eBay Standard Envelope
I sold a low-dollar sports card yesterday and today I shipped it out using eBay standard envelope as the shipping method. This is my first time using this service.
When I dropped the envelope off at the post office with my other packages, the clerk had never seen that type of label before. She said there was nothing for her to scan because there was no tracking number. She did try to scan the barcode that printed above the sendee's address and the QR-looking image, which I presume was the digital stamp. When she scanned, nothing happened on her computer screen and nothing shows up on my end when I click on the tracking number. Since nothing happened when she attempted to scan it, nothing printed out on my receipt with the rest of my packages. I am trying to figure how am I protected without having something to show that I mailed it. The clerk also said it would be non-machinable, even though it was less than a quarter inch thick. She even put it through a measuring guide and it fit just fine. She said it was non-machinable because it can't be bent.
To pack this, the card was already in a top loader so I left it in there. I then used painters tape to tape the top loader to a piece of cardboard that fit perfectly inside the envelope.
I am trying to find out if I did this correctly and whether or not the clerk should have been able to scan the label on the envelope or if the machines scan it. Thank you.
christworks
OP1 year agoUpdate: The envelope must be going through the machines because it is scanning now. Thanks again!
train_slide_central
·1 year agoAccording to Grok AI, modern sorting machines do not bend the letters like in the old days. I sell slides, and I always put 1 or 2 slides in a #10 envelope. I have never had one lost or damaged in 5 years, and I only use a forever stamp to send them.
christworks
OP1 year agoThank you for all the replies. I had done some research on how other sellers ship these cards, which is why I used the cardboard. It seems like the card would get bent going through the machines otherwise. My envelope was about 1/8" thick and the cardboard I used did reach all the corners.
I am wondering if I should refund my buyer in advance and let them know it is the first time I shipped a card, and I wanted to take care of him in advance in case I messed up or in case he should get charged on the back end for non-machinable surcharge. I may wait to see if any scans pop up in the next day or so. It sounds like there may not be no scans, even if it does go through the machines. But, if I do see scans, then it seems it is safe to assume it did make it through the machines and there shouldn't be surcharge.
I was also unsure why the clerk did not have me pay a non-machinable surcharge while I was with her. She was very confused. She had never seen such a thing before.
I only listed this card but I found it in some other NASCAR stuff I bought. I have a ton of my personal baseball cards put up that I'd like to get rid of, so understanding how the eBay Standard Envelope worked seemed prudent.
Thank you again for the replies. If anyone else has insight, by all means chime in.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoDon't preemptively refund the buyer. No reason for that. Wait to see if there's a problem.
If the item arrives to the buyer postage due, you can send them the postage due amount as a partial refund.
Wait to see if the buyer contacts you. If you never hear from them then assume all is well.
christworks
OP1 year agoWill do, and thank you again for the information earlier.
And thank you, @bdmh-enterprises, for your insight. My clerk knows me so she knew I was not trying to pull a fast one, but she was definitely hesitant as to whether that was actually paid postage on it. 🤣
1786davycrockett
·1 year ago@christworks
Don't hand the ESE to a postal counter employee -- that always seems to slow things down, as most USPS employees are unaccustomed to actually holding an ESE in their hands.
Sometimes they will call in a supervisor to check it out (that rarely goes well!); and sometimes they "set it aside" to have someone "higher up" check it out later (which occasionally means that it is forgotten about, and then maybe sent out late -- or never); and some eBay sellers have even reported that some counter clerks refuse to accept ESEs at all, considering them "counterfeit" or eBay trying to "put one over" on the post office.
So the easiest way to avoid all that drama, is to drop the ESE in the "metered mail" drop slot in the post office lobby (if you have one).
Lacking that, just drop the ESE into any USPS "blue box" -- it will be mixed in with other outgoing letters and packages, and will hopefully receive the initial "acceptance" scan at the next USPS Distribution Center.
One more thing -- when the ESE is provided with a "Delivered" scan, that only means that it was delivered at the post office matching the ZIP Code of the buyer's address -- and NOT the residence of the buyer. The ESE will be delivered to the buyer a few days later, unless the buyer's residence address is in an outlying area.
Instead of cardboard, try slicing up a couple strips from a cereal box or a 12 pack of soda. Make sure both strips fit snugly inside a #6 or #10 envelope (do NOT use the stiff card mailers which eBay recommends!). I use just a penny sleeve instead of a more rigid card loader, and I've never had a complaint or a lost ESE since I started mailing ESEs several years ago.
Good luck!
christworks
OP1 year agoThank you! That's good idea to use the more pliable cereal box cardboard. I will definitely do that if I get around to listing my cards.I will also use penny sleeves. I think I actually have some put up with my cards. Thank you again for the tips. ðŸ˜
train_slide_central
·1 year agoBTW, when I send my slides, I forgot to mention one thing. I pick up the free priority envelopes from the USPS, then I cut them to fit in the #10 envelope. I can get 3 out of one of the large 9x12 envelopes. Its still pliable, not to thick, it protects the cards or slides on both sides, and easy to acquire. And looks a bit more professional than a cereal box , etc.
1786davycrockett
·1 year ago@train_slide_central
It is a violation of USPS regulations to use the free Priority Envelopes in the manner which you describe.
