Free shipping - bubble mailer vs PWE

frankhardy

I just recently opened up an Ebay store for the first time. I am starting off by selling stars and commons from a certain year. In this certain year, I recently bought about 3,000 cards from a guy. I am putting together 2 lower grade sets and selling many of the commons and stars individually. The two lower grade sets were missing a few cards, so I have purchased from several places including Ebay.

I try to keep my prices on the low end so that I can move them quickly and I am offering free bubble mailer shipping while using Ebay Shipping (free delivery confirmation). From my purchases trying to fill these sets, I have noticed a couple of sellers listing this same year at super low prices with free shipping. Well, I bought a few to fill my sets. When I got them, they had shipped them in plain, white envelopes.

So, let me ask you - does it bother you to receive a card that is worth less than $10 shipped in a PWE?

I have ALWAYS shipped in a bubble mailer using Ebay Shipping. On the other hand, it has never bothered me in the least to receive a relatively cheap card in a PWE with a top loader.

Since I offer free shipping and many of my cards are less than $10, I am thinking about just going with a top loader and a PWE.

Should I do this? I could either increase my profit margin by keeping prices the same or I could lower prices and sell even more cards more quickly.

I realize that with Ebay shipping, I have free delivery confirmation, but with a cheap card, I could take that chance.

On more expensive cards, I will definitely use Ebay Shipping with a bubble mailer.

Thoughts would be appreciated even though I am sure that this topic has been discussed before.

JoeBanzai

With all the crybabies out there, I would (and do) ship every card in a bubble mailer with a couple of pieces of scrap cardboard.

I have not left negative or neutral feedback over it but I don't like getting anything in a PWE

Joe

packCollector

as long as you are not interested in getting a top rated seller discount. selling a card less than 10 bucks and shipping in a PWE is the way to go. I sold almost 500 cards that way with only 1 complaint but had to switch because of the new delivery confirm requirement to keep my discount. make sure you state it in your description so that the buyer knows what to expect, that was what came out of my 1 complaint. seems people buying cards less than 10 bucks would like the most economical shipping possible.

jmmiller777

Ya, just put it in the description so there are no surprises. Maybe 1-4 cards in PWE and more than that or gigh end cards in bubble.

frankhardy

<< <i>as long as you are not interested in getting a top rated seller discount. selling a card less than 10 bucks and shipping in a PWE is the way to go. I sold almost 500 cards that way with only 1 complaint but had to switch because of the new delivery confirm requirement to keep my discount. make sure you state it in your description so that the buyer knows what to expect, that was what came out of my 1 complaint. seems people buying cards less than 10 bucks would like the most economical shipping possible. >>



Not sure how the top rated seller discount works. In what way will shipping a cheap card in a PWE affect a top rated seller discount?

bking

As long as they come in a card saver, a PWE is perfectly OK with me for commons. Just make sure they get secured enough to protect the corners.

thunderpower

PWE.

TNP777

I have never minded a PWE, especially if I'm getting free shipping... unless I've paid $3-4 for shipping. Then I feel as if the seller is padding his bottom line at my expense. And spare me the argument that if I agreed to pay shipping when I bid for the card, then as long as it arrives safely I should be happy.

stillyz

As a seller, any card that is worth under $5 goes like this: card>penny sleeve>top loader>team bag>half-sheet of copy paper, taped on edges>PWE.

I use the half sheet of paper to disguise what the item is.

No delivery confirmation, just a stamp and prayer.

Anything more than 3 cards go into a bubble mailer, regardless of value.

Thicker cards automatically go into a bubble mailer. They can get damaged during mail processing if they go into a pwe.

Check out ebay for deals on #000 poly mailers. The last time I bought them, they were about .10-.15 each. Had to buy 250, but you get the best deal that way.

frankhardy

You guys are starting to convince me to do this - especially since I have never minded it on a cheaper card.

I still don't have an answer as to how it affects my top seller rating. Could it be because I wouldn't be using Ebay shipping / delivery confirmation?

Also, I have 350+ listings right now with more coming. I already have them as free shipping. Would it be necessary to go into each one saying I will be shipping cards less than $10 in a PWE?

atobias

When I sold commons I shipped with PWEs. I told the buyer what to expect in the description, and only got around 2-3 complaints in 1000+ transactions. I also gave the buyer an option that if he or she felt more comfortable with a bubble mailer and tracking info, the buyer can pay an extra $2 and it will be shipped that way. I only had about 5 buyers ever use this option though.

mtcards

If the item reaches your buyer in the condition it sold, it shouldnt matter if you send it PWE, bubble mailer or in a brinks armored car.

If someone complains, tell them to send the item back and you will RESEND it to them in a bubble mailer and charge them $2.95 for it. The difference in shipping is almost $2.00. Its bad enough some people want a $100 card for nothing, but now they want you to pay for all the extra costs in shipping

jeff8877

Shane,

To keep your top rated seller discount at least 90% of your sales need to have tracking numbers in ebay. With a PWE you won't meet this requirement and your discount will go away. Also, by shipping in a PWE you assume all risk if buyer says he never received item.

Jeff

frankhardy

<< <i>Shane,

To keep your top rated seller discount at least 90% of your sales need to have tracking numbers in ebay. With a PWE you won't meet this requirement and your discount will go away. Also, by shipping in a PWE you assume all risk if buyer says he never received item.

