Opinions wanted - PWE vs bubble mailers?

[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 ?)

[Exhibitman]

If I cannot get at least $10 with shipping out of a card I don't sell it as a stand alone. I bundle the cheap stuff into larger lots that I can sell for at least $10 shipped.

[glchen]

I don't think it's going to work for PWE for cards if you are selling on ebay. You're going to get too many returns/chargebacks. Buyers want cheap shipping, but they don't want damage cards. So if the card doesn't arrive in the same condition that it was described in the auction because it was damaged during shipping, buyers won't care if the shipping was free, they'll want their money back.

I collect stamps also, and for that, it is very, very common that they are shipped via PWE. However, stamps aren't rigid cardboard like cards are, so they are much less likely to be damaged/creased during shipping when sent via PWE. Any, just my opinion.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by glchen

I don't think it's going to work for PWE for cards if you are selling on ebay. You're going to get too many returns/chargebacks. Buyers want cheap shipping, but they don't want damage cards. So if the card doesn't arrive in the same condition that it was described in the auction because it was damaged during shipping, buyers won't care if the shipping was free, they'll want their money back.

I collect stamps also, and for that, it is very, very common that they are shipped via PWE. However, stamps aren't rigid cardboard like cards are, so they are much less likely to be damaged/creased during shipping when sent via PWE. Any, just my opinion.

I dunno...just looked at my eBay seller info.

In the last year, I have 998 sales.

Of those, I'd guess 950+ got shipped in PWE's (the others were larger or higher priced orders shipped in bubble mailers).

Total returns or refund requests for damaged cards? Zero

I do recall providing maybe 4-5 refunds based on "didn't receive", but out of 950 transactions, I'll take that rate.

So, is this all theoretical, or have folks here actually received damaged cards shipped in PWE's and needed to request refunds?

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

If I cannot get at least $10 with shipping out of a card I don't sell it as a stand alone. I bundle the cheap stuff into larger lots that I can sell for at least $10 shipped.

I like this strategy. Unfortunately, I am selling cards that SHOULD sell for at least $10, that do not. Nature of Ebay I guess.