gluechunk
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posted on October 26, 2000 01:42:44 AM
Can any postcard sellers out there reveal their methods for shipping them?
The items I usually sell are larger items that I mail in (free) priority mail mailers.
But I'm soon going to be doing a batch of postcard listings. I have individual plastic postcard bags for them and am assuming that each card will be sent via 1st class mail.
But I was curious if sellers tend to use bubble mailers, tend to use cardboard, etc. Obviously I'd like to keep shipping material costs to minimum. Any good sources for such material?
What do you usually charge for shipping?
Thanks,
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number47
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posted on October 26, 2000 02:06:41 AM
Well, as a BUYER I can tell you what causes me problems with sellers: about 50% of the PCs I've bought have come absolutely *overpackaged*. The PC is sandwiched between 2 layers of carboard and then tightly sealed with a yard of tape. Frequently this is mailed in a manila envelope that has been folded to the size of the PC and then sealed with a LOT of tape. It's difficult to open this kind of packaging without damaging the PC by bending or cutting. A PC mailed in a less tightly bound package sealed with a little less tape would get here just as safely and would less apt to be damaged in opening.
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cdnbooks
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posted on October 26, 2000 03:25:09 AM
...nothing is easier to ship than a postcard. Just put the address and a stamp on the back....
Bill
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Kevin_T
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posted on October 26, 2000 03:41:25 AM
I ship in a standard A4 envelope using two pieces of stiff cardboard cut to envelope size, and between the manilla folder also cut to envelope size. I have shipped a few hundred internationally and have not yet had one report of damage.
The hardest part is finding a suitable cardboard, and I actually buy older photo albums (the ones with the white board and the cellophane overlay) and trim those to size.
Shipping charge can then be nominal. I charge $1.50 International, and most within America seem to charge about $1.00.
Kind Regards, Kevin
P.S. G'day Bill, glad to see you are still able to contribute to the serious subjects so usefully. 
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cdnbooks
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posted on October 26, 2000 05:38:15 AM
Kevin
It's a gift.
Good to see you here again.
Bill
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kathyg
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posted on October 26, 2000 05:53:58 AM
Hey Kevin: I found a great source for this cardboard. Go to www.bagsunlimited.com and request a copy of their catalog. You can buy cardboard cut down to 8.5x11 very inexpensively. I paid somewhere around 1.5 cents each including shipping. Then all you have to do it cut each piece in half for the perfect size.
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dave_michmerhuizen
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posted on October 26, 2000 06:22:11 PM
I go to bizmart and buy 6x9 manila clasp envelopes for $6 a box of 100. (6-7c each). I take a plain white letter envelope (1c each) and tape it to a piece of cardboard cut to a size larger than the white envelope and smaller than the manila envelope (cardboard is free and in plentiful supply). My material cost is about 8c.
I put the postcard into a plastic sleeve and into the white envelope along with note, put that into manila envelope, address and mail for 55c. The 8c comes out of my profit. Buyers like the reasonable shipping. I also start auctions at $*.45, so 1 bid auctions come out to an even $ amount when shipping is added in.
The cardboard part sounds worse than it is. every so often I take a craft knife and cut up the old boxes that litter my martha-stewart class domacile. I then tape the white envelopes onto those cardboard slabs and keep them in a box, handy for when I do shipping.
ebay: [email protected]
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Islander
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posted on October 26, 2000 11:15:00 PM
Not knowing how much you want to spend on packing, I'll suggest that you check with a local coin/stamp or sporstcard shop. You can get rigid plastic sleeves in postcard size (known as "top loaders" in the sports card size). Wholesale they cost about 7 cents each.
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netlawhopeful
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posted on October 27, 2000 03:09:13 PM
I've probably bought 100+ postcards on eBay and through the mail. Two pieces of cardboard and a regular envelope work just fine. Don't tape the cardboard and don't use bubble wrap. Too hard to get the card out. I also appreciate it when the seller gears the packaging to the sale price of the card. If I just paid 15-20 dollars I expect a stiff plastic sleeve or a special mailer, but for a 50-cent postcard I am happy with two pieces of a Cheerios box and a card-size standard envelope, and I don't really want to pay 2 dollars shipping for a special mailer.
________
I never had one, and I didn't want one, and I don't, so now I do...
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whimsiesfolksies
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posted on October 30, 2000 01:03:18 AM
gluechunk: I use 6" x 8" Self-Seal Rigid Mailers which are actually a heavy cardboard envelope. Very quick and easy to use...no finding the right cardboard, no cutting it up to fit a regular envelope. These can be purchased through mail order office supply houses. I like "Viking" (www.vikingop.com) or call toll free 1-800-421-1222 and ask them to send a current catalog. They ship very quickly and shipping is FREE with a purchase of $25 or more. The cost for 100 mailers (6" x 8" is $41.00 "on sale" (.41 cents each) or regular price is $47.00 per 100, I believe. I ship First Class mail. The weight of the mailer will be 2 ounces, costing .55 cents at the post office. I also pack cards in a thin plastic sleeve. I charge $1.25 shipping/handling and note in listing the cost and what it will be shipped in. Have many happy customers, hope you do too! Good luck!
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pickersangel
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posted on October 30, 2000 05:48:13 PM
OK, I go the cheap route: two pieces of cardboard cut slightly larger (1" longer and wider) than the card, lightly taped together with the card in-between, in a 6"x8" "catalog mailer" from Wal-Mart (25 for $2.50). Goes First Class for $0.55.
always pickersangel everywhere
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dman3
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posted on October 30, 2000 06:14:53 PM
Oh heck this is easy dont over pack if you are selling them in lots like 25 or 50 take and put the bunch or bunches togeather hold then togeather with a rubber band put the whole lot in a baggie pop the whole lot in a small box like a priority video mailer with some lite packing to keep from moveing around or a bubble mailer and ship them.
This should be plenty fine to ship postcards hasnt failed me yet .
WWW.dman-n-company.com
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