new $0.75 shipping from eBay

[jamcas997]

It has been discussed here a whole back they were not refunding on delivered. It may be hit or miss though. In the 4 years of this program I have never refunded on delivered, but thats just me.

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by jamcas997

It has been discussed here a whole back they were not refunding on delivered. It may be hit or miss though. In the 4 years of this program I have never refunded on delivered, but thats just me.

Nope, not just you....same for me.

[nam812]

When they were refunding on delivered, I did because it meant nothing to me, and it kept a customer happy. If they are not refunding delivered now, then I obviously wont.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by nam812

When they were refunding on delivered, I did because it meant nothing to me, and it kept a customer happy. If they are not refunding delivered now, then I obviously wont.

That's my thought if that's the case now. However, it may be a case-by-case basis for me.

[Earlsnake07]

Question for the vets/experts in the thread

Needing to seriously downsize and wanting to start small with a goal. List 10 cards a week - typically in the $1 - $10 range.

I purchased some of the TCGuardian rigid single card shippers (https://tcguardian-us.com/products/classic-500) and initially planned to put them in a standard #6 envelope, but not sure that will be secure enough.

Thinking of adding these as well (https://www.ebay.com/itm/40538152939...Bk9SR7yyv7mkZQ)

I plan on using the ESE shipping method, but wanted some additional insight.

Thanks!

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by Earlsnake07

Question for the vets/experts in the thread

Needing to seriously downsize and wanting to start small with a goal. List 10 cards a week - typically in the $1 - $10 range.

I purchased some of the TCGuardian rigid single card shippers (https://tcguardian-us.com/products/classic-500) and initially planned to put them in a standard #6 envelope, but not sure that will be secure enough.

Thinking of adding these as well (https://www.ebay.com/itm/40538152939...Bk9SR7yyv7mkZQ)

I plan on using the ESE shipping method, but wanted some additional insight.

Thanks!

You will likely get multiple answers and shipping methods....here is mine:

Personally I wouldn't use either....some post office locations consider them too rigid for the 1oz ESE rate, so you might have to use the 3oz rate which would be a waste of money. A single standard thickness card in a card saver and #6 envelope is well under 1oz and flexible enough to pass thru the USPS sorting machines.

[Earlsnake07]

Originally Posted by JeffG1954

You will likely get multiple answers and shipping methods....here is mine:

Personally I wouldn't use either....some post office locations consider them too rigid for the 1oz ESE rate, so you might have to use the 3oz rate which would be a waste of money. A single standard thickness card in a card saver and #6 envelope is well under 1oz and flexible enough to pass thru the USPS sorting machines.

Thank you for the input - I absolutely appreciate it.

I definitely will be targeting the 1oz ESE rate as most of the cards are <$5.

Using your method....(assuming you have used this frequently), what rough % of defects would you say you have had?

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by Earlsnake07

Thank you for the input - I absolutely appreciate it.

I definitely will be targeting the 1oz ESE rate as most of the cards are <$5.

Using your method....(assuming you have used this frequently), what rough % of defects would you say you have had?

Maybe 1 out of every 1000 get lost, 1 in every 5000 get damaged. When looking at the damaged, nothing could have saved them. The nice thing about the ESE program is that in all cases, loss or damage, they were covered by the PIP insurance.

I use my method very frequently....currently over 6K items on eBay and almost 67K positive feedback.

[fumanchu]

do you think the post office is more lenient towards first class postage compared to ESE? i noticed i got some pretty thick envelopes with first class postage that i know would definitely get return to sender if i had mailed it with ESE. i've gotten messaged from buyers that had postage due with just a single card multiple times.

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by fumanchu

do you think the post office is more lenient towards first class postage compared to ESE? i noticed i got some pretty thick envelopes with first class postage that i know would definitely get return to sender if i had mailed it with ESE. i've gotten messaged from buyers that had postage due with just a single card multiple times.

No...I just think a few post office locations are more strict on what they consider too rigid. Using a top loader and/or cardboard mailer plus the 1oz ESE rate seems to be the majority of the postage due problems. Some, maybe even most, get delivered without a problem...but if a single USPS employee along the way deems the envelope too rigid, it's returned to sender or arrives with postage due.

[FromNBAtoNFL]

For those thick Fleer Ultra Marvel card is 1 oz okay or should I do 2 oz to be safe?

I use semi-rigid card saver, no top loader.

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by FromNBAtoNFL

For those thick Fleer Ultra Marvel card is 1 oz okay or should I do 2 oz to be safe?

I use semi-rigid card saver, no top loader.

I would jump to the 3oz rate....the 2oz rate will not cover the increase for the non-machinable surcharge.

[FromNBAtoNFL]

Excellent, I will do that.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by Earlsnake07

Question for the vets/experts in the thread

Needing to seriously downsize and wanting to start small with a goal. List 10 cards a week - typically in the $1 - $10 range.

I purchased some of the TCGuardian rigid single card shippers (https://tcguardian-us.com/products/classic-500) and initially planned to put them in a standard #6 envelope, but not sure that will be secure enough.

Thinking of adding these as well (https://www.ebay.com/itm/40538152939...Bk9SR7yyv7mkZQ)

I plan on using the ESE shipping method, but wanted some additional insight.

Thanks!

Everyone operates differently, here's what I generally do (sometimes the oz/$ thresholds change depending on thickness of card sold).

1 oz: $6.99 and under (for padding: tape 1 chrome card to one side)
2 oz: $7-$11.99 (for padding: tape 2 chrome cards to each side)
3 oz: $12-$20 (for padding: tape 3 chrome cards to each side)

Don't need to buy additional supplies, just use your "junk" base as padding. I also ship the sold card via toploader (using painter's tape to keep within) and cover the PWE with a single layer of packing tape for extra "padding" and to keep contents intact.

