I'm 50/50 on this. For bands like The Maine, it's really fun trying to get a few vinyl signed afterwards at each show. I do not agree with the concept of paid meet-and-greets (you can thank The Maine for sharing that philosophy), so I've resigned myself to the fact that I will never have something personally signed by arena-level bands like Deftones or Blink-182. If there's a signed variant of an album preorder or the like, I'll buy those. The same goes for artists like Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift. There's zero chance i will ever meet either of those human beings in my lifetime, and if i did, it's not like I'm carrying a vinyl around for them to sign randomly anyways. Paying a few extra bucks for a CD insert that's signed by a pop star is worth it to me. I believe my signed Folklore CD was approx $12. I even bought an extra for a friend's Christmas gift at that price.
I'm not paying extra for an autograph, but the shop near me usually has extra signed copies after they do an in-store signing and I'll definitely pick those up since there's no markup. Got the last two Joyce Manor albums and the new The Format album like that. Also got to meet Blink and get One More Time signed with the purchase of the album there. I think this is all the signed ones in my collection: Thrice - Beggars whole band As Tall As Lions - Self Titled signed by Dan Joyce Manor - I Used To Go To This Bar whole band Joyce Manor - 40 Oz signed by Barry Blink 182 - One More Time whole band LS Dunes - Past Lives whole band Mayer Hawthorne/Shintaro Sakamoto - In A Phantom Mood / Wine Glass 7" signed by both The Format - Boycott Heaven whole band Jimmy Eat World - My Best Theory/Stop 7" whole band Armor For Sleep - What To Do When You Are Dead signed by Ben
I've started collecting signed albums over the last few years, but I won't pay more than like $10-15 extra unless it's from a band/album that's really important to me.
I spent too much time waiting by tour buses after shows to no avail to get autographs in person. I’m fine spending a little extra money, as long as it’s not too crazy. I still haven’t forgiven Tom and Travis for saying after the Box Car Racer show in Cleveland that they would be right back to sign autographs and then they jetted out of there and never came back. It was a real Eminem “Stan” moment.
I probably should have noted on Discogs somewhere as I added signed records to my collection because I can’t remember how many I have. Maybe less than 10? None of them cost extra and I’d never pay more.
I have about 100 signed records. I don’t pay for them unless it’s like the situation above where my local store gets signed copies at an in store and doesn’t up charge.
For me getting a signature from someone is a reminder of that specific experience, and so I only get signatures if it's one I got myself. I also prefer to get posters signed so I can frame them, rather than something I'm going to keep touching like a CD or LP. That said, I think I have a single signed LP, from an Against Me! show that didn't have a poster available.
I got a "free" signed Sleater Kinney at a show (included w price of ticket). Before I started collecting vinyl I got a Sasami CD signed after a show. I got a signed Laufey picture book on Independent Bookstore Day. I have a few books I got used that were already signed, which feels especially weird when it's dedicated to the previous owner. Even when I get a book signed for myself (back when I used to go to poetry readings in college, or now when I meet a comic author or artist) I usually don't like having the autograph addressed to anybody.
I think I've only got two signed records? Silverstein - When Broken is Easily Fixed with a limited silkscreen cover which also happens to be the very first vinyl i bought...I remember going to a show back in 03 or 04 and thought it would be cool to have them sign. The second is Pianos Become The Teeth- Old Pride, got that signed at Ruiner's final show.
It also never hurts to ask bands to sign stuff if you buy from them directly. I asked Jonah Matranga to sign a copy of the Far record I got from his shop and he happily obliged.
The only signature I have are Matt Pryor on a copy of STWHA and that was after meeting him and nerding out over that record. Buying a signed record that was signed in mass quantities in a hotel room or something seems silly.
My signed blink Untitled album is the first thing I’m grabbing if there’s a fire in my home. Getting that signed in person (each member individually) was almost like a full time job.
Urban outfitters variant on sale for NFG listen up! https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/new-found-glory-listen-up-uo-exclusive-lp2
Speaking of signed vinyl...The Sound Garden record store has a bunch of Silversun Pickups signed records available at cost here: Artist Signed Vinyl | The Sound Garden | Fiercely Independent Since 19