OT: Top Loaders Shortage

[Buythatcard]

If you have tried to buy some top loaders, you will notice that many of the distributors are out of stock. Due to the Covid, they are not receiving their shipments and some won't be getting anything until 2022.

I have been selling on eBay for over 18 years and have shipped every card regardless of its cost in a top loader. I am running very low on my top loaders. I spent several hours last night trying to buy top loaders of different sizes. I always buy bulk so that I can get the best deal.

The distributors where I usually get my top loaders from were out of stock as I mentioned earlier. But what really pissed me off are all of the hoarders out there. I saw prices that were almost 10 times more than I usually paid.

I cannot ship my raw cards out in just a bubble envelope without protection. So, I bit the bullet and bought top loaders from some of the hoarders. Ended up paying about 5 times more than I usually pay. I did not buy as many as I usually do because these expenses will cut into the little profits that I have left after eBay takes their share.

While this crisis continues, I am looking for other ways to protect the cards that I ship. In addition to the top loaders, I bought some card Savers which are semi rigid, to see if they can offer some protection. I think that when I run out of top loaders again, shipping the card in a card saver along with wrapping some cardboard around it might be a good idea.

The problem with cardboard is that I don't want to spend my whole night cutting cardboard up into smaller pieces. Does anyone know where I can purchase pre cut card board pieces or does anyone have a better way to ship out the card once top loaders are nowhere to be found.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

I just bought of all of the stock from BCW, this is crazy how much they are going for on eBay etc

[Buythatcard]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

I just bought of all of the stock from BCW, this is crazy how much they are going for on eBay etc

BCW is where I have an account. They were bone dry for the sizes I was looking for. They said that they would be out of stock until some time in 2022.

I think about all of the top loaders that I have thrown out because they had a piece of tape on it or were just scratched. Who knew?

Next thing we will see, top loaders up for auction that are bringing in higher prices than the cards.

Total craziness.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

BCW is where I have an account. They were bone dry for the sizes I was looking for. They said that they would be out of stock until some time in 2022.

I think about all of the top loaders that I have thrown out because they had a piece of tape on it or were just scratched. Who knew?

Next thing we will see, top loaders up for auction that are bringing in higher prices than the cards.

Total craziness.

No kidding, I wish I never tossed mine. I kept them for so long then finally got rid of them. It's so unfortunate to have to wait a year now to get them through them.

Oh for sure, I may have to throw a few packs of them up to see what happens lol. My original order was in January that I got yesterday and ordered the last of them Tuesday and got them yesterday as well.

[rjackson44]

funny you bring this up i was a card show here in ny..i buy the tall boys holders they are cheaper ,,i put any card in there ,,sold out. so at show got 400 tall boys cheap .every other one broke when inserting cards ..terribly made plastic oh well its insane

[Eric72]

In addition to shortages, I have noticed another significant issue - quality control.

I have purchased toploaders from three different sources during the pandemic:

• a local card shop (game store, really)
• a few packs from one dealer on eBay
• a case from a different dealer on eBay

In each case, there were defective toploaders. Not all of them; however, roughly 1/3 to 1/2 of the individual toploaders were significantly curled once I opened the pack.

These were all Ultra-Pro 3x4 regular toploaders, the same ones I have been buying for decades. I refuse to put cards in them, for fear of causing damage.

[Buythatcard]

Originally Posted by Eric72

In addition to shortages, I have noticed another significant issue - quality control.

I have purchased toploaders from three different sources during the pandemic:

• a local card shop (game store, really)
• a few packs from one dealer on eBay
• a case from a different dealer on eBay

In each case, there were defective toploaders. Not all of them; however, roughly 1/3 to 1/2 of the individual toploaders were significantly curled once I opened the pack.

These were all Ultra-Pro 3x4 regular toploaders, the same ones I have been buying for decades. I refuse to put cards in them, for fear of causing damage.

I've had my share of the curled and broken top loaders. Always tossed them since they were so cheap back then. I think they just had them stored for a long time at the bottom of many other heavy cases.
Now, they are scraping the bottom of the barrel and selling off whatever they have left.

[ASF123]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

BCW is where I have an account. They were bone dry for the sizes I was looking for. They said that they would be out of stock until some time in 2022.

I think about all of the top loaders that I have thrown out because they had a piece of tape on it or were just scratched. Who knew?

Next thing we will see, top loaders up for auction that are bringing in higher prices than the cards.

