Need Your Help!

[celticbrother]

I just started selling Orignal Art ACEO cards again on eBay, after being away for several years. 

I sold a couple but to my great surprise, eBay postage wants to charge me $3.58 for First Class postage with tracking.  I am using a 6 x 9" bubble envelope. Is this the lowest rate available? At this postage rate, I am afraid my business is done before it has started. Any thoughts or suggestions would be most helpful. Thanking you all in advance. 

[jrtatesullivan]

Yep, it costs us about $5 minimum to send anything.
USPS now considers bubble mailers to be packages and charges accordingly.
You can still send in a standard envelope, albeit without tracking - unless you want to pay for that as well.
One thought I've had, but not tried yet, is to make the ATC part of a larger post card and send it at the post card rate. It precludes any add-ons or fine art ATCs. Just a thought.

[lamber9347]

Yes, that is the lowest rate possible. Expect USPS prices to continue to rise....

[jmesprit]

Depending on the value of what you are selling, many sellers are just using regular mail-- no tracking, but gets your product out there...

[celticbrother]

Thanks. This is very helpful.  I am afraid to send it without tracking, so I guess have to ship via First Class. If this is feasible in the long run remains to be seen. Ebay won't pay you without tracking, so I don't see how you can mail it in a regular envelope. Anyway, thanks for your help.

[celticbrother]

Thanks for your help.

[celticbrother]

But how do they get eBay to pay them without tracking?  Doesn't eBay sit on your money until tracking is confirmed?

Thanks for your help. 

[stainlessenginecovers · Accepted solution]

If card is under 3 ounces and sells for $20 or less, you can use eBay Standard Shipping Envelopes for about $1. 

[drawsing]

Hi, I use a standard no. 10 security envelope and print the postage and address using stamps.com.  I put my ACEO card in a soft plastic sleeve and fold a little piece of scotch tape and stick it on the back of the plastic. I then take a sheet of copy paper and fold it in thirds to fit in the envelope like a letter. I tape the card into the middle of the folds so it doesn't slide around and put it all in the envelope, seal it and mail it. I don't trust my mailbox, so I take it to the post office.

[rcaspindle-4]

You could try using a standard envelope - just upload the tracking from the receipt from the post office. As a buyer myself, buyers like having a tracking # for items they buy.

[celticbrother]

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. 

[celticbrother]

I'll check this out. Thanks for the info. 

[analdi]

Open an account with pirate ship and start purchasing your shipping labels through them.  They're a little cheaper than usps. Is free to make account.  

[celticbrother]

Thanks for the info.