Fifty-one Zip Codes and a New Post Office Record

I’m going to become a Dad this week, so I figured I'd better get some trade packages sent before I'm elbow-deep in poop. So this past Saturday I sent packages of cards to ALL 26 other #Supertraders as well as 25 other bloggers/readers.

To be honest, when I swooped in at the last minute and took the unclaimed Mariners, I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep up with you guys on the #Supertraders front. With putting together the nursery, going to a bunch of new parent classes, helping out at the baby shower(s), and weekly OBGYN appointments, I wasn’t so sure I’d have the time to make that happen.

But I did!

Behold the trade box, my newest sorting tool. When used in concert with the Tradelist and a few plastic dividers, I’ve been able to keep everything I’ve been setting aside over the past year in a reasonable order. What you see here took a solid three nights of work and another two to get everything packaged.

I’ve also added dividers for my non-Supertrader pals and anyone else I owe cards to. You will not be forgotten, other bloggers - everybody gets some.

As for what I’ve sent out to my Supertrader buddies, it is anything and everything I have no intention of keeping but which I deem desireable. That trade box is loaded with autos, relics, parallels both common and rare, and a ton of inserts from the 90’s going all the way up to 2016 Topps. There’s even a bonafide 1/1. Really, I keep next to nothing of what I get from boxes, packs, blasters, and LCS mystery boxes. 

I’m contemplating busting a few 90’s boxes, too, specifically for the Supertraders, but I will be exercising right of first refusal on set needs and PC guys. For example, if I pull a Will Clark that I don’t already have, I’m keeping that sucker. But otherwise I’m sending out pretty much anything I pull.

Also, I’m coining a new cardsphere term right now: “burst trader.” That’s me - I trade in bursts, sending out upwards of fifty packages at one time as opposed to a handful each month. I did it last year, and this year was no different.

Leaving for the P.O.

I sent out one massive volley of trade packages on Saturday. In addition to the Supertraders, pretty much everyone I owe cards to should expect something: a PWE, a yellow bubble mailer, or possibly a big ol’ box. Without further ado, here are the fifty zip codes who should expect a lil’ Junkielove this coming week:

34472

20904

60586

07044

35750

13601

91320

11572

97202

16933

60706

26505

61615

97213

55128

30260

29841

45067

02767

14222

44851

19390

66208

97355

76063

91377

80916

27314

76522

85286

75201

55129

80020

48005

79083

53208

19713

95119

30350

23666

55406

43204

55805

87499

98022

83605

76380

98087

If you feel like I forgot you, shoot me an e-mail and I’ll make up for it (I’ll be on two weeks paternity leave and my wife and I have planned built-in breaks for each of us, so I will have time, um, I think).

Now for the record part - last year's burst trade P.O. trip gave us a receipt 86.5" in length and a grand total of $179.14. This year's receipt came in a little shorter at 66":

This year vs. last year

Part of the reason is that the layout is different on each receipt with the longer one taking up more space for each package:

This year is just a little more compact.

In addition to that, prices have gone up a noticeable amount, so the grand total was over $25 higher. It's that pesky international shipping that does it. And why is Canada is more costly to ship to than France? WHY? There's an ocean between us for goodness sake! Anyway, here's the total:

You guys are worth it...<3<3<3

As for everything else going forward, it’ll be hit or miss. Features like the Great Griffey Frankenset and Design Timelines will also continue, but I cannot guarantee any regularity. I already have the Frankenset figured out to 360 cards deep and growing, but the time it takes to put the pages together and do the pricing will be at a premium. I will try. Oh, and I'm still behind on trade posts, but that's kind of always the case.

I may actually end up reading and commenting more on other blogs as I’m up at all hours doing feedings and trying to get the little bugger to sleep. This remains to be seen.

And as for the procurement of new Griffeys, it has been slowing over the past few weeks and will probably only get slower. College is but 18 short years and tens of thousands of dollars away. My boy needs his learnin’.

So that’s it for now. Look out for those packages, and I’ll try and keep things as normal as possible around here. 

Oh, and any tips you Dads have on how to juggle a baby boy and the hobby would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone like their cards!