Total craziness.

How long until people start getting top loaders slabbed?

[Buythatcard]

Originally Posted by ASF123

How long until people start getting top loaders slabbed?

[vintagetoppsguy]

In 3 weeks, I'm setting up at my first major show (I've set up at smaller shows in the past). I have hundreds of cards (maybe even 1000 or more) that I wanted to put into CardSaver2's and put in my dollar boxes. With the shortage and high the cost (that's if I can find them), I can't do that. I can still purchase 100 CS2 for $20 - at least that was the price at my LCS a couple of weeks ago - the price may have gone up (or they may be sold out). But even at that price, that's $.20 a card. I can't make any money on my dollar boxes if it costs me $.20 just for the plastic. So, I've put everything that I would normally put in CS2 into penny sleeves and just doing it that way. If a customer buys a small stack of cards from my dollar boxes, I'll just put them all in a team bag and add some kind of stiffener if needed (maybe junk commons) so the cards are protected. I still have some CS1 and CS2, but I'm saving those for the cards that will go into my display case.

[Buythatcard]

I think that we will start seeing more and more cards shipped in card savers instead of top loaders.

Still searching for a way to protect the card when shipping since the card saver bends a little easier than a top loader.

As I mentioned in my original post, cardboard might be the way to go but don't want to spend too much time cutting pieces to fit the bubble envelope.

Looking to purchase pre cut pieces of cardboard that will not add too much of an expense to my already high shipping expenses.

[Buythatcard]

Right after I posted my last message, I came across something called chipboards. It looks like the perfect solution to protecting cards during shipping.

They do come in different thickness sizes.

Has anyone ever used chipboards? If so, what size thickness would you recommend?

[Orioles1954]

Card Savers are also very expensive. I'm selling clean batches of 800 to 1,000 gently used savers in the $200-300 range and they are flying.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

yeah but you can, with some digging, find cases. I just bought a case (1000) for $360

[Buythatcard]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

yeah but you can, with some digging, find cases. I just bought a case (1000) for $360

What size?

I always buy cases. I bought a case of 1000 3/4 top loaders about a year ago for $59.00.

500 4x6 cost only $103

Try getting those prices today.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Card Saver I

I have never cared for top loaders.

[philo98]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

BCW is where I have an account. They were bone dry for the sizes I was looking for. They said that they would be out of stock until some time in 2022.

I think about all of the top loaders that I have thrown out because they had a piece of tape on it or were just scratched. Who knew?

Next thing we will see, top loaders up for auction that are bringing in higher prices than the cards.

Total craziness.

Seems for most top loaders, BCW has put in a date of April 2022 to be back in stock. It may be just a placeholder date since its so far out or maybe thats when they expect to be back in stock.

[1966CUDA]

Bought 200 of these on Ebay for $36. Arrived a couple weeks ago and they are decent. They seem to have plenty of stock. Not Cardsaver brand but almost the same. Not my auction, just thought I'd let you know they are an alternative to Cardsavers.
-Claude

link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/27471427854...QAAOSw6RdgWsMe

[RL]

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...hipping+decoys


If anyone needs any decoys for shipping / drawing / in person autographs, I have what you are looking for! I use the same material as Panini / Topps / Upper Deck uses.

Who has time to cut up USPS boxes? I know I sure don't!

These are premium, high quality, bright solid white, blank, normal card size (2.5" x 3.5") decoys.

I have 2 sizes available, 50 pt (1.5 millimeters thick) & 100 pt (3 millimeters thick).

The 100 pt are the same thickness as what is used in packs of cards.

Pricing for 50 pt, which includes shipping:
75 Decoys - $17
175 Decoys - $35
400 Decoys - $70
800 Decoys - $125
1200 Decoys - $165

Pricing for 100 pt, which includes shipping:
38 Decoys - $14
90 Decoys - $30
225 Decoys - $55
400 Decoys - $85
600 Decoys - $120


I am not the person selling these

[steve B]

I have a paper cutter, and when I was active on ebay I would also get lots of packages coming in.

Cutting some 3x4 pieces took very little time, I'd cut maybe 50-100 of them or however many I had a few scraps of cardboard for.

Did the same with postcard size pieces, and a few others like paperback books if I had a chunk that would fit.

I've received cards where the shipper used a team bag, and a stack of 80's-90's commons as the stiffener. A nice little bonus and a good way for then to get rid of junkwax commons.

