How do you mail your cards?

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brazin

Pro
58
5.00 star(s)
Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Messages
656
Location
570 Panhandle circle Maysville, Georgia 30558
I havent traded much on here since 2008 and since then
theres been hikes on postage stamps, padded mailers
and delivery confirmation.

Im just curious how much everyones methods of trading have
changed. I remember when I started here that PWE were
absolutely forbidden and one of my first trades here, I used
a brown clasp envelope and padded the cards within it and
it was recommended that I shouldnt use that envelope even
with my own bubble wrap.

Since then I just used padded mailers and delivery confirmation.
I would package each card in a card sleeve and hardcase with
paper on top with tape and for common cards pacage them in
sleeves individually and place them in a team bag between two
hardcases with team bag taped to on hardcase and etc.

It cost more to definately mail cards now but, I still believe this
method to be the correct way, I've seen post on plain white
envelope trades and even have received a card from ebay in a
envelope.

Want to know how you ship cards since the rate hikes, I dont
do many trades a month so I'll be sending the same as usual.
how do you send or trade one card or 5 cards?
 
I've been shipping cards in a brown clasp envelope with padding (usually from un-reusable mailers or bubble wrap) for years. I haven't had any problems *knocks on wood*.

It doesn't save any money on shipping. It's just easier for me to store a box of 100 of those compared to a box of multiple sized bubble mailers.

I also use PWE whenever I can (on non thick/non pricey cards) but I always ask the other person if it's ok first and expect them to ask me the same.
 
All of my trades go out in padded envelopes
Chief

thats great chief, mailing out once a week is a good idea. Anyone on here
sell Bulk toploaders and penny sleeves by the case? I need to get some.
buying them buy the pack as needed just cost too much.

I've been shipping cards in a brown clasp envelope with padding (usually from un-reusable mailers or bubble wrap) for years. I haven't had any problems *knocks on wood*.

It doesn't save any money on shipping. It's just easier for me to store a box of 100 of those compared to a box of multiple sized bubble mailers.

I also use PWE whenever I can (on non thick/non pricey cards) but I always ask the other person if it's ok first and expect them to ask me the same.

You sure are right about that, those padded mailers take up an insane amount of space where cards should be. You see
thats good on the PWE as asking first or doing a trade like that, I'd hate to send a padded mailer out and then receive a
PWE without knowledge of such first. NYY, how do you do delivery confirmation? on everything or just game used and autos?
 
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As far as the DC goes.. I use it on everything I sell. With trades, I usually don't use it on anything under $25.
 
I never buy bubble envelopes, but I use the ones I receive in a useful reusable way. I cut a sleeve that will fit into a small white payment envelope, a size "0" can be cut to get two sleeves when you trim some edge paper. A toploaded card can also be secure in it's own sleeve by cutting the small end of a legal size envelope you get in the mail and sliding the mail out the end. This often can net three perfect sized sleeves to snugly keep the card from slipping out the toploader, this can be inserted into the bubble sleeve and with the sides taped it can be mailed in a slightly lighter weight fashion that is more secure than a regular bubble envelope because the toploader can't shift around. It's more economical for both shipping material and the environment, plus it often cuts down a fraction of an ounce so that 1-3 cards (those secondary cards are outside the topload but inside the snug sleeve) can always be mailed for a single ounce, mostly as either a large envelope or even a non-machinable first class letter rather than some clerks who always want to charge a package rate.

4-6 cards I put into a single wider pennysleeve or sometimes their own pennysleeves and 7-12 also in individual pennysleevs then into a teambag and tape onto a CardSaver then "clamshell" it by taping another CardSaver onto it and into the bubble sleeve.

Beyond that you can get 30 or so into a teambag, two teambags taped together side by side and thin cardboard (cereal box) "clamshelled" to fit into a size "0" bubble envelope.

Anything more you really need a box, the corners can be subject to damage to the cards if they are dropped or otherwise banged around, so overstuff each side with packing peanuts or cut some regular styrofoam, the bubble wrap just doesn't cut it. If you insist on bubble wrap for boxes, have an outer box.
 
I never buy bubble envelopes, but I use the ones I receive in a useful reusable way. I cut a sleeve that will fit into a small white payment envelope, a size "0" can be cut to get two sleeves when you trim some edge paper. A toploaded card can also be secure in it's own sleeve by cutting the small end of a legal size envelope you get in the mail and sliding the mail out the end. This often can net three perfect sized sleeves to snugly keep the card from slipping out the toploader, this can be inserted into the bubble sleeve and with the sides taped it can be mailed in a slightly lighter weight fashion that is more secure than a regular bubble envelope because the toploader can't shift around. It's more economical for both shipping material and the environment, plus it often cuts down a fraction of an ounce so that 1-3 cards (those secondary cards are outside the topload but inside the snug sleeve) can always be mailed for a single ounce, mostly as either a large envelope or even a non-machinable first class letter rather than some clerks who always want to charge a package rate.

