Glossary of Terms

Billyhoyle

Im Not Juan Garcia
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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Real Name
Andrew
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billyhoyle9
Au - Short for Auto or Autograph
Auto - Shortened version of Autograph
Autograph - A signature of a person, normally depicted on the card.
Base - The non-insert cards which make up the base set of each series. Also known as common cards.
Blaster Box - Normally 5-22 packs. Mainly base cards. It won't contain the same hits as hobby boxes and tends to be a cheap, hit-free version of the product, occassionally guaranteeing one auto or game used.
Bump - to bump a thread to get it back to the top of the forum it is in and bring it to the attention of the users.
Bubble mailer - The way every trade should be packaged, a bag packed with bubble wrap. Also known as a padded bag.
padded_bag.jpg

BV - Book or Beckett Value, taken from the trading card book Beckett (which now also has an online price guide) - http://www.beckett.com/ Most collectors no longer use BV and use recently ended auctions from ebay or trading sites.
Case - Refers to a case of boxes. Normally 12 boxes make up a case.
Case Hit - Is normally the hit of the case, most products contain an insert that on average is only 1 in every case.
Checklist - A checklist card. The card displays the checklist of cards from that release.
CMB - Check my bucket, used when someone wants you to look in their photobucket account to see if they have anything you want to trade for
COMC - Check out my cards. Sometimes said in reference when trading, but more often used in reference to the website - http://www.checkoutmycards.com/
Common - See base
Err - Refering to an error card. Some errors are corrected by the card companies, others however are never corrected.
FS - For Sale
FT - For Trade
Game used - This is a collective term for most cards with a piece of game used material on it. There are variations to the material (shoe, jersey, shorts, hat, sweat bands etc) as well as where it was used. Some are classified as "event worn", like at rookie photo shoots.
Graded - Cards that are sent to a professional grading company and given a rating out 10 (BGS,PSA) or 100 (SGC).
Hobby Box - Hobby boxes are the boxes that are sold through specialist hobby stores (not retail such as Kmart/Target/Walmart). They normally have a higher chance of getting a game used or autographed card than a retail box.
HTG - Hard to Get. A card that is hard to get from someone's collection.
IMO - In my opinion
Insert - A randomly inserted card, the odds of getting an insert ranges from 1 in every 2 packs to 1 in thousands of packs, depending on the company and product range.
IP Auto - In Person Auto refers to an autograph that was obtained in person. Most often obtained at an actual game or organised signing session.
Jersey - A type of game used featuring a piece of a players jersey.
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LF - Short for Looking for
LMK - short for let me know
Logoman -A card featuring the logo from the players jersey.
logoman.JPG

Mailday - The mail you received of new cards/memorabilia that you want to share with other collectors
Manufactured - A manufactured patch or logo, that is specifically made for the card and not taken from an actual game used item.
Mojo - A term used to give good luck and to get a case hit or other good card.
On Card (OCA) - On card autos are cards where the auto is directly on the card.
One Touch - A one touch holder is a card protector with a magnetic touch at the top. Highly considered amongst collectors.

ONE_TOUCH_CARD_C_50128a8f6f274.png

Patch - is the stitched letter or number part of a jersey.
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PC - Personal Collection or Player Collection. Personal Collection normally refers to a card in someone's personal collection and not normally in there cards for trade. Player collection refers to a collection of an individual player.
Personal grading - This is a grading given by a collector to a card. Normally in the format M-mint, NM-Near Mint, VG-Very Good.
Rack Pack - usually sold in walmart. will be 1-2 packets, but will have 20-50 cards in each pack. Usually all base, with a few rookie cards and maybe a rack pack specific insert (not a valuable one and looks like a base card usually)
Redemption - A redemption card that can be redeemed on the company website for an actual card.
Report - To report a post or thread. This is done by clicking the Report link underneath every post made on the forum.
RC- Rookie Card. A first year card of a player.
Ref/Refractor - Refractors have a rainbow type effect. Most notable when the card is twisted to refract the light of it. Originally refractors had no distinction other than looking at them, now most have refractor written on them.

Left = Atomic Refractors, Middle = Refractors, Right = Base.
img999-jpg.40537

Retail Box - Usually ranging 20-40 packs with 8-10 cards that come with 4-6 or so inserts per box. Inserts are usually different to hobby boxes. Inserts found in hobby can sometimes be in retail but harder to get as majority of inserts will be retail box specific.
Screw Down - Similar to a one-touch, however these use a scew to hold the protector together. There has been some collectors who have found these have damged their cards after a long period of being screwed together too tightly.
1-screw-screwdown-card-holders-32pt-ultra-pro-81139-5-holders-300x300.jpg

Search - To use the search function of the site. It is hidden in the top right hand corner of every page.

Serial Number - An imprinted serial number on the card, to show it's limited availibility.
Soft Sleeves - These are the soft sleeves to protect a card that goes inside a top loader.
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SP - Short printed. Often card companies will say that a card is SP without actually numbering the card. Sometimes they will announce how SP othertimes they will not.
Sticker - Normally used in reference to an autograph.The autograph is signed by the athlete on a sheet of stickers and then the card company puts the sticker onto the card. Most collectors prefer on card autos to sticker autos.
Swatch -
Tag - is the laundry tag of the game worn jersey, the part where your normal clothes tell you how it should be washed and what it is made of. But the NBA jersey tags don't have info like that, they sometimes come with the brand logo, mini team logo or nba logo etc.
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Team Bag - A team bag is a larger size bag with a sealable top for storage or posting of toploaders to provide further protection.