[jamcas997]

UGH , Find onemillion cubs you tube page and watch his videos on how to ship.

I would not recommend using those Cardboard mailers. USE PWE and get a good thermal printer for labels. also use card savers and not toploaders when mailing.

Oh also invest in a small digital scale for $10 I got this one which is bigger than my old one that died and much better. https://www.ebay.com/itm/326201402234?var=515311161250

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by JeffG1954

You will likely get multiple answers and shipping methods....here is mine:

Personally I wouldn't use either....some post office locations consider them too rigid for the 1oz ESE rate, so you might have to use the 3oz rate which would be a waste of money. A single standard thickness card in a card saver and #6 envelope is well under 1oz and flexible enough to pass thru the USPS sorting machines.

I do this ^^^ with one difference. I use a #10 envelope with the card off to one side. That way it completely bends in the middle.

I can tell you from experience both outgoing (where I've solved all but the random issue) and incoming, the two biggest issues are rigidity and thickness. The biggest problem from using cardboard won't be loss (although there will be a tad bit more) or damage, but postage due. Remember even if you refund the postage due, it's still an annoyance for the buyer to have to go to the post office and pick it up.

[rwperu34]

Since October 1st I have shipped 1191 ESE;

5 refunds for INR
2 refunds for damange (one of which is today)

359 bubble mailers, zero refunds.

Last year 1009 bubble mailers, 2 INR, 3 damage (all three cracked slabs).

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

Since October 1st I have shipped 1191 ESE;

5 refunds for INR
2 refunds for damange (one of which is today)

359 bubble mailers, zero refunds.

Last year 1009 bubble mailers, 2 INR, 3 damage (all three cracked slabs).

Hey Rep for your slabs look at the ebay 6.5” x 9.25” Padded Bubble Mailer – Color Logo. I use two when shipping I put the slab in one and roll it up the place it in the other one that has the shipping label .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/25480098304...YAAOSwCvZhSb7G

[Swipe79]

I use an A6 Kraft Envelope (greeting card size) that is a little thicker than a typical envelope. Card Saver - taped opening and a piece of tape to keep the card saver in place. I'll have to pull my numbers to verify how effective it is but it's what I settled on after trying all kinds of different options over the first year of ESE. It has been very effective for me.

[thenightman]

Originally Posted by jamcas997

UGH , Find onemillion cubs you tube page and watch his videos on how to ship.

I would not recommend using those Cardboard mailers. USE PWE and get a good thermal printer for labels. also use card savers and not toploaders when mailing.

Oh also invest in a small digital scale for $10 I got this one which is bigger than my old one that died and much better. https://www.ebay.com/itm/326201402234?var=515311161250

After awhile, you don't even need the scale anymore. I know that two cards can get through at 1oz., after that it's best to go 2oz. on 3 cards. Thicker cards can get by with 1oz., but if you aren't a gambler, then go with 2oz.

Originally Posted by rwperu34

I do this ^^^ with one difference. I use a #10 envelope with the card off to one side. That way it completely bends in the middle.

I can tell you from experience both outgoing (where I've solved all but the random issue) and incoming, the two biggest issues are rigidity and thickness. The biggest problem from using cardboard won't be loss (although there will be a tad bit more) or damage, but postage due. Remember even if you refund the postage due, it's still an annoyance for the buyer to have to go to the post office and pick it up.

When I first started doing PWEs, I'd put everything down the middle. After awhile, I noticed a lot of thicker cards coming in damaged, so I started putting them on the side. I haven't had an issue since. If it's a sale of multiple cards, I do the same thing.

[Swipe79]

Just shy of 4,000 transactions since October 1st - one damaged and seven missing. Of those, two seemed shady to me.

Originally Posted by Swipe79

I use an A6 Kraft Envelope (greeting card size) that is a little thicker than a typical envelope. Card Saver - taped opening and a piece of tape to keep the card saver in place. I'll have to pull my numbers to verify how effective it is but it's what I settled on after trying all kinds of different options over the first year of ESE. It has been very effective for me.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by jamcas997

Hey Rep for your slabs look at the ebay 6.5” x 9.25” Padded Bubble Mailer – Color Logo. I use two when shipping I put the slab in one and roll it up the place it in the other one that has the shipping label .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/25480098304...YAAOSwCvZhSb7G

I've gone to adding cardboard with a double bubble mailer. Since then only one that must have been crushed by a 70 pound direct hit in the right spot. I always ask for a pic of the packaging and you could see where it hit on both mailers and the cardboard, which also happened to be where the slab was cracked.

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by thenightman

After awhile, you don't even need the scale anymore. I know that two cards can get through at 1oz., after that it's best to go 2oz. on 3 cards. Thicker cards can get by with 1oz., but if you aren't a gambler, then go with 2oz.



When I first started doing PWEs, I'd put everything down the middle. After awhile, I noticed a lot of thicker cards coming in damaged, so I started putting them on the side. I haven't had an issue since. If it's a sale of multiple cards, I do the same thing.

The scale is for when you get that one buyer that buys BULK (woohoo) like say 30 to 50 cards. When it was FC Package you could only run 16 ounces and now under Global Advantage you can get a few pounds before Priority.

[Earlsnake07]

Thanks for all the input guys.....appreciate it.

[thenightman]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

I've gone to adding cardboard with a double bubble mailer. Since then only one that must have been crushed by a 70 pound direct hit in the right spot. I always ask for a pic of the packaging and you could see where it hit on both mailers and the cardboard, which also happened to be where the slab was cracked.

I've been doing that since August of last year and outside of having too much cardboard lying around, everything has been perfect.