General Forum

My postal clerk told me baseball cards were merchandise, not documents, made me fill out the customs form, declare a value, and never put my envelope through a slot. $10. Lesson learned.

I always seal my bubble mailers at home, and add stamps if I have them on hand (oversized letter are 1.80 plus tax in Canada) and put them directly in the mailbox, I've never had one come back or get lost along the way, higher value cards will get tracking added if I feel it necessary. I also have a scale to weigh my envelopes to make sure that the postage is right.

I deal a lot through Facebook and eBay and bubble mailers, toploaders, and penny sleeves are an absolute must. Many collectors will leave negative feedback or publicly call you out if you don't ship properly. Bubble mailers go through as non-machinable mail, so unlike PWEs they do not go through the rollers, which can easily damage cards.

Also, NEVER, use scotch tape on your toploaders, as it is impossible to get off afterwards, green painters tape works great, leaves no residue, and can usually be found at any dollar store

This is why it is worth looking for that sensible postal clerk.  I've had similar arguments with onebut I refused to add the customs form.  It went off as regular mail.  I've never gone back to that outlet.

Shipping cost in the hobby is getting out of hand.  I have several guys that I sent (free) cards back and fore to.  Those free cards are costing us .25 or more per card.  We are now wondering if it is worth it as we have most of the cards we get.  Just getting a larger extras pile.  As my want list is "tough" I only find people with 2 or 3 cards and they do not want to ship in PWE. (I understand why)   3  cards worth $1 and shipping is $3.50.  

No LCS and shows only have higher dollar cards and not what I need.  4 hours at a card show and got 3 cards. (I was lucky, I ask asked a guy about a player.  He had to dig into a box that he had under the table)   Online is the only way I have now days it feels like.  Then people get mad when I ask for a discount or for cheaper price.

This hobby is getting frustrating.

Shipping cost in the hobby is getting out of hand.  I have several guys that I sent (free) cards back and fore to.  Those free cards are costing us .25 or more per card.  We are now wondering if it is worth it as we have most of the cards we get.  Just getting a larger extras pile.  As my want list is "tough" I only find people with 2 or 3 cards and they do not want to ship in PWE. (I understand why)   3  cards worth $1 and shipping is $3.50.  

No LCS and shows only have higher dollar cards and not what I need.  4 hours at a card show and got 3 cards. (I was lucky, I ask asked a guy about a player.  He had to dig into a box that he had under the table)   Online is the only way I have now days it feels like.  Then people get mad when I ask for a discount or for cheaper price.

This hobby is getting frustrating.

It wasn't my postmaster who waited on me, but this lady had just sent a package off to Australia and thought she knew what she was doing and made it go parcel instead of letter. And I read all hints from the forums beforehand to package flat, but anyway it got there last week and I'm still waiting for the one coming from SK. I guess going through customs guaranteed a faster delivery.

Don't think Customs had anything to do with it. Having sent all types of regular mail and parcels, there is absolutely no predicting how long anything will take to get somewhere, within Canada, across the border, or internationally. Patience and trust is all I recommend to all.

Even within the US, service is unpredictable.

Just recently, won 2 items on ebay.

Item 1 - Shipped on 4/4 from Illinois - still not here (now finally showing as delivered today 4/11)

Item 2 - Shipped on 4/6 from Michigan - was delivered on 4/9

Granted, Michigan is closer to where I am, but not 4 days closer.

It is if travelling by mule.

 Only times I have had cards delivered to me in PWEs that came damaged were in  top loaders.  Seems they crack under the rollers on occasion.   Never had one delivered damaged to me in a penny sleeve in a PWE.   The penny sleeve is usually wrapped in  a piece of paper.   All three cards or less