Opinions wanted - PWE vs bubble mailers?

[buymycards]

It depends on what you are mailing. If it is a 99 cent card, and you specify in your listing that you are shipping in a PWE, then it is fine.

If you are charging $3 or $4 and you use a PWE, then it is not fine. Also, if you are shipping a card that sold for $25 dollars or more, don't use a PWE.

Be prepared to give an ocassional refund if you use a PWE, because some may not make it to the sender or the sender may tell you that he didn't receive the card, so your only option will be a refund.

[x2drich2000]

I ship anything under a few bucks in a PWE with free shipping. I minimum I start any item at is $1.49 or so to cover the stamp and at least a buck for the card. However, I also don't use my primary Ebay account for these items as I sort of expect issues/complaints with the cheaper stuff. It just seems like the less money involved, the more likely for a headache.

I would also recommend not using anything to stiffen the envelop as you want the envelop to be flexible going through the USPS machines. If have never seen video of the machines of a sort facility 1) it's quite fascinating and 2) you'll quickly see how envelopes are bent, folded, etc going through. I use just an invoice and the card in a CS1.

[bbcard1]

Originally Posted by buymycards

Be prepared to give an ocassional refund if you use a PWE, because some may not make it to the sender or the sender may tell you that he didn't receive the card, so your only option will be a refund.

You can always also get a receipt which is less that 50cents, I think, but I have not found PWE to be less reliable than any other shipping method, though agreed on occasional person may lie...but it is very rare of a low dollar item. I did have an issue where I had to give a refund on BST...and then the guy found it in his car and sent me back the money.

[CTDean]

If you ship in a PWE, the envelope has to be flexible to go by regular First Class mail. If you sandwich the card holder in rigid cardboard and the envelope will not flex it becomes a First Class mail package. The clerk at my post office suggested using a long envelope with multiple sheets of paper and a flexible card holder to stay at $1 or less. It may be time to give the PWE a try.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by buymycards

It depends on what you are mailing. If it is a 99 cent card, and you specify in your listing that you are shipping in a PWE, then it is fine.

If you are charging $3 or $4 and you use a PWE, then it is not fine. Also, if you are shipping a card that sold for $25 dollars or more, don't use a PWE.

Be prepared to give an ocassional refund if you use a PWE, because some may not make it to the sender or the sender may tell you that he didn't receive the card, so your only option will be a refund.

So far these have been HOFers, T206's and graded cards that could very well do OK, but could also finish at the penny opening bid. I would like to expand this to true commons as well though.

[Jim65]

You could give 2 shipping options to the buyer. PWE for $1 or padded mailer for $3.66.

I do that on many of my listings and 90% choose the cheap option.

[CobbSpikedMe]

FWIW, as a buyer I don't mind getting lower dollar cards in PWEs. Of course I prefer padded envelopes for graded cards or higher dollar cards. And I don't mind paying a little more for the padded envelope.

[rats60]

If you are going to send in a pwe without tracking for .55, you can send in a bubble mailer for .45 more. Paying 2.66-3.00 thru Ebay/PayPal is to get tracking. A pwe with top load just isn't enough protection for cards.

[bnorth]

I have shipped and received many cards up to $50 each in a PWE. That is with people I trust.

On eBay I would never do it. There are people that look just for people shipping in PWEs so they can claim item never arrived. There aren't many but they are out there. Have seen several threads over on BO about it.

[Orioles1954]

I got dinged on ebay last year by using a PWE. Apparently using a PWE and charging a buck for shipping was too much for this fellow.

[swarmee]

Anything cheap I would theoretically sell on ebay under $20 gets sent to COMC instead.

[dabigyankeeman]

If I buy a real cheap card, usually a modern card, say two bucks or less, I prefer greatly a pwe. Its too expensive the other way for a cheap card, plus over the years i have had tremendous results receiving cards in pwe's. But never for a more expensive card!!!! Still too much of a gamble.

[Bill77]

Normally I don't mind PWE's but then this shows up in my mailbox. I don't know if I should be happy the USPS delivered it with both cards still inside or really pissed off that the post office accepted an unsealed envelope. The other thing that blows my mind is the fact that I was charged $2.00 per card (which I was ok with) and the seller used two postcard stamps to sent it. Which also amazes me that the post office delivered it in the first place.