Protecting Your Booklet Cards

Posted on November 2, 2016 by blogbcwsupplies

Booklet cards are hot for sports cards collectors! They are often extra thick with jersey patches and/or autographs. These cards can be stored in a closed format in a hinged or slider box, but most collectors like to store their booklets in the open position to get the full presentation. BCW offers sleeves, toploaders, and bags to enclose the toploaders (the bags can also enclose a magnetic booklet card holder). The supplies listed below are available for booklets in horizontal and vertical formats.

Horizontal Booklet Card Supplies

Horizontal Booklet Card Sleeves

Horizontal Booklet Card Toploaders

Horizontal Booklet Card Holder Bags

Vertical Booklet Card Supplies

Vertical Booklet Card Sleeves

Vertical Booklet Card Toploaders

Vertical Booklet Card Holder Bags

Organizing your Doomtown Cards… Shootouts, Dudes, and Boot Hill!

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Ted Litvan

Doomtown Cards and Chips with Card Supplies

BCW 9-pocket sideloading pages are an excellent way to sort and separate you card collection. The colors were chosen such that Magic, Pokemon, and YuGiOh players can easily sort the cards into matching pages. Even if you don’t play these games, the different colors can be employed for sorting the game you do play.

I used 9 different colors and also clear pages to create the sorting separation for my Doomtown: Reloaded Binders. What’s Doomtown? Doomtown is a flavorful card game based in the Weird West, think twisted history mixed with magic, that involves various factions vying for control of a California boomtown. The wild west flavor is further demonstrated with a clever combat system that involves a series of poker hands, and cheating as well is part of the game.

Fixed releases (no randomized booster packs to buy!) and living card style of the game means that I have (at least) four of every card. Unless otherwise used in a deck, all my cards are in binders. This means that most of the cards in my binders are in sets of four, back-to-back. While this makes for some heavy pages, the plastic pages accommodates the weight just fine. When I’m looking for a card, the colored pages and their interior organization makes finding what I’m looking for easy.

For transporting and storage of my decks, I rely on the Prime X-4 Gaming Box. It’s spacious and easily holds four decks, poker chips, dice, and tokens. I can be quick on the shootout opportunity with this deck box holding all I need for a day of Doomtown fun!

Martin
a.k.a. Marshal Possum

Doomtown decks with accessories in a Prime X4 box

Four Methods for Displaying Comics on a Wall

Posted on May 25, 2016 by blogbcwsupplies

BCW offers several options for displaying your favorite comics on the wall. Which of the four methods below is best for your needs?

BCW Comic Book Toploaders
Current Size: 1-TLCH-COMIC | Silver Size: 1-TLCH-SIL | Golden Size: 1-TLCH-GOL
BCW Toploaders are designed for storing comics on a shelf or in a box, hence they do not have a hanging mechanism. However, with some simple MacGyvering, Comic Book Toploaders make an economical method for displaying comics on the wall. The simplest method is adhering a BCW Hang Tab on the back of the toploader and hanging over a flat tack or nail. Adhesive backed flat magnets or Velcro work great in many instances. You can also look in the hardware aisle at your local home center or craft store to find hanging systems from 3M and others.

Comic toploaders with various adhesives

BCW Snap-It
1-BCW-SI-CB-BLK
The BCW Snap-It is a modular system designed to create an attractive display for your comic books.

BCW Comic Book Showcase
Current Size: 1-CBS-CUR | 1-CBS-CUR-UV | Silver Size: 1-CBS-SIL | 1-CBS-SIL-UV
The BCW Comic Book Showcase has a crystal clear cover that snaps over a black, wall mountable back. They’re available in standard and UV Protection varieties.

BCW Comic Book Frame
Current Size: 1-CBF-CUR | Silver Size: 1-CBF-SIL | Golden Size: 1-CBF-GOL
The BCW Comic Book Frame is an attractive black frame with a glass front. Your comic is neatly displayed in a mat border you can easily access from the rear.

BCW Distributor Options for Retailers

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Ted Litvan

Hobby stores and online retailers can purchase BCW products directly from BCW. By ordering direct, you gain access to our full catalog, competitive pricing, and reliable fulfillment from a team focused on supporting your business.

