eBay Envelopes for Collector Cards

[barrelsofstuff4u]

Just started to sell about thirty thousand collector cards. eBay's envelopes seem to be the ideal shipping. However, I am not sure that I can send the cards in a holder that will protect them from bending andf other damage. What are the rules for being non-bendable?

[sapphire_studio]

@onefootflipper 

He is the expert to ask

[1786davycrockett]

The envelope must be flexible enough to flow quickly through the rollers on the USPS sorting machines -- if the envelope is not flexible enough, it jams up the rollers, and USPS upgrades the envelope to USPS First Class Package.  The cost either is left to the buyer (who will NOT be pleased!), or the sender, who may also get socked with the new USPS "return to sender" fee.

I trim two pieces of cereal box cardboard (or soda 12-pack cardboard, etc) to fit snugly inside a regular envelope, then slide the card inside a thin plastic sleeve -- NOT the non-flexible card sleeves -- and slip the sleeved card between the two thin pieces of cereal box cardboard -- seal & ship! Haven't had any problems yet!

Good luck!

[sapphire_studio]

@onefootflipper   Said another way to make sure they bend for the machines is to tape the card (Sandwiched between thin cardboard in a flexible cheap plastic sleeve) vertically up ..and to the right or left side of a regular letter envelope.  That way the envelope can completely fold in half especially if postal workers do their own flex tests so it won't damage the card.

 He also suggested alternating between the right and left side if you have a stack of cards so that when the mailman picks up the stack of envelopes it is even on both sides.

[momdadsstash]

Would adding the "non-machinable mail surcharge of $0.30 " solve the problem
USPS rarely offers special services for free.

[barrelsofstuff4u]

Sounds like the way that I send my vintage paper doll books. I was just afraid that the cards might not stand up as well. Thanks for the encouragement.