General Forum

Hello friends. Another forum user and I traded cards the other day. 5 Patriots cards for 4 signature Cowboys and Cardinals cards. I got my 5 Patriots cards 2 days ago. Yesterday he wrote me a PM telling me he only got 1 card in the mail. I SWEAR I sent the 4 cards all together in 1 envelope. I told him if he doesn't get the rest I would refund him his cards. Does anyone know why my envelope would've been opened up, split, or even stolen? 
 

Edit: My partner did mention that the package looked resealable and it looked opened before. 

I've had it happen once where the envelope opened up, and I got the SASE back with no cards in it. Since then, I tape the back of the envelope to prevent that from happening again. Not knowing how yours were packaged, it's hard to say what happened. Was there a message from the post office on it, or even in a bag? They do that when something gets damaged.

Not sure where you both are located but if it went through customs it may also have been opened then.

Is your partner saying the envelope was opened? How can he receive the rest if you just sent them in one envelope and he received only the one card?

That is what I was thinking.  There has to be more than this than what is in the OP.

So not knowing where you are from, but my experience here in a suburb of Philadelphia...

I have had a dozen or so trades with a member of this site from western PA.  Almost all our trades are PWE.  usually 2-4 cards per trade.  I would say 75% of our trades go through. the others never arrived.  

Recently I have had two trades to other states get mauled in delivery.  I pack my cards in sheets and will send no more than 27 per trade max and usually try to limit to 18 for safety.  I use cereal boxes to "protect". I have talked to the post office and will typically take their word regarding postage and feel that 99% of the time he puts a regular "forever" stamp on them and throws it in the bin.  NO extra postage, NO hand cancelation.  

Wouldn't you expect the expert to know if it should be hand canceled or extra postage?  After talking to other traders here, I have since purchased a few sheets of "2 oz extra stamps" and a stamp stating "non-machinable".  Since doing this I have had much better success with getting my mail through.  

The post office does not care about you or your mail.  They are a business first and foremost.  Like all businesses who have lost focus on the customer...

Unfortunately, like all businesses, it depends on where you go.  I have had experiences of all ranges at the post office from:

This envelope is too rigid, I have to send it as a parcel - $3

Looks good....in the bin like you said - 55 cents

Non-Machinable?  What's that?  How much extra is that? - 70 cents, but won't go to that one again

Even had one say that the parcel I was sending was "too small" as they couldn't fit the sticker on correctly......another I won't go to....

I have had pretty good sucess with ceral box/blaster box packing and painter's tape.  I do usually take the envelopes to the post office after I had one take FOREVER to get somewhere due to 55 cents not being enough....

What extra information do you need? I sent all 4 cards in 1 envelope. My trade partner said he only recieved 1 card. He also said the envelope was a resealable one and it looked like it had been opened.

1. Yes I believe that is what he was saying. That envelope was opened. 
 

2. You're asking the same question I am. How can he receive the rest of the cards If the envelope he recieved only had 1 card when I had sent it with 4 cards. 

Thanks for the response. It seems like you understand what I am saying. 
 

No bag or package etc. it was 1 envelope with 4 cards in it. That's it.