Shipping 1 Card Cheaply?

shu4040 · December 9, 2011 12:39AM

How do I safely and cheaply, while still making any money ship ebay cards that finish at $2 with free shipping?

bking · December 9, 2011 12:45AM

<< How do I safely and cheaply, while still making any money ship ebay cards that finish at $2 with free shipping? >>

For a common, I'd say PWE with the card SECURELY placed inside a CardSaver should be fine. By "securely", I mean with the CS sealed. The number of cards I get where the seller assumes the card won't peek out of the CS never ceases to amaze me. What also doesn't amaze me is how often the corner that peeks is the one that puts the card in my "not going to PSA" bin.

shu4040 · December 9, 2011 1:30AM

sorry, but what is PWE?

kwtoz · December 9, 2011 1:34AM

PWE = Plain White Envelope

CollectorAtWork · December 9, 2011 1:45AM

No card saver in plain white envelope. The card will be bent. Try to put the card in a top loader, and see if you can put two thin pieces of cardboard around it say from a priority mail, small flat rate box. Basically, you need to make it thin enough to still be able to use a regular envelope, but stiff enough to minimize the chances the card will get bent during shipping. Even this isn't guaranteed since I usually ship raw cards in top loaders between two thick pieces of cardboard or more.

bking · December 9, 2011 1:52AM

<< No card saver in plain white envelope. The card will be bent. Try to put the card in a top loader, and see if you can put two thin pieces of cardboard around it say from a priority mail, small flat rate box. Basically, you need to make it thin enough to still be able to use a regular envelope, but stiff enough to minimize the chances the card will get bent during shipping. Even this isn't guaranteed since I usually ship raw cards in top loaders between two thick pieces of cardboard or more. >>

I'd like to make an announcement here: If anyone ships a high-grade common that I buy (regardless of price) in a top loader, it's probably coming back to you with a bottom corner that doesn't look like it did before you put it in there. It's darn near impossible to put a Nm-Mt card in a top loader and not have it get dinged by either the trip or the act of shoving it in there.

Other than that, I do like the idea about the thin cardboard. Of course, I haven't gotten one sent to me in a CS that got bent either. Dinged by escaping? yep. But bent? not yet.

< fingers crossed>

jeffcbay · December 9, 2011 2:30AM

That's how NESC ships their cheaper singles (PWE + CS1) and I've never had a problem with damage. I'm not saying it's a good idea to ship in a PWE, but it's not all bad. Your best bet is to stop selling cards at $2 with free shipping.

hhmag70 · December 9, 2011 2:36AM

If you are gonna do the PWE take it in and pay the extra $.20 to have it stamped "non-machinable" to help limit the chances for damage.

digicat · December 9, 2011 2:46AM

<< I'd like to make an announcement here: If anyone ships a high-grade common that I buy (regardless of price) in a top loader, it's probably coming back to you with a bottom corner that doesn't look like it did before you put it in there. It's darn near impossible to put a Nm-Mt card in a top loader and not have it get dinged by either the trip or the act of shoving it in there. >>

The use of a penny sleeve fixes that issue. If one uses a top loader, a penny sleeve should ALWAYS be used.

When mailing off a top loader, it's also a good idea to close the opening of the toploader. Just sticking tape there is a bad idea, as the card can get stuck on the tape. Personally, I just put the top loader in a team set bag to solve this, but I've gotten cards that had pieces of paper folded over the opening, then taped in place. That's good too.

fur72 · December 9, 2011 4:13AM

I have been doing this for years and it works. Card in penny sleeve and then top loader. Put inside some type of sturdy greeting card. You can usually find boxes of greeting cards and envelopes on clearence at target / k-mart / walmart year round. Usually about 3.00 for 30.

Its odd to get a card inside of an x-mas card but it the cheapest most secure way I know with out using a bubble mailer.

digicat · December 9, 2011 4:20AM

<< Its odd to get a card inside of an x-mas card but it the cheapest most secure way I know with out using a bubble mailer. >>

Cutting up an empty cereal box would do the trick too.

shu4040 · December 9, 2011 4:20AM

thanks for the tips all

brendanb438 · December 9, 2011 8:26AM

Just apply the stamp and address directly to the card, can't get much cheaper than that.

PWE isn't really a good idea and honestly neither is selling cards worth $2 or less on eBay.

wrestlingcardking · December 9, 2011 10:56AM

i won a card for 25 cents with free shipping....can't wait to get it. I anticipate any day now....

murraybyrd · December 10, 2011 12:02AM

Do you guys have a good source for toploaders? I'm not sure what a good price is for, say, 100 or so. Thanks for any help!

Bigjohn69 · December 10, 2011 12:20AM

send it in a christmas card and mark outside, photos do not bend both sides

SDavid · December 10, 2011 12:32AM

Shipping $2 cards safely and profitably with free shipping after listing/final value/paypal/postage/toploader fees?

Good luck with that.

murraybyrd · December 10, 2011 12:46AM

<< Card Saver 1s are the way to go as they preserve corners the best.

Columbia Sportcard also has top loaders.

They've got great service and great prices, especially if you buy in bulk. >>

Excellent, thank you!

Shipping 1 Card Cheaply?

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