“Do You Sign Cards By Mail?”
Yes, I do indeed sign cards by mail.
But not right now. We’re moving house, and that means a lot of upheaval. Check this new post to see what’s up.
However, I cannot guarantee how long it’ll take before I return them to you. If you need your cards within a certain time window, I would recommend catching me at a show rather than mailing them to me. Typically people wait three or more months to get their cards back.
With that caveat out of the way, let’s get into a (not so) little guide to sending me cards…
The Basics
- I’ll sign the first 20 cards you send free of charge. The fee for additional signatures is $2 (U.S.) per card.
- If you prefer your cards to be signed in black, red, gold, or any other color ink, tell me. And tell me every time you send me cards. I can’t keep track of your preferences.
- If you want shadow signatures, they’re $5 each and are not included in the first 20 free option above.
- Don’t send me a second set of cards before you’ve had the current batch returned.
- Please be patient and avoid sending me emails, PMs, etc, asking if the cards are done yet. If they’re not done it’s because I’m really busy.
- Include a note. It’s always nice to get something from fans which amounts to more than “Please sign my cards.” Unfortunately I rarely have the time to write back anymore.
- I will attempt to replace any card damaged while in my care. However, I cannot be held responsible for damage or loss of cards while in the mail.
- I only sign cards that feature my artwork.
- I don’t do any card alters. Eyestrain makes it very uncomfortable.
- I do sketches on the back of artist proofs. Sketches are $5 for my quick goblin portrait, $40 for black linework, $80 for my high-end sketches, or $300 for fully painted color. Examples of the high-end sketches can be seen below. These prices don’t include the cost of the AP.
Mailing
- Always remember to include a return envelope with either sufficient postage or cash to pay for the postage. Visit This USPS page to calculate the return postage.
- The US Post Office has become increasing costly and has added a lot of variables that will bump up the cost of your shipment. Length, width and weight are common variables but did you know they also charge based on rigidity? If an envelope contains more than a couple of cards or contains even a single hard plastic card case, it will be deemed “rigid” and will have to ship at the more expensive parcel rate rather than the letter rate.
- Unless you’re mailing me just a few cards with zero cardboard or plastic protection (it happens), you shouldn’t mail your cards in a regular envelope. Invest in sturdy padded/bubble mailer envelopes. Almost all the times that cards have been lost in the mail is due to weak regular envelopes that have split in transit. If you care enough about your cards that you want them signed then don’t risk them to a crappy envelope. Try to use small padded mailers (less than 8″ by 10″) because the larger ones clog up my PO Box really fast.
Mailing Within the U.S.
- If you’re planning on sending 40+ cards, you can’t go wrong with the small flat rate priority mail box which gives good protection, fast delivery and a reasonable price.
Mailing From Outside the U.S.
- For addressing purposes, the norm in the U.S. has the sender’s address in the upper left (so, mine on the return envelope) and center right usually has the delivery address. On your return envelope be sure to leave enough space in the lower left for the inevitable customs form that has to be attached to the envelope.
- Unfortunately, USPS has gotten dramatically more expensive to ship things outside the U.S. You may want to consider getting a bunch of friends to club together and send a bunch at one time because the shipping costs are beginning to make it too expensive to send just a few cards.
- I can ship the cards back in one of the small priority mail boxes mentioned above but it’s a lot more expensive than sending them within the U.S. Check the USPS price calculator to see if the price is right for you. You may consider it pricey but the box does come with a slightly faster shipping time and far better protection than any envelope. Be sure to compare prices with other shipping methods as the difference might be less than you expect.
At last, here’s the mailing address!
Pete Venters
PO Box 70331
Seattle, WA 98127 – 0331
U.S.A.
Payment
- If you’re including more than twenty cards, need me to purchase return shipping (and maybe an envelope), or simply buying APs, there’s the matter of payment.
- You can include cash in the package but be very careful that it is hidden among the cards. Mail theft is unfortunately all too common.
- The other option is paying via Paypal. My Paypal address is shop@peteventers.com. Drop me a line at peteventers@gmail.com before sending me money.
- Avoid using International Reply Coupons for return shipping. Increasingly, USPS staff don’t know how to use them and they go to waste.
- While there is no requirement, tips are always appreciated to help offset the cost of the PO Box which continues to become more expensive each year.
- The day will come when I’ll end my card mailing service but I will give you plenty of warning so you can get one last batch signed.
- If you have any questions, or need to see my list of available artist proofs or original art, drop me a line at peteventers@gmail.com