Trading card packaging

[cardselitepkm]

Generally I use the eBay envelops that come with the hard backing to mail off my cards to buyers. I put the card in a penny sleeve, type 1 loader, and team bag then tape it to the hard backing that comes with the envelope.  I try to keep costs low for both myself and the buyer (Generally $0.68 cost to me, $0.86 to buyer).

Question is: Do buyers care if it comes in a secured envelop or would they prefer a small card bubble mailer?

                           Is there another way that you ship cards out?

Thanks!

[1786davycrockett]

@cardselitepkm 

Those eBay envelopes with the hard backings are too stiff to be mailed with the eBay Standard Envelope (ESE), especially if you are also adding a top loader inside the envelope.  You may start having these returned to you (or -- worse yet -- to your buyers!) marked "postage due" or "non-machinable."

USPS considers the ESE to be contracted business metered mail, and the ESEs must be flexible enough to bend rapidly around a long series of circular rollers -- so your ESE needs to bend nearly in half.

Many eBay sellers just use a #6 or #10 plain white envelope, inside of which is a double layer of material made from cereal boxes or soda pop 12-packs -- these should fit snugly, with out bending.  Put your card inside a penny sleeve, and insert between the two layers inside the envelope.  Seal, and then run off your ESE shipping label.

Or you can be like some other eBay sellers, and  just use a #6 or #10 plain white envelope, with just a First Class Stamp.

Bubble mailers can not be shipped at First Class letter rates -- USPS considers those to be Ground Advantage.

And don't use any envelopes with clasps or tie-downs on the reverse side -- those also can not be shipped at First Class letter rates.

Good luck.

[cardselitepkm]

Hello! Thank you for your answer. So far I have not had a postage due or any problems with the eBay mailers with the backs and type 1 loaders, maybe because the type ones are way more flexible than regular top loaders? So far I have one sent 154 cards that way. 

In my store I have the selection for bubble mailer for any cards $20 or higher. 

I guess my question is do buyers prefer envelopes over bubble mailers. 

Thanks again! 

[southern_islands]

Well, buyers would always prefer a bubble mailer over an envelope IF it doesn’t cost them a penny extra. That’s not possible though.

I think by “type 1 loaders”, you are referring to “semi-rigid holders”. The brand “Cardboard Gold” produce the “Card Saver 1”, which is a semi-rigid holder. These are the same as is used when submitting for grading to PSA.

I ship any card over $27 in a semi-rigid in a team bag with cardboard on both sides or a top loader with cardboard on both sides, in a bubble mailer with USPS Ground Advantage. Then I ship anything under $20 in a semi-rigid (usually “The PennySleever” brand cause he has great prices and quality) inside of a team bag, in a PWE with ESE. I don’t price any card between $20-$27, they either get rounded up or down depending on the card. And for multiple cards under $20, I use Ultra-Pro Card Preservers with multiple cards inside (lightweight and keeps thickness under 1/4”).
‘I don’t really understand why anyone would use a Forever stamp when ESE weight can be adjusted to 1 ounce and it charges the same thing, but with tracking.