Quick PWE eBay Question

[MasonAsher]

I am listing quite a few singles on eBay nowadays and noticed that it always auto lists your PWE shipment as a 3oz package.

I assume single cards you can tune that down to 1oz for .69c shipping instead of $1.25? Or would I be better to just put 2oz shipping for .99c?

I place the card in a top loader along with two random base cards, place in a team bag, and then place that in a piece of paper which goes into the envelope.

You'd think that would be 1oz or less, right?

Obviously for game used and thicker cards I'll use 2oz or 3oz but just trying to save a few cents in the margins and generate more potential sales.

[RL 1953]

using a top loader may cause issues of to rigid .

I use sleeve, card saver and #6 envelope 1 oz for 1 card

[MasonAsher]

Originally Posted by RL 1953

using a top loader may cause issues of to rigid .

I use sleeve, card saver and #6 envelope 1 oz for 1 card

I haven't ever had any issues with top loaders mailing PWE and I've sent out hundreds.

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by MasonAsher

I haven't ever had any issues with top loaders mailing PWE and I've sent out hundreds.

I think it's possible you have had no issues using a top loader because you have also been using the 3oz rate. An envelope 1oz or under with a top loader can be considered too rigid, therefore non-machinable. Shipping a 1oz envelope but using the 3oz rate is the way to go if you use a top loader, because the difference between $0.69 and $1.25 would cover the non-machinable surcharge. Many, if not most, who use top loaders have no problems....but of those that do have ESE problems, most are either using top loaders or cardboard mailers and the 1oz label rate. Card savers/semi-rigids are cheaper and more flexible, and have had significantly fewer problems.

[MasonAsher]

Originally Posted by JeffG1954

I think it's possible you have had no issues using a top loader because you have also been using the 3oz rate. An envelope 1oz or under with a top loader can be considered too rigid, therefore non-machinable. Shipping a 1oz envelope but using the 3oz rate is the way to go if you use a top loader, because the difference between $0.69 and $1.25 would cover the non-machinable surcharge. Many, if not most, who use top loaders have no problems....but of those that do have ESE problems, most are either using top loaders or cardboard mailers and the 1oz label rate. Card savers/semi-rigids are cheaper and more flexible, and have had significantly fewer problems.

Got it. Makes sense to me. Thanks for the explanation. I’ll purchase some card savers and use them for all PWE sales.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by JeffG1954

I think it's possible you have had no issues using a top loader because you have also been using the 3oz rate. An envelope 1oz or under with a top loader can be considered too rigid, therefore non-machinable. Shipping a 1oz envelope but using the 3oz rate is the way to go if you use a top loader, because the difference between $0.69 and $1.25 would cover the non-machinable surcharge. Many, if not most, who use top loaders have no problems....but of those that do have ESE problems, most are either using top loaders or cardboard mailers and the 1oz label rate. Card savers/semi-rigids are cheaper and more flexible, and have had significantly fewer problems.

I have sent out hundreds of ESE using top loaders at the 1 oz price and haven't had one issue. Every single one of them has shown tracking within 24 hours. I have had no issues with receiving tracking with purchases as well with top loaders IF the seller just uses a plain envelope and little packing. I have had ESE end up in my mailbox with no tracking when they used thick envelopes or even a bubble mailer. Have never been charged extra.

This comes down to how your local post office deals with these and how you ship. If you use a plain envelope and just use a sheet of paper around a normal thickness top loader, you shouldn't have issues unless your post office doesn't like them. They get scanned just fine.

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

I have sent out hundreds of ESE using top loaders at the 1 oz price and haven't had one issue. Every single one of them has shown tracking within 24 hours. I have had no issues with receiving tracking with purchases as well with top loaders IF the seller just uses a plain envelope and little packing. I have had ESE end up in my mailbox with no tracking when they used thick envelopes or even a bubble mailer. Have never been charged extra.

This comes down to how your local post office deals with these and how you ship. If you use a plain envelope and just use a sheet of paper around a normal thickness top loader, you shouldn't have issues unless your post office doesn't like them. They get scanned just fine.

Like I said....Many, if not most, do not have problems....but some do. Your PO has no problem with top loaders, but some do. In reading the threads on BO on this subject you will find posts where sellers problems have been solved by changing from top loaders to card savers, but I have yet to see a single post that any problems were solved by changing from card savers to top loaders.

[jamcas997]

Watch Beauspencer AKA Onemillioncubs and you tube it so you can see how to do it.

[MasonAsher]

Originally Posted by jamcas997

Watch Beauspencer AKA Onemillioncubs and you tube it so you can see how to do it.

I have. I know how to ship PWE - I just don't have a scale to tell how heavy it is so was just simply asking a question regarding weights...NOT how to ship in a PWE.

[nam812]

Originally Posted by MasonAsher

.....I just don't have a scale to tell how heavy it is..........

They aren't expensive.

[thesportslab]

I have primarily used a top loader and envelope to ship ESE at 1 oz for a few years. I often add 2 freebies with it. Maybe a handful have lost tracking and 1 returned to me. That can’t be off typical results. I have a scale, but haven’t used it in a long time, and want to say it weighs around 0.8 to 0.9 ounces.

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by MasonAsher

I have. I know how to ship PWE - I just don't have a scale to tell how heavy it is so was just simply asking a question regarding weights...NOT how to ship in a PWE.

So this is how I do it with my shipping.

1-2 Paper Bowman/Topps Flagship or 1 Chrome or 1 Heritage type stock card = 1 ounce

3 Paper Bowman/Topps Flagship or 2 Chrome or 2 Heritage type stock card = 2 ounces



Up to 10 Paper Bowman/Topps Flagship or up to 8 Chrome or up to 8 Heritage type stock card = 2 ounces


Thats how I do mine using #6 or #10 PWE



If needed a scale can be purchased on ebay after 14 years I had to retire my old one and bought this one which is so much better,

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326201402234?var=515311161250

[MasonAsher]

Thanks for the help everyone. Lots of good information in here…even if not exactly pointed to my original question.

[ledgewerx]

Originally Posted by MasonAsher

I am listing quite a few singles on eBay nowadays and noticed that it always auto lists your PWE shipment as a 3oz package.

I assume single cards you can tune that down to 1oz for .69c shipping instead of $1.25? Or would I be better to just put 2oz shipping for .99c?

I place the card in a top loader along with two random base cards, place in a team bag, and then place that in a piece of paper which goes into the envelope.

You'd think that would be 1oz or less, right?

Obviously for game used and thicker cards I'll use 2oz or 3oz but just trying to save a few cents in the margins and generate more potential sales.

It should be less than 1 oz.

I have sent 2 cards, each in their own top loader. That weighs .9 to 1 oz.

I never had an issue with rigidity while sending 2 top loaders.