OT: Inspired by current events (just like Law and Order), let's talk shipping.

Leon · #1 03-06-2014, 10:48 AM

Package it well with tracking included. On more expensive items get signature confirmation. Communicate BEFORE Shipping who is responsible for loss or damage. Those are some of the main things, imo....

steve B · #2 03-06-2014, 07:19 PM

When I was selling the packaging would depend on the item.

Most cheap cards were -penny sleeve/toploader/two pieces of cardboard then into a bubble envelope. That's the stuff under about $20. No DC at first, then when they started click and ship it was included cheap so it was a good deal. No insurance, I figured if something cheap got lost or wrecked it was easier to just refund and move on.

More expensive stuff I usually went for priority in the small flat rate box. Or the smaller one before the flat rate. Those will fit inside a flat rate envelope if the rate seems too much. Sometimes I'd just pay the extra if the final price was a surprise. Most of the stuff had cost very little. I didn't just do cards. I'd also usually pick up the insurance on those nice surprises.

The plate I sold for 600+ got bubble wrap inside a tiny crate I made for it inside a bigger box with either loads of bubble wrap or packing peanuts and some reinforcements. I paid the insurance, it was only a couple dollars. (I'd paid .25, and yes, I reported the profit.

)

The few times I've sent stuff to SGC I used the priority boxes.

I only had one thing briefly go missing between 98 and 2009. A reel of old movie film that hadn't been used. Packed pretty well, but not crazy -it was in a metal can. About a month after sending it I got a questionnaire from the PO since they'd found some stuff and thought It might be from me or to me. A couple weeks later they sent me back half the address label on a shred of bubble wrap. So I emailed the buyer. I was surprised he hadn't let me know it didn't arrive. To my surprise it had arrived. On time!

In the can with the other part of the address label taped to it inside one of those "sorry the machine ate this" bags.

Steve B

I Only Smoke 4 the Cards · #3 03-06-2014, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon

Package it well with tracking included. On more expensive items get signature confirmation. Communicate BEFORE Shipping who is responsible for loss or damage. Those are some of the main things, imo....

Deciding who bears the loss is a good idea. I believe the default for most states is that the buyer bears the loss.

Exhibitman · #4 03-07-2014, 12:16 AM

A word for recycling. I keep the bubble mailers, cardboard mailers, cut cardboards and even packing peanuts that are delivered to me and I recycle them for my sales, consignments, shipments to TPGs, etc. Not only is it a good way to cut down on the trash I make, it also cuts my shipping costs to basically tape, labels, ink and postage. That way I can charge the buyer the rough postal costs and not lose too much money.

As for packaging, I usually sandwich a raw card in a soft holder between two pieces of corrugated cardboard then either put that into a bubble mailer or tape it shut all around and use the cardboard as the mailer. I usually put graded cards into a small bubble mailer then inside a second mailer, usually the cardboard type used to mail photos. Sometimes into a 2nd bubble mailer instead. If I am sending more than 2 graded cards I put the cards into individual bubble mailers then use a flat rate small box. Only one problem ever and that was when the mail truck ran over the package! Really...the customer returned it and the mailer had tire tracks across it.

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