4-6 cards I put into a single wider pennysleeve or sometimes their own pennysleeves and 7-12 also in individual pennysleevs then into a teambag and tape onto a CardSaver then "clamshell" it by taping another CardSaver onto it and into the bubble sleeve.

Beyond that you can get 30 or so into a teambag, two teambags taped together side by side and thin cardboard (cereal box) "clamshelled" to fit into a size "0" bubble envelope.

Anything more you really need a box, the corners can be subject to damage to the cards if they are dropped or otherwise banged around, so overstuff each side with packing peanuts or cut some regular styrofoam, the bubble wrap just doesn't cut it. If you insist on bubble wrap for boxes, have an outer box.


Man, James, you remind me of Ed Begley Jr. Nice idea's man. do you mail with
the delivery confirmation or just let em ride?
 
Here's how I ship:

1-2 cards- I use PWE for trades involving one or two lower end cards. Never ship GU or Auto in PWE, and you probably shouldn't try shipping more than two.

3-8 cards- Bubble mailer, usually put the cards in a thicker toploader w/cards in penny sleeves.

9+ cards- I put the cards in penny sleeves and then into a sealed and taped team bag. If I make a trade involving a lot of cards and have one of those smaller boxes available, I'll put the cards in those and pad them on either side w/Kleenex or newspaper.
 
I ship all cards in bubble mailers unless a box is needed. I know that mailing is getting expensive but I feel that it's worth the effort to protect someone else's property. I know that if I'm expecting something in the mail that I've been looking for to go into the PC, I'd expect it to be in the condition that it left the sender.
 
As a collector, I have received cards in all sorts of crazy ways! Most are ok, but not honestly sufficient should "extra" handling occur (which happens ALOT!). I would NEVER suggest PWE or a manila envelope in ANY transaction. In addition, a plain bubble mailer isn't sufficent enough on it's own >>> I have had the unfortunate experience of receiving bubble mailers that have been poked by something hard, ran over (tire marks) or bent -- all of which somehow damaged the card.

What should be done:

Before placing card in a bubble mailer, the card should be secured by the following method:

Penny Sleeve, Top Loader taped down (yeah yeah some don't like this, but it keeps the card from slipping out) with cardboard (usps boxes cut up are best) wrapped around the card - two folds on one side and one fold on the other, then tape down the open sides. * Some people use blank/dummy cards in place of this, but they are smaller than the toploader which will and can crack because it's exposed. In addition, these blank cards weigh more than the cardboard method I suggest. (3oz vs 2oz)*

Lastly, use two packaging peanuts side by side in the "extra" space (never on top of the card) to maintain the 3/4" requirement <<< Important because any **** USPS employee can flag it and have it returned to sender or charge the receiver "Priority mail" for the senders error.

Cost is ALWAYS $1.58 via paypal labels (regardless of ebay sale or trade on card sites) - $1.39 postage (2oz) with .19 delivery confirmation.
 
I also always send in a bubble mailer unless I am trading 1-3 low-end, non-thick, non-autograph/game used cards.

As for DC, I find it completely useless if you are trading with a reputable trader. DC just tells you it was delivered, it doesn't guarantee it was delivered to the right place.
 
I always use bubble envelopes with the words "Do Not Bend" written on the left side ......whether its one card or many cards. plastic top loaders and card inside toploaders in penny plastic sleeves. If its a single card...have a empty plastic top loaders or card decoy in front and one in back of the top loader with the card....as protection with rubber band around them. Best regards, David
 
I ship all cards in bubble mailers unless a box is needed. I know that mailing is getting expensive but I feel that it's worth the effort to protect someone else's property. I know that if I'm expecting something in the mail that I've been looking for to go into the PC, I'd expect it to be in the condition that it left the sender.

I do this too. The only time I use a DC is with Rookie traders. That's because most of th people I trade with I have done so multiple times and I have learned to trust them, so no DC.

Good luck.
 
I also always send in a bubble mailer unless I am trading 1-3 low-end, non-thick, non-autograph/game used cards.

As for DC, I find it completely useless if you are trading with a reputable trader. DC just tells you it was delivered, it doesn't guarantee it was delivered to the right place.

What he said...That's exactly how I do it too...
 
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