Using eBay Plaine White Envelope for Thick trading card

[toomanybasecards]

Have any of you used Plain White Envelope for those thick cards from the 2022 Fleer Ultra Avengers or something similar? I would say the card size is about 100 pt.

I just recently started listing these cards on eBay, I selected the 3 oz option.

Instead of a top loader, I am using a semi-rigid card saver, so that it looks flatter.

[1786davycrockett]

@toomanybasecards 

You are very likely going to run into the all too common issue of envelope rigidity -- if the envelope is too rigid, it will be kicked out of the USPS high speed, automatic feed rollers, and your envelope will be reclassified as "non-machinable," and your envelope may be returned to you for "postage due" -- or, even worse, sent to your buyers with the same markings.

To qualify for the eBay Standard Envelope (ESE), the envelope must be able to bend nearly in half; and those 100 pt cards will definitely be damaged going that way.

You can purchase "non-machinable" stamps at the post office counter, but there is no tracking; or you can ship them at Ground Advantage rates, in a rigid envelope, with tracking, at a higher cost.

Good luck.

[12345jamesstamps · Accepted solution]

Take a look at a greeting card and envelope like maybe from Walgreens. 

This is what you need to strive for...the inside has to fill the entire inside so thin cardboard covers all four corners of the envelope....and a forever stamp will work. I use thin cardboard without a problem cutting it to shape to fit in an standard size envelope.

I did send 4 Trading cards of Star Trek in the past using a forever stamp.

Again, as long as envelope is bendable...and not thick you should be OK.

Don't need tracking for cheapie items to mail. Haven't had anything lost yet going on my second year.

And envelope without tracking for me takes 3-4 days to go from California to New York.

Not using tracking and items arriving quickly...I get those 'repeat buyers' and more feedback because buyers are more happy. Never had anyone complain about no tracking.

I do use tracking for items over $40. or someone who has terrible feedback or is a new buyer on eBay.

Good luck.

[biggymoe]

I do exactly what you are doing with thick cards.  I'm not sure how thick a 100 pt card is.  Your envelope must fit through a 1/4" slot.  You pay the 3 oz rate (currently $1.25).  I stamp, Do Not Bend, front and back.  I have the PO clerk stamp Non-machinable on the front.  Luckily I have cooperative PO clerks.  The Non-machinable stamp means it won't go through the machinery and negates the rigidity requirement.  You do lose the tracking using this method.

Be aware that the interpretation of the ESE requirements varies from PO to PO, but it has been successful for me.

[12345jamesstamps]

My post office in San Francisco is different than yours.

I cannot put 'do not bend' on my envelope and hand it to the clerk...It would be considered a parcel and I would get charged more...God knows I tried so many times.

I guess one can write 'do not bend' on envelope and not hand it to a clerk at post office and just mail it and it will probably go through...perhaps.

"non-machinable" stamped on envelope?...lucky you where you live...that is an old old stamp that I guess is still used at your post office...but haven't seen that in years.

[wastingtime101]

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@1786davycrockett wrote:

You are very likely going to run into the all too common issue of envelope rigidity -- if the envelope is too rigid, it will be kicked out of the USPS high speed, automatic feed rollers, and your envelope will be reclassified as "non-machinable," and your envelope may be returned to you for "postage due" -- or, even worse, sent to your buyers with the same markings.

To qualify for the eBay Standard Envelope (ESE), the envelope must be able to bend nearly in half; and those 100 pt cards will definitely be damaged going that way.

You can purchase "non-machinable" stamps at the post office counter, but there is no tracking; or you can ship them at Ground Advantage rates, in a rigid envelope, with tracking, at a higher cost.

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Yes, but .... if the weight is 1 oz then paying for 3 oz is enough to cover the non-machinable surcharge (or it was before the July 14 rate change, I haven't checked since then). So the postage due question really depends on the weight.

If it's shipped ESE and kicked out as non-machinable then there won't be any scans and that's another factor.

I agree the thickness of that card can create issues with corner/edge damage at best, or creases at worst. Physical packing needs to be well thought-out on that one.

[1786davycrockett]

@wastingtime101 

I'm not worried about the weight -- it appears to be below the 3 ounce permitted weight for using the ESE.

My primary concern is that it definitely appears to be way too thick to withstand the bending inside the USPS automatic, high-speed rollers -- with that amount of thickness, it can't help but leave some serious cracks across the card.

So, either ship as First Class letter with "non-machinable stamp" (and no tracking), or Ground Advantage (with tracking) inside a small rigid photo mailer.

Not a lot of options, huh?

[wastingtime101]

Yeah, as I said, I fully agree with you on that point. No way it'll get through rollers undamaged - if it gets through at all.

That's the type of item I'd list in lots large enough to make package rate worth it.

[buyselljack2016]

Yup, that "non-machinable" ............ stamped on the envelope can be just the ticket for some mailings.

Did one of those at the little office down the road to ship an item.  Wasn't worth listing on eBay, so I just shipped it free to a past buyer that was looking for one. Had no $$ into the item, so a $ and change, and off it went.

Every office has one of those stampers laying around someplace. May have to dig it out of the drawer and ink it up, but it should be there.