I have never gotten an authentic ttm. I ahve only gotte studio fanmails and my last one of those was May 11th. :neutral:

I've had just as many envelopes returned to me with no return address as I have with my address as the return address.

It really is a good idea to use your address as the return address. It not only cuts down on the temptation of theft, but can also come in handy if this ever happens to you: viewtopic.php?t=199919

I would never have seen that autograph if I hadn't used my name in the return address area.

brandnewfan wrote:So I've determined what my problem is.

Since I created this topic, I have received only a small handful (4 total, maybe) autographs in the mail. On all of the ones I've gotten back, they ALL had return addresses written on the envelopes. With my requests, I've always left the return address spot blank, so all of the autographs I've received since then have had the return addresses written by either the celeb or one of their secretaries. I've sent far too many requests out following the proper & correct procedure for sending out requests for there to be any other explaination--the only thing missing from my SASE's has been a return address.

Which leads me to a new question: Why is the post office not delivering me mail if it does not have a return address? Is this a new rule or something? Do post offices vary when it comes to this? Or is the postman/woman only stealing my mail when it does not have a return address (I guess they assume that I won't know it's missing if the envelope doesn't list who it's coming from)?

Technically they dont have to deliver mail with no return address on it because it could be considered suspicious,I know most people think they will deliver it anyways but im not so sure because i know mail is suppose to have a return address on it. I always put a return address on,i did put my address as the return on some like others have done but i stopped doing that because it looks weird so i always put the prpoer return address on the sase.

So I've determined what my problem is.

Since I created this topic, I have received only a small handful (4 total, maybe) autographs in the mail. On all of the ones I've gotten back, they ALL had return addresses written on the envelopes. With my requests, I've always left the return address spot blank, so all of the autographs I've received since then have had the return addresses written by either the celeb or one of their secretaries. I've sent far too many requests out following the proper & correct procedure for sending out requests for there to be any other explaination--the only thing missing from my SASE's has been a return address.

Which leads me to a new question: Why is the post office not delivering me mail if it does not have a return address? Is this a new rule or something? Do post offices vary when it comes to this? Or is the postman/woman only stealing my mail when it does not have a return address (I guess they assume that I won't know it's missing if the envelope doesn't list who it's coming from)?

The lovely amanda seyfried broke my three month dry spell recently and I have gotten a couple more this week which I will post tomorrow.

I have been in a dry spell since July or August..... sigh

Tabby wrote:Ah the joys of a first response. I remember mine. It was a great feeling! Who did you send to? I'm still in a dry spell..week 4.

ive sent to uk people to start with

alesha dixon
the saturdays
roxanne pallett
emma bunton
jodie prenger
brooke vincent (corronation st)

ive written some letters for overseas people and i shall be mailing those once i get paid

I caught my Saturday (fill in mail man) stealing my mail. Every Saturday or day he filled in I wouldn't get any mail. So I waited on Sat. and approached him after he walked by my house with no mail. He was about 20-25 years old and got real squirrelly when I asked where all my mail was being delivered since he started. So the next Friday I sent myself a baseball and sure enough I never got it back. I went to the post office and told the head guy what was happening. he didn't believe me. So the next Friday i went back with the envelope filled out with a baseball inside. He took it form me and i watched him put it in the bucket to be mailed. Sure enough it never came back to me. I went down the next Thursday and got him,, told him the deal. He had my mail "traced". I gave him another SASE with a baseball inside and he put som kind of special postage label to track it. I think they see it when the mail gets to the local post office the letter is being delivered too, then the Postmaster sees the item arrived in that location and was put on the truck to be delivered. Don't know what happened but I've NEVER seen that mailman again and all my mail has been delivered as normal again. Then one day the Postmaster saw me in the P.O. and asked me if I've had any problems since, and assured me it would NEVER happen again.

To think it's impossible for a mailman to steal is just guillable. They are alone in a truck with nobody watching them for 8 hours daily. What makes you think they don't have the opportunity to take what they please???? It's not just TTM stuff, it's cash and gifts. They see enough mail to know whats a birthday card or gift; they know. Everyone wants more, and some are greedy enough to follow through on that desire.

RYAN J. wrote:I'm currently applying for a position at my post office, and let me tell you, I wouldn't be caught dead swiping someone else's mail! The process just getting into the job alone is enough to make me not want to do it! They also have you take lie dector tests occassionally.

Plus the benefits you get with working for USPS far outweighs the urge to steal someone's mail. if you're smart you'll want to keep your job.

RYAN J.

I work part-time at the post office and the security measures are quite rigid. You could probably swipe a piece of mail, but the penalties are not worth the risk.

We all have to realize that sometimes dry spells happen. It's the nature of this hobby.