Selling Cards - Best Shipping Practices?
 

Hello everyone, I am not new to the hobby, but I have never sold any of my cards before.

As of now, I have some lots (complete sets, teams, players) and some higher end individual cards that I would like to sell.

Any advice on the best way to package my card(s) for shipping that will keep them safe in transit and also keep my costs down? (sorry if this is the wrong place for this type thread)

Also, how would you guys feel about buying cards from somebody with very little feedback on ebay?

Always use Delivery confirmation (this is FREE with eBay/paypal shipping, + rates are slightly cheaper). Take insurance on cards valued $100 or more (make sure to remember the insurance runs in levels. If the card is $125, just insure it for $100 it will save you a couple bucks)! Take signature confirmation on cards valued $250 or more!

[B]Best way to ship singles=[/B]

Penny sleeve, put in toploader, place toploader in front or back OR junk base cards in front or back, put in team bag, place in bubble mailer, put foam pellets OR crumpled up half sheet of paper (in order to make the package over 3/4 inch so it is NON machinable and does not get damaged in sorting process) on top of card in mailer, seal top loader. Tape your shipping label on package.

BUBBLE MAILER: buy these on eBay in lots of 100 for 15cents ea or 200 for 10 cents ea (SEARCH: 000 bubble mailer (and either 100 or 200)).

Up to 6 cards = 3oz = $1.71 postage

[B]Best way to ship multiple singles:[/B]

Penny sleeves on each card, sandwiched between two toploaders, placed in a team bag. Put them in a bubble mailer , repeat above

[B]Best way to ship sets, lots of cards that weigh over 13oz:[/B]

USPS FLAT RATE BUBBLE ENVELOPE (shipping cost = $5)

order them here for FREE:

[url]https://store.usps.com/store/browse/uspsProductDetailMultiSkuDropDown.jsp?categoryNav=false&navAction=jump&navCount=0&productId=P_EP14PE&categoryId=subcatMSS_FlatRate[/url]

Go here, there's a great thread specifically for this question:
[url]http://www.blowoutcards.com/forums/off-topic/151585-shipping-ebay-questions-answered-here.html[/url]

[QUOTE=fitch123;2626859]put foam pellets OR crumpled up half sheet of paper (in order to make the package over 3/4 inch so it is NON machinable and does not get damaged in sorting process) on top of card in mailer, seal top loader. [/QUOTE]

I have been reading complaints on these boards that things this is causing damage to cards if they are compressed and any point in shipment. Kind of makes sense though I have never seen a problem.

Fitch has is nailed down, but I would recommend wrapping the team sleeve in a sheet of bubble wrap instead of using peanuts, or wads of paper.

Thanks guys! great tips :)!

[QUOTE=DaveTaplin;2626890]I have been reading complaints on these boards that things this is causing damage to cards if they are compressed and any point in shipment. Kind of makes sense though I have never seen a problem.[/QUOTE]
The packing peanut/folded paper is pointless and isn't a good practice. If you want to hit 3/4", just wrap the card once in bubble wrap. A toploader wrapped in bubble wrap inside a bubble envelope is meets the 3/4" criteria and it will maintain that size. It won't get crushed down like a peanut and won't bend your card like crumpled up paper.

You can get more bubble wrap than you will ever need for like $20.

[QUOTE=XL5;2626912]The packing peanut/folded paper is pointless and isn't a good practice. If you want to hit 3/4", just wrap the card once in bubble wrap. A toploader wrapped in bubble wrap inside a bubble envelope is meets the 3/4" criteria and it will maintain that size. It won't get crushed down like a peanut and won't bend your card like crumpled up paper.

You can get more bubble wrap than you will ever need for like $20.[/QUOTE]

I've used packing peanuts on my last 1000 shipments and haven't received any negative responses...

properly protected cards don't tend to get bent by paper/peanuts when in toploaders. The goal is simply to reduce movement and to get to 3/4 inch, peanuts accomplish both.

any thoughts on my last question (edited OP)? for those that dont want to scroll back up here it is again:

How do you guys feel about buying cards from someone with minimal feedback on ebay?

[QUOTE=Danderlion;2627431]any thoughts on my last question (edited OP)? for those that dont want to scroll back up here it is again:

How do you guys feel about buying cards from someone with minimal feedback on ebay?[/QUOTE]

If you are [B][I]buying[/I][/B] you should always feel safe (if you are using paypal).

eBay buyer protections are great

If you don't get what you paid for or if it is damaged file a claim with eBay and they will force the seller to refund you. :o

[QUOTE=Danderlion;2627431]any thoughts on my last question (edited OP)? for those that dont want to scroll back up here it is again:

How do you guys feel about buying cards from someone with minimal feedback on ebay?[/QUOTE]

Everyone started at zero. I RARELY look at the feedback of the seller (with the exception of negatives), as long as the listing looks clean and honest, including pictures, a nice title, and something in the description. As a buyer, you're protected through eBay AND PayPal, so there's less risk for them as opposed to the seller.

