General Forum

A couple of more points...

You only need a printer. I print all my PayPal labels on plain sheets of paper and cut out the postage. I then use the remaining half sheet to write notes to trade partners.

PayPal is the way to go for most tracking type mailing, however, not when it comes to some flat rate boxes, particularly the regional rate boxes that I use regularly. It all depends. If they're going in a bubble mailer, then, yes, PayPal is cheaper. I even use PayPal for all my internatioal shipping - which are always PWE-types, and they include tracking through the US to the border, then the other country assigns a tracking number there.

another thing to be aware of when shipping PWE is thickness...Max is .25 inch... over their limit it goes from letter to package (for domestic)

the postal kiosks can be helpful with a ruler on the machine you can hold the envelope up to to measure the thickness.

what I try to to to manage this is-

1-4 cards, one stack wtih plastic holder, in smaller envelopes

5-10 cards, two stacks with plastic holder, in longer business size envelopes

this is my default for lower value modern cards.

when lower conditoin vintage, I will use the 3 pocket page since they are already in lesser condition..

this is for domestic only....international letter has different max thickness...

mark

Most anyone here that has been involved in trading has likely determined there "system" when it comes to trading. With good communication in the beginning most trades will be spared issues later. Also a lot of traders here are now making there "wishes" but again establishing the groundwork at the start sure helps a lot.

I send almost everything in bubble mailers because the few times I put cardboard in a PWE,  the person I sent them to was asked to pay more charges.  I have been succesful sending old greeting cards, especially valentine's and anniversary ones with glitter!!!  I could care less how I get my cards in return and will never complain.

I send any trades in bubble mailers. I'd rather not take any chances.

"I could care less how I get my cards in return and will never complain."

I agree with that statement. I send my trades in bubble mailer. Over 1oz  through PayPal with tracking. I have had a couple of trades lost in the mail. They didn't have tracking so there was no way that I know of tell if the package got to their destination or not. As long as I can afford to have the tracking I will do that. If there is a problem I can see if the package got to where it's going or not.

that just me I don't think any less of anyone who sends PWE.

That's me. I printed them from their website.

If it's a couple cards I mostly send PWE. Larger amounts I use these little white boxes my lab vials come in at work. Cost the same to ship as a bubble mailer. I always tape with blue or green masking tape. And I try to fold one end of the tape to make a little "pull tab".

I mostly only trade cheap commons on here. So I'm fine with receiving a PWE. 

I've also ran into different prices depending on the post office location for the same size envolpe. If I go to the one in a small village up the road. It's cheaper then if my wife drops them off at the city she works in.

This thread got me thinking a while back, so I decided to do some experimenting with PWE (on lower value trades of course and after notifying my partners).

In my opinion, using three pocket pages with up to 9 cards stuffed into each pocket is a recipe for disaster. I found that the best solution is 14 cards is the max amount of cards I can ship safely without having to pay parcel. I do two columns of cards all put into penny sleeves (preferably thick penny sleeves with up to 4 cards in each sleeve) then put into team bags, taped to cardboard with 2 card savers on top of the cards (or another piece of cardboard), taped up like a brick. Im waiting to hear back how these go. 

So, what does this mean? In terms of trading commons, it seems that the ideal trade would be sending up to 14 cards (PWE), or at least 25-30 cards (parcel). My cutoff for commons is usually not spending much more than like 10 cents per card. So, if I'm only receiving 20 cards and I have to pay $3.95 in shipping, its really not worth it. So, in conclusion, 14-25 or 30 amount of cards is kind of the "no man's land" of trading, if you will. Of course, this all goes out the window if the cards are worth > $5-10. Im talking specifically about commons.

Sorry to bring up such an old discussion that I'm sore has been had many times before. Just wanted to share my perspective. 

Just got back from the PO.  Mailed off a over size card so it could not go in a PWE.     I had a larger heavy mailer which I got a few months ago.   Recieved a couple of panels in it and the cost to ship to me  was  $1.71.        It cost me $4.80 to ship it out.   The PO guy told me I was lucky that I should have recieved a postage due on it when I get it or it shoulld have been sent back with postage due. 

I’m getting to know why a lot of traders are not willing to do a few commons in a PWE or small deals.  The cost of shipping is more then the cards.