Recycling

I try to use the top loaders, penny sleeves and some of the modified 9-pocket sheets that I get from trade shipments.  Mostly for shipping other cards out, since they generally aren't clean enough for display or long term storage.  It's better than throwing it all out.  There's enough plastic out there as it is.

The same goes for painter's tape.  If you're doing it right, you're using painter's tape to secure your card shipments.  If you're using scotch tape, deduct three bonus points from your collector score.

I keep mine on the front of the file cabinet next to my computer desk.  That way it's handy to grab some when I'm packing packages.  I've seen other bloggers do the same thing. 

Mine is getting full.  Thanks TCDB traders!

Do It Right!

AJ at The Lost Collector posted about the ongoing problem of packages of cards being sealed with scotch type tape that doesn't peel off very well and sticks to cards insided the packaging.  He calls on all traders to use the proper material to seal their shipments - blue painter's tape!

Here are some posters to put up at shops and shows to reinforce this idea...

Pull Tab Awareness Week!

If you package and send cards to people,

DO THIS

It's Pull Tab Awareness Week!

Prevent Frag Tape!  Use Pull Tabs traders!

Go here to find out how!

 

IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO!!

Tale of the tape

 Was just reading Play At The Plate blog and came across an older post about packaging cards.  Check it out here.  He outlines two of the most important things you can do as a trader to protect your cards as well as your fellow trader's sanity.  First up is using the proper tape to secure top loaders. 

 

 Please don't ever use that self-fragmenting brittle clear scotch type tape!!  Blue painters (or regular masking type) tape is much more acceptable.  It is a lot easier to remove and doesn't gum up the top loaders, which leaves them actually usable for storage and display.

But if you must use clear tape, do this:

 

Make a pull tage by folding over the end of the strip, creating a handle.  This is so much better than having to claw for an edge or snip through a piece of tape and leaving it stuck to the top loader or snap box.