If you are not currently set up as a direct customer, you can apply for a BCW wholesale account. Our goal is to make it easy for you to get the products you need to serve your customers and grow your business.

In some situations, however, working with a distributor may be the better solution. You may need inventory faster than BCW can ship, prefer local pickup, or want to simplify ordering through an existing distributor relationship. To support these needs, BCW partners with distributors across the United States and internationally, providing flexible options to help keep your shelves stocked and your customers satisfied.

If you believe a distributor is the right fit for your needs, please contact the BCW Customer Service team. We will work with you to understand your situation and connect you with the best available option.

Our goal is to support your store directly whenever possible, while also working alongside our trusted distributors to ensure you always have a reliable path to get the products you need.

Dimensional Weight Shipping

Posted on November 18, 2015 by blogbcwsupplies

Traditionally, shipping companies established delivery costs based on the weight of a package – the heavier the package, the more the shipping expense. However large packages that are lightweight are not profitable to the shipping companies since these light packages earn very little money while they take-up a lot of space in a truck. Hence a lot of fuel is spent to deliver fewer packages.

By January 1st, 2015, both UPS Ground and FedEx Ground will be charging for shipping based on billable weight. This includes shipments originating from BCW Supplies. There are two factors that determine the billable weight. The first is the weight of the package. The second factor is the package’s dimensional weight. The dimensional weight is the package’s density – how much it weighs for its height, length and depth. The shipping company then compares the package’s overall weight and the dimensional weight. Whichever value is greater is the package’s billable weight.

Recording an accurate weight and dimensions of packages is key to efficient shipping.

These changes are expected to impact the shipping costs of BCW products. For example, a box of 200 unfolded BCW trading card boxes (1-BX-660) is lightweight (43.1-lbs.), yet has a relatively large size (5.16 cubic feet). The old shipping cost was based on the package’s overall weight, but the cost for the dimensional weight is greater. Therefore the billable weight for this example has increased.

In general, consumers will see shipping costs increase for large, yet lightweight goods. Smart hobby supply distributors and retailers will be able to use this change to their advantage. Because it will be more expensive for consumers to buy goods online, consumers will turn to their local hobby shop to purchase their hobby supplies.

For consumers ordering at www.bcwsupplies.com, users can select their delivery method and see the shipping costs before checking-out. UPS Ground is our default shipping service based on their cost and reliability to deliver goods on time and undamaged. BCW is constantly evaluating the price of our products, the shipping costs, and the potential delivery methods in order to provide the best products and service at the best price.

For BCW partners utilizing BCW’s Drop Shipping program, they should refer to BCW’s Wholesale Price Sheet (updated 12/1/14) to utilize the most up-to-date dimensional weight data to establish their shipping costs.

From more information regarding shipments from BCW Supplies, please view our Shipping Policy.

NOTE: BCW Distributor and Wholesale Partners should sign-in to their www.bcwsupplies.com account in order to view their relevant Shipping Policy and Price Sheet details.

What Thickness of Card Holder Do I Need?

Posted on July 14, 2015 by blogbcwsupplies

With the increased popularity of memorabilia sports cards comes increased confusion on what thickness of card holders you need to protect your prized cards. Card thickness (depth) is often measured in points. One point is equivalent to .001 inches or .0254 millimeters.

A simple method to determine the correct thickness of a card is to use a Card Thickness Point Gauge. These gauges are located on BCW toploader and magnetic card holder packages. You can also download a printable Card Thickness Point Gauge (PDF). If you print the gauges, make sure to print the sheet at 100% scale (no print scaling like “fit to page”) to get accurate sizing.

When it comes to protecting your cards, there are plenty of options. For standard-sized cards, 9-Pocket Pages offer a convenient way to store them in an album. However, thick cards require a different approach for optimal protection. For these, consider using toploaders, magnetic card holders, or other specialty holders outlined below.

