How to ship a card
Pack it so it arrives the way it left, and pay for the service the card is worth.
Packing
What goes around the card, in this order
Under $20
-
Penny sleeve Card goes in with the opening at the bottom. -
Card Saver 1 Sleeve opening at the other end. -
Painter's tape One piece across the top. -
Folded sheet of paper The card goes inside the fold. -
Envelope A plain one. -
Non-machinable stamp A rubber stamp for the envelope. It asks for sorting by hand.
$20 and up
- Penny sleeve Card goes in with the opening at the bottom.
-
Top loader Sleeve opening at the other end. - Painter's tape One piece across the top.
-
Team bag Seals it and keeps water out. -
Shipping protectors Also called Ding Defenders. -
Bubble mailer 4 x 8. -
Box 7 x 5 x 1. More than 15 cards: 8 x 6 x 2.
Each one links to what we use, on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The rest of what we use is in supplies. Several cards: sleeve each one, stack them with a top loader at each end, then cardboard and a bubble mailer.
Shipping
Pick the service by what the card is worth
| Card value | Service | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $20 | eBay Standard Envelope | $1.40 | Tracked. Buy the 3 oz label: a 1 oz or 2 oz one may come back to you. |
| $20 to $100 | USPS Ground Advantage | $5 to $6 | Tracked, with $100 of insurance. |
| $100 to $500 | USPS Priority Mail | $9 to $15 | 1 to 3 days, with $100 of insurance. Add more to cover the card. |
| Over $500 | UPS or FedEx | $15 and up | Insured in full, signed for. |
Costs are about what we pay, and carriers change them. Over $250, ask for a signature.
Avoid
What goes wrong
- Regular tape on a top loader. It leaves glue behind. Use painter's tape.
- Counting on "Do Not Bend". Sorting machines can't read. Cardboard on both sides.
- Skipping tracking. Track anything over $10.
- Underinsuring. USPS Ground Advantage and Priority Mail include $100 of insurance. Over $100, add enough to cover what it would cost to replace.
- Nothing waterproof. A team bag costs pennies.
- Too much tape. The buyer has to open it without a knife near the card.