Buy/Sell/Trade Forum

Question for you guys on PWE packaging.  I have 7 cards going out in a PWE trade.  Initially I packaged it up between corrugated cardboard on the outside, then put the cards inside of a team bag with penny sleeves.  It looked pretty bulky so I went to the post office.  This ended up being more than 1/4 inch thick, so the post office wanted to charge me the $3.50 parcel amount.  I said thanks but no thanks...

So, what's the typical method for a small PWE trade?  Cards in penny sleeves + team bag sandwiched between top loaders?  Even under 1/4 inch thick, I'm guessing I still need to go to the post office since a single stamp probably might not be enough.  Is there a general guideline for how many cards can be safely sent via a PWE, single stamp trade?  Or is a post office run pretty much necessary without a scale?

7 cards and two toploaders will put it just over 1 ounce. Depending on the cardstock, a two-toploader sandwich might be over 1/4" and becomes a parcel.  If under 1/4", then one Forever stamp  50 cents; second ounce stamp 21 cents; non-machineable surcharge 21 cents; total 92 cents.

Newer, thinner cards...two will fit in a toploader.  This would leave 3 cards sandwiched between the toploaders.  This should be 1/4" or less.

on 1 card I put in rigid card holder  (in smaller sized envelope) and pay non machinable charge (at postal kiosk after hours)

on 2-4 cards, I put one in rigid, then 2-3 in semi rigid- taping both together

on 5-10 cards, some combination of above, using longer envelope so there is two stacks side by side

mark 

Shipping is always an issue on TCDB. I think you need to find your comfort zone and what works best for you. a] I like cutting up used mailers that fit in the PWE snug, much thinner b] the card could be in toploader, sleeve or bag, generally taped in and around, use painters tape. c] always stamp DO NOT BEND on front and back d] add 71cent stamp e] stick PWE in the mailbox and my smiling maillady takes them away...I stay away from PO if at all possible, even to buy stamps....but have to visit  occasionally as my buddy and fellow coach is the Postmaster. lol.

The envelopes are stiff enough not to bend, and no machine stamp prevents just that. If I need to go bigger, the photo mailers are the answer. Any bigger than that, I have my own methods that work great!

~BOB~

Cheers, thanks all.  92 cents later and the PWE toploader sandwich is sent off! 

For 9 or fewer regular cards, I've also used cut up 9-pocket pages and a legal size envelope. Cut the page into the three rows, each row can be used to mail up to 9 nine cards -- a pocket can hold 2 or 3 cards. Wrap a sheet of paper snugly around, and/or use pieces of cut-up cereal box for extra protection.  

Just a note to say the tracking # does get scanned upon entry into Canada. LZ166921020US is an example. Mailed from Maryville TN. Went to Florida for some odd reason. Spent about 10 days there. Arrived in Montreal, cleared customs and was delivered 3 days later. Canada scans and applies an Xpresspost sticker with same US barcode.

Also, I do not get too concerned about postage. I recently spent about $50.00 US ($70.00 Canadian) to get some 2018 Topps Series 1 cards at Walmart in Calais Maine. Only 4 Giants in the lot. If I pay postage of about $9.00 for cards I send.  I know which cards I will be getting in return. So $9.00 seems fair. I would also be getting more than 4 cards.

When I mail PWE I use box board. It is thinner than cardboard. Cereal boxes work well. I use toploaders in a small bag. Tape them to the boxboard. Cut to fit in an envelope. Anywhere from 4 to 10 cards. I use bubble mailers for anything more than 10 cards.

Just my opinion.

I think part of why this gets tough to answer is because the value of the cards has to be factored into how you pack too. If I make a trade with someone for 4 or 5 two cent cards I don't expect them to be packed all that well. Postage is going to be 50 cents and is already more than the value of the cards. Send them to me in a 50 cent envelope and I will hope they arrive safely.

I use pwe method (with card page) olerud noted above as well, but I only use that when shipping lower grade cards that already have condition issues

I have gotten too many with top corners bent (on modern cards) which then I cannot use

mark

I agree.   Mailing a couple commons, if they get damaged, I will give a full refund. But not investing $2-$3 to mail several commons.  Who would pay for that anyway.    The higher value the card(s), the better the packaging.