Shipping Questions

[PogoCards]

I have been away from actively trading for awhile, due to rising shipping costs, and just got back into it a bit recently. It seems like the shipping costs have only gotten worse, which should not really be a surprise, but I was surprised none the less.

I have also got back into buying some cards from Ebay and I was a little surprised as to the shipping that I have seen with some of my purchases. I am basically buying Ginter autographs and some Ginter GU. The shipping costs have really varied, depending on what has been sent. If I buy one autograph, so far, they have been sent in a cardboard-ish mailer or a tiny thin bubble envelope with a cost ranging from $.74 to $1.32. A stamp costs more than the $.74, so don't understand that one. Have had a couple like that. More normal is the $1.32. However, I got one card from a seller that they had put in a about a 1/2-inch thick plastic magnetic holder, which they also wrapped in cardboard and placed in a bubble envelope and only paid $1.32 to ship. It was heavy and thick, so I don't understand that one at all.

I am looking for cheaper ways to mail cards, so I might be able to be more involved in trading. I used to send in either bubble envelopes or small boxes for bigger trades. I have no problem with shipping a couple cards in a topload in a regular envelope, with a forever stamp. That is pretty simple.

I am interested in how some of you guys/gals do your shipping. I am also interested in creative ways that other traders package minis, single cards and/or GU and autos. I always want to send as safely as possible, but also realize that to trim shipping costs, I may have to look at alternative options from what I am used to. I have received probably eight autos from Ebay, with the methods that I listed above, and all have arrived safely. I have also received multiple cards shipped in a bubble envelope for a lot less than I have been paying recently. It seems like I am missing something or maybe my local USPS postal clerk is not as knkowledgable as I hope to give me the best options to ship as cheaply as possible.

Would welcome your thoughts on cutting on shipping costs and safely shipping different cards. Sorry for the long read. Hopefully I am making sense.


Barry Urbanek - PogoCards

 

[7timecy]

If they use Ebay shipping it is cheaper than the PO. Same with trading if you get an online shipping account you save like 2.50 for bubble mailer. It is cheaper now to send 2 PWE than a mailer. Depending on the card you can get 6-8 in 2 top loaders in a single PWE and you will need to use a Non-machineable and an extra once stamp. There are so many different ways to save. It almost isn't worth it anymore to send one GU because I always send in mailer. For me if it is over 25-30.00 I will use a mailer. DG

 

[PogoCards]

Thanks for the comments. The Ebay question makes more sense, with your comments. I might stick to smaller PWE trades until I can figure out cheaper ways to send.

 

[7timecy]

That is your best bet. Buy a bunch of non-machinable and 1 ounce stamps and you can ship a lot of cards that way. DG

 

[doniceage]

Pogocards,
Do you have PayPal? If so, have you ever used PayPal shipping to create your labels? It's not the cheapest option, but it is cheaper than taking a package to the post office. I sent 6 game-used and several base cards for an even $5. If you do the PWE option, make sure you get the Non-Machinable stamps like mentioned above, which are about double the cost of a regular stamp, but they can keep cards from getting damaged in the sorting machine. Might even want to look at the better envelopes than just the pwe as we all know they do not withstand much abuse.

DON