Question about mailing in a PWE

[jayshum]

Has anyone had a problem with USPS when trying to mail a single card in a toploader in a PWE? I have mailed 2 different cards in PWEs that past 2 days. Both times, I had the card in a toploader inside of a folded piece of regular paper inside a standard size envelope. Both times, the person at USPS has questioned whether it should be mailed as a package instead of just a regular letter. The first time, they charged me regular postage. The second time, they treated it as a large envelope so it was $1.50, but they also told me the next time it would probably have to be mailed as a package. The reason given was because they weren't sure if it would go through the sorting equipment properly with other regular envelopse because it may not be flexible enough to go through the rollers.

Has anyone else had a problem mailing a single card in a PWE? If so, what have you done, and if not, how have you packaged the card so it wasn't an issue?

[CardPadre]

Yeah, the eBay standard envelope system has issues like this for some people. If you use a toploader, sometimes a post office will say it’s too rigid for the automated processing and kick it back for more postage. But some people have never had problems sending toploaders.

I had a couple toploader envelopes sent back to me for more postage, as I was doing it that way at first. And now just use a cardsaver and have had no issues with postage and no issues with damage.

[AndrewJerome]

I have done it exactly how you describe dozens of times with zero issues. Top loader in a bag taped to a single sheet of paper. Are you paying and printing the label through eBay?

[sb1]

Top loaders seem to get hung up in the mail sorters and can cause damage. Card saver works better and can be but in between very lightweight cardboard(like a USPS priority mailer piece) and avoid the dreaded "package" cost. Ist class letters like these can also be sent metered Non-Machinable with a small surcharge, usually cost $1 plus or minus.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by CardPadre

Yeah, the eBay standard envelope system has issues like this for some people. If you use a toploader, sometimes a post office will say it’s too rigid for the automated processing and kick it back for more postage. But some people have never had problems sending toploaders.

I had a couple toploader envelopes sent back to me for more postage, as I was doing it that way at first. And now just use a cardsaver and have had no issues with postage and no issues with damage.

Thanks for your input. I wasn't sure if a cardsaver was a good idea because I thought the card would be more prone to damage, but maybe that's what I need to try.

[obcbobd]

Jay,

I've been in OBC for 26 years. We basically mail each other cards to help complete sets. Generally cards are lower grade and from the 50-70s. We post wantlists and then just send cards to each other - RAOKs (Random Acts of Kindness). I would guess I send and receive about 100 envelopes a year (200 total), 95% which are PWE (anything less than ten cards is typically sent PWE). So I've been responsible for over 5000 PWEs in that time. There's about 150 of us in the group. That's a lot of PWEs, and almost all with a single forever stamp.

I did run into a similar issue when I moved to a new town five years ago, I had about 5-6 PWEs returned saying I needed like $3.50 postage. I asked my mailman about it and he shrugged and said mail it again, I did without issue. A few times when I went to the counter they gave me an upcharge so I always mail PWE without issue through the mailbox. I do typically use a card saver as opposed to semi-rigid. But I have often used semi-rigids without issue.

Bob

[obcbobd]

Jay,

I've been in OBC for 26 years. We basically mail each other cards to help complete sets. Generally cards are lower grade and from the 50-70s. We post wantlists and then just send cards to each other - RAOKs (Random Acts of Kindness). I would guess I send and receive about 100 envelopes a year (200 total), 95% which are PWE (anything less than ten cards is typically sent PWE). So I've been responsible for over 5000 PWEs in that time. There's about 150 of us in the group. That's a lot of PWEs, and almost all with a single forever stamp.

I did run into a similar issue when I moved to a new town five years ago, I had about 5-6 PWEs returned saying I needed like $3.50 postage. I asked my mailman about it and he shrugged and said mail it again, I did without issue. A few times when I went to the counter they gave me an upcharge so I always mail PWE without issue through the mailbox. I do typically use a card saver as opposed to semi-rigid. But I have often used semi-rigids without issue.

Bob

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by AndrewJerome

I have done it exactly how you describe dozens of times with zero issues. Top loader in a bag taped to a single sheet of paper. Are you paying and printing the label through eBay?

These are private sales and not through eBay so I'm just writing addresses on the envelope and then checking postage at the post office.

[CardPadre]

I do use a pretty small envelope to try and keep there from being too much space at each end of the cardsaver, I use invitation envelopes. But should and does work fine for most people with standard envelopes.

Some people do put a little piece of tape on the cardsaver to hold it in place within the envelope so it doesn’t shift around while being sorted in the machinery. But it’s unlikely an envelope will get full on bent and damage the card.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by sb1

Top loaders seem to get hung up in the mail sorters and can cause damage. Card saver works better and can be but in between very lightweight cardboard(like a USPS priority mailer piece) and avoid the dreaded "package" cost. Ist class letters like these can also be sent metered Non-Machinable with a small surcharge, usually cost $1 plus or minus.

Thanks, maybe I'll give this a try next time with a cardsaver and a cut up USPS priority envelope for a little more protection.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by CardPadre

I do use a pretty small envelope to try and keep there from being too much space at each end of the cardsaver, I use invitation envelopes. But should and does work fine for most people with standard envelopes.

