Thanks USPS

[clydepepper]

I really appreciate it!

DARROW DONE 4.jpg

DARROW DONE 3.jpg

Ugh...that sucks! Sorry this happened

[Peter_Spaeth]

What kind of package was it in.

[3-2-count]

How was this packaged when received? I ask because it may not have been the carriers fault.

[Joshchisox08]

Originally Posted by 3-2-count

How was this packaged when received? I ask because it may not have been the carriers fault.

True and I hope there was some form of insurance.

[clydepepper]

It was sent in a bubble envelope (the same way I have done it a couple of hundred times without incident), the buyer was trustworthy - this was the way he received it, and, for the LAST TIME IN MY LIFE, I did not include insurance.
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SUXALOT
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A lesson learned. I can ONLY be philosophical about it.
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I am watching 'Big Bang Theory' to make myself feel a little less like a loser.
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FYI - This card will be listed on the 'BAY ( as having a heavy through-and-through crease ) starting at 99 cents tomorrow night with a $5.00 insurance charge. The winning bidder will also receive the part of the PSA holder shown in the scans...for no extra charge! EBAU username is 'clydepepper' - bid or you can just send flowers, huh?
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Raymond
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[insccollectibles]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

It was sent in a bubble envelope (the same way I have done it a couple of hundred times without incident), the buyer was trustworthy - this was the way he received it, and, for the LAST TIME IN MY LIFE, I did not include insurance.
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SUXALOT
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A lesson learned. I can ONLY be philosophical about it.
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I am watching 'Big Bang Theory' to make myself feel a little less like a loser.
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FYI - This card will be listed on the 'BAY ( as having a heavy through-and-through crease ) starting at 99 cents tomorrow night with a $5.00 insurance charge. The winning bidder will also receive the part of the PSA holder shown in the scans...for no extra charge! EBAU username is 'clydepepper' - bid or you can just send flowers, huh?
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Raymond
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If you ship a lot look into getting insurance it will save you money over buying insurance each time you sell. Even the personal policies cover shipping of your collectibles.

[4815162342]

After surviving 81 years in virtually flawless condition, it only took one trip in a govt vehicle to destroy it. Shame.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

That stinks! I hear/see horror stories like this. I have been so lucky. So sorry, Raymond!

[chaddurbin]

if you only put the slab in a bubble mailer alone w/o any further protection then you've just been lucky the last 200 times....i don't even ship $20 cards like that, much less a psa8 goudey.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by chaddurbin

if you only put the slab in a bubble mailer alone w/o any further protection then you've just been lucky the last 200 times....i don't even ship $20 cards like that, much less a psa8 goudey.

Agreed. Bubble mailers are crap.

[kmac32]

Originally Posted by chaddurbin

if you only put the slab in a bubble mailer alone w/o any further protection then you've just been lucky the last 200 times....i don't even ship $20 cards like that, much less a psa8 goudey.

had the same thing happen one time to a SCG slab in bubble mailer. Fortunately the buyer was understanding and I offered to trade the same card and grade E121 card and he said not needed and we moved on. Learned to package better after that one .

I recently purchased and received a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle in PSA 3 that was shipped in a bubble mailer. I have never been so excited and afraid to open a piece of mail in my life.

[Joshwesley]

Originally Posted by Gobucsmagic74

I recently purchased and received a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle in PSA 3 that was shipped in a bubble mailer. I have never been so excited and afraid to open a piece of mail in my life.

Lol
I've got a Lennox and a Carolina bright t206 waiting for me at the post office tomorrow morning.... I'm now terrified!!

[GoldenAge50s]

I'm betting that card was NOT in a cardboard sandwich, regardless of the padded envelope.

Either way, that damage sucks!

[iwantitiwinit]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

After surviving 81 years in virtually flawless condition, it only took one trip in a govt vehicle to destroy it. Shame.

When I saw it was an 8 I thought the same thing, sorry. It happened to me once with a t206 Doc White psa 6. Nothing I could do but suck it up.

[autograf]

400 count box is the way to go......doesn't cost much more than a bubble mailer and provides WAY more protection.

[Jewish-collector]

How about putting the bubble mailer envelope INSIDE a Small priority mail rectangular box. Cost is $5.95 2-3 days generally.

[clydepepper]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. I do appreciate it.
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[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

How about putting the bubble mailer envelope INSIDE a Small priority mail rectangular box. Cost is $5.95 2-3 days generally.

+1

Or put it in any box, like the 400-count box Tom mentioned above. The extra $ would be far better spent upgrading the packing materials than in adding insurance. Personally, I'd much rather receive a bomb-proof uninsured package than something in a bubble mailer with a sticker on it to reassure me that if the contents are damaged, the USPS will make the seller whole.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

How about putting the bubble mailer envelope INSIDE a Small priority mail rectangular box. Cost is $5.95 2-3 days generally.

Yep, and if you do that with all of your slabbed cards, and charge the customer, you will get dinged for excessive shipping costs - not every time, but often enough to possibly affect your ebay seller fees discount. Those of us operating on thin profit margins, without a team of shillers in our back office, have to consider such things. But I agree with expensive slabbed cards, simply because a buyer deserves priority service and the 'appearance' of a more safely packed item is important for your relationship with your customer.

