What does PWE mean?
Plain white envelope.
The short answer
An envelope and a stamp
PWE stands for plain white envelope. The card goes in an ordinary letter envelope with a stamp. It is the cheapest way to mail a card, and it has no tracking number.
You'll see it in listings and trades. "Ships PWE" is how the card is coming. "PWE or BMWT" is the seller asking which you'd rather pay for.
Compared
PWE vs BMWT, and eBay's envelope
| Way | What it is | Tracked | Cost | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PWE | Plain white envelope and a stamp | No | A stamp | Cheap cards, when both sides accept the risk |
| eBay Standard Envelope | An envelope, for eBay sales only | Yes | $1.36 | Cards under $20, on the 3 oz label |
| BMWT | Bubble mailer, USPS Ground Advantage | Yes, with $100 of insurance | $5 to $6 | Cards from $20 to $100 |
Costs are about what we pay, and carriers change them.
When
A PWE is enough when the card is cheap
- There is nothing to show where it went. No tracking number means neither side can prove it arrived, or didn't.
- It goes through sorting machines. The card needs something stiff around it, or it bends.
- On eBay, use eBay's own envelope. The eBay Standard Envelope has tracking, for $1.36.
More
Packing it, and the other way
How to ship a card has what goes in the envelope with the card. BMWT is the tracked way, in a bubble mailer.
More terms, a line each, in the glossary.