Interior W x H in Inches	Depth in Points	Description	Brand	Closing Method	SKU
2½ x 3½	20-pts.	BCW Mini Snap	BCW	Mini Snap	1-MS
2½ x 3½	20-pts.	BCW Regular Snap	BCW	Snap	1-RS
2½ x 3½	20-pts.	Regular 1-Screw	BCW	1-Screw	1-1S
2 9/16 x 3 9/16	50-pts.	Thick Card 1-Screw Holder	BCW	1-Screw	1-1S-THICK
2 9/16 x 3 9/16	120-pts.	Super Thick Card1-Screw Holder	BCW	1-Screw	1-1S-STHICK
n/a	n/a	4-Screw Non-Recessed	BCW	4-Screw	1-4SNR
2½ x 3½		4-Screw Recessed	BCW	4-Screw	1-4SR
2½ x 3½		4 Screw Black Border	BCW	4-Screw	1-9CS-B
2½ x 3½	35-pts.	35-pts. Magnetic	BCW	Magnetic	1-MCH-35
2½ x 3½	55-pts.	55-pts. Magnetic	BCW	Magnetic	1-MCH-55
2½ x 3½	75-pts.	75-pts. Magnetic	BCW	Magnetic	1-MCH-75
2½ x 3½	100-pts.	100-pts. Magnetic	BCW	Magnetic	1-MCH-100
2½ x 3½	180-pts.	180-pts. Magnetic	BCW	Magnetic	1-MCH-180
2½ x 3½	360-pts.	360-pts. Magnetic	BCW	Magnetic	1-MCH-360
2½ x 3½	35-pts.	35-pts. Magnetic	BCW	Magnetic	1-MCH-35-BLK
2½ x 3½ x2	35-pts.	35-pts. Magnetic	BCW	Magnetic	1-2MCH-35-BLK
2½ x 3½ x3	35-pts.	35-pts Magnetic	BCW	Magnetic	1-3MCH-35-BLK
2½ x 3½ x4	35-pts.	35-pts. Magnetic	BCW	Magnetic	1-4MCH-35-BLK
2¾ x 3½	Approx.30-pts..	Acrylic Card Stand Vertical	BCW	Pressure Fit	1-ACS-V
2¼ x 4¼		1/4″ Acrylic 4-Screw	BCW	4-Screw	1-A025
2¼ x 4½		½” Acrylic 4-Screw	BCW	4-Screw	1-A050
2 1/16 x 3 1/8	20-pts.	Tobacco Card Toploader	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-TBC-25
2¾ x 3 7/8	35-pts.	25-Pack Standard Toploader	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-N 1-TLCH-100
2¾ x 3 7/16	35-pts.	25-Pack Premium Toploader	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH
2¾ x 3 7/8	35-pts.	Toploader with “Rookie Card”	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-RG (Gold) 1-TLCH-RW (White)
2¾ x 3 7/8	35-pts.	Toploader with Color Border	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-BK 1-TLCH-BL 1-TLCH-RD 1-TLCH-GR 1-TLCH-WH
2¾ x 3 7/8	50-pts.	Action Packed Toploaders	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-TH-1.5MM
2¾ x 3 7/8	79-pts.	Thick Card Toploader	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-TH-2MM
2¾ x 3 7/8	108-pts.	Thick Card Toploader	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-TH-2.75MM
2¾ x 3 7/8	138-pts.	Thick Card Toploader	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-TH-3.5MM
2¾ x 3 7/8	168-pts.	Thick Card Toploader	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-TH-4.25MM
2¾ x 3 7/8	197-pts.	Thick Card Toploader	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-TH-5MM
2¾ x 3 7/8	240-pts.	Thick Card Toploader	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-TH-7MM
2¾ x 3 7/8	360-pts.	Thick Card Toploaders	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-TH-9MM
2¾ x 4 7/8	20-pts.	Tall Card Toploader	BCW	Topload	1-TLCH-TALL
3 3/16 x 4 1/4	No inset	Semi-Rigid Holder 1	BCW	Semi-Rigid	1-SR1
2 7/8 x 3 3/4	No inset	Semi-Rigid Holder 2	BCW	Semi-Rigid	1-SR2
3 3/16 x 5 1/8	No inset	Semi-Rigid Holder 3 – Tall	BCW	Semi-Rigid	1-SR3

Comparison of BCW card holders

Protecting Your National Geographic Collection

Posted on July 13, 2015 by blogbcwsupplies

National Geographic has been publishing some of the best photography, social stories and science news for over a century. For collectors that want to preserve their yellow-bordered magazine collection, BCW bags, backing boards, and boxes are an ideal solution. While BCW offers supplies to protect traditionally-sized magazines, BCW’s products sized for Silver Age comics books are perfect for National Geographic. The Silver Age is an era in comic book publishing from 1956 to 1969 when comics were similar in dimensions to National Geographics.

