01-01-2019 01:43 PM
I am planning on listing jewelry and baseball cards. I would rather mail something so small and light with padded envelopes rather than a box.
How would I select to mail a padded envelope instead of a standard envelope or package? Also how would I enter the dimensions/weight for first class mail?
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01-01-2019 01:49 PM
Just call it a package and enter "1" as the thickness. Weight is measured in full ounces, and any fraction would round up (e.g., 2.1 ounces ships at the 3-ounce rate).
To make sure that it qualifies to be mailed as a package rather than as a letter or flat (AKA Large envelope), it must be either (1) over 3/4 inch thick or (2) over 1/4 inch thick and rigid or (3) over 1/4 inch thick and uneven thickness, which the USPS defines as a variation of more than 1/4 inch.
In practical terms, this means adding either some corrugated cardboard or a lump (like a packing peanut) inside the envelope. Postage cost is the same for any weight up to 4 ounces.
01-01-2019 01:49 PM
Just call it a package and enter "1" as the thickness. Weight is measured in full ounces, and any fraction would round up (e.g., 2.1 ounces ships at the 3-ounce rate).
To make sure that it qualifies to be mailed as a package rather than as a letter or flat (AKA Large envelope), it must be either (1) over 3/4 inch thick or (2) over 1/4 inch thick and rigid or (3) over 1/4 inch thick and uneven thickness, which the USPS defines as a variation of more than 1/4 inch.
In practical terms, this means adding either some corrugated cardboard or a lump (like a packing peanut) inside the envelope. Postage cost is the same for any weight up to 4 ounces.
01-01-2019 01:52 PM
If you are trying to avoid using tracking to save buyer/seller $$ you need to be careful.
The difference in postage cost for an envelope, and an "envelope/or package" is determined by the characteristics.
You can use the envelope rate (no tracking) if the item is not rigid, or not over 3/4" thick, or thickness does not vary by more than 1/4". Any of those make your envelope a package.
You can not print eBay labels for envelopes (those without tracking)
01-01-2019 01:54 PM - edited 01-01-2019 01:55 PM
@jeapre-0 wrote:I am planning on listing jewelry and baseball cards. I would rather mail something so small and light with padded envelopes rather than a box.
How would I select to mail a padded envelope instead of a standard envelope or package? Also how would I enter the dimensions/weight for first class mail?
You would choose letter/package for FCM. I believe the max size for small packages is 18.00" width & 22.00" length.
As long as you're under 15.99 ounces, you're fine.
01-01-2019 01:56 PM
@buyselljack2016 wrote:
... You can use the envelope rate (no tracking) if the item is not rigid, or not over 3/4" thick, or thickness does not vary by more than 1/4". Any of those make your envelope a package. ...
You can use the Large envelope rate (no tracking) if the item is not rigid, and not over 3/4" thick, and thickness does not vary by more than 1/4". Any of those make your envelope a package.
01-01-2019 02:00 PM - edited 01-01-2019 02:01 PM
@nobody*s_perfect wrote:
@buyselljack2016 wrote:
... You can use the envelope rate (no tracking) if the item is not rigid, or not over 3/4" thick, or thickness does not vary by more than 1/4". Any of those make your envelope a package. ...You can use the Large envelope rate (no tracking) if the item is not rigid, and not over 3/4" thick, and thickness does not vary by more than 1/4". Any of those make your envelope a package.
Pretty sure that is what I wrote
01-01-2019 02:10 PM
01-01-2019 05:14 PM
01-01-2019 06:36 PM
I agree; I've seen lots of comments where buyers were unhappy about receiving jewelry in envelopes. You can ship in a small box for cheaper than the $4 mentioned by another poster here. The tiny boxes add hardly any weight at all (a few ounces or so). And customers often leave glowing feedback for such packaging.
01-01-2019 07:29 PM
I have shipped 3,528 postcards in the past 4 years. I have yet to have a buyer complain a card was bent in mailing. In fact, I get lots of positive feedback for my packing.
1. I ship via bubble mailer. I get them free with my store. Before the store, I was paying 13 cents apiece for them (with free shipping). I use the 'cd size'.
2. My cards are shipped between 2 card board inserts cut in size to be larger (but no more than 1/2 inch larger) that are taped together. (scotch tape each side but not the entire side).
3. A packing slip is included.
4. I ship first class parcel (tracking is free). Even up to 3 cards (inside one set of inserts) ships for the 4 oz rate.
I have several friends who save me their cardboard boxes. All long as they are clean, they can be used for cutting up and creating inserts. I sometimes get boxes at work.
I do free shipping (and will after the post office increase - I have that worked out I think)
If doing baseball cards, sports cards there are inserts used to protect the cards. I do not know if they are firm enough by themselves but they shouldn't add too much weight.
Yes, I do get buyers who think postcards should be shipped in a plain white envelope with a couple of stamps.
That doesn't sit well with me, having seen what the PO can do to a plain envelope.
I don't ship jewelry yet. I have been reading and somewhat absorbing shipping methods for jewelry...nowhere near ready to start on that category so I'm not focusing on that yet. I probably will have other items to list first.
01-01-2019 07:42 PM - edited 01-01-2019 07:43 PM
I did not mention cards at all in my comment; I clearly only said jewelry, and was agreeing (why I answered their comment directly) with what the other poster had said concerning shipping jewelry.
I have sold many cards & VTG sticker packs as well over the years, and I regularly use 2 pieces of cardboard (usually try to recycle, but always clean & stiff cardboard) to protect them. I would never tell someone they needed to ship those in a box, but of course, someone else can have their own opinion on that. It would definitely not be cost effective for me to ship cards in a box. But there is a big difference between jewelry & cards.
01-02-2019 01:32 PM
>>having seen what the PO can do to a plain envelope
Plain envelopes not designated and marked as non-machinable will go through high speed automated equipment and WILL be bent around drums
DMM 201.3.12.1 Machinability To ensure transport through automated mail processing machines, a mailpiece and its contents must
bend easily when subjected to a transport belt tension of 40 pounds around an 11-inch-diameter drum.
Packages on the other hand just have to deal with USPS package handling equipment:
10-29-2019 08:32 PM - edited 10-29-2019 08:33 PM
Did USPS change priority mail rates?
In 2018, I was shipping single coins (1-3 oz packages) thru eBay, printing the label and slapping on a bubble wrap.
Putting it in my mailbox for the post office to pick up.
It came with a tracking number and was less than $3 total billed thru eBay to my PayPal account.
Now, I am listing some baseball cards and figured it would be the same shipping system and cost.
But it seems different, its like $7 or more for priority. 1-3 ounces.
So I did the eBay shipping calculator for package to go to First Class, which is $3-4. depending on city mailed to.
But does that include any tracking?
The baseball card will be in a rigid holder inside the bubble wrap envelope (6 inch by 4 inch by 1 inch).
What about coins? I can't ship them priority with tracking for $3 thru eBay anymore?
10-29-2019 09:44 PM
All USPS package postage includes tracking, including First Class packages. It has been many years since Priority Mail could be purchased for under $5. Your shipping in 2018 was undoubtedly for First Class packages, which would have cost $2.66 for up to 3 ounces.
10-30-2019 05:48 AM
May i share my general rule of thumb when it comes to shipping in a padded envelope instead of a box? If the item can be stepped without being damaged, then it's ok to ship it in a padded envelope. Other than that, use a box.
Too many sellers ship items in a padded envelope to save money when they shouldn't. The item arrives crushed -or- the package the item is in is crushed.