Stores that sell Cheap top loaders?

[jtalmodovar26]

I'm new to auto-collecting and I plan to put my autographs in top load pages (Clear plastic sleeves with holes for binder rings). The only kind i can find was at Wal-Mart and that was 17.00 for 25 of them. Does anybody know a place that sells these for cheaper? Preferably around $10? Thank you

[DanaRenoMBA]

I just sent you a PM with some information that you may find helpful. Let me know if you need more information and I will see if I can find it. My modum is shot and I am currently at my local library so may not answer quickly. I expect my modum / internet to be back up and running by Tuesday or Wednesday.

[elephantwizard]

I too am wondering the same thing. Here are some at staples: http://www.staples.com/Staples-High-Cap ... rea=SEARCH
Are these ones that would do well? Also, what should I do if the autograph I want to store isn't that size? (Like 6 x 4 or other smaller sizes) Is there a way to put them in, are there other kind of protectors, or am I out of luck?
Thanks!

[dfreely]

Also, what should I do if the autograph I want to store isn't that size? (Like 6 x 4 or other smaller sizes) Is there a way to put them in, are there other kind of protectors, or am I out of luck?

They make them for 5x7s and 4x6s as well, though they're not as easy to find. The ones for 5x7s can hold two of them horizontally on one page, while ones for 4x6s hold either two or three, depending on the brand.

[packrat]

Just to clear up the terminology a little bit. Not trying to be a prude or anything, but it helps to know the correct terms so that if you ask about them at a local store the clerk will (hopefully) direct you to the right product.

A top loader is a hard plastic casing that you slide the individual photo into. They are not made for placing into any type of binder.

What you are talking about is called a pocket page. There are many types of them and which one you want depends on the size of your photo. They are often (but not always) made to go into a three-ring binder. Some pocket pages are made to fit only specialty binders.

The prices often depend on the quality. I like to use the Ultra-Pro pages since they are thicker and offer better protection than the cheap stuff sold at Walmart, Target, Office Max, and Staples. They often tend to be more expensive -- around $15.00 to $20.00 for a box of 100 pages in my neck of the woods. Sometimes you might be able to get lucky and find a better deal on eBay if someone is holding a sale.

Check out some comic book stores and sports cards/memoriablia stores in your area and ask them what they have and what they can order. That would give you a good idea of the quality compared to the discount and office stores I mentioned above.

[dfreely]

I don't think I've ever heard of them being called pocket pages, every package I've bought seem to refer to them as sheet protectors.

[jtalmodovar26]

I've heard them called as memory pages

[packrat]

Sheet protectors are made to hold 8-1/2x11 documents. They are usually real thin and are not what I would use to hold a photo. Some of the cheap ones can actually lift the sharpie ink off the photo. Never heard of memory pages.

Pocket pages are usually preceeded by a number. For instance (in general), a 9-pocket page is used to hold baseball cards. A 4-pocket page can be used to hold index cards. 2-pocket pages will hold 4x6 photos. They are made specifically to hold certain sized items. The 100 count box of the UltraPro pages has that term right on the box.

[dfreely]

Come to think of it, I don't think there actually is a universally correct term for it. I can see why a company like UltraPro would call it a 1-pocket page, it probably doesn't make sense for them to call it a sheet protector and they would want it to be named in a similar manner as the rest of their products. Likewise, if you got them from a school/office supply shop, it would be called a sheet protector because it wouldn't make sense for them to call it a pocket page. As for memory page, it was probably named so to be used with memory books.

As for the thickness, it really just depends on which ones you get. The lower-end ones are mostly 2 mil, but they make more heavyweight ones as well.

[jtalmodovar26]

Are Sheet Protectors made by Avery any good?