National Geographic magazines in BCW Short Comic Box

To get the correct comic bag for a National Geographic, use the Silver Thick Comic Book Bag along with a Silver Age Comic Book Backing Board.

To hold a group of five National Geographics, try a Comic Book Stor-Folio.

The BCW Short Comic Box can hold approximately 56 National Geographics in bags and boards, with room for a few BCW Comic Book Dividers. A BCW Long Comic Box can hold about 100 National Geographics. For a premium box solution, try a BCW Comic Book Bin with a partition that acts as a bookend to keep your National Geographics upright in the bin.

National Geographic magazines with various BCW Comic Stor-Folios

Importance of Changing Comic Bags and Boards

Posted on July 7, 2015 by blogbcwsupplies

Why is it important to change your comic book bags and boards? How often should you swap out the bags and boards for new supplies? Martin explains…

BCW Comic Book Bags

BCW Comic Book Boards

Is Polyester or Polypropylene the Right Choice for my Sleeves and Bags?

Posted on June 22, 2015 by blogbcwsupplies

We make a simple distinction between bags and sleeves. We define the bags as having a flap that wraps over the top, while the sleeves are open on the top.

In many instances, such as comic bags, you can select bags made from polyester or polypropylene. Which material is best for your needs? There are several factors to consider to make the best choice.

Both polyester or polypropylene are considered archival-safe by the U.S. Library of Congress (learn more at the LOC page). The different chemistry between polyester or polypropylene gives them different attributes as sleeves and bags. BoPET (biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate) is a polyester film made from stretched PET (polyethylene terephthalate). BoPET is commonly called Mylar, the brand name of BoPET developed by the DuPont company. Polyester is inert and has no plasticizers or other chemicals that will damage collectible documents. Polyester is almost completely impermeable to liquids and gases. Polyester is transparent and does not yellow with age. Polyester film is the material of choice for archiving many of the United States’ most valuable historical documents according to the Library of Congress. Polypropylene is also archival safe, however it is gas permeable.

Polyester sleeves and bags are more rigid than polypropylene counterparts. This gives polyester bags a brilliant, shiny surface. Polyester bags are strong and unlikely to tear, while the flexibility of polypropylene bags may be a better solution for some needs.

If price is a consideration, polypropylene sleeves and bags are more cost effective than those made from polyester (Mylar). This makes polypropylene the popular choice for large collections.

For all of the bags and sleeves offered by BCW Supplies, we clearly define what material is used in its production. The description is found on the product’s respective webpage.

Sleeves and Bags

BCW Protective Pages

BCW Signage for Your Hobby Shop

Posted on April 8, 2015 by blogbcwsupplies

Hobby shops, like all retail stores, are concerned about using their merchandising space efficiently. Every square foot in your store is important! When properly merchandised, BCW products are worth space in your shop. As BCW products have a long shelf life, almost 100% of your BCW products will provide a positive return. With point-of-sale signs to identify your BCW products, you can move your supplies quicker. If your hobby shop needs signs to support your supplies section, BCW offers a sign and a window cling.

The Danger Room of Anderson, IN, with BCW Window Cling — The Danger Room Comics and Games in Anderson, IN

You can find the Window Cling on our website, but you’ll need to be signed-in your wholesale account in order to view this item. If you add a window cling to your online shopping cart, the price of one cling will be deducted from the cart value. If you want additional window clings, please describe what you need in the “Order Comments” section of your online order, or message a BCW Customer Service Rep.

Record Shop with BCW Signage — Fresh Produce Records of Macon, GA with BCW Signs

The BCW signs above are 32 inches wide, and use a system with magnets to mount on top of steel shelves. You can find these 32″ Store Signs on our website, but you’ll need to be signed-in your wholesale account in order to view this item. If you add a sign to your online shopping cart, the price of one sign will be deducted from the cart value. If you want additional window signs, please describe what you need in the “Order Comments” section of your online order, or message a BCW Customer Service Rep.