WHEN SELLERS DON'T KNOW HOW TO PACK A CARD!!!

brianwintersfan

Well opened this today and had my heart sink. Was a nice looking 7 that now is creased and is garbage.
A note to sellers! Take the time to pack stuff securely. Putting something that is made from 100% plastic in a bubble mailer with no other protection is unacceptable!!!

Stone193

Brian
That's a crying shame...and a lot of sellers send them that way...I think the only safe way is to bubble wrap them into a box.

Here's a post by Jay Wolt aka Qualitycards - a very respected dealer and contributor here at PSA.

It spawned a humorous thread by mikeschmidt - another respected contributor here at PSA.

Unfortunately, the pics are gone since many were hosted privately and dumped. But I think you can get the feel for what was being done.

If anyone would like - we can redo the experiment today. I'll kick it off by, also, sending a toploader!

I just need a recipient.



If someone will PM me with an address - I will send you a PSA graded card - it will be addressed directly on the holder and stamp fixed directly to it also. I want someone who can, then, scan the holder and report back.

ctsoxfan

What a shame - believe me, it has happened to most of us at one point or other. I never ship a slab without some additional bubble wrap or cardboard to protect it - and never had this happen yet. Too bad that a few sellers won't take the extra few seconds and do the same.

brianwintersfan

A box is best but a bubble mailer can work as well. Two pieces of cardboard around the card would give it more security. I also ask sellers to write "Do not bend/crush" on the mailer which this seller did not do. I do that whenever I send out cards besides packing them securely and have never had an issue.
As I said this really hurts because it was really a sweet looking 7.

Stone193

On the card Brian
I agree, it looks like a hi end 7 which is, right now, just about my favorite card since there's no premium attached value-wise and you wind up with a great looking card!!!

Same for quality 6s.

Again, sorry to see this
mike

Stone193

Just got 2 PM's

I will be sending out the toploader and two PSA graded cards on monday.

Let the mangling, mauling and hauling of the mail begin!



If anyone wants to send me their PSA 8 Mantle: LMK

brianwintersfan

Well thanks for the kind words! Let the hunt begin for another nice '58 Mazeroski

mtcards

I have found that phrases such as "Do not bend" or "Fragile" or anything like that means absolutely nothing to the post office. I have had numerous cards sent in a bubble mailer with just a topload protecting it and the words "do not bend" on the mailer and had the thing come back FOLDED in half.

I think its a catch-22 situation when it comes to packing. Shipping hundreds of items out a year can cost lots of $$$ if boxes have to be used. I see many auctions where the charges are upwards of $5 without ins. to ship cards. Then you will get accused of gouging.

On a side note, I find it humerous that the USPS charges you money to "insure" that they do their job of delivering an item without destroying it. I mean if you went in for a haircut and the barber told you there is an optional $10 charge in case he messes your hair up in order for you to get a refund, you would look at him like he was some sort of nut. But at the PO, we say, yeah cool, I'll pay extra for you to do your job right.

brianwintersfan

Well the reason I ask people to do it is because I have a very small PO box and many times they jam stuff in there that they shouldn't. Most there know me and just throw it into a mail tub for me to pick up that way. This issue most likely happened long before it got to my post office.

lostdart58

This is a post office issue and not the seller's fault.

Bubble mailers are not supposed to end up in the letter sorting machines........,this one did....


I know my opinion will not be popular..........but I will not be sending one graded card in a box any time soon.

Sorry about your Maz card BWF!!

Stingray

I have had several cards sent in just a bubbler mailer and never had this happen, but am sorry for you loss. Sometimes the seller will wrap the card in a layer of bubble wrap then place it in the bubble mailer. If fragile on the outside will this keep it from going into the sorting machine?

Stingray

iamthegreatcornholio

<< <i>On a side note, I find it humerous that the USPS charges you money to "insure" that they do their job of delivering an item without destroying it. I mean if you went in for a haircut and the barber told you there is an optional $10 charge in case he messes your hair up in order for you to get a refund, you would look at him like he was some sort of nut. But at the PO, we say, yeah cool, I'll pay extra for you to do your job right. >>



And when they do steal your package - insuring it isn't enough, you have to PROVE everything. They sure as hell don't ask for proof of value when you hand over the dough for the insurance... Not to mention waiting months from when they stole it before they issue the refund - interest-free of course

Brian

dallasactuary

<< <i>This is a post office issue and not the seller's fault.

Bubble mailers are not supposed to end up in the letter sorting machines........,this one did....
>>



I agree - that's why the P.O. charges extra for mailing in a bubble mailer in the first place. It's nice when seller's go the extra mile, but it shouldn't be required. If the P.O. was in any way concerned with customer satisfaction (and they are not, never have been, and never will be*), they would reimburse you. If they were anything other than a government monopoly, the fact that they violated their contract with the seller by putting that mailer through the sorting machine would mean they would HAVE to reimburse you.


* This is not intended to impugn the integrity of the mostly very fine people who deliver the mail, or work at the counter accepting packages. It is intended to impugn the integrity of the institution itself, which has outlived it's reason for existence.

Carew29

I read through some of these post here and just wanted to mention that in the last 4 years i have had 3 cards cracked almost the same way as that photo. It must be some sort of machine that the packages go through. I have also seen several other's cracked that way from my friends. I firmly believe this is a USPS problem.

lostdart58

I have had over 2000 items (cards, graded and raw, packs ,sets etc ) sent to me in the last three years all via our US Postal Service.........none have ever been damaged..........three never arrived.......one envelope arrived empty.......................( items packaged everyway one could imagine. )

Axtell

The post office doesn't really have to work as hard as say UPS or FedEx simply because they are a monopolistic entity that has no direct competition.

