I agree with you about the celebs not having the colours, thats just a risk i take. 9 times out of 10 i get nothing back at all, so if they sign too dark im just thankful. I do try and send lighter pictures if possible just in case. The most annoying for me was when i met Stephen Merchant and got him to sign my Extras dvd with a black sharpie. The cover is about 80% white and he still signed on the dark patch! Doh!

I've had partial success maybe 50% or less both domestic US and overseas. I send gold or silver markers because some of my photos are too dark to notice a normal black or blue sharpie. The success rate of getting my paint marker returned? 0% The success rate of getting a gold, silver or copper sharpie returned about 50%. A regular sharpie coming back? 0%

I don't plan on the sharpie making the return trip. I don' budget for it in the postage. If it happens it is a bonus.
I used to be of the mindset that all celebrities should have their own markers. I have learned that NOT all celebrities maintain a multi-colored quiver of sharpies just for fan mail. Even if they appear at a convention not all of them have more than two markers.

My intent with sending the sharpies is to ensure MY item gets signed with the color marker I provided. Most times it works, other times it doesn't.

Sorry I cannot be more positive. There are too many variables to consider why it doesn't work out the way we want it to. So I just roll the dice and hope for the best.

I tried sending a gold Sharpie to Cate Blanchett when she was in New York, and I got my stuff back - minus the pen - unsigned. It was stamped from Dublin or something, so i think customs must have confiscated it and RTS. Not worth trying i'd say.

I was wondering who here has successfully sent a Sharpie Paint Pen/Marker to the person or cash they were trying to obtain signatures from. Have you had any luck with the pen and the item (s) coming back in good condition??? If so, how do you pack them? Lol