Jeff >>



Thanks for all the help guys.

That makes sense. Could someone give me a quick rundown of the discount difference? I don't think I am a top seller right now because I have not listed anything in a long while. Just getting started back. I do have 100% feedback with 4454 feedbacks. I guess I just need to know if the seller discount is going to be worth it or is the PWE going to be worth it.

WalterSobchak

<< <i>does it bother you to receive a card that is worth less than $10 shipped in a PWE? >>


As long as the card arrives in the described condition, not in the least.

Having said that....... if the card does arrive damaged, a card of that value is not worth my time to go through the hassle of requesting a refund and mailing it back to the seller. So I will simply leave appropriate feedback- and it may not be feedback the seller will like.
I'm not going to hit someone with a neg over that- but I might leave a star-dinged positive or a neutral, depending on other factors pertaining to the transacion.
(If I felt the seller took reasonable care in that situation to try to make sure the card was protected even though it was in a PWE, in that case I probably would just not leave feedback at all.)

digicat

I don't mind a PWE shipment when it's done right.

I don't buy into the "if it gets to me in the desired condition, all's good". If it's obvious that the seller is playing Russian roulette with poor packaging, I'm not happy and probably won't buy from him again.


This is how to do a PWE shipment right:

Card in penny sleeve, in top loader, in team-set bag (or card in penny sleeve, inserted upside-down into a top-loader with tape sealing it shut), with some sort of light cardboard (e.g. cut up a cereal box) reinforcement to either stiffen up the PWE or add additional reinforcement for the top-loader.


Just whatever you do, don't pack up the card in such a way that tape can possibly come into contact with the raw card.

packCollector

<< <i>As long as the card arrives in the described condition, not in the least.

Having said that....... if the card does arrive damaged, a card of that value is not worth my time to go through the hassle of requesting a refund and mailing it back to the seller. So I will simply leave appropriate feedback- and it may not be feedback the seller will like.
I'm not going to hit someone with a neg over that- but I might leave a star-dinged positive or a neutral, depending on other factors pertaining to the transacion.
(If I felt the seller took reasonable care in that situation to try to make sure the card was protected even though it was in a PWE, in that case I probably would just not leave feedback at all.) >>



this is pretty lame. ever think of contacting the seller first? most sellers will tell you to keep the card and issue you a refund on cards of this value.

you just pointed out one of the many flaws of ebay. sellers are supposed to bend over backwards for buyers to keep them happy but many buyers don't hesitate to bend a seller and stick it to them the first chance they get.

WalterSobchak

<< <i>this is pretty lame. ever think of contacting the seller first? most sellers will tell you to keep the card and issue you a refund on cards of this value.

you just pointed out one of the many flaws of ebay. sellers are supposed to bend over backwards for buyers to keep them happy but many buyers don't hesitate to bend a seller and stick it to them the first chance they get. >>



Not exactly sure how I would be "bending a seller and sticking it to him" here, but you are entitled to your opinion. I did say I would never leave a neg in that situation.
IIRC I have left one neutral on EBay in my life, and I have never left a neg- so I'm not exactly the type that is looking for a chance to roast someone.


All I was doing was pointing out that a seller also incurs some additional risk with respect to feedback when using a PWE.

packCollector

<< <i>Not exactly sure how I would be "bending a seller and sticking it to him" here, but you are entitled to your opinion. I did say I would never leave a neg in that situation. >>



In an eBay world a seller is better off getting a neg and 5 stars than positive feedback. If you leave a positive and hit a sellers stars without even contacting the seller the seller is getting screwed

NSibian

If you use a PWE I promise you will get numerous item not received claims and you will have to eat the cost. In the end you will find out that you are better off just buying bubblemailers in bulk and not even take the chance.

JoeBanzai

The issue as I see it is simple. It SHOULD be no problem shipping low dollar cards in a PWE if customer is informed that's what you are doing.

However there are many, many people that buy off of eBay that will NOT see it that way. Selling low dollar items on eBay is a can't win situation, they cost too much to ship properly.

Decide what is more important to YOU, if your feedback/stars are important ship it in a bigger envelope with some bubble wrap and delivery confirmation. Otherwise someone will either rip you off, or slam your rating costing you all the pennies you have saved.

I try to never sell anything for less than $10.00, but $20.00 is better, and I offer free shipping with delivery confirmation.

Good luck, just remember half of the people you meet (or sell to) are below average!

Joe

frankhardy

<< <i>If you use a PWE I promise you will get numerous item not received claims and you will have to eat the cost. In the end you will find out that you are better off just buying bubblemailers in bulk and not even take the chance. >>



The issue isn't the cost of bubble mailers. I do buy those in bulk. I buy 1,000 ct cases. The issue is shipping a card for $0.44 or for $1.64. When I have several hundred cards, that could make a difference.

I am probably just going to stick with Ebay shipping and bubble mailers after thinking about it today. I want to try to get that top rated seller discount. Plus, there will be no worries that way with delivery confirmation. I just may not be able to sell cards as quickly as the guy that sells commons for half of my price, but maybe they will eventually sell. I do have nice scans, so maybe that will make some difference.

bouwob

If you ship in a PWE and a top loader, make sure to request hand sorting as the machine sorters can catch the top loader and eat the card.