Shipping sports cards using ebay standard envelope shipping is a disaster!

[comicsandcrypto]

Im going to post alot of information here and ask for help from the community and eBay. Ive been shipping sports cards using the aforementioned way for the last few months with minor issues here and there. People receiving bent sports cards have been the biggest issue. The monster problem of all problems arose today. I received 9 envelops back in my post today with POSTAGE DUE and a letter from the post master stating, "THESE ARE PACKAGES NOT ENVELOPES" To my shock i panicked and thought maybe they were heavier than I thought so i threw them on my scale and to my surprise the heaviest package was 1.8 ounces. This falls way below the maximum. So I called the local PO and was lectured about how eBay has been screwing the PO over for years and that sending sports cards this way is NOT ALLOWED! I have video I will post here as well so you can see my interaction with the post master. Now I met ALL criteria via the ebay rules its under 3 ounces its in a standard letter size envelope and its under 1/4 inch thick. The problem the PO had was that they said a letter must be passed through a snake like system that MUST allow the envelope to bend at a maximum 90 degrees so that is a huge fail! I called eBay support and was turned around in circles 2 times about non issues that had NOTHING to do with the problem. I asked point blank HOW am I supposed to ship these cards in an envelope that MUST be bendable using ebays standard envelope process? Im trying desperately to get answers before my next round of sales goes through because this is nightmare fuel if im selling hundreds of cards each week! Watch the video and tell me what im supposed to do now. https://www.dropbox.com/s/rawj7d4mq632fn3/video-1620148796.mp4?dl=0

[therareitemstore]

Yes, something has occurred with eBay and USPS recently regarding the eBay standard envelopes. I order quite a few cards shipped via eBay standard envelopes. Something occurred around April 16th to April 26th, causing several eBay standard envelopes to get bounced back to sellers who mailed them. (Even though I have had no issues before and have received eBay envelopes since.) I have one eBay envelope order that has been "Out for Delivery" since April 25th and has not arrived. The problem is, USPS raises their arms and says they don't know, and since it is technically eBay tracking system (they call it: eBay Delivery Services Tracking) there is no way to get ahold of anyone at eBay to check what is going on. Something clearly glitched and eBay is just acting like nothing happened.

[victoriansupply]

USPS is very touchy about envelopes, and using letter size envelopes. That machine has to run efficiently because if it's not working, an employee might have to stand up and fix it. Seriously though have you thought about bundling your collection, and send them in a small box by first class? Maybe a package with the cards in protector cases inside? 

[comicsandcrypto]

I followed ALL USPS and EBAY rules quite literally to the letter. Im stuck in the middle as a seller and praying that eBay for businesss on Facebook gets back to me with answers. As a temp fix I put all the cards in new envelopes without the fragile stickers and dropped them off at a different post office. FINGERS CROSSED!

[kds99]

So are you using plain envelopes that are flexible? They have to be flexible. No plastic protectors or cardboard inside. They have to bend at 90 degrees around an arc having a 9-inch radius.

[sandmanx4]

Except ebay clearly states you can put cards in top loaders.   

[murphy71605]

I only use regular white envelopes and apply a thermal printed label. I try not to do anything to draw any attention to the envelope. Not overstuffed, no tape, no do not bend stickers, or anything that will catch the eye of a mail sorter and get pulled from the automated process. I also am trying to stay with cards $9.99 and under for now. So far everything is being updated in the system with a few showing in transit or out for delivery, and seem to end there. 

[comicsandcrypto]

Yes these are PWE mailing envelopes. But I think you are overlooking the obvious problem here. The mail must be bendable up to 90 degrees? That will completely ruin all contents of the letter. Making the card inside worthless. Do you see the massive issue with this now?

[comicsandcrypto]

So have you had any returns or people stated they have received damaged cards? I have sold approx. 60 or so now this way. 3 have come back as bent and my efforts to bolster the envelope have gotten the wrath of the post master. So now im scratching my head thinking that ebay didn't think this one over to well. I mean if every card gets passed through a sorter and is subsequently bent at 90 degrees we are gonna have a massive issue here shortly yes?

