Best way to ship cards?

MCMLVTopps

What is the safest and most economical way to ship cards to buyers? I'm trying to avoid the "I never got the card" comment and the ensuing hassle. I don't care to give the P.O. any more $$ than need be, but I obviously recognize the responsibility on my end to ship the card(s) with as much postage as will provide a safe and efficient delivery.

I've pondered insurance, which requires a signature, vs a signature required only, which does not protect the buyer from any card damage. While it rarely happens, the P.O. has a unique ability IMO to do weird and strange things. I've also considered Delivery Confirmation, but can't quite seem to decide on the proper method to use.

The cost of cards I ship range from $20 to $2k+, and often offer shipping on me. These are not eBay sales, those I'd probably do something like $3 for shipping and insurance on the buyer. These are off-eBay sales.

I just want to protect both ends of the deal, but not go overboard. Cards are always more than well protected within either a box or bubble envelope, where the card(s) are further protect with cardboard

Thanks for responses.

Ravens124

When shipping graded cards I use a 6x9 small bubble mailer, and I also cover the card with some extra bubble wrap. I ship first class mail and I always fill out a delivery confirmation receipt as well. Sometimes I might ship priority mail if there is alot of psa cards that I'm shipping to one buyer. Insurance is optional for the buyer when it comes to me selling cards on EBAY. This method has worked very well for me and I'm up to 855 feedback on EBAY at 100%

I had one buyer said to me last year that he never got his Ken Griffrey Jr. rookie cards after shipping the items to him 4 weeks after the auction has ended The buyer demanded a refund, I said to him according to my delivery confirmation you have received your cards at such a date and time, the buyer said, "OH OK Thanks". I never heard from him again after that. Every item I sell on EBAY has a delivery confirmation with it.

Hope that helps.
Steve

perkdog

Just throwing this out there..

I bought from Al ( MCMLVTopps ) And he is TOP SHELF!!!!!!!

jimq112

Good packaging protects the card better than putting enough postage on it does. If you send a bubble mailer make sure you put cardboard on both sides of the card that you ship in a top loader with penny sleeve.

At EVERY shipper's processing plant, packages get bumped into each other, tossed, thrown, and dropped. I've been inside all 3 of the main shipper's buildings and it happens everywhere.

Small parcels and bubble mailer parcels are thrown into bins at every shipper's plants. I see it every day at USPS. It happens so protect what you are shipping.

Insurance protects YOU, and paypal protects the BUYER. I insure everything I ship that is worth over $50. It doesn't cost all that much and generally makes buyers happy.

There's no better way to ship anything valuable than with USPS registered mail. I ship anything over $250 with registered mail because I see how it gets treated. There's no safer way to ship something.

When mail comes into my office at USPS, it comes in packed inside cages that are about 7'x4'x2'. Draped over the top is sometimes an express bag or a registered bag. If there is a registered bag, the driver waits for the receiving clerk, the clerk takes the bag and gets scissors to cut the protective lock ring that keeps the bag closed. The clerk compares the number stamped into the ring with the number on the packing slip. The express bag stays in the cage.

The clerk checks the item inside against the slip, and then signs the packing slip. The clerk takes the package and puts it in the safe NOW. Not later, not when they have time. NOW.

After I load my mail in the truck, and I'm ready to leave, I go to the accountables desk and pick up any registered mail. I take it by hand to my loaded truck and it gets locked in my console or in a small safe I have mounted in my truck.

When I get to the house where it goes, the receiver signs for it before they touch it.


Registered is the only mail that I am financially responsible for. If I lose it I pay for it. You better believe it gets handled carefully.


Also if you use paypal to pay for USPS shipping it costs little or nothing to add delivery confirmation. You can use that for less expensive items and save some money on shipping costs.

lostdart58

My take on spending money on delivery confirmation:

I have bought and sold close to 4000 cards on ebay. Of those transactions, four were "lost" in the mail.

I have faith in the USPS. ( I realize others do not)

I also have faith in ebayers but they must have good feedback to back it up.

So, I rarely send items with DC unless I have an ebayer with low or bad feedback OR the cost of the item is over $30.00

..........if someone said they didn't get an item, i would refund without question............but it has never happened.

Mickey71

I have been told by the USPS that if a card is in a bubble wrap envelope and gets damaged you will not be compensated. They have told me that it would be covered against loss and not damage. The USPS told me something about having 2 inches of packings around the cards in a box to be covered for damage. Can someone from the USPS clear up this. Simple question- "If I send a 1964 PSA 7 Mantle in a bubble wrap envelope insured for $300 and the buyer gets the card and the holder is cracked in half and the card is damaged is this covered against damage? Also, PAYPAL does not care about Del. Confirmation they want to see a signature- is this correct? I've heard that no signature they will side with the buyer every time if there is a problem.
Thanks,
Mickey71

jimq112

If you send a card in a holder just shoved into a bubble mailer they will not cover it. If you send a psa holder with thick cardboard on both sides or wrapped in bubble wrap you will USUALLY be ok.

Bottom line is if it is packer well and insured and something happens you're ok. If you use insurance as a way to bypass careful packaging you will not be ok.

No matter how well it's packed, no insurance = no coverage.

Keep in mind that your package might ride on the conveyor belt, drop a foot into a plastic hamper, and the next package to drop off the conveyor belt might be a bowling ball. If you drop a bowling ball a foot and it lands on the package you sent, will it break the item you shipped? If so then you need better packaging.

That goes for USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL. We all do things basically the same.

WinPitcher

Paypal wants a signature when the value is over 250.00. As for the damage and insurance from what i understand it has to be in a box for a damage claim to be honored.


1955 roman numeral guy. for lower value cards I'd just send them in a bubble mailer, for cards that go for 100.00 + I'd ship them priority mail in a lil priority mail box.


Steve

Downtown1974

jimq, You certainly are an assett to the boards. You have helped alot of guys out with questions pertaining to shipping and the USPS. Just wanted to extend our appreciation for it. Chances are, you are at home trying to relax after working at the PO all day when you have to answer our questions about the USPS. Thanks again!!

alnavman

I usually send my individual cards in bubble mailers. If there are mutiple cards I've found that the 400 count boxes usually hold up great for mailing a number of cards wrapped in bubble wrap or with packing peanuts.....have had only one time over the years when I've had someone get back to me saying a card was cracked upon receipt. As far as what I've received from others, it's gone the entire spectrum from receiving cards in envelopes with no additional protection up to receiving boxes of cards with each card in a plastic team bag inside cardboard and further wrapped in bubble wrap.

otwcards

Typically, I send everything over $25.00 via USPS Priority w/ Delivery Confirmation in the USPS Priority boxes. I reinforce the protection by putting the cards (either in top loaders or CardSavers) inside a sealed team bag or graded card bag then inside a 0, 00, or 000 bubble envelope. While it may seem extreme, I have NEVER had a shipment lost or delivered in damaged condition (well over 2000 packages during the past decade). Total cost is about $5.00 with postage and supplies.

When shipping lower value cards, I use a penny sleeve inside a top loader inside a sealed team bag, then place that between two medium weight pieces of cardboard and seal that inside a 0 or 00 bubble envelope. Total cost is less than $1.00 with postage and supplies.

YMMV . . .