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Advice needed from TTM experts
cubfan89
Posts: 632 ✭✭✭
Hi. After reading some of the very entertaining threads about TTM's you guys have here, it gave me an idea. I am going to try to help my nephew, who is becoming a sports fan, to try to write to some of his favorite players and send some cards out to hopefully be signed. The only thing is I've never done this myself and was wondering if I could get a couple pointers. Do I send the card in a white envelop or padded mailer? Should I send a sharpie out with each request? Should I put the card in a card saver to protect it or risk damage just sending them without one? I thank you for any help or advice you experts might have. Have a good weekend!!
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I send mine in CS2's and PWE's with a SASE (also a PWE). Only issues I've had were a few that the signer didn't put back in the CS2 before sending it back.
Good luck get sportsaddresslist.com for great addresses.
SCAregalia.com - Masonic Regalia & Supply
Start out writing a personalized letter to the athlete. Mention something good that they did in their career.
I put the letter, the card (in a CS1) and a self addressed stamped envelope inside another envelope.
Mail it and wait!
ENJOY. It's a lot of fun and your nephew will be running to the mailbox every day to see if there are any returns!
STAY HEALTHY!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
One other thing I do to make it easier is to use the envelopes the "peelable" envelopes, so they don't have to lick them.
Only an idiot would have a message board signature.
<< <i>I forgo the penny sleeves, CS1s, etc. Try to make it as easy on the signer as possible. I've never had any damage worth mentioning. >>
I always use CS2's. However, most of the damage on my returns seems to be from the signer trying to put the card back in the holder.
First, get yourself a subscription to sportscollectors.net , it's about $15.00 for a whole year and will be your primary source for addresses. Then, you are going to need the basic supplies. Bubble mailers (you will use two with each request so get enough, I use the 6.25 inch x 9.375 inch ones from Office Depot, you can occasionally catch them on special for 12 for $3.50 or so), top loaders, tape, plenty of stamps, some spare cardboard to use as backing, and the cards. Now, start perusing sportscollectors.net for the star you are interested. It's easy to navigate, just type their last name in the search box. Once you find the star from the list that pops up, click on the number in the column titled requests. this will pull up the TTM screen for that athlete. You will see from the responses there, who signs, who doesn't, if they charge, how much, addresses, probability of success, etc.. Then use that information to prepare your request. I generally write a very short sincere letter getting straight to the point. I never go over one page as I don't want them to waste their time. If they are charging, I simply am polite and include the necessary donation and specific instructions if any how I'd like them to sign. If I do not include a donation, then on your short note, mention why you want it, is it special to you, a childhood memory, etc., something specific that will make yours stand out, maybe even tell a joke or something. Make it stick out from other requests by using humor or funny stories. They are people just like us and like to be entertained. Don't get greedy and take advantage of their generosity. I generally only send one card to be signed unless you are paying, then send whatever you want. Once the letter is written, take one of the bubble mailers and address it to yourself and put there address in the return address area, I typically write "The Great Insert their name" as the return address as everyone likes to have their ego stroked a little. Put adequate return postage using stamps on this envelope to get the package back to you, I usually put $1.75 or so on it. Put your card in the toploader with your donation (if you have one) and sandwich the toploader between two small pieces of cardboard. Use a couple of pieces of scotch tape to secure the cardboard, but don't put so much on it that they have trouble removing your card for signing. I typically put tape on 3 sides only and leave the top of the toploader overhanging the cardboard so it's simple for them to simply slide out, sign and slide back in. I write on the outside of the cardboard "Card and check enclosed" or simply Card enclosed. This way there is no doubt to them what's inside. I also write my address on the other side of the cardboard in case they separate it and lose the SASE, then they might still get it back to you. Now, place the stamped envelope addressed to yourself, and the cardboard sandwich, into the 2nd bubble mailer. On this one, address it to the athlete and use your return address. Either use stamps for it, or if its valuable, take it to the PO and insure it just like any other package. You can't expect them to do it for the return trip, but at least it minimizes the chances of getting it lost. Then sit back and wait and every day you go to the mailbox, you have the opportunity of getting a nice surprise. Extra hints: If you are sending donations and your bank is one that sends your actual check back in your statements, then make the checks payable to them and a lot of times they will endorse it and you willl get a free autograph when the bank returns it to you.
For some signers that are not known to sign, you can try to send them a donation (I usually send $25.00 via check) as everyone even millionaires likes to have a little Taco Bell money and that will make your request stand out as a non-free loader and they just might sign for you. Or perhaps send a long a donation to a charity they are affiliated with. I haven't had anyone cash my checks and then not sign. Or, if you find out the person accepts some mail and not all, then you might want to disguise your envelope and make it look like business and not fan mail and it will have a chance to get through.
The above is for TTM directly to the player. There is another segment, and that is TTM via promoter's. There is a great site called signingshotline.com that lists most signings in the USA and is a great tool to find in person and TTM pay signings. It is subscription only as well, and spring for the Deluxe membership of about $29.95. That gets you discounts off the signing fees and some guys will only sign at shows so this is your chance to get them. It will have the promoters info and you simply contact them and they will instruct you how to send, ship to them, etc. Some promoters are obviously better than others, see my thread on MAB Celebrity Services if you want to see an example.
Other than that, that's pretty much the basics. If you have any ????'s let me know.
Take care,
Mike
PS- Recently I've taken to the much cheaper method of just sending cards unprotected in peel and seal PWE's with a smaller peel and seal PWE inside for the return trip. Works great when the cards are not too valuable. I generally now use this PWE method for any card valued under $25 or so.
1. Do not send anything that would really upset you to not get back. Lots of stuff goes out and does not come back, so don't send anything that you would be heartbroken to lose.
2. If you are doing this with your young nephew, try and steer him towards writing to older players that you both can research and learn about. I say this because while TTM results are typically pretty good for the older, retired players, they can be horrible for current athletes. I would hate to see a young, potential collector/sports fan get frustrated/burned out because the big names in sports did not respond to his letters.
On the return envelope, us a FOREVER STAMP in case the athlete takes a long time to respond and postage goes up during that time.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
I generally write my "letter" on a 3 x 5 post card. One thing that I COMPLETELY hijacked from Doug is asking the guys a question in the note. It does make an attempt to connect with the person, instead of them just cranking out an autograph. Makes them think "Hey, this guy IS paying attention."
Building on what Mike said, I use two of the small plain white envelopes. Fold the return PWE in half, slip the 3 x5 card, and the cards you want signed into the "pocket" created by the PWE, and put all that in the PWE addressed to the athlete. This offers some protection on the trip there, and if they answer your question on the note card and return it, that will provide some (marginal) rigidity on the way back.
Good luck!
Only an idiot would have a message board signature.
My formula has been:
Large PWE, Small PWE, maximum 2 cards each in CS1's, small letter 6x9
and 2 index cards for some protection
All this combines to just under an ounce so Forever stamp out and back
Of course I'm not sending out anything expensive
Here's an example of a return in 7 days, the added index cards were also signed
And because I do mostly vintage and rookies, I absolutely do include my own ultra fine blue sharpie. I rarely get back my cards signed by anything else. Once in a while I'll get back a crappy looking auto with a thick sharpie or an over used ball point pen but thats the chance I take sending for any TTM auto.
<< <i> the lip on top is wider so its easier to insert >>
Did you really just say that? That's friggin awesome.