Can You Sell Board Game Card Parts/Replacements Using eBay Standard Envelope Shipping?
I've seen sellers using eBay Standard Envelope Shipping to sell Board Game Card Parts/Replacements. An example would be a "Professor Plum" card from Clue. How do I do this while following Ebay rules/regulations? It appears the only way is to designate the item as being in an incorrect category that Ebay DOES recognize as eligible for eBay Standard Envelope Shipping. I don't want to do that if it is breaking a rule or would cause Ebay to ding me. Any advice or clarification? Thanks!
16 comments
fm2000
·1 year agoThere are over 1000 categories that qualify for ESE, you can find the complete list in the spreadsheet found on this page. https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/shipping/choosing-a-carrier-and-service/ebay-standard-envelope
You may be able to find an appropriate category there for the board game cards. Barring that, I'd list them under "non-sport collectible cards". They are literally cards, and they are literally collectible, and they fully meet USPS regulations for first class letter mail. If you are still uncomfortable with that, and you are not a TRS, send them first class mail with a stamp, inexpensive vintage board games are a low risk category for scammers (some types of trading cards attract scammers, but not vintage board game stuff.)
Other non-card board game replacement parts would have to be sent expensive GA since they can't go in a letter envelope. I have experience selling replacement board game parts, sadly at today's GA rates most common game parts are unsellable at a profit (unless you have something special like a rare Monopoly token or something.) Those Clue cards will sell with ESE/FCM shipping cost, at today's 4oz GA rates they will never sell, I know this from personal experience.
michigancolor
·1 year agoVisit the page below. Find the "Eligible categories" header, and its first paragraph ends with "category paths" which is a link to an Excel file that shows every category that allows you to select ESE. If your item is in a category not listed here, it won't give you the ESE option. One option is to list in 2 categories, the one you have now, and one that is also acceptable but not the typical one you've been choosing.
https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/shipping/choosing-a-carrier-and-service/ebay-standard-envelope
war-2899
OP1 year agoGreat question! The board game cards are definitely not collectible like Pokemon or sports cards. They are just replacement cards for a standard set of cards that are produced and contained in any copy of that game. If a game card get ripped or coffee spilled on it, a person could buy another whole new copy of the game or an exact replacement part. That's why it is such an odd situation. They are physically similar in size and weight, but not similar in that there is no randomness or CCG collectibility. So if I wanted to sell one replacement card of "Professor Plum" from a 1977 Clue Board game, I need to send it USPS to be tracked, even though it could be sent much cheaper if there was an option to send it Ebay Standard Envelope Shipping.
And GREAT call out on my LoTR cards. They were one of my first things I listed, before I knew Ebay Standard Shipping Existed. 🙂 Shipping options fixed now. THANKS!
1786davycrockett
·1 year ago@war-2899
If, as you state, these game cards are simply replacement cards (and thus with perhaps little value), you should be able to ship them just at USPS First Class letter rates, using just a Forever stamp (but no USPS Tracking).
Doesn't sound as if a buyer would open a fake INR case, based on such a low value item
war-2899
OP1 year agoNot worth risking it.
war-2899
OP1 year agomam98031, you and I are on the exact same page. Thanks for all your help/advice. 🙂
war-2899
OP1 year agoI totally agree. The things I am trying to sell from the board games are cards that are same size and thickness as Pokemon or baseball cards. So they are exactly the same, but not in a recognized category. Maybe they will change/alter the rules someday.
bdmh-enterprises
·1 year agoAre these cards sellable individually because they're collectible? If so I'd see no problem putting them under Collectibles--> Non-Sport Trading Cards. Otherwise you can always send them untracked in a stamped envelope if they're cheap enough to risk the occasional INR.
On another note, you might want to go through the shipping on some of your listings. I noticed some of your LoTR cards have $1 &$2 GA shipping where I assume you would want ESE.
inhawaii
·1 year agoI don't see a problem selling cards, but I don't think the pieces will meet the thickness requirements.
war-2899
OP1 year agoGotcha. That's what I thought. So it sounds as if everyone that is doing that is actually listing board game parts under a false category. I wonder if there a penalty for that, or an "accepted workaround." Guessing it is not worth the penalty.
mam98031
·1 year agoYou really need to read the policy I gave you a link to. There are requirements for size and thickness too. Which I don't think you are considering and you need to.
And no, don't post in a category in which your items do not belong. You are assuming it is an "accepted workaround" just because others do it. What it actually means is they haven't been caught yet. it is still a breach of the selling rules.
war-2899
OP1 year agoIf I pick a policy acceptable category, it allows it. It just doesn't give me an option under board games.
mam98031
·1 year agoThat would then mean it is not a category that this form of shipping can be used for. Sorry.
war-2899
OP1 year agoI must be missing something, because if I select the correct category as "Toys & Hobbies >Games>Game Pieces, Parts" it won't let me pick eBay Standard Envelope Shipping. It isn't even an option
mam98031
·1 year agoI gave you a link to the policy. Did you review it?
mam98031
·1 year agoYou can sell board games and/or parts of board games. As to your method of shipment, that would depend on the needs of what you are selling.
Here is the policy for Standard Envelopes.
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-standard-envelope?id=5308