Tips and Tricks • Collecting General • The Acaeum

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Deadlord
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:00 am

We get a lot of questions from new members about a whole range of things, from how to combat mold to the best strategies for eBay bidding. Please feel free to use this thread to post any tips you may have. For example:

If you have a module or book with spine chipping, it can get damaged when you slide it into a poly bag. Try GENTLY rolling it into a slight U to put it in.

If you hit a Rowsdower, you get to keep it.

Xaxaxe
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:11 pm

Nice; good idea.

Okay, I'll start with one of my favorite subjects: reducing shipping stress. Anyone who does not know that it's possible to run an eBay business without going into a post office (or, at the very worst, almost never going in) should visit ...

www.usps.com

... and start poking around. In particular, you want to begin printing your own postage and then having your carrier pick all of your stuff up for free. I elaborated on this a bit in this thread right here:

viewtopic.php?t=5608&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

jasonw1239
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:27 pm

Canada Post shipping can be purchased through Paypal and you can print your own labels (at roughly a 5% savings).

You can drop it off at the postal outlet counter or, if it is a small parcel, in your nearest mailbox.

You can generate your initial price quotes for Canada Post parcels at:

http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/tools/calcrate-e.asp

If you don't want to go through Paypal to purchase postage, you can do it directly through the Canada Post web site. They take major credit cards.

http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/tools ... bn08000394

Unlike the USPS, Canada Post will not pick up.

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Badmike
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:14 pm

Xaxaxe wrote:Nice; good idea.

Okay, I'll start with one of my favorite subjects: reducing shipping stress. Anyone who does not know that it's possible to run an eBay business without going into a post office (or, at the very worst, almost never going in) should visit ...

www.usps.com

... and start poking around. In particular, you want to begin printing your own postage and then having your carrier pick all of your stuff up for free. I elaborated on this a bit in this thread right here:

viewtopic.php?t=5608&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Just to add it's very easy, I finally started doing this last year and it also saves money; you get a discount on selling overseas and using delivery confirmation. About the only thing you can't print out is international first class ( I only use this for single paperbacks so don't use it very often) which you will have to bring to the Post office (due to they also take the size of 1st class international mail into account). Regular 1st class and media mail are fine and can be printed out.

One hint I can give: Goo Be Gone works great on removing sticker goo from hardbacks and slick modules (mostly 90s and later stuff); be careful using it on older or paper items as it can stain and discolor them.

Mike B.

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red_bus
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:43 pm

Some tips on condition:

* A good soft eraser can remove a range of marks as well as just pencil. I once got a box set with some serious smoke/soot marks and an eraser cleaned it up quite nicely.

* old smells from storage often fade after a few days in a well ventilated room. I have heard that stronger smells can be removed by storing in a box with some activated charcoal (although I have not done this myself).

* items still in the original shrinkwrap may still have creases, or rusted staples.

* If you are worried about damage in transit, ask for special packing (e.g. card or bubblewrap) and offer to pay the extra. Expecting to get something nice and finding it trashed by the post office is a genuinely dispiriting experience.

Some more general tips:

* Try to keep your posture straight - especially when walking, it makes you feel better.

* Never worry too much about what other people might think about what you say. Although it is usually prudent to think a bit about what you choose to say.

* Always use boiling water for a good cup of tea. If you really must sweeten it (and you really shouldn't), honey is nicer than sugar.

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smarmy1
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:18 pm

I learned these two tips early on from fellow Acaeum members after a near-fatal accident with the tape adhering to a newly purchased module.

Ok. It wasn't near-fatal or even close, but nonetheless, I almost got sick when the tape on the poly bag grazed the module when I attempted to take out to examine it.

First, if you use tape to seal your poly bags, use removable Scotch tape (blue packaging). It is easy to remove and should it come into contact with your item, it will peel off easily without damage. (Courtesy of Bombadil)

If you prefer not to seal the poly bag, you can simply fold the flap into the bag itself. (Courtesy of BeyondTheBreach)

Both methods work quite well, but somehow the removable tape gives me an extra sense of security.

Hello Mrs. Cleaver, Theodore.

Gee, Mrs. Cleaver ... That certainly is a lovely dress.

lucyjoyce
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:41 pm

red_bus wrote:* Always use boiling water for a good cup of tea. If you really must sweeten it (and you really shouldn't), honey is nicer than sugar.

I sense a kindred spirit and really think we should braid each other's hair and gossip about Acaeum members. The things I could tell you...

My tip is, DON"T try to use a solvent on labels unless you really know what you are doing. I really messed up a fairly good module. So now I just tell the buyer what they're getting, and let THEM mess up their purchase.

If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error. - John Kenneth Galbraith

Gnat the Beggar
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:44 am

smarmy1 wrote:I learned these two tips early on from fellow Acaeum members after a near-fatal accident with the tape adhering to a newly purchased module. Ok. It wasn't near-fatal or even close, but nonetheless, I almost got sick when the tape on the poly bag grazed the module when I attempted to take out to examine it.

