in trying to secure a gift or present for a fan of film and television. While there are certainly honest sellers with properly authenticated pieces, seeking some guidance from a third party would be prudent.
This is unfortunate, but I strongly recommend avoiding the temptation of buying an “original” movie prop or costume for a friend or family member without proper due diligence.
Jason De Bord