Protecting the returning card

jmyzell29 · 03-06-2014, 04:24 PM

Do you guys use anything to protect the signature upon return? I just received my first one back, ever, and the ink rubbed off a bit from the mailing process.
Is it too much to send the card in a penny sleeve and hope they take it out before they sign it? I don't see guys being that absent minded but they are busy so I could see that happening. Either that or not putting it back in the sleeve once signed.

Thoughts?

89transam · 03-06-2014, 06:26 PM

ive heard stories of the penny sleeve being signed.

I never use any protection for my cards I send, and I don't think I have ever had anything damaged, but a few have smudged. theres not really much to do to prevent it, even if you send it in a penny sleeve and they do take it out, theres a pretty good chance theyre gonna stick it right back in. which would probably make it smudge anyways.

centereacan06 · 03-06-2014, 06:51 PM

I'm sure if you sent to Pat Neshek or Brad Zeigler in a sleeve/toploader, they'd know what to do. Other players might either sign the sleeve or not sign at all.

BillyOcean · 03-06-2014, 07:28 PM

Phil Nevin signed my penny sleeve one time.

Jeremy Giambi didn't sign my card...

I found the most effective way to make sure the player doesn't smudge the card is to mention it in the letter toward the end....

Before, I'd say maybe 5-10 of my cards have been smudged and zero since I've done this.

Here's what I add to every letter I've sent. I've yet to receive a smudged card back from it.

"p.s. If it's not too much trouble, after signing my card, could you wait a few moments for everything to dry before putting it back in the plastic case? They have a bad tendency to smear autographs otherwise! Thanks again!"

I think the biggest pain for me now is the player signing the card and throwing away the top loader or not putting the card back in it. I've had some slight bends and ruined corners from that. It's annoying.

bronxbomber33 · 03-06-2014, 10:21 PM

Duke Snider signed the penny sleeve once when i sent to him. For the most part i do not use anything to protect the cards, I have had once or twice a soft corner come back but nothing too bad and once have had cards get ruined from them getting wet someplace after they had been signed, but even a penny sleeve would not have saved them.

SDcardguy24 · 03-06-2014, 10:21 PM

I don't use protection.

danmecum51 · 03-06-2014, 11:51 PM

I never use protection anymore. There becomes a point in a mans life when the threat is no longer there and he is comfortable putting it in with no protection.

jmyzell29 · 03-07-2014, 10:36 PM

I've never used protection either. However, if I had known they only cost a penny I might have thought twice about it.

Thanks for the answers guys.

Guntha17 · 03-07-2014, 10:53 PM

Simple method I use - put two blank index cards in the return envelope. Players never take them out and they seem to add some protection against the USPS machines.

Thicker cards get ruined in the USPS machines -- Wade Boggs signed 4 cards for me and the only one damaged on return was a Topps Triple Threads base card that had 'roller' marks on it from the postal processing machines.

Today I even received a '13 Heritage of Lonnie Chisenhall with a card corner that pierced the envelope -- all I have to say is the thicker Heritage stock held up and the card corner was only slightly dinged. Amazing.

03-06-2014, 04:24 PM	#1
jmyzell29 Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 739 justafewcards	Protecting the returning card Do you guys use anything to protect the signature upon return? I just received my first one back, ever, and the ink rubbed off a bit from the mailing process. Is it too much to send the card in a penny sleeve and hope they take it out before they sign it? I don't see guys being that absent minded but they are busy so I could see that happening. Either that or not putting it back in the sleeve once signed. Thoughts?

03-06-2014, 06:26 PM	#2
89transam Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 2,195	ive heard stories of the penny sleeve being signed. I never use any protection for my cards I send, and I don't think I have ever had anything damaged, but a few have smudged. theres not really much to do to prevent it, even if you send it in a penny sleeve and they do take it out, theres a pretty good chance theyre gonna stick it right back in. which would probably make it smudge anyways. __________________ collecting Robert Andino Mini Helmet Project 23/32 Teams http://www.blowoutcards.com/forums/football/611419-mini-helmet-project.html#post6424801 Im young by age, but Ive had my life figured out since I was 10.

03-06-2014, 07:28 PM	#4
BillyOcean Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 623	Phil Nevin signed my penny sleeve one time. Jeremy Giambi didn't sign my card... I found the most effective way to make sure the player doesn't smudge the card is to mention it in the letter toward the end.... Before, I'd say maybe 5-10 of my cards have been smudged and zero since I've done this. Here's what I add to every letter I've sent. I've yet to receive a smudged card back from it. "p.s. If it's not too much trouble, after signing my card, could you wait a few moments for everything to dry before putting it back in the plastic case? They have a bad tendency to smear autographs otherwise! Thanks again!" I think the biggest pain for me now is the player signing the card and throwing away the top loader or not putting the card back in it. I've had some slight bends and ruined corners from that. It's annoying. Last edited by BillyOcean; 03-06-2014 at 07:35 PM.

03-06-2014, 11:51 PM	#7
danmecum51 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5,100	I never use protection anymore. There becomes a point in a mans life when the threat is no longer there and he is comfortable putting it in with no protection. __________________ MAKE YOUR OWN CARDS! BUYING ALL TOMMY THORPE USA panini cards

03-06-2014, 06:51 PM	#3
centereacan06 Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Long Island Posts: 19,502 centereacan06 centereacan06	I'm sure if you sent to Pat Neshek or Brad Zeigler in a sleeve/toploader, they'd know what to do. Other players might either sign the sleeve or not sign at all.

03-06-2014, 10:21 PM	#5
bronxbomber33 Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 4,306 id_gas_memorabilia	Duke Snider signed the penny sleeve once when i sent to him. For the most part i do not use anything to protect the cards, I have had once or twice a soft corner come back but nothing too bad and once have had cards get ruined from them getting wet someplace after they had been signed, but even a penny sleeve would not have saved them.

03-06-2014, 10:21 PM	#6
SDcardguy24 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 9,263	I don't use protection.

03-07-2014, 10:36 PM	#8
jmyzell29 Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 739 justafewcards	I've never used protection either. However, if I had known they only cost a penny I might have thought twice about it. Thanks for the answers guys.

03-07-2014, 10:53 PM	#9
Guntha17 Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Albany, OH Posts: 36	Simple method I use - put two blank index cards in the return envelope. Players never take them out and they seem to add some protection against the USPS machines. Thicker cards get ruined in the USPS machines -- Wade Boggs signed 4 cards for me and the only one damaged on return was a Topps Triple Threads base card that had 'roller' marks on it from the postal processing machines. Today I even received a '13 Heritage of Lonnie Chisenhall with a card corner that pierced the envelope -- all I have to say is the thicker Heritage stock held up and the card corner was only slightly dinged. Amazing.