If there were other means of mailing instead of the post office, then I suspect you would find these types of problems diminishing immediately. As it stands, there is no competition, meaning us consumers get hosed both on pricing and on service.

Buccaneer

<< <i>A box is best but a bubble mailer can work as well. Two pieces of cardboard around the card would give it more security. I also ask sellers to write "Do not bend/crush" on the mailer which this seller did not do. I do that whenever I send out cards besides packing them securely and have never had an issue.
As I said this really hurts because it was really a sweet looking 7. >>



That's what I do as well and get a lot of good feedback on the way I pack. I just cut up an old box and use pieces of it to sandwich the card(s) before placing it a padded envelope.

Stone193

I think the bubble envelope with the card sandwiched in cardboard should be sufficient.

There are dealers who don't want any problems - especially with multiple holders - who believe in boxes and charge accordingly.

The PO should be able to handle the bubble envelope w/o destroying the holder.

I am sending out a few things just in the interest of a little fun and in no way am I trying to impugn the PO.

Lostdart - your points are right on the money, IMO.

mike

yawie99

Yeah, that $1.06 it takes to have someone transport a card hundreds or even thousands of miles within a few business days is a complete ripoff.

While I will grant you that getting the postal service to make good on an insurance claim is a complete pain in the butt - fortunately for me the need has arisen only once in about five years of buying and selling on eBay and elsewhere online - I really think that private delivery companies like FedEx and UPS provide poor service more frequently than does the much-maligned USPS. And, no, I don't work for them; I just think they take way too much criticism.

I also think the fault for this kind of damage lies primarily with the seller. I doubt there's any sort of blanket rule that stipulates that bubble or padded mailers will not get processed mechanically. As long as they're relatively thin and not misshapen, which is the case with most mailers containing cards, they're likely to be processed mechanically. Sellers have a responsibility to package cards so that they can withstand normal postal processing, which obviously includes machines that have the potential to smash slabs and mangle cards.


[typo edited]

detroitfan2

<<Yeah, that $1.06 it takes to have someone transport a card hundreds or even thousands of miles within a few business days is a complete ripoff.

While I will grant you that getting the postal service to make good on an insurance claim is a complete pain in the butt - fortunately for me the need has arisen only once in about five years of buying and selling on eBay and elsewhere online - I really think that private delivery companies like FedEx and UPS provide poor service more frequently than does the much-maligned USPS. And, no, I don't work for them; I just think they take way too much criticism.>>

In my measly 7 months as a poster to these boards, I don't think there's anything I've read that I agree with more. In 700+ ebay transactions, I've never had an issue that wasn't the fault of the sender. The $1.06 comment is right on. The other thing that completely amazes me is how some packages find my home despite the fact that the seller apparently had their 2 year old write the address (with their opposite hand).

ydsotter

Additionally... tape on top loaders is also idiotic... sometimes the card gets stuck on the tape and it can damage the edge...
plus, it renders the top loader useless unless you like sticky film on it....
I use team bags or saran wrap.

don't click this link!

ydsotter

In a previous thread... likely the one mentioned... I described a situation where a PSA 8 1971 Topps Trios sticker with Alcindor and Hawkins was in a thin bubble mailer under my doormat for around 3 weeks or so... in the dead of an east coast winter... survived many feet wipings and even a delivery of a sofa and waterbed...
didn't crack the case... it was UPS that did that...

please, whatever you do, do not click this link

studentT206

I agree that the PO takes too much static. I have had overall good experience with them. Just think how much change that they have had to go through in recent years due to ebay, internet, etc. Many big corporations likely would have not been able to deal with such a boom. I think they should be commended instead of ripped especially since government run companies/agencies are well known for being bass ackwards. They handle millons and maybe billons of items daily. The fact that more stuff isn't screwed up is amazing when you think about it. I don't really know that prices are too high either, I think it is very reasonable. The pain with insurance surely has to do with the fact that many shady people likely try to run scams. No I do ot work or even know anyone who works there. Just my two cents.

Damian

lostdart58

<< <i>I agree that the PO takes too much static. I have had overall good experience with them. Just think how much change that they have had to go through in recent years due to ebay, internet, etc. Many big corporations likely would have not been able to deal with such a boom. I think they should be commended instead of ripped especially since government run companies/agencies are well known for being bass ackwards. They handle millons and maybe billons of items daily. The fact that more stuff isn't screwed up is amazing when you think about it. I don't really know that prices are too high either, I think it is very reasonable. The pain with insurance surely has to do with the fact that many shady people likely try to run scams. No I do ot work or even know anyone who works there. Just my two cents.

Damian >>

brianwintersfan

Well even though the card is a loss the seller was nice enough to issue a full refund so at least it wasn't a total loss!

NBAFan

I've had several problems receiving USPS packages non card related.

It all depends on the carriers and their mood. I have had a priority photo mailer that had PHOTOS DO NOT BEND written on it in big and bold letters curled and jammed into my small mail box. I've also had bubble mailer packages that have been what appears to be stepped on seeing there were footprint marks on them.

Yesterday, I even found one of my bubble mailer packages laying in the little storage area under the mail boxes in the apartment building. I guess it was too much work to walk up the stairs to deliver it to my door.

I'm sorry, but subpar performance like that at what they get paid is unacceptable. You damn well know if it was one of their own packages or for someone they know, things like that wouldn't be happening. Leaving it out in the open where anyone else could have taken it while they picked up their mail tells me that no packages are safe.