What's the worst the USPS has killed you?
angelenocarddude
Posts: 283
So, I have had Cliff Clavin lose a Koufax rookie in a priority mail box at the distributor a mile from its destination, so I guess this is only 2nd worst. Graded, sold, and now have the pleasure of selling its shell of former self to try to recoup some of the money I had to refund. Enjoy!
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Considering the state of that holder the card looks pretty darn good still.
<< <i>And that is why I insure everything---make the USPS pay for their mistakes! >>
Do you mean that is why you pay to make them pay for their mistakes?
That is rough. I can't wait to hear the other stories...
<< <i>And that is why I insure everything---make the USPS pay for their mistakes! >>
It is substantially cheaper to self insure.
The post office does a good job and the insurance, like most, will cost you more in the long run.
You are throwing money away.
Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
Total cost about $35.00 I would guess.
It wasn't USPS fault, the seller didn't package it well (plain padded mailer on a $500 card!).
The seller charged me $12 for shipping, then stupidly didn't insure the card or package it in a box.
This all happened 10 years ago.
I've never had a problem with USPS damages other than when sellers package cards the
wrong way and damage occurs. I'm not saying USPS doesn't kick a box around a two every now and then,
but most of the issues with damage to packages are from the sellers lack of skills in packaging
items properly.
Recently I had a PSA graded card sent to me in a paper, yes paper mailer with no padding at all.
Luckily it arrived safely.
1. padded envelope. Same as the last 1000. This first one broken. Think it must have been folded with great force
2. card got a hairline wrinkle. pretty amazing, considering. maybe tensile strength of holders not as great as we all seem to think
3. i only insure very expensive cards. insurance rates so silly high that it's a gamble i am willing to take. insuring everything would have cost me hundreds and hundreds of dollars in past year vs. this 55ish loss.
Update - just got word that 62 aarin psa 5 also got destroyed ib same shipnent. So either there was one horrible event ir psa holders have suddenly changed to cheaper plastic. In the latter case they would be wise to switch back.
Only thing that would have saved them was flat rate box but that means eating a lot on every shipment or getting bad feedback. No win. Considering quitting whole thing. These were consignment sales. I eat the whole thing
I've used the (4" x 7.5") #000 Mailers in the past because they are the perfect size for shipping cards, but it's just too flimsy and can allow for easy bending in transit. For literally a penny more I get twice the stability and protection. It's worth not having the hassle of refunding my customers.
For the more expensive slabs, these work great at about .29 cents each.
I'm on my iPhone so I can't link but here's the item number.
#190920429213
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
<< <i>I seem to recall seeing boxes designed to mail CDs in. Would something like that work for graded cards? >>
Do you mean these? They probably wouldn't be enough on their own, even assuming the card fits. They are just thin cardboard, no padding.
<< <i>Another option is Priority Mail Regional A boxes. Whenever you ship out cards (or anything else for that matter) with short treks, the cost to you can be as low as a shade over $5. As the distance increases, so does that figure. But it'll never reach what you pay when using a regular PM medium flat rate box. And in addition to insurance and tracking being included, the box size is commensurate with said PM medium flat rate boxes. As far as I'm concerned, the best thing since sliced bread. I've saved a ton of cheese over the years by using them. Go to USPS.com and place a completely free order for as many as you'd like, and they'll appear at your doorstep. >>
I do use their Regional Rate A & B boxes too when I can. I have entirely too many free boxes from USPS, they take up a ton of storage room. I seem to go through the padded mailers and small flat rate boxes the most though.
<< <i>
<< <i>I seem to recall seeing boxes designed to mail CDs in. Would something like that work for graded cards? >>
Do you mean these? They probably wouldn't be enough on their own, even assuming the card fits. They are just thin cardboard, no padding.
No, I saw something that was a very thin box, one you could slide a CD case into.
<< <i>Like this? It's a USPS Priority Mail DVD box. Haven't seen one in person, just noticed it on their site while shopping for other boxes.
That one is still charged by the weight though... not flat rate.