I need some support or maybe i need a reality check

[gsy971]

really got into this TTM thing with my 9 yr old. I make him write out a small letter and off we send it with a cheapo card and SASE. We started in mid Oct '15 and have sent out roughly 43 TTM's since then to bb and fb mostly retired stars and semi star players. We've had 11 success and a handful of RTS and couple of straight out fails (preprinted card/ltr).

I have been doing homework and checking which players do TTM and what addresses presently work, but it seems we've been on a dry spell as of late and haven't gotten anything for about 2.5 weeks. These cards go in my son's PC folder and we don't plan on selling anything and i've told him to cherish these cards and hand them down to his kids. He worked hard on hand writing these letters so i am really pulling for more success. We check the mail box everyday and literally run to the mail box. I tell my son that if we got a successes everyday then the auto ttm cards won't be special and be patient. I tell my son and myself 1-2 months ain't a long time to be waiting and i guess we have no other option but to wait some more. I just need some reassurance from the gang here and would like to hear their TTM stories. I know nothing is 100% but i would like to bat over .500 at least.

I must say that our success have been HoF players and/or stars from the past. I thought about it and think that for the guys like R. Yount who sends pre-printed explanation cards, it would be easy for them to sign a whole bunch of cards at one time then send them off as the ttm's are requested.

[gsy971]

i shouldn't say i "make" my son write a letter. rather i advise him that a personal note would seem to be much more appreciated and is worth the effort.

[r0yals2012]

Waiting is the name of the game unfortunately. I've had ttms come back after almost 3 years (Yoenis Cespedes and Jeff Francoeur)! Never give up on a Ttm!

[BAM1984]

If TTM was a sure thing, everyone would be doing it. I have outstanding TTM requests approaching and over a year old.

I do like your advice to your son as these are special cards that hold a dear meaning because he may look back at them and remember time spent with dad.

Keep going and eventually your requests may be met. I prefer TTM because it provides a means for all those duplicate cards and gives me a chance to graph the players I couldn't as a kid.

[cyberer]

If you want to do TTMs, you will have weeks (months) of dry spells. It's the name of the game. I even used to think my mailman was stealing them, who knows.

I quit doing it for that reason because I decided that it personally was no longer worth it for me.

This was coupled with my moving to Philly where I have had tons of time over the years to graph in person. I found that I enjoy my in person graphs way more than my TTM ones, because there is NEVER an authenticity question.

So, to answer your question, there's nothing you're doing wrong- you just have to decide if it's right for you.

[PackerBum9786]

Like the rest of these guys have said waiting is the name of the game. I know right now I am on like a 2 month dry spell but, still send out when I can.

Sometimes you will have your dry spell then 1 day you get like 2 or 3 of them and they just keep flooding in then you hit a dry spell its just a cycle

[gsy971]

thanks for the advice gang. problem is that i am out here in hawaii and really don't have many chances to get in-person autos. if you asked me a year ago i would have said it wasn't a true auto unless you got them yourself in-person, but now i dig the autos that the card companies stick in packs and my son and i have discovered the TTM thing. The anticipation is great though and as soon as we get home, my boy runs to the mailbox to check if we got anything back

[JKadlitz]

I'd be happy to send your son an auto. PM me. I'm sure it will be his first WFA women's football auto. :-) Jen

[indyreds]

I'd be happy to send your son an auto. PM me. I'm sure it will be his first WFA women's football auto. :-) Jen

That was very nice of you!

I would say to maximize your results to look at players who return close to 100% in the TTM Manager and there are some who return quickly as well. It is important to mail to those who you are fans of but I can usually find someone from one of the teams a collect who return in a good fashion.

[gsy971]

That was very nice of you!

I would say to maximize your results to look at players who return close to 100% in the TTM Manager and there are some who return quickly as well. It is important to mail to those who you are fans of but I can usually find someone from one of the teams a collect who return in a good fashion.

As I said in my OP, I do try to do my homework 1st to see who has a good return and every once in a while throw out a long shot. Since many present bb and fb players my son knows are current players and mostly don't have the time to sign TTM, 90% have gone to retired players whom I've grown up with and I try to show my son via youtube, 30 for 30, or Football Life who these players are.

Its just that it has been a little dry lately, except that we just got Gale Sayers, Chris Spielman, and Charlie Joiner this past week so I guess it is picking up a bit. We'll see