Suggestions For Mailing Hand Collated Sets
 

What are some tips for packaging and mailing 600-to-800 count hand-collated sets not in binders? For example, how do I wrap and send a 1971 Topps set through the mail in order to minimize the risk of damage? Grateful for any suggestions you can offer.

I bought a few 1970s sets from New England Sportscards once upon a time.

He placed each set in a standard BCW box then unside a box slight larger in all proportions wrapped in grocery bag weight paper.

Always came through undamaged.

I put them in a BCW type box of the right size, penny sleeve the first and last 5 cards in the set (as the ends usually get the wear), pack in tissue/paper to fill up any unused space so that the cards cannot slide around, tape it sealed tight and then ship it in a larger box that I stuff with newspaper or junk mail so that the box with the set doesn't move in the package.

Nobody has complained yet :).

Agree with all the suggestions above.

I have also used cards that are not worth anything at the ends of the BCW type box.

You may want to pull out the high value cards and pack them separately in penny sleeves and top loaders/card savers. Sort of like you would send them in to be graded. Maybe put them in a padded mailing envelope.

Any graded cards should also be packed carefully so they do not hit or scratch each other. Again maybe in a padded envelope or box.

Put everything in a bigger box and restrict the items from moving around.

Mike

Excellent suggestions. Thanks for your input.

Ugggh, hand collated sets always seem to be a pain to ship. I have shipped several recently and I probably go far beyond what I need to day.

I sleeve the cards on the ends. Then I cut two pieces of cardboard to fit on each end, because of course, no set fits "perfectly". I then cut a piece of cardboard to fill the gap on the open side. This piece can fit all the way down the side of the box. The little end pieces of cardboard have to fit between that piece and the back side of the box. Any room left over on the ends, fill with packing peanuts or whatever filling you have available to make is snug.
Oh.... you have to make sure those cut cardboard pieces are taller than the cards but shorter than the sides of the box or it won't close correctly.
Finally, I cut another piece of cardboard to go on the top of the set. The cardboard from a typical Amazon box is usually the perfect thickness. The set is then really locked in there and isn't moving at all.
Close the box and wrap it in bubble wrap, put it in a bigger box with packing peanuts around all sides.

I probably go to the extreme, but I know that no matter how much that outer box gets kicked around, those cards aren't moving.

You can put them into BCW boxes (half in 1, half in the other or divide by 3). Then put the BCW boxes into a larger box with padding. I sold off a couple of junk wax sets this week using this shipping method.