Any alternatives to USPS for single graded cards

USPS has gotten quite pricey and it's hard to keep up with the increases. I just shipped a single PSA graded card last week and the cost was $5.97, with the eBay discount (which equates roughly to Pirate Ship discount). Granted the card was going across the country but that's still pretty rough for 3-4 ounces in a bubble mailer.

The USPS has a mantra: try delivering it any cheaper yourself by car,bus,train, or plane.

it's probably 6 dollars with the eBay shipping discount.

@craig44 said:
ebay shipping discount is the cheapest i know. if your card is less than $20, you can ship ebay standard envelope for .74

Not for slabs though - standard envelope can’t be rigid.

@burghman said:

@craig44 said:
ebay shipping discount is the cheapest i know. if your card is less than $20, you can ship ebay standard envelope for .74

Not for slabs though - standard envelope can’t be rigid.

very true, i missed the part about the slab.

@craig44 said:

@BaltimoreYankee said:

@craig44 said:
ebay shipping discount is the cheapest i know. if your card is less than $20, you can ship ebay standard envelope for .74

I think they started out at .74 but it's more now, more like $1.25. Lately I've taken to selling individual cheap cards with a PWE. It's 74 cents for a first class stamp. the risk is mine but no issues so far.

it is according to which ESE you purchase, they go from .74 up to 1.32

Yup. I just sent out a 1oz for $.74 and a 2oz for $1.03.
Seems lots of ebay sellers use top loaders.
I use a penny sleeve in a card saver, sandwiched between cut pieces of card stock paper.
No issues.

For slabs up to 4oz, I believe it's $5.72.
I sent out a heavier tallboy SGC slab that was either 5 or 6oz and it was $5.97

For ESE I flat rate charge $1.50 and for Ground Advantage slabs I flat rate charge $6.
Apparently buyers don't like that since I have a 4.5 rating under reasonable shipping.
I guess supplies, packing, and gas to drive to the post office should all be free. Oh well.

@coolstanley said:

@craig44 said:
ebay shipping discount is the cheapest i know. if your card is less than $20, you can ship ebay standard envelope for .74

How do you know the OP has an ebay account?

well, the guy is selling cards and ebay is by far the biggest platform for selling cards...

@coolstanley said:

So what if someone sells a card on a different platform? Will they still be able to give them a shipping discount?

In that case, they can use Pirate Ship to get a shipping discount similar to what they would get through eBay sales.