Is there a more cost-effective method of shipping than USPS First-Class?

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Carter08

Perhaps for a different thread but the thermal printer made me think of it. Can anyone recommend a good quality low cost scanner for someone with a moderate collection but who sells a fair amount just to mix things up?

Epson v300 off ebay. Used ones are $50.

[shammus]

Thanks everyone, sounds like there's several good pointers above for saving on shipping. I've just bought a bulk pack of envelopes from Amazon and can use Paypal to save a bit on Postage.

For the Insurance - wow, I guess I had some outdated beliefs. I've been going by the "insure everything over $100" rule for about two decades now. So you guys don't use Insurance at all through USPS? Or is there a dollar amount associated with the cards your sending where you do decide to insure the package or upgrade to Registered Mail? (ie...$500, $1000, etc...)

Much appreciated! I feel like I learned quite a bit from this thread

[Snowman]

If you get some paperboard envelopes and are shipping low-ish dollar raw cards in top-loaders (can't be in graded slabs), then you can ship them for less than $1. And ya, definitely never pay for USPS insurance with collectibles. It's pointless. They'll just take your money and never pay out. Same with FedEx and UPS. They both cap out at $1000 coverage for collectibles but won't tell you that when you buy insurance. It's a scam. Just get private insurance.

Envelopes:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-x-8-Paper...g/254808890842

eBay's instructions:
https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center...-envelope.html

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Snowman

If you get some paperboard envelopes and are shipping low-ish dollar raw cards in top-loaders (can't be in graded slabs), then you can ship them for less than $1. And ya, definitely never pay for USPS insurance with collectibles. It's pointless. They'll just take your money and never pay out. Same with FedEx and UPS. They both cap out at $1000 coverage for collectibles but won't tell you that when you buy insurance. It's a scam. Just get private insurance.

Envelopes:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-x-8-Paper...g/254808890842

eBay's instructions:
https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center...-envelope.html

Agreed about the insurance. I've bought it on expensive stuff, but never on cheap stuff unless the buyer really wanted it.

One caution about the cardstock mailers though. I used to use them with the click and ship through Ebay, which gave tracking for either free or very little.
Except one mailer came back postage due. Apparently tracking can't be done if the item isn't a package. And the regs are contradictory. A mail piece over 1/4 inch thich or not flexible will be charged as a package. But as far as deliver confirmation goes, it has to be over 3/4 inch. I took it back and added a packing peanut making it an inch thick pillow shaped package, rather than pay the priority rate they wanted. The PM was more annoyed that they had demanded the previous years rate ...

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by shammus

For the Insurance - wow, I guess I had some outdated beliefs. I've been going by the "insure everything over $100" rule for about two decades now. So you guys don't use Insurance at all through USPS? Or is there a dollar amount associated with the cards your sending where you do decide to insure the package or upgrade to Registered Mail?

All depends on what you're comfortable reimbursing the buyer if the package doesn't make it or gets damaged in the mail. Many use the USPS Small Flat Rate box for items at $100 or more, which comes with $50 in insurance for about the same you're paying for an insured bubble mailer.