Buy/Sell/Trade Forum

I know this has been addressed, but I couldn't locate the thread, so my apologies.

Which would be more economical, breaking down a large trade into smaller ones, or simply shipping the whole "shabang"? What's the threshold for break-even, I guess would be another way to ask?

If I'm not mistaken the starting point is $1.15 for regular mail such as in a plain white envelope, but then I get confused.

(I don't know if President Trump's tariff plan will extend to postal rates to Canada.)

You can ship about 18-20 cards in a business PWE for standard postage rates which I believe runs you around $1.20.  For a small package, you can ship up to 300 cards for about $15.00.  So, you can calculate that anything less than 200 cards couldbe shipped more economically broken down in PWE but if you are over 200 cards, increase the size of the trade and get better bang for the buck with 300 cards.

I am in the process of a trade to Canada. It was more than a single PWE could handle but not at the level of several hundred for a small package as noted above. 

In hind site I would have been better shipping in multiple PWE as sending in what would be a $2.67 first class package in the US only was $9.50 to Canada. Guessing the multiple PWE would have been about $4. 

Hope that helps. 

That helps tremendously. Thanks.

In my young trading career I have had a small 4 card trade to Canada, which I regretfully (sort of) sent a bubble mailer first class. I have been sending all trades this way as I feel the cards are least likely to get damaged, however the cost to ship international was like $12. With the next small canadian trade I may have to try the PWE route, would hate to refuse a small trade due to potential shipping cost.

It's about the same for us to send to the US.. 

I can send a large bubble mailer without tracking for about $10-16 .. If I want to add tracking to it, it basically doubles.

A PWE can range from $1.80 - $7, depending on what's in it..  

I do like the rate calculator on the Canada Post website, though I would need a scale in order to answer some of the questions.. 

I just sent some stuff to Mark (avs) ..... and it was around the $9 CDN range, no tracking bubble wrapper. Just can't remember how many I sent. You recall Mark? Assuming he reads this LOL.

Well, Mike and I have agreed to continue trading and we'll go PWE. I'm considering buying a scale to be able to make all trades more efficient for me. Presently, including a trade I just sent to Mike this week, I used an extra stamp just in case. Using the calculator on the USPS site would allow me to print postage at home and save about $0.20 each time, and that adds up after awhile.

Along those lines, if someone hasn't already done it, I'm going to make a chart that I can use to estimate ounces to cards and postage, both within the states and to Canada, to help the budget conscious like me.

I just recieved a trade from the States, 4 2009 Upper Deck baseball in one top loader, in a PWE, net weight 1oz, and the USPS had the audacity to charge my trading partner $10.50 to send.  I get bubble mailers of cards with half that postage on it!!! 

The USPS clerks that I have come in contact with when I send a long PWE, start bending it a yell "there's something rigid in here"   and the price goes up.   Also stop bending the darn package before you ask what's in it.