Slight deviations from my ‘closed’ status

If you follow my site or social media, you’ve likely noticed that I occasionally take small steps away from my “nothing work-related” vow.

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Conventions: I attended a few shows last year, sticking to those relatively close and within the same time zone. This hasn’t yet led to long-distance or frequent travel — but baby steps. :-)

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Signatures: After a few companies sent cards and labels here for signatures, I thought it might make sense to open that door to collectors as well. Here’s what I’ve learned since.

• I found out from collectors that the FedEx Global Returns option is far too expensive — USD 400+ in most instances, and it is targeted at businesses. (Remember that I thought that was the sole option for including the required prepaid return labels and commercial invoices, ensuring that I only need to call for a pickup after signing and repacking.)

• I recently learned from a collector that by using or opening his own FedEx account, he could create a shipment online, opt for a prepaid return, and print the return labels and commercial invoices in triplicate to include in the parcel. That mimics the Global Return option, and in his case, chopped the price nearly in half. Half-price may not always apply, but it's worth exploring.

• Maybe the most important thing I’m learning is that the majority of collectors are choosing to save their money and wait for a more affordable option. I don’t blame them.

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Graded Signatures: If you would like to have your books signed and CGC graded, an authorized facilitator is available in Manila.

• In that case, it would open up more, and maybe less expensive(?) shipping options, as you would send the books to me ‘one-way’ only. I would pass them to the facilitator.

• The facilitator would come to me to witness signatures and be responsible for prepping and shipping the books to CGC. I would connect you with him, and you would pay him directly for all CGC-related fees.

• Graded books will be shipped back to you from CGC, as usual.

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Signature Fee: If you’re interested in pursuing signatures, email me with details. I’ll provide a ship-to address so that you can get a shipping price quote. Note that for both regular signatures and graded signatures, submissions with fewer than 10 items incur a signature fee of USD 30 each; for submissions with 10 items or more, the fee is USD 20 each. PayPal payment is preferred.

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What’s Still Closed: My CLOSED status still applies to covers, interiors, commissions, remarks, long-distance convention travel, podcasts, and print or virtual interviews or events. And, a reminder that I don’t have any original art pages here, nor any sketches ‘just lying around.’ ;-)

— Mike (updated July 2025)