PWE Shipping Killing Me

[lbailey]

Anyone else having trouble with USPS and PWE? I am getting returned cards saying non-machinable. Some cards I am not even getting back. They are just sitting at the post office not moving.

Any advice on this?

[Blazed]

Originally Posted by lbailey

Anyone else having trouble with USPS and PWE? I am getting returned cards saying non-machinable. Some cards I am not even getting back. They are just sitting at the post office not moving.

Any advice on this?

Why? You're either using the wrong kind of envelope or it's too thick.

My kids have mailed hundreds out and none have ever been returned for being non-machinable, they send exquisite cards and I think 10 or 12 reg cards this way with no issues.

[lbailey]

Originally Posted by Blazed

Why? You're either using the wrong kind of envelope or it's too thick.

My kids have mailed hundreds out and none have ever been returned for being non-machinable, they send exquisite cards and I think 10 or 12 reg cards this way with no issues.

I got single toploaded cards back in a 3.625X6.5 inch envelope. They want me to pay the $0.39 additional charge for non-machinable.

My guess is that my local USPS office is extremely short staffed and don't want to do more than as little as possible.

[Tiger23]

Are you handing the envelopes to people or dropping them in a mailbox? If you are handing them, then that’s your problem. If not, your local PO may be sticklers for no reason and you need to pivot to Card Savers

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by lbailey

I got single toploaded cards back in a 3.625X6.5 inch envelope. They want me to pay the $0.39 additional charge for non-machinable.

My guess is that my local USPS office is extremely short staffed and don't want to do more than as little as possible.

Some post office locations will reject a card in a top loader.....a top loader is not flexible enough to go thru some of the sorting machines, which makes them non-machinable. I have no problem using semi-rigids, or, if I have to use a top loader, I bump the shipping to the 3oz($1.05). The only ones I take to the counter are the 3oz pieces.....I have them hand cancelled since they are not supposed to go thru the sorting machine.....so very few problems in over 8K shipped since the program started. This is also why tracking can stop.....your local post office might accept and process your top loaded card, but another post office along the way could consider it too rigid and reject it.

[DontToewsMeBro]

Originally Posted by lbailey

Anyone else having trouble with USPS and PWE? I am getting returned cards saying non-machinable. Some cards I am not even getting back. They are just sitting at the post office not moving.

Any advice on this?

Take this as you may but I buy a load of blank white greeting cards at the dollar store as they come with envelopes. I put trading cards in the "card" in a semi-rigid, and ship it like grandma used to mail me money on my birthday. Always seems to sail through.

[newcardsmell]

Happened to me. If you stamp or write "Do Not Bend" or "Non-Machinable" on the envelope they charge you more.

I do everything the same (top loader in team bag taped to an eBay Thank you card), but if I put a "Non-Machinable" stamp on it they return to me and charge me $0.39 more because of labor costs.

My local PO works with me well. They couldn't on this. Orders from headquarters, I guess.

I stopped using the stamp and everything is OK again.

This was my experience, but not sure if it helps you.

[pinnacle06]

Originally Posted by newcardsmell

Happened to me. If you stamp or write "Do Not Bend" or "Non-Machinable" on the envelope they charge you more.

I do everything the same (top loader in team bag taped to an eBay Thank you card), but if I put a "Non-Machinable" stamp on it they return to me and charge me $0.39 more because of labor costs.

My local PO works with me well. They couldn't on this. Orders from headquarters, I guess.

I stopped using the stamp and everything is OK again.

This was my experience, but not sure if it helps you.

interesting... I use a 'non-machinable' stamp and have never had an issue. Hope I do not start running into issues.

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by pinnacle06

interesting... I use a 'non-machinable' stamp and have never had an issue. Hope I do not start running into issues.

If you put that stamp on your ESE envelope and it gets any tracking, it is still going thru the sorting machine. The only place the ESE envelopes are ever tracked is as they go thru a sorting machine....never by a live postal worker.

[pinnacle06]

Originally Posted by JeffG1954

If you put that stamp on your ESE envelope and it gets any tracking, it is still going thru the sorting machine. The only place the ESE envelopes are ever tracked is as they go thru a sorting machine....never by a live postal worker.

Thanks… good to know.

[whoshotjr]

Originally Posted by DontToewsMeBro

Take this as you may but I buy a load of blank white greeting cards at the dollar store as they come with envelopes. I put trading cards in the "card" in a semi-rigid, and ship it like grandma used to mail me money on my birthday. Always seems to sail through.

I don't sell cards, but from time to time ship a couple cards to people for their PC and use this method. I just use the semi-rigid and painters tape it to the inside of the card.

I've also rec'd a few cards this method and all have been fine.

[chandman]

If you are using PWE outside of Ebay, invest in non machinable stamps (butterfly stamps) I believe they cover upto 2 ounces.