[murphy71605]

I have not had any returns or claims of damage yet, only a few I don't know about because tracking stopped and feedback was never left. I wrap my cards in a little bit thicker paper stock and put in the envelope making sure they don't slide around. I have only sent single cards in a toploader and make sure they have some flex and do not send thicker jersey or relic cards. I have received and sent many cards that seem to get through the 90 degree system without getting damaged. I think the main thing is the rigidness of the envelope. The system is definitely not ideal which is why I send low dollar cards.

[kosmosattik]

It would be helpful to know if the envelopes got bounced back from the distribution center or whether the local PO screened them out guessing they do not conform.  Did you ask that?

In fact, the "fragile" may be the problem.  Some persnickety local PO worker may have kicked them back without ever seeing a sorting machine because fragile handling does not conform to bulk mail handling.  Keep in mind that from the PO's perspective there is nothing special about these packages--the eBay instructions simply conform to pre-existing bulk mail envelope requirements.

 Another poster in another thread said he marked his "do not scan" and had no problems.  His postal workers obviously ignored that instruction for an item designed to be machine scannable.

If these were kicked back by a failed distribution center sort (if you asked that) are you sure they are a 1/4 inch thick or less at the thickest point?  From your video I think possibly not.  Only a micrometer would know for sure.

[comicsandcrypto]

I did resend the envelopes out today without the fragile stickers and disguised as well as possible. Now im wondering if the people getting them are going to get bent cards or not. Also side note I just had another customer inform me that their package shipped via this method is lost in the mail. That makes #4 where the tracking stops outside of where I shipped from and no longer is tracked. So now there is a whole nother mess that eBay needs to look into quick fast and in a hurry. Im thinking im just going to go back to the old method of shipping well padded in a bubble mailer for $3.45! Its just not worth the headache to save $1.75 shipping in a ebay standard envelope. 

[kosmosattik]

As far as the "lost" shipment is concerned, the eBay directives state that lost mail claims can be made after 30 days for these packages.  Give it time--it may eventually show up if the buyer is willing to admit to it.  I had one buyer say he never got it several days after the the "delivered" tracking was posted.  I advised him of the procedure and advised him to get back to me after 30 days if not received.  He did get it the next day--or at least admitted to it once there was a procedure and not an immediate refund.

Yeah, I stopped using this method despite getting no claims or complaints to date.  Too much of that left hanging feeling.  I may try it again at some point but for now I'll sell sets or groups of cards.

Bent cards?  Again, if these envelopes or mailers were bent 90 degrees most cards would show up bent and that is not the case.  I believe the guy in your video was exaggerating.

[therareitemstore]

For what it is worth, I have not received any damaged cards sent via eBay standard envelope, nor have I had anyone say theirs arrived damaged that I sold. (Yet, anyway!) I actually prefer sellers to send me cards this way, as I've received many more damaged cards sent in bubble mailers. All of the cards I receive sent via eBay standard envelope are in top loaders, and they seem to pass though everything ok.  I think the main issue occurs at the distribution center, just with them getting rejected for random reasons. The local PO shouldn't be the hang up. (Unless there is just a disgruntled post master...) They should just put the envelopes with all the other regular envelope mail. And as far as the 90 degree thing, and the PO saying it can't be done, new credit cards are sent in envelopes in the mail all the time, and those wouldn't survive a 90 degree bend either! 😄 

The biggest flaw with eBay's standard envelopes is that they require the PO to do their job. eBay isn't much better themselves, but the PO system despises any type of change, ever. I'm currently awaiting 10 cards purchased and mailed to me using eBay standard envelopes, dating back to April 16th...

[kosmosattik]

Your two paragraphs seem to be at odds.  On the one hand you prefer receiving cards this way.  On the other hand you've got 10 orders hanging out there, at least one missing in action.

Again, this method of shipment at this price cannot and will not be handled like a regular first class letter, not with tracking as hit or miss as it is.  This is bulk mail, machine sorted, period.   Take out the machine sort & track and you're back to PWE with a stamp.