Opinions wanted - PWE vs bubble mailers?

[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.

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by 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.

postage 55 cents
envelope 5 cents
card saver 10 cents
ink and paper for the invoice 3 cents
ink and label for your return address label 2 cents
ebay and paypal fees 12 cents

Total is 87 cents. You should be ashamed that you made a whopping 13 cents off of this poor fellow.

Rick

[Yastrzemski Sports]

Originally Posted by buymycards

postage 55 cents
envelope 5 cents
card saver 10 cents
ink and paper for the invoice 3 cents
ink and label for your return address label 2 cents
ebay and paypal fees 12 cents

Total is 87 cents. You should be ashamed that you made a whopping 13 cents off of this poor fellow.

Rick

You are correct on most fees. However

PayPal is 30 cents per transaction + 3%
eBay fees are 10% plus any listing cost

So on a $5 transaction it would cost you 95 cents for eBay and PayPal fees. The PayPal transaction fee is a killer on small sales. Plus all of the shipping fees you mentioned then you run the risk of them claiming they didn’t get it and getting a refund.
I ship all of my items first class. I usually charge 3.50 shipping and I may just about break even.

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by Yastrzemski Sports

You are correct on most fees. However

PayPal is 30 cents per transaction + 3%
eBay fees are 10% plus any listing cost

So on a $5 transaction it would cost you 95 cents for eBay and PayPal fees. The PayPal transaction fee is a killer on small sales. Plus all of the shipping fees you mentioned then you run the risk of them claiming they didn’t get it and getting a refund.
I ship all of my items first class. I usually charge 3.50 shipping and I may just about break even.

Hi Adam, I was talking only about the fees that eBay and PayPal charge on your shipping charges. That is in addition to the transaction fees.

Rick

[Yastrzemski Sports]

I got you. Most people don’t realize all of the fees that go into completing a transaction. You did a nice job at laying them out at least on the shipping end. There is an occasional customer angry about the fees because they don’t know the math involved. If you sell on eBay and are not aware of how much it costs it’s easy to lose money. I see many people who do.

Originally Posted by buymycards

Hi Adam, I was talking only about the fees that eBay and PayPal charge on your shipping charges. That is in addition to the transaction fees.

Rick

[Mike D.]

I sell mostly lower-priced items (like, start most auctions or BIN for 1-4 card lots at $1.99 w/ free shipping). I ship all of those via PWE and have NEVER had one get damaged in shipping. I've had a few claims of lost in the mail, but it's a handful out of 1,000+ transactions.

I print a packing slip, put the card in a top loader, then tape the top loader shut AND tape the top loader to the packing slip (so it doesn't slide around). If i'm selling a multi-card lot, I put the first card in an top loader, the others in penny sleeves, then put the whole lot (up to 4 cards) in a team set bag, seal it, and tape down as I do with the top loader.

I've never had anyone complain, and never had anyone ask to pay for bubble mailer. I think most people realize if they're paying $2 for a card/lot, the seller isn't going to spend $3.50 to ship it to them, and that it's not worth it for the buyer to pay $3.50 to ship a $2 card.

I have seen a few questionablely packaged PWE's over the years. Most of what I buy now is graded or unopened materials, which obviously always ship in a bubble mailer or box.

[Jewish-collector]

The trick is to put multiple cards in a PWE protected by cardboard and/or top loaders and you might have to add an additional 1 oz stamp or two, but don't you dare let it get to be a first class parcel (as explained in other posts) because the package jumps automatically up to $4 (I think the USPS raised prices recently and that is the least expensive cost perhaps, not sure ?)

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by 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.

I would probably ding any seller on Ebay who shipped me a card in a PWE.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Once just for the hell of it a friend sent a cheap PSA slab to me with an address label and the appropriate amount of postage in stamps right on the slab LOL. It arrived in fine shape.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Once just for the hell of it a friend sent a cheap PSA slab to me with an address label and the appropriate amount of postage in stamps right on the slab LOL. It arrived in fine shape.

Hahahaha!!! damn!!

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

I would probably ding any seller on Ebay who shipped me a card in a PWE.

Even if it was a $3 wrestling card?

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

Even if it was a $3 wrestling card?

If I took the time to track down and order a $3 wrestling card most likely it would hold some significance and I would want it to arrive in the condition it was in before shipping. I'd gladly pay the extra buck or 2 to make sure that happens.

[ValKehl]

When I sell a cheap, single card on eBay, I ship it in a PWE and charge accordingly. I do add stiffeners, but the envelope can't be over 1/4" thick or it is deemed by the USPS to be a First Class package instead of a First Class letter. A bubble mailer with a card & top loader inside is thicker than 1/4", and therefore is a First Class package. Also, I pay the 15 cents non-machinable surcharge (in addition to First Class postage), which (supposedly) means the USPS will NOT put it through its sorting machines; and I write "Non-Machinable" in red ink on both sides of the PWE. Knock on wood, but I haven't yet experienced any cards being damaged in transit, although I am not a high-volume seller.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

When I sell a cheap, single card on eBay, I ship it in a PWE and charge accordingly. I do add stiffeners, but the envelope can't be over 1/4" thick or it is deemed by the USPS to be a First Class package instead of a First Class letter. A bubble mailer with a card & top loader inside is thicker than 1/4", and therefore is a First Class package. Also, I pay the 15 cents non-machinable surcharge (in addition to First Class postage), which (supposedly) means the USPS will NOT put it through its sorting machines; and I write "Non-Machinable" in red ink on both sides of the PWE. Knock on wood, but I haven't yet experienced any cards being damaged in transit, although I am not a high-volume seller.

This is not true. When I used to sell on another site, I would send without tracking in a bubble mailer at the non machinable rate when people wanted cheap shipping. I never sent in a pwe. There was a time when the post office made me make the envelope thicker (I would put a plastic peanut in the bubble mailer) to make it thicker in order for it not to ship at the cheaper rate and be able to buy tracking. This was before Paypal offered free tracking.

[Piratedogcardshows]

Depends on the card as said multiple times. I have never sent a card in a pwe but have received quite a few with no issues so far.