UPROTEAMBAGS11-246x300.jpg

Top Loader - A plastic card protector with an open top. Most traders use these for trading with stickytape across the top to avoid the card slipping out.
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TTM - Through the mail. Refers most often to autographs sent and received personally to an athlete.
VHTG - Very Hard to Get. A card that is very hard to get from someone's collection
White envelope - These are not to be used on this site and negative feedback is to be left for anyone who does. They do not provide the card inside any protection.
white-envelopes.jpg

WTB - wanted to buy
WTD - Short for wanted.
WTTF - short for wanting to trade for
XRC - Extended Rookie Card. A card that is not considered a players true RC. EG. Michael Jordan appeared in the 1984-85 Star set (XRC) as his 86-87 Fleer card is considered his true RC.


Thanks for all the input and to anyone who I've borrowed images from.
 
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What size top loader do I need?


Cards thickness is always measured in 'pt' or points which is a term used for the thickness of the card stock the card is made from.

This means there is a practical method to work it out!

Get some standard thickness base cards (20pt) and stack them up until they are the same thickness as the card you want a one touch for. Then, for every card you stacked up, add 20pt. So if it is 2 base cards thick, it is 40pt, 3 is 60pt etc
The. Round up to the nearest ultra pro magnetic size - eg a 40pt card would go in a 55pt magnetic, a 60pt card goes in a 75pt magnetic


The other method is to measure your card with a ruler in mm (millimetres).

Then see see the following sizes:

1.5mm - 55pt
2mm - 75pt
2 - 2.5mm - 100pt
2.5 - 3.5mm - 130pt
3.5 - 4.5mm - 180pt

There is also now holders for booklet cards - http://www.ultrapro.com/product_info.php?products_id=1433



Another guide: (measured against standard base cards)
1 regular card = 20-35pt
3 regular cards = 55pt or 1.5mm
4-5 regular cards = 75-100pt or 2.5mm
6-8 regular cards = 130-140pt or 3.5mm
9-12 regular cards = 180pt or 4.5mm
13+ regular cards = 240pt (mega patch cards)

1.jpg
 
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blaster and retail bxes are not the same in a lot of cases

blaster= 5-22 packs cheap usually base cards only with say rookie insertcards (if you can call them that) and maybe one insert you would find in a retail box.

retail = 20-40 packs with 8-10 cards that come with 4-6 or so inserts per box. Inserts are usually different to hobby boxes. Inserts found in hobby can sometimes be in retail but harder to getas majority of inserts will be retail box specific.


rack pack / fat back = usually sold in walmart. will be 1-2 packets, have like 20-50 cards in each pack. Usually all base, with a few rookie cards and maybe a rack pack specific insert (not a valuable one and looks like a base card usually)
 
I am quite new with collecting cards. What is the purpose of Team bags ? Do you put your one touch inside it for protection ?
 
Reminder from terms and rules:


Packaging:

Absolutely no sending in white envelopes under any circumstances. The minimum amount of protection when sending all cards is as follows:

a) Each card to be in a penny sleeve, always.
b) Cards are to be placed in appropriately thick top loaders, secured by tape at the top.
c) Cards to be sent in a bubble mailer.

In the event of sending a large number of cards, where individually placing each card in a top loader is not practical, the cards should be well protected between cardboard/top loaders and posted in a box or bubble mailer.

Postage methods that are NOT approved :
a) Cards in a white envelope, regardless of individual card protection - sending in white envelopes is not to happen and will result in a negative being left for you.
b) Cards sent in a penny sleeves or team bags without any other protection.
c) Careless packing methods, such as sending cards in top loaders without tape/team bag to prevent the card slipping out and being damaged.
d) Cards shipped in snap-tight cases with rounded corners.
e) Any other way you can think of that will cause a card to be damaged.

Other sites do not have rules for these sorts of things, and we have seen far too many cards damaged from poor packing. The white envelopes in particular are a no no - we have it from an Aussie Post employee that these white envelopes go through an automated sorting machine, which explains some of the damage we have seen to cards/top loaders sent in plain envelopes. Bubble mailers do not go through this process, so the chances of damage are far less likely.

If you need assistance with advice or supplies to package cards correctly, please create a post in our Site Suggestions/Site Help forum and someone will be along to assist.

Negative feedback can and will be left for members who do not follow these packaging rules REGARDLESS of whether the cards were damaged or not.
 
Reminder from terms and rules:


Packaging:

Absolutely no sending in white envelopes under any circumstances. The minimum amount of protection when sending all cards is as follows:

a) Each card to be in a penny sleeve, always.
b) Cards are to be placed in appropriately thick top loaders, secured by tape at the top.
c) Cards to be sent in a bubble mailer.

In the event of sending a large number of cards, where individually placing each card in a top loader is not practical, the cards should be well protected between cardboard/top loaders and posted in a box or bubble mailer.

Postage methods that are NOT approved :
a) Cards in a white envelope, regardless of individual card protection - sending in white envelopes is not to happen and will result in a negative being left for you.
b) Cards sent in a penny sleeves or team bags without any other protection.
c) Careless packing methods, such as sending cards in top loaders without tape/team bag to prevent the card slipping out and being damaged.
d) Cards shipped in snap-tight cases with rounded corners.
e) Any other way you can think of that will cause a card to be damaged.

Other sites do not have rules for these sorts of things, and we have seen far too many cards damaged from poor packing. The white envelopes in particular are a no no - we have it from an Aussie Post employee that these white envelopes go through an automated sorting machine, which explains some of the damage we have seen to cards/top loaders sent in plain envelopes. Bubble mailers do not go through this process, so the chances of damage are far less likely.

If you need assistance with advice or supplies to package cards correctly, please create a post in our Site Suggestions/Site Help forum and someone will be along to assist.

Negative feedback can and will be left for members who do not follow these packaging rules REGARDLESS of whether the cards were damaged or not.
Should be a given.
 
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