Some people do put a little piece of tape on the cardsaver to hold it in place within the envelope so it doesn’t shift around while being sorted in the machinery. But it’s unlikely an envelope will get full on bent and damage the card.

I've taped the holder in place inside the paper that I have it wrapped in. I thought that would help it from moving around when going through the sorting machines, but that doesn't seem to matter when the person at the counter is checking it.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

Jay,

I've been in OBC for 26 years. We basically mail each other cards to help complete sets. Generally cards are lower grade and from the 50-70s. We post wantlists and then just send cards to each other - RAOKs (Random Acts of Kindness). I would guess I send and receive about 100 envelopes a year (200 total), 95% which are PWE (anything less than ten cards is typically sent PWE). So I've been responsible for over 5000 PWEs in that time. There's about 150 of us in the group. That's a lot of PWEs, and almost all with a single forever stamp.

I did run into a similar issue when I moved to a new town five years ago, I had about 5-6 PWEs returned saying I needed like $3.50 postage. I asked my mailman about it and he shrugged and said mail it again, I did without issue. A few times when I went to the counter they gave me an upcharge so I always mail PWE without issue through the mailbox. I do typically use a card saver as opposed to semi-rigid. But I have often used semi-rigids without issue.

Bob

I'm surprised you're able to ship 10 cards in a PWE. That's got to be thicker than 1 card in a toploader.

[bnorth]

I use a cardsaver for the same reason others posted. I wrap it in a single sheet of printer paper, tape it in place, and mail it.

I know a lot of people add a bunch of other stuff like thin cardboard but as someone who has received a ton of PWE cards I hate it. The 2 main reasons are they arrive with postage due 99% of the time and I have never had a card damaged in just a card saver. Had several damaged from all the extra packaging and postage due. Seriously if you are putting in all the extra "padding" please at least put the correct postage on it.

My mail lady gave me a lot of crap recently as someone sent me cards in a PWE with a single forever stamp and had written non machinable on the letter.LOL

[AndrewJerome]

Before the eBay PWE started with tracking, I would mail the same way, toploader with bag taped to a sheet of paper, and pay a little extra for non-machinable. Back then it was a $0.70 stamp for 2 oz non-machinable, when regular stamp was like $0.50. Not sure if you can still do that

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by AndrewJerome

Before the eBay PWE started with tracking, I would mail the same way, toploader with bag taped to a sheet of paper, and pay a little extra for non-machinable. Back then it was a $0.70 stamp for 2 oz non-machinable, when regular stamp was like $0.50. Not sure if you can still do that

Yes you can still pay a little extra for non machinable. Worth it if sending a few cards in a PWE.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Yes you can still pay a little extra for non machinable. Worth it if sending a few cards in a PWE.

I'll have to ask about non-machinable next time since that wasn't something that was mentioned to me as a possibility. All I was told was it would have to be treated as a package which usually means Ground Advantage and a minimum of around $5.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by jayshum

These are private sales and not through eBay so I'm just writing addresses on the envelope and then checking postage at the post office.

I just put a stamp on mine and put them out in my mailbox. Never had an issue with either postage or damage.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I'll have to ask about non-machinable next time since that wasn't something that was mentioned to me as a possibility. All I was told was it would have to be treated as a package which usually means Ground Advantage and a minimum of around $5.

The surcharge for non machinable is $.46 plus regular rate or was recently when I had to pay the postage due because of it.

[AndrewJerome]

The post office should have a little cardboard cutout for this exact issue. My small post office is really good about helping customers. There is a cut out slit in the cardboard cut out, and if your envelope fits through the slit (1/4 inch), then you qualify for nonmachinable letter and don’t have to pay $5 as a package.

[BobbyStrawberry]

I drop them in the slot inside the post office with a single stamp and have never had a problem.

[bobw]

My friend used to be in maintenance at the PO and he used to find trading cards and lots of coins among other things that people think are OK to put in PWEs while cleaning the machines......

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by bobw

My friend used to be in maintenance at the PO and he used to find trading cards and lots of coins among other things that people think are OK to put in PWEs while cleaning the machines......

Thanks for posting the video. Now it makes more sense why they may not want to let envelopes with less flexible items go through the sorting machines.

[obcbobd]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I'm surprised you're able to ship 10 cards in a PWE. That's got to be thicker than 1 card in a toploader.

1/3 of a nine pocket sheet with three cards in each pocket, inside a folded 8.5x11 pice of paper. Ten is pushing it, although I did get one last week in the mail - 1 Foreever stamp.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

1/3 of a nine pocket sheet with three cards in each pocket, inside a folded 8.5x11 pice of paper. Ten is pushing it, although I did get one last week in the mail - 1 Foreever stamp.

Maybe I'll try that next time. I guess for lower grade cards, there's not much risk of damage.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

1/3 of a nine pocket sheet with three cards in each pocket, inside a folded 8.5x11 pice of paper. Ten is pushing it, although I did get one last week in the mail - 1 Foreever stamp.

Bob, surely this weighed more that 1 ounce - No?

[Snowman]

Crazy but true story. I once had a guy ship me a 6 figure card in a flat envelope from Japan. I thought it was a birthday card at first, before I read the front and realized what it was. Thankfully, it didn't get damaged.