Question regarding shipping cards

[gysot]

I don't usually TTM cards...I prefer photos, but I occaionally will do a card if I can't find a photo. Today I went to drop off a few envelops and the post office told me that I had to pay 20 cents extra per envelope because the top loader I had would screw up their sorter and ruin my envelope or others. Has anyone ever experienced this at the post office?

I like using top loaders because it keeps the card in good shape. I've tried just cardboard and I've received the card back damaged.

Thanks

Dave

[tigsfan]

Most likely you won't get any responses as people do not use top loaders when sending cards. This is because players will sign that instead of the card (from what I've heard more often than the card being damaged. I would recommend two index cards as it won't be rigid and catch in their sorters.

[RockiesFan33]

Agreed. I've sent thousands of cards TTM and have never used a top loader. There really isn't a reason to do it. And, the drawbacks to using one (even a penny sleeve for that matter) greatly outweigh any possible benefit. A pair of ICs in the SASE work just fine. And, you may get a sig or two on the ICs. Always a nice bonus. With a toploader, you run the risk of it tearing the envelope (not uncommon), the player signing the TL (rare), smearing the signature when putting the card back in the TL (not uncommon), or the player not even using the TL when returning the card (common).

Stick with a pair of index cards. You'll have better results all around.

[gysot]

Use just basic index cards (like reciepe cards)? I would have thought they were to flimsy.

[chrisborene]

have to agree with using the index cards, use to use toploaders but it has been worth using just a few index cards on each side of the card or cards you send ,and ive had one card with one bad corner that way.

[DeadHorse]

Once again, folks. I have received back 141 successes, one signed sleeve. I have a very good looking collection of cards that have not been bent, beat up, etc. The cards that come back without the sleeve (by the signers choice) always look worse than the ones that come back in my top loader. I refuse to believe that sending with a top loader has "drawbacks".

[gysot]

Once again, folks. I have received back 141 successes, one signed sleeve. I have a very good looking collection of cards that have not been bent, beat up, etc. The cards that come back without the sleeve (by the signers choice) always look worse than the ones that come back in my top loader. I refuse to believe that sending with a top loader has "drawbacks".

Have you ever had to pay added postage (more than a stamp)?

[DeadHorse]

The only time I added more postage (better safe than sorry, right?) was when I mailed out 3 cards to Grady Sizemore (still no response- in fairness, I did name my son after him) and Craig Stammen (local guy- signed for me and my boys); I sent with two stamps on each envelope. Most of the time I mail 1 card, sometimes 2 if I know the person typically will sign 2.

[ChrisR]

If you don't feel and index is sturdy enough just use scrap cardboard like cereal boxes, and cut them to size. I do that and it works perfect.

If you don't have any scrap buy a poster board and cut it to size. I get either fifteen 4x8s, or five 8x12s from each piece, and if you use the smaller envelopes I'd imagine you can get 40+.

[arfmax]

gysot-Yes, I have heard this before. In my situation, I use two index cards taped together, however, the key thing is that I write on the envelope "Do Not Bend". That is what sets the red flag off for the post office, and recently, one of the clerks said it needed to go as non-machinable with a surcharge, because if you write Do Not Bend, it is non-machinable. I told him that I had been doing it this way for years and hadn't had a problem, and just mailed it anyway.

I've never had a return marked as Postage Due, even though I write Do Not Bend on the return envelope as well.

-arfmax