Printed on the USPS Priority envelopes is the statement "This packaging is the property of the U. S. Postal Service and is provided solely for use in sending Priority Mail shipments. Misuse may be a violation of Federal law. This packaging is not for resale. EP14F {copyright} U. S. Postal Service; Oct. 2008; All rights reserved."
Your choice of visual aesthetics "may be a violation of Federal law."
Please reconsider.
bdmh-enterprises
·1 year agoThe first time I used an ESE (however many years ago) I had a very similar experience. Made me chuckle when you mentioned the clerk trying to scan the different codes on the label. My clerk showed me how it couldn't scan and said "There's another guy that uses these. His always go non machinable. yours seems fine though so I'll send it through normally". This then prompted me to take a deep dive into how these things really worked which has led to a 99%+ success rate with them. Small town PO, they seem used to them by now.
Wastingtime gave you all the info and I'd recommend reading through it. I will add that because it's non-machinable you will NOT get tracking updates. I'm surprised they didn't charge you the non-machinable fee right there. It's possible you will be billed for it, though that has not been my experience with ESE that didn't get machined.
I would recommend using semi rigid sleeves in the future. And NO stiffener, it's not needed. I can't recall ever getting a greeting card messed up by the USPS. I have gotten a baggie of envelope and top loader shrapnel with a nice note "sorry we couldn't deliver for you" or something, pretty sure they just toss em nowadays though.
12345jamesstamps
·1 year agoIt is considered 'metered mail' and not 'stamp letter mail'.
Thus it has to be bendable...like a greeting card and envelope...plus the inside thin cardboard needs to hit all 4 corners of an envelope so there is no small lump.
I use thin cardboard all the time without a problem for all my shipping items.
'measuring guide'...I hate when a clerk uses that...and when they bend my envelope to see that it bends.
I do sweat sometimes when I need an item with tracking and it's just an envelope.
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 year agoThe is nothing the clerk has to or can do with ESE other than put it with other Letter Mail.
It is a scheme to repurpose the bar code which is used to route Letter Mail.
It can only be scanned by the automated sorting equipment in sorting centers. It may not be scanned even them,
If you packed your card in a top loader, you may find your shipment to be not scanned, or destroyed or lost. Letter sorting equipment requires a flexible envelope and your top loader may cause your letter to jam the sorter. Needless to say a postal employee who has to clear a jam is not going to be your friend. You may have a charge of non-machinable charged to you, or as postage due to your buyer, or have your shipment returned to you.
It is a shipping option which is unacceptable to me, but I will not sell very inexpensive cards. Your under $5 with free shipping card is something I would lot to get rid of.
You can watch this shipment carefully, hope you will not have to file an insurance claim and apologize to your buyer and not have further problems, Cheap cards are not worth risking your account for, so if you are planning to ship as a letter, you need to find what will work for you.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoAdding cardboard made it non-machinable. You can't do that with ESE. Even top loaders are problematic.
eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) Overview
Review this page for packing requirements (size, flexibility, label placement, etc) and a downloadable list of eligible categories (qualifying items must be listed in a qualifying category):
Seller Center - eBay Standard Envelope
Read this page for more service details:
Policy Help Page - eBay Standard Envelope
Review this page for the fine print (like items over $20 don't qualify, for example):
Terms of Service - eBay Standard Envelope
If you don't see ESE on the listing form you may need to adjust package dimensions to 11x6.
If you cannot access ESE when purchasing a shipping label, it's possible:
- Your package dimensions/weight are above the service limits.
- Your item was listed in an ineligible category.
- Your item was above the $ limit. When you use auction format, if the auction goes over $20 and you offered ESE, the buyer can still choose it at checkout, but you will not be able to purchase an ESE label due to the item's value.
- Your buyer entered Puerto Rico in the country field. If that happens, let the buyer know ESE is a domestic service and it cannot be purchased when PR is entered in the country field. You can cancel the order using "problem with buyer's address" and advise them to repurchase with a revised address: they need to enter PR as the "state" and United States as the country.
If you find the tracking on eBay to be lacking, you can track the ESUS number on this site and sometimes find more info:
https://parcelsapp.com
Remember, this is a metered letter mail shipment so it does not receive traditional tracking scans and the clerk at the PO counter cannot scan it. Drop these envelopes in your PO's metered mail slot if they have one. The envelope will be scanned by sorting machinery at distribution centers along the way.
Common reasons ESE envelopes don't get scans include:
- Overpacking. Envelopes are too stiff. It's not recommended to use trading card top loaders or cardboard mailers.
- Using ineligible packing material such as a bubble envelope.
- Placement of label. Label should be placed in the upper right corner with approx 1/8"-1/4" clearance from edges. If it's placed too far from the corner (like in the middle of a long envelope) the machinery may not scan it.
- Securing items in the center of the envelope. The center of the envelope needs to be the most flexible part.
- Printer ink is not dark enough, or label color is too bright (stick to white labels if you can).
- Regional issues with sorting machines, volume processing, picky USPS employees, etc.
With ESE, a 'delivered' scan generally occurs at the last sort facility before it gets to the buyer, so typically the buyer will receive their order a day or two after the delivered scan.
If a buyer files a not received claim, you do have insurance coverage and the claims process is outlined on this page.