The best was a batch of British cards, maybe a thousand or so. The box was a large flat rate box.
The packing material? maybe a thousand 1991 Score baseball and some other cards, Plus a 91 score set in a binder...

[JollyElm]

Food for thought...

For you guys with the 'dollar boxes' (which I frickin' love digging through BTW), have you thought of just addressing the problem head on? For instance, since everyone knows that all card prices have been skyrocketing, could you just up the prices of your discount boxes? If it's usually $1 a card, just make it $1.50? Would that tick off your usual customers, most if not all of whom are aware of what's going on with the toploader prices? Just post a sign explaining the situation. Or how about a toploader exchange thing. Post a sign stating that your prices have taken into account the drastic rise in toploader prices, so a buyer is welcome to buy the card WITHOUT the toploader for a twenty cent (or whatever) reduction? Or, since many of us bring all sorts of our own holders to shows (to house the cards we buy), you can take the twenty cents off of the price if the buyer hands you one of their own toploaders as a replacement?

Just some ideas.

[frankbmd]

I can deal with

Israel and Hamas
Iran
Russia
China
and
North Korea.
I'd even watch Lady Gaga strip

but for heaven sakes do not mess with my Top Loaders

[egri]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

I can deal with

Israel and Hamas
Iran
Russia
China
and
North Korea.
I'd even watch Lady Gaga strip

What about Turkey?

[Peter_Spaeth]

I would draw the line at Gaga.

[RedsFan1941]

“crisis”

lol

[brett 75]

Now I can’t afford the top loaders or the cards to go in them. Might have to start a new thread “Favorite top loaders” Just pictures of your empty loaders!
Brett

[chalupacollects]

[QUOTE=Buythatcard;2103015]Right after I posted my last message, I came across something called chipboards. It looks like the perfect solution to protecting cards during shipping.

They do come in different thickness sizes.

Has anyone ever used chipboards? If so, what size thickness would you recommend?[/QUOTE]

Try Uline for pre-cut card board. They also have bubble mailers boxes and everything else you can think of for shipping... except top loaders...

[Stampsfan]

My LCS just got some in but they are limiting purchases to two packages per customer.

Who knew Top Loaders would be 2021's version of Toilet Paper in 2020?

[Buythatcard]

As Leon once said, all posts should have a card. So, since we are talking about toploaders.

Will take best offer.

[Pat R]

It wasn't that long ago that some sellers used to put a few top loaders
on each side of a card(s) for added protection.

[conor912]

For shipping, I've gone the way of the chipboard with penny sleeve taped to it. Way stronger than a top loader. One of these in a PWE with packing tape to protect the envelope from the board corners and two stamps....all in, I can ship a protected card for about $1.30. Never had an issue. Cut your own, or I'm happy to sell you some.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

If you have tried to buy some top loaders, you will notice that many of the distributors are out of stock. Due to the Covid, they are not receiving their shipments and some won't be getting anything until 2022.

I have been selling on eBay for over 18 years and have shipped every card regardless of its cost in a top loader. I am running very low on my top loaders. I spent several hours last night trying to buy top loaders of different sizes. I always buy bulk so that I can get the best deal.

The distributors where I usually get my top loaders from were out of stock as I mentioned earlier. But what really pissed me off are all of the hoarders out there. I saw prices that were almost 10 times more than I usually paid.

I cannot ship my raw cards out in just a bubble envelope without protection. So, I bit the bullet and bought top loaders from some of the hoarders. Ended up paying about 5 times more than I usually pay. I did not buy as many as I usually do because these expenses will cut into the little profits that I have left after eBay takes their share.

While this crisis continues, I am looking for other ways to protect the cards that I ship. In addition to the top loaders, I bought some card Savers which are semi rigid, to see if they can offer some protection. I think that when I run out of top loaders again, shipping the card in a card saver along with wrapping some cardboard around it might be a good idea.

The problem with cardboard is that I don't want to spend my whole night cutting cardboard up into smaller pieces. Does anyone know where I can purchase pre cut card board pieces or does anyone have a better way to ship out the card once top loaders are nowhere to be found.

PM your mailing address to me and I'll send you a shoebox full - you can pay whatever you want once they arrive.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

As Leon once said, all posts should have a card. So, since we are talking about toploaders.

Will take best offer.

Does it come with a certificate of authenticity?