Question about mailing in a PWE

[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 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.

[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.

[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.