Is scotch tape a bad choice to tape a toploader?

[RGM81]

I usually don’t tape my top loaders at all. I just use the right size loader for the card, pop into a team bag, seal it up and good to go. Never had a problem in all my years.

Receiving...as long as there’s not a pound of tape binding everything together I’m not gonna complain. We’ve all got our “PC top loaders” and our “trader top loaders” so I generally don’t get too worked up if I get an old one in the mail.


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[Leafsman]

Well I have to remove the tape to get the card out to examine it to ensure its quality before I add it into my collection. Nothing worse than dirty finger smudges and surface scratches. And unfortunately, there are far too many dirty collectors out there who are crooks and scammers and they will try to pull a fast one on you. Plus it will have to go into one of my penny sleeves and my top-loaders because all my penny sleeves and top-loaders must match!

Your picture is a fine example of how to do it for your personal collection if that is what suits you. But for me, I would never want that top-loader in my personal collection once scotch tape hits it. It would just drive me nuts and keep me up all night.

And to add to my previous post, upon further recollection, the UD mailed 2001-02 Ice cards were simply the card in the faux flimsy plastic top-loader. The cards were not put in penny sleeves prior to being sloppily placed in the top-loaders. A simple penny sleeve probably would have prevented the scotch tape smudge from being on the card. But that is surely too much to ask of UD.

Seems like you're very particular with your cards. I applaud your vigilance.

I'm wondering why you don't collect graded cards? You wouldn't have to go through all this. You wouldn't have to handle the card to inspect it; you wouldn't have to worry about the case being in pristine condition; and you wouldn't have to worry about residue at all.

Not criticizing, just wondering

[Leafsman]

I think this thread is veering away from the original question which was is using scotch tape bad because it damages the card.

If done correctly scotch taping the top loader should not damage the card. However, it does pretty much ruin the top loader for reuse (even if only using a small amount of tape, there's always some residue left behind). My personal preference is to use painters tape so that the top loader remains in pristine condition if the tape is removed. If I get a card in a top loader that has been taped with scotch tape, either the scotch tape remains where it is (and I can't take the card out to inspect it) or the top loader then gets reused if I'm sending out a lower value card to someone (if it's a high value card, it deserves the high value treatment of a pristine top loader or one touch). But again, it is just my personal preference NOT because scotch tape damages the card.

I have no issue with my thread pointing in this direction. With all due respect, you veered into the "scotch tape vs painter's tape" side discussion too!

[creasecollector]

I usually use scotch tape, as it's the tape roll I have stored with all my card supplies. Sometimes though I'll use painters tape when I have it, but mostly scotch.

When receiving, sure, scotch might leave some residue on the toploader, but to me it's not that big of a deal. I store most of my stuff in a binder anyways, plus I have a lot of clean toploaders to use when needed.

[Stryfex]

I just came here to say whoa - a 5 page thread about scotch tape hahaha

[dudical]

In my experience the scotch tape does not ruin the card at all, but it does ruin the top loader. Which of course is a waste of a quarter every time you waste one or you can spend a couple minutes and some gu-gone but I have too many to do that. That being said, anytime I get a top loader that was used with scotch tape, I keep it as a reinforcement / decoy type of added protection for other cards that I send. If you are going to use scotch tape, use it AFTER you put a team bag over the top loader, then you can lightly pinch the top loader and tape it down just fine.

[Therealmahoney]

Ya i don’t like when scotch tape is used for the same reason about the residue on the top loader, but it really is no big deal. I use painters tape to send. But to the main point, I’ve never seen a card damaged by scotch tape, and I have sent and received hundreds of cards.

[Leafsman]

In my experience the scotch tape does not ruin the card at all, but it does ruin the top loader. Which of course is a waste of a quarter every time you waste one or you can spend a couple minutes and some gu-gone but I have too many to do that. That being said, anytime I get a top loader that was used with scotch tape, I keep it as a reinforcement / decoy type of added protection for other cards that I send. If you are going to use scotch tape, use it AFTER you put a team bag over the top loader, then you can lightly pinch the top loader and tape it down just fine.

@dudical if you have too many toploaders, I'll gladly take some. Please go through my traders and choose something you like in exchange.

[Leafsman]

I just came here to say whoa - a 5 page thread about scotch tape hahaha

I've opened Pandora's Box, starting this thread!

[Maggot]

While we're on the subject of pet peeves ;)
Besides ruining top loaders with Scotch tape, my other pet peeves are shipping in jewel cases and shipping cards in just a team bag w/o toploader. Both nearly always result in some level of corner damage, and frequently result in more significant damage.