Buy/Sell/Trade Forum

Ok, I'm new to trading. I have a trade I want to propose. What's the best/cheapest way to send between 10-20 cards to Ontario from Texas?

A photomailer or PWE, $1.20 or $1.41 (with rigid surcharge).

Hello from Canada (Ontario no less!) - 100% agree with what was proposed by C2Cigars!  Keep it flat, flat, flat! I have been coaching many US trade partners that shipping to Canada doesn't have to cost an arm, a leg and then some. For 27 or less the PWE route is definitely a great way if no tracking is needed. I have done larger trades (27 to 60 cards) where the cards are put into 9-pocket sheets laid flat out, sandwiched between cerealbox cardboard, with a bit of painter tape along the edges and inserted into a large brown envelope (the size that typically fits documents). That should be well below the usual $14.25 I often see on packages I receive.  Gotta keep those north-south trade routes open!  Good luck

I did a 32 card trade, with Ricky_Bobby, and used the 9-pocket large brown envelope method - super easy and very reasonably priced! It cost around $3.70, less than it would have cost to send the package in the US. I think it was around 7 ounces, you can send up to 1lb using large envelope USPS pricing to Canada.

I just sent out a 38 card transaction using #0 bubble mailer and cards in multi cropped 9 pocket sheets. 2x2 . The 1st employee wanted me to fill out a customs form.. I went back a couple days later, and that employee asked her supervisor if she could ship it as a large envelope. Large envelope it was, with no customs form.. Cost me $3.28 to ship.. Sometimes it depends who is there when you ship. This was going from Fl. to Quebec. Canada.

Funny thing is both employees have done many of my shipments before and have always sent it the cheapest way possible. 

I've sent about 180 cards various times in trades over the years to Canada (from Texas) for about $6.05 in a large business envelope. I've used various methods such as pocket pages, an array similar to a pocket page, and three long envelopes inside the larger business envelope. 

Delivery to the north lately for me has been slower than getting stuff from Canada. But it gets there eventually. 

I send PWE to Canada using postal machine at post office (further away than one in my town), as the postal clerks are inconsistent at best at applying the rules when shipping to Canada (otherwise nice folks and helpful for other tasks like buying stamps).  My local PO does not have a machine (I wish they would get one)

mark

If you use PayPal you can print international postage from home. 

Not any more. Since they switched to "ShipStation" to process shipping labels, the only option is to print a package label with the cheapest rate coming in at $13.54. USPS.com is the same only a little higher.

Does anyone know of an online service where you can print an international postage label for a simple ENVELOPE?

Or, can I simply slap $1.20 in assorted stamps (as of 10/18/21) on a standard envelope with address and no customs form? This is for a simple 4-card trade that will be under 2 oz.

I had this down to a fine science until PayPal changed shipping providers a month or so ago. I used to be able to print a nice label complete w/customs form that fit on a standard flat envelope, no more.

I have received hundres of PWE fromt he States.  They vary in postage from $1.20 to $1.83 but none go through Customs.  For whta you suggest, $1.20 should do it.  Forget the Non-Machinable stamp as it will still got hrough the rollers.  Just protect the cards with cereal boxboard and they will be fine.

On another note, someone just sent me 550 cards and was charged $50 to send! Somewhere in USPS, there are clerks who do not quote the most economical or apply their own rules wrong.  That package should have been about $20 - I have received plenty to know what it should cost.  I mailed 4.5 lbs of cards back to this member today for $30 Cdn. I have started doing my own shipping costs on the Canada Post online site. At least it gives you the most economical option.  I beleive yours would do the same.