If you are referring to Ebay's budget shipping, I use A6 envelopes. I have a template I'll cut rectangles of reinforce paper from boxes (ie. cereal, rice, or anything with thick paper but not cardboad. I think use semi-rigids in between that rectangle and an index card. I just purchase the weight needed.

But I believe the problem is the desk clerk is the problem, they can be sticklers if the envelope is too rigid. My mail carrier has complained to me that they can be too particular.

[bloodwings19]

I've been hit a few with extra fees, but in couple hundred eBay envelope shipping, I had very minimal problems. I used magazine sheet to wrapped the card in a top-loader Nor of my buyers has complained about bent cards, only lost cards.

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by chandman

If you are using PWE outside of Ebay, invest in non machinable stamps (butterfly stamps) I believe they cover upto 2 ounces.

If you are referring to Ebay's budget shipping, I use A6 envelopes. I have a template I'll cut rectangles of reinforce paper from boxes (ie. cereal, rice, or anything with thick paper but not cardboad. I think use semi-rigids in between that rectangle and an index card. I just purchase the weight needed.

But I believe the problem is the desk clerk is the problem, they can be sticklers if the envelope is too rigid. My mail carrier has complained to me that they can be too particular.

The desk clerk should never even see the ESE shipments....they can't scan them, so no reason to give them to a live worker. If the envelope is too rigid it is not supposed to be put thru the sorting machine, which is the only place the ESE shipments get scanned. Most go thru anyway, but if they jam up the sorting machine because they are too rigid, they can be sent back as non-machinable and postage due....usually $.39 from what I read in other threads.

[rms13]

I've shipped around 100 cards in PWE this year from Ebay sales and trades with people here and everything has made it with no problem. I've used size 10 and size 6 3/4 security envelopes. I put card in top loader, tape it to a piece of plain printer paper and fold it like a letter and into the envelope. Maybe I've been lucky. I drop them all in mailboxes and never hand off to employees at post office

[YeahBuddy]

i put card in top loader and tape 2 cheap base cards to each side of the top loader with masking tape , thin card like a regular donruss , etc. it serves as some protection to the card in top loader and have shipped many like this with no issue.

[DiamondDonovan]

I also just drop directly in the mail box.

If possible, you might want to drop off at a different post office if this one is giving you a hard time and returning cards.

[Bob Ross]

I've had 2 out of 500 or so Ebay Standard Shipping cardboard PWE's returned. I simply ripped the sticker off saying add postage, reprint the shipping label and slap it on the exact return and drop off again. Both were shipped fine the 2nd time.

[lbailey]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

I've had 2 out of 500 or so Ebay Standard Shipping cardboard PWE's returned. I simply ripped the sticker off saying add postage, reprint the shipping label and slap it on the exact return and drop off again. Both were shipped fine the 2nd time.

This is the great benefit of living in a posh mountain town........... not

[lbailey]

I got back 400+ envelopes as non-machinable. You have to be kidding me!

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by lbailey

I got back 400+ envelopes as non-machinable. You have to be kidding me!

How did you mail them.....PWE or cardboard mailer? Top loader or semi-rigid, or nothing, for protection. What postage did you use....$.57, $.81, or $1.05.

[MentallyIllPhil]

why is this thread always on the 1st page?

OP. this happened to me a lot before. I have 80,000 ebay sales with most being PWE. This happened often. The post office always wanted a nickel here and there. If you reprint the label and drive to the USPS at the next town over, you should be fine (yes its a pain in the behind)

400 envelopes is ridiculous. Are you sending out Christmas cards to the entire blowout forums? I dont think Ive ever even had even 100 sales in one day on ebay

[Giroux]

How many have you all had not scanned at all?

One of my recent ones had no update but was given positive feedback so I assume it was delivered.

No issue here but just a little worrying for future sales. Only my 2nd time using the PWE option. I guess for the lower value cards it's worth the gamble that the buyer doesn't scam.

[MentallyIllPhil]

Originally Posted by Giroux

How many have you all had not scanned at all?

One of my recent ones had no update but was given positive feedback so I assume it was delivered.

No issue here but just a little worrying for future sales. Only my 2nd time using the PWE option. I guess for the lower value cards it's worth the gamble that the buyer doesn't scam.

the ebay standard delivery thing is wacky as can be.

Often for me as a seller it showed as delivered, even when it wasnt. but then my buyers would tell me it was delivered the next day or 2 days later lol. Imagine the USPS worker scanning it by the mailbox, only to decide "naahh it can wait a day". This happened daily

[JWBlue]

Originally Posted by Giroux

How many have you all had not scanned at all?

I have been waiting for a card for over three weeks. Last tracking was on November 17th at the Origin PO. Losing hope.

Originally Posted by MentallyIllPhil

Imagine the USPS worker scanning it by the mailbox, only to decide "naahh it can wait a day". This happened daily

It is my understanding that any tracking on the eBay shipping envelopes is by the processing machines at the PO.