[QUOTE=fitch123;2627439]If you are [B][I]buying[/I][/B] you should always feel safe (if you are using paypal).

eBay buyer protections are great

If you don't get what you paid for or if it is damaged file a claim with eBay and they will force the seller to refund you. :o[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=tajikey;2627451]Everyone started at zero. I RARELY look at the feedback of the seller (with the exception of negatives), as long as the listing looks clean and honest, including pictures, a nice title, and something in the description. As a buyer, you're protected through eBay AND PayPal, so there's less risk for them as opposed to the seller.[/QUOTE]

thanks for the comments. I was a little worried that I will not get any interest on my auctions because my feedback score is pretty dang low, only 23, all positive though.

This eases my worries a bit :)

link your ebay account to your name section on here so we can check your auctions out.

[QUOTE=speedmasterp;2627524]link your ebay account to your name section on here so we can check your auctions out.[/QUOTE]

ebay account linked! but I have no auctions at the moment. I'm hoping to get some up within the next week. I'm working on getting all the material i need for shipping right now.

[QUOTE=fitch123;2627030]I've used packing peanuts on my last 1000 shipments and haven't received any negative responses...

properly protected cards don't tend to get bent by paper/peanuts when in toploaders. The goal is simply to reduce movement and to get to 3/4 inch, peanuts accomplish both.[/QUOTE]

It's not so much that people will complain. It's just pointless. Every mailer I've gotten with a peanut had a flattened peanut and was less than 3/4" thick. Why bother?

It's almost like a superstition at this point, like throwing salt over your shoulder or knocking on wood. Everyone does it, no one really complains. It's just kind of pointless. In 20 years people will put a packing peanut in their luggage to ensure a safe journey. No one will know why, everyone will know it does nothing, but "that's how we used to ship cards!"

And I was saying that cards can get bent with wadded up paper which was another suggested method. No, peanuts don't bend toploaders, they just get flattened by them.

[QUOTE=fitch123;2626859]Always use Delivery confirmation (this is FREE with eBay/paypal shipping, + rates are slightly cheaper). Take insurance on cards valued $100 or more (make sure to remember the insurance runs in levels. If the card is $125, just insure it for $100 it will save you a couple bucks)! Take signature confirmation on cards valued $250 or more!

[B]Best way to ship singles=[/B]

Penny sleeve, put in toploader, place toploader in front or back OR junk base cards in front or back, put in team bag, place in bubble mailer, put foam pellets OR crumpled up half sheet of paper (in order to make the package over 3/4 inch so it is NON machinable and does not get damaged in sorting process) on top of card in mailer, seal top loader. Tape your shipping label on package.

BUBBLE MAILER: buy these on eBay in lots of 100 for 15cents ea or 200 for 10 cents ea (SEARCH: 000 bubble mailer (and either 100 or 200)).

Up to 6 cards = 3oz = $1.71 postage

[B]Best way to ship multiple singles:[/B]

Penny sleeves on each card, sandwiched between two toploaders, placed in a team bag. Put them in a bubble mailer , repeat above

[B]Best way to ship sets, lots of cards that weigh over 13oz:[/B]

USPS FLAT RATE BUBBLE ENVELOPE (shipping cost = $5)

order them here for FREE:

[url]https://store.usps.com/store/browse/uspsProductDetailMultiSkuDropDown.jsp?categoryNav=false&navAction=jump&navCount=0&productId=P_EP14PE&categoryId=subcatMSS_FlatRate[/url][/QUOTE]

OH #@#@#@#@. I thought the rule was to keep it under 3/4 inch!

I've been doing this...card in sleeve, toploader, then a piece of cardboard on each side, put in graded card bag. Taped shut. I haven't had any problems. Also recently added some bubble wrap since I got some in the mail with a delivery.

[QUOTE=XL5;2627570]It's not so much that people will complain. It's just pointless. Every mailer I've gotten with a peanut had a flattened peanut and was less than 3/4" thick. Why bother?

It's almost like a superstition at this point, like throwing salt over your shoulder or knocking on wood. Everyone does it but, no one really complains. It's just kind of pointless. In 20 years people will put a packing peanut in their luggage to ensure a safe journey. No one will know why, everyone will know it does nothing, but "that's how we used to ship cards!"

And I was saying that cards can get bent with wadded up paper which was another suggested method. No, peanuts don't bend toploaders, they just get flattened by them.[/QUOTE]


my reasoning for making it 3/4in thick is making sure it is recognized as such upon receipt at processing center so it doesn't get sent through the damn rollers.


[QUOTE=xbignick;2627593]OH #@#@#@#@. I thought the rule was to keep it under 3/4 inch![/QUOTE]


under 3/4 in just means it is "machinable"