So its the web for me. And for the most part, thats OK. After all, between ebay, Sportlots, Checkoutmycards, and the Beckett Marketplace, there is a much wider selection than the card shop, and prices are usually better too. But...
You knew there was going to be a "But..."
Here is my pet peeve. I buy cards and after a week the bubble mailer arrives (no PWE please!). I open it up and the card is inside. It's been placed in a penny sleeve, and then inside a toploader. So far, so good.
I start taking the card out, but can't. I realize the card holder has a piece (or several pieces) of tape across the top. Clear, sticky, messy tape. I scratch and tear to get the tape off and then get the card out.
But the card holder is a mess. Its got bits of tape and sticky residue all across the top. And it's not going to be easy to reuse. YUK!
Here is my plea to all sellers.....stop using clear tape across the top of the top loader! It makes them very difficult to reuse. Instead, please use this...
....blue painter's tape. This stuff is perfect for the top loaders. Its sticky enough to keep the card secure, yet it peels off the top loader quickly and easily with NO MESS!!! The top loader can be used again.
Spread the word and spread the blue tape. No more sticky, messy top loaders. When you tape your top loaders, use blue tape!!
I never thought of using this tape before.I have a couple rolls left over from when I painted the interior of my house, I HATE having to throw away the unusable toploaders that stick together because of the scotch tape residue.
ReplyDeleteUse the blue tape!!!
ReplyDeleteI always use blue tape. Other bloggers taught me to do that. It's great.
ReplyDeleteYeah, blue tape rules. Like Ryan, I throw away toploaders that are too sticky... and then recycle the the decent ones as my "shippers".
ReplyDeleteTry WD40 to remove the residue in the meantime!
ReplyDeleteOr buy 100 team bags for $1. Sheesh!
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the painters tape is that it's more expensive then the regular tape. The sellers job is to get you the card you paid for in good condition, as cheaply as possible. It's not his job to give you a free toploaded for you to reuse.
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to do this after receiving some cards this way (great idea!), but I think even regular masking tape will be just as easily removed with no stickum left behind.
ReplyDelete100 team set bags for a buck? All this time I've been paying $3 and not questioning it. I've been ripped off! I HATE tape of any kind anywhere near my cards. I like the method of stuff as much as you can into a team set bag, or putting said bag around a single card in a top loader. I save and reuse team set bags (because I pay so much for them) and if the sticky stuff is gone I use a piece of scotch tape to seal it. I never can find the blue tape when I am shipping... Great post! I will keep this in mind when I get your package ready next week!
ReplyDeleteI'm in agreement with Section 36. When I ship 30 or so packages a month, if not 40-50, I am worried about getting mint cards to the receiver not saving them $.12 on a toploader. I also use toploaders for rigidity these days.
ReplyDeleteI use masking tape, it comes off just as easily as painter's tape and costs less. Also, tape sticky can be removed by vigorous rubbing with a laundry dryer softener sheet. I use the old ones my wife is tossing. Presto! Like new toploader. No oil (WD40) and no waste (tossing toploader).
ReplyDeleteSpiff...I'll have to give the dryer sheet a try. Sounds like an interesting idea.
ReplyDelete