Thanks USPS

[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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[Jobu]

Also, check out Collector's Insurance - they insure your collection and it includes when things are in the mail. In other words, your annual premium means you never have to add insurance when you ship (unless the card is over $2500 in which case you can call the company and they will sell you the additional for what it would cost with the shipper). The minimum claim is $50, but nobody would bother with that anyway (fyi Priority Mail comes with $50 for free if you like to have insurance 100% of the time).

[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.

[3-2-count]

From what I've heard a small bubble mailer will go through the sorting machine since it's thin and small and it isn't a gentle process.

A thicker package such as securing it further in extra cardboard, bubble wrap, etc or even better a small box as others have mentioned before me would be hand sorted keeping it a bit more safe. Just a head ups moving forward!

[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.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Runscott

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.

Tape.

[Runscott]

If I were mailing a slabbed card to some of the guys participating in this thread, it would definitely go in a priority box - I would hate for someone to be angry when they saw a bubble mailer in their mail box. I would rather they be excited about opening the package and seeing their card.

[thecatspajamas]

You don't have to ship Priority to use a box. If you're getting tracking, you're paying for a 3 ounce package regardless. On single cards, packing in a 400count box vs a bubble mailer typically makes zero difference in postage cost. Even if it goes up to the next ounce, you're talking about an extra 21 cents. All in, including buying the box vs a bubble mailer, you might be looking at a difference of 50 cents when shipping 1st Class. In most cases, not even that much. But it makes a world of difference in perception on the receiving end when your item arrives in a box vs a bubble mailer, even if you pass on the added expense to the buyer.

The problem with bubble mailers is that shippers think they have some special power to whisk the contents off to their destination in a protective cushion of air. They don't. Think of them more like a brown paper bag: good for concealing their contents, but providing very little protection beyond that. If you wouldn't feel comfortable putting the item in a paper bag, wadding it up, and shoving it into a hole slightly smaller than the item, it's probably best to beef up the packaging. On the other hand, if it's something you would normally drop in a manila envelope except that you need to be able to add tracking, then a bubble mailer might be okay. As long as you're okay with your envelope alternative getting folded in half to fit into a too-small mailbox.

[Donscards]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Tape.

I use the small flat rate priority boxes $4.95---and always tape the ends and top----the glue on those boxes are horrible, but taping does the job---I use bubble padded sleeves for $20 card range--and usually they make it with no problem, but every now and then, one does break---but for money cards always use small rate priority boxes---and knowing it is a expensive card, I do charge $5 shipping.

[buymycards]

I wish I could show you guys the way we receive our packages. Picture a large plastic hamper, about 4' long, 3' wide, and 3' feet high. When it leaves the processing plant, it is filled with packages. It may contain 10-12 larger packages, or it may may contain 300-400 small packages, or it may contain a mixture of a couple of hundred large and small packages. If your package with the unprotected slab in a bubble mailer happens to be on the bottom of 300 small packages, with a dozen heavy packages on top, you may very well end up with a damaged slab.

The processing plant is sending hampers of packages to 150 or so different post offices, some of them are 100 miles from the plant, and the only efficient way to send them is in these large hampers. So, always package your item as if it will be on the bottom a hamper with 300 other parcels.

[bxb]

Originally Posted by Donscards

I use the small flat rate priority boxes $4.95---and always tape the ends and top----the glue on those boxes are horrible, but taping does the job---I use bubble padded sleeves for $20 card range--and usually they make it with no problem, but every now and then, one does break---but for money cards always use small rate priority boxes---and knowing it is a expensive card, I do charge $5 shipping.

I do the same thing. Small flat rate box for expensive items, always with extra tape around the edges because the glue on the box is not good enough. Also I stamp the outside of the box in several places with my "fragile" stamper prior to taping it up, and pack the inside of the box with extra bubble wrap or peanuts to prevent shifting of contents.

Finally, I hand carry the package to my PO, where over the years I have established a good rapport with all the employees, and get it scanned with receipt. So far no problems with this method in 20 years.

[rp12367]

I buy Elmer's foam board at Walmart it cost about $6.50 for a 4 pack. You can cut it with a utility knife to size, and you can get quite a few pieces out of a sheet. It is very light weight and very rigid. Depending on the value, I put one or two pieces taped to a bagged slab and then mail in a bubble envelope. The stuff is tuff to bend, so tuff I also use it for comics as well. Luckily never had a problem and buyers love it.

[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.