How to ship postcards?

[movepft2day]

Hi, I have a lot of vintage/antique postcards. How should I ship them? I sold and shipped one in a 9x6 rigid mailer, but it cost  $3.79.  How do sellers only charge $1 or $2 for shipping? I listed shipping as Standard Shipping USPS First Class Large Envelope for $2.04, but when I pulled the shipping label it only allowed Standard Shipping USPS Ground Advantage at $3.79.  Any suggestions or ideas? Thanks!

[steady2304]

@movepft2day 

As you have found out eBay will allow you to list USPS 1st Class Large Envelope on your listing.

The problem with that is that service is only for letters and flats. While your Postcards can be shipped that way you can't purchase a shipping label through eBay because that service does not include any tracking.

That is why when you went to purchase your label on eBay you were given USPS Ground Advantage as your option.

You have to go to the Post Office to use USPS 1st Class Large Envelope or just weigh it and put the correct amount of stamps on it. The downside to this is without any tracking a buyer can file an Item Not Received and you would end up having to refund for non delivery.

Many sellers take the chance sending this way that is why eBay allows 1st Class Large Envelope to be used when listing.

[tobaccocardyahoo · Accepted solution]

Ebay and USPS have a joint service called Ebay Standard Envelope which is available in specified categories.

It is available for postcards and is the service sellers are charging a dollar or two for.

Some sellers find it reliable, others including myself find it unreliable. It has a form of tracking which cannot be tracked on any site other than Ebay. It has been know to not be scanned and to arrive late.

Read about it, test it with how you package your cards and decide for yourself

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-standard-envelope?id=...

[thelongball]

Your max envelope size has to be business size which is the 9 x 5 inch to get the option to be available. So you were a inch off which is why it didn't show up. 

[ittybitnot]

@movepft2day 

Some people use this program.  It is less expensive and has limited tracking and limited delivery confirmation.  
Be sure to read all the details and fine print.  

If you should have to refund a buyer for INR, you can file for the insurance. 

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-standard-envelope?id=...

[thelongball]

And yes it does include a tracking #

[movepft2day]

Thank you so much for a very clear reply. I have always gone through Ebay to ship....dumb question maybe, how do I ship with out them and still show that the item has shipped? 

For a low dollar, light item, such as postcards I think I'd be willing to try it. But, most importantly, I'm a top rated seller and I do not want to jeopardize my rating or quality to my clients.  I'm just looking for options...I can always list shipping for $2 and take the $2 hit and go through Ebay as I did with the one I sold.  Thanks!

[tobaccocardyahoo]

If you are a top rated seller and wish to retain that status, you will need to minimize untracked shipments.

ESE is your only shot at reducing cost.

Rigid mailers may not be used with ESE.

Read the information in the link.

[movepft2day]

Thank you! Looks like I need to order some 9 x5 mailers!  Can they be rigid or do they need to be more like an envelope? I don't want the cards to get bent in shipping. 

[movepft2day]

Thank you. I'll check this out!

[movepft2day]

Thank you! Very helpful. 

[movepft2day]

Thank you very much for your reply. I checked your site and I value your advise!

[jg.mason]

The envelopes can't be rigid they have to be able to go through the USPS automatic sorting machines. I use a 7x5 heavy weight envelope. I put the card in a 2 mil 4x6 sleeve then encase that between two 4x6 index cards using blue painters tape. It comes out to under an ounce. Haven't had a single issue yet.

if you google it you'll find some videos show how to do it.

[onefootflipper]

This account of mine sells and ships nothing but standard envelope items. It is top rated, with perfect scores across the board. Standard envelope items do not count against certain metrics and will show up in your report as "removed" when they would have otherwise counted.

The problems most people have with standard envelope is that the overpack them. With postcards you just put the postcard in the envelope and print the label. With cards there are some good shipping videos on youtube you can watch, any of them that don't involve a top loader should be good advice. I put mine in a gaming sleeve sandwiched between 2 baseball cards and taped inside the envelope off center so the envelope can be folded in half.

If the items vanishes or shows up damaged, file the insurance, it has paid out for me every single time, although at this point I am going 500-1000 orders in a row without a problem.

[12345jamesstamps]

You can do eBay shipping labels and spend your profits or :

4 1/8 X 9 1/2 white envelope...thin cardboard...  .78 cent stamp.

Don't need tracking for something cheap...plus it will arrive quicker than an item with tracking.