As Raymond said, he's shipped hundreds of times in bubble mailers without incident. With me it's been thousands of times. On the other hand, I have had small priority boxes arrive with ends opened - removing the card or bubble mailer from such a package would be an easy next step for a thief. As a customer I would rather not pay the extra $3 for shipping.

As others have mentioned, the cardboard on either side of the slab is extremely important.

[basesareempty]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

How about putting the bubble mailer envelope INSIDE a Small priority mail rectangular box. Cost is $5.95 2-3 days generally.

I agree, plus they give you $50 worth of insurance included.

[Donscards]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

I really appreciate it!

Attachment 200218

Attachment 200219

Clyde---I use bubble mailers, but only for cards valued under $50---I use small priority boxes shipped for $4.95---your cards are more protected that way---I usually get one broken case in 300 mailings---it does happen since the card goes through machines at the postal center (I wouldn't blame the mailman, more so the system----but a high number psa 8 1934 goudey should have been shipped in a box.

[Runscott]

Amazing stuff. The safest way to ship would be to personally carry each item to its destination and the least safe would be to stick a stamp and address label diectly on the slab. Everything between is a matter of opinion.

[toledo_mudhen]

Ughhh... Just repackaged outgoing shipment to include cardboard sandwich.

[Ladder7]

Likely the machinery, not the carrier. Them high-speed ollers eat padded envelopes. Fatten em up and they get hand sorted. Sorry for the loss.

[bobbyw8469]

Not to pile on, but just shipping a card like that by itself in a plain old bubble mailer is just begging for trouble. I take all my high dollar cards and wrap them in bubble wrap long enough to go over the card at least 4 times! It costs so very little to do it that way, and adds nothing extra in the way of weight hardly.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

Not to pile on, but just shipping a card like that by itself in a plain old bubble mailer is just begging for trouble. I take all my high dollar cards and wrap them in bubble wrap long enough to go over the card at least 4 times! It costs so very little to do it that way, and adds nothing extra in the way of weight hardly.

Cardboard is free and bubble mailers are cheap. As Lance pointed out, cardboard boxes can also be used for priority or 1st class shipping - the problem is finding enough of them if you are a volume seller, but quite honestly, I never considered it. If I get a large batch of graded cards in the future, I will definitely look into buying small boxes in bulk.

Lance is always thinking outside the box <=== get it?

[bxb]

.... I will definitely look into buying small boxes in bulk

Priority mail boxes are free at usps.com

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by bxb

.... I will definitely look into buying small boxes in bulk

Priority mail boxes are free at usps.com

I shipped the each newly sold card in fitted plastic sleeves bookended by previously mentioned cardboard strips bound by two rubber bands, and for the multiple-card order, I wrapped them in bubble-wrap fitting snugly in one of the afore-mentioned PSA boxes.

Just for overkill, I also insured each package for their full amount.


Thanks for all the input and advice...I have indeed learned from it.

Any further 'assistance' can accurately be depicted as 'pilling on'.
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[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Cardboard is free and bubble mailers are cheap. As Lance pointed out, cardboard boxes can also be used for priority or 1st class shipping - the problem is finding enough of them if you are a volume seller, but quite honestly, I never considered it. If I get a large batch of graded cards in the future, I will definitely look into buying small boxes in bulk.

Lance is always thinking outside the box <=== get it?

Scott (and anyone else that cares too listen), you might take a look at BCW (bcwsupplies.com) for collecting supplies that can double as shipping supplies. In addition to the aforementioned 400-count boxes, I recommend the 330-count boxes for shipping a single baseball in ball cube (they also sell cubes), and the various sleeves and toploaders for flats of all sizes. If you have a tax number, it's worthwhile to register for a dealer/bulk account (no "free shipping" but the discount more than makes up for it). If memory serves, being on the west coast should help with shipping costs too.

I like the card boxes for shipping small items because they are very lightweight, yet also very sturdy due to the way the flaps of the lid lock into the sidewalls of the box. They do have boxes specifically sized for slabs, but last time I checked, other sizes like the 400 count boxes worked just as well but at a lower price.

Fwiw, with a 330 count box closed firmly around a ball cube turned on its side (I know, a cube turned on its side sounds weird, but trust me), I can stand on the box and hop up and down without cracking the cube. And packed that way, the package weighs 12oz, meaning it can be shipped 1st Class.

Sure, the post office will provide a Priority box for free, but then you're locked into paying for Priority shipping. If you're shipping primarily lightweight items, and doing so frequently, it may be worth checking into alternatives that will allow secure shipping while staying under the 13-ounce cutoff for 1st Class, even if it means buying your own boxes.

[JasonD08]

I just had this happen on an order from PSA. Thank goodniess my cases were only cracked and reholder was success! They shipped in the small brown PSA box. The two cards on the end were cracked. My guess is that USPS carrier somewhere played football with the box.

[Runscott]

Thanks Lance. After I finish selling my current inventory, I may concentrate on graded cards - that was my original business plan, but it evolved to 'miscellaneous cool shit'.

[TanksAndSpartans]

I noticed some dealers use the white (I'm guessing ~300 count) card storage boxes to ship graded cards - I always save these when I get them for my own use because they are a real hard cardboard - actually better than priority mail boxes.