First, if you use tape to seal your poly bags, use removable Scotch tape (blue packaging). It is easy to remove and should it come into contact with your item, it will peel off easily without damage. (Courtesy of Bombadil)

If you prefer not to seal the poly bag, you can simply fold the flap into the bag itself. (Courtesy of BeyondTheBreach)

Both methods work quite well, but somehow the removable tape gives me an extra sense of security.

Good post. Oftentimes I would get an item in a polybag through the mail and would of course want to look at it immediately, the tape would all too often stick to it coming in or out. Hate that.

If you have a valuable module in poly that is taped up, then while it is still sealed (Taped) simply cut the tape where none of it can possibly touch the module when pulling it out.

Tape is CHEAP.

Yet, as stated above, Not using tape at all is easier I am sure.

I use tape on the polybags which house some of my more important collectable modules, comics, and other items, and I cut the tape most of the time.

"Guys, I am starting to think Tegel Manor might be haunted..."
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copycat
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:14 pm

If you get something that has a little odor (especially smoke,) grab a piece of Styrofoam, place whatever you have on top of that, and that on top of one of those little dryer fresheners (like a Bounce), and then put that in a box, and close it, but not sealed. You can also use Arm and Hammer. I've done this to a few items and it cleaned them right up.

Those who can, don't. Those who should not, do.

otherworld
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:12 pm

Save money on expensive personalised car number plates by simply changing your name to match your existing plate. - Mr. KVL 741Y,

Don't waste money buying expensive binoculars. Simply stand closer to the object you wish to view.

Avoid jet lag by simply taking an earlier flight, thus arriving fully refreshed and on time.

Pass yourself off as Welsh by putting coal dust behind your fingernails and talking gibberish all the time, stopping occasionally to sing loudly, or set fire to someone else's house.

Putting just the right amount of gin in your goldfish bowl makes the fishes' eyes bulge and cause them to swim in an amusing manner.

Go here for more:

http://fishtank.org.uk/humour/humour.php3?articleid=61

Otherworld Miniatures Webshop - http://www.otherworld.me.uk/store.html

Deadlord
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Location: Cow Hampshire, US

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:19 pm

Here's one: if you are stacking magazines in a pile, you can alternate the spine orientation, i.e. first one left, next right, then left, etc. This will help avoid stack sliding, which happens a lot with mags in poly. It's not quite as aesthetically pleasing, but who cares........

If you hit a Rowsdower, you get to keep it.

bombadil
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:14 pm

Always, always take the BOTTLE by the NECK, and the WOMAN by the WAIST.

Let mirth prevail!

Go-Captain Suzdal
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:56 pm

red_bus wrote:Some tips on condition:

* items still in the original shrinkwrap may still have creases, or rusted staples.

Boy, do I feel like a chump... A couple of months ago, I bought what looked like a mint condition copy of A3 in original shrinkwrap. Man this thing looked perfect. Today, since it was the only thing I had in S/W, and that wasn't really the point of the purchase, I removed it. I could not believe the degree of staple rust, with associated stains on the map and booklet spine. Looking at them, I imagine they are about 2/3 rust, 1/3 staple at this point, LOL. The rest of it is still minty, though.

Wish I had read this thread before I made the purchase, but I guess I wouldn't have been able to spot the problem anyway. I'm learning a lot from this website is my basic point in posting this.

bclarkie
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:17 pm

Go-Captain Suzdal wrote:

Boy, do I feel like a chump... A couple of months ago, I bought what looked like a mint condition copy of A3 in original shrinkwrap. Man this thing looked perfect. Today, since it was the only thing I had in S/W, and that wasn't really the point of the purchase, I removed it. I could not believe the degree of staple rust, with associated stains on the map and booklet spine. Looking at them, I imagine they are about 2/3 rust, 1/3 staple at this point, LOL. The rest of it is still minty, though.

Wish I had read this thread before I made the purchase, but I guess I wouldn't have been able to spot the problem anyway. I'm learning a lot from this website is my basic point in posting this.

I just knew something was way to familiar:

** expired/removed eBay auction **

How you doing Radovarl. New handle here and all...

"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." -Neitzche

Sea-to-sky-games
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:02 am

My tip is, DON"T try to use a solvent on labels unless you really know what you are doing. I really messed up a fairly good module. So now I just tell the buyer what they're getting, and let THEM mess up their purchase.

Lighter fluid has always worked on labels for me.. They come off amazingly easily with no residue.

Gnat the Beggar
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:23 am

Sea-to-sky-games wrote:
Lighter fluid has always worked on labels for me.. They come off amazingly easily with no residue.

Be sure to put out all cigarettes and all other flames before breaking out the lighter fluid.

"Guys, I am starting to think Tegel Manor might be haunted..."
Stated by me as a PC during a run of Tegel Manor DMed by killjoy at NTRPGCon 2010

Charter Member of the ATM

The Acaeum Forums • Collecting General

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