General Forum

I personally take every PWE inside the post office so that the proper postage is applied.  

I also take every PWE in now too and make them do the thickness test. They have a cutout they can stick it through to see. If it doesn't fit, it costs more. I learned that the hard way with a trade last year that showed up postage due to my partner.

Talking about PWE's. I sent out 4 cards in an ebay purchase. I received the PWE back as undeliverable. I looked at the address posted on ebay and it matched the ebay address listed by the buyer. But, the thing about this PWE is that it had  yellow labels that stated attempted to deliver on March 1 and again on March 3. After contacting the buyer he confirmed his address and it was the same as listed on ebay. So, I hand wrote the address on the second envelope and shipped it again and the buyer stated that it was received. Not delivered the first 2 times but made it the 3rd time? Go figure! That's USPS system for you. And I understand they want to raise postage to 66¢. REALLY?

Buying postage online is a HUGE money-saver. If you don't already have one, get a digital scale and it will pay for itself very fast. Here's a link to the exact one I have been using for 3+ years. Www.Amazon.Com/ACCUTECK-W-8250-50bs-Digital-Adapter-Silver/Dp/B00SMHWZ42/Ref=D_pd_sbs_sccl_4_1/132-9008422-3653425?Pd_rd_w=OhWQ3&Content-Id=Amzn1.Sym.1e7a0ba4-F11f-4432-B7d8-1aaa3945be18&Pf_rd_p=1e7a0ba4-F11f-4432-B7d8-1aaa3945be18&Pf_rd_r=3DZXVS9XTEV6F009MFJJ&Pd_rd_wg=UUfC0&Pd_rd_r=B0fca7b7-Edb7-48a6-91d1-0423e86791ef&Pd_rd_i=B00SMHWZ42&Psc=1

I also use Paypal Shipping (paypal.shipstation.com) to print my labels. It even saves on Priority Mail. I was trying to ship a PM BM a week ago and USPS.com wanted $10.40 for it. I went to Paypal and paid $8.30 for the exact same thing. I changed nothing about the package I was shipping!!!

Good call. I got a scale already and have been using Pirateship for online shipping.  Pretty pleased so far.  Thanks! 

spazmatastic wrote:

Buying postage online is a HUGE money-saver. If you don't already have one, get a digital scale and it will pay for itself very fast. Here's a link to the exact one I have been using for 3+ years. Www.Amazon.Com/ACCUTECK-W-8250-50bs-Digital-Adapter-Silver/Dp/B00SMHWZ42/Ref=D_pd_sbs_sccl_4_1/132-9008422-3653425?Pd_rd_w=OhWQ3&Content-Id=Amzn1.Sym.1e7a0ba4-F11f-4432-B7d8-1aaa3945be18&Pf_rd_p=1e7a0ba4-F11f-4432-B7d8-1aaa3945be18&Pf_rd_r=3DZXVS9XTEV6F009MFJJ&Pd_rd_wg=UUfC0&Pd_rd_r=B0fca7b7-Edb7-48a6-91d1-0423e86791ef&Pd_rd_i=B00SMHWZ42&Psc=1

I also use Paypal Shipping (paypal.shipstation.com) to print my labels. It even saves on Priority Mail. I was trying to ship a PM BM a week ago and USPS.com wanted $10.40 for it. I went to Paypal and paid $8.30 for the exact same thing. I changed nothing about the package I was shipping!!!

chvlDm wrote:

Yep, I've seen the light.  You're the first person I thought of when I made the decision.   Looking forward to my new life as a bubble mailer only trader.   Will certainly be a lot less trades but they'll have more punch.

spazmatastic wrote:

And another member sees reasons why I won't trade PWE (for several years now). USPS is too inconsistent with pricing (plus lose some occasionally), shippers are too inconsistent with mailing practices, and the one thing not mentioned here: damage to the entire envelope and contents.

However, I don't set a strict card number for shipping in BMs. I will trade 25+ cards shipped in a BM as long as there is some value to them to make it worth almost $4 shipping. I'm not shipping 25 base cards in a BM, but if there are some inserts and parallels in there, that might be enough. Just last week, I did mail a single card in a BM with tracking but it was an SN20 AU card. Quality of cards being shipping is just as important to me as quantity of cards when it comes to trading through the mail. I'm still not using a PWE for any cards though.

Cool. I had that link easy to access since another member was asking me the other day about using online shipping instead of going to the PO to mail packages. I've heard that Pirateship is also good. I don't know the price difference b/t them and USPS, but I know the smallest BM's by weight shipped through Paypal are $3.75 while it is $4.15 at the Post Office. With every package I get, I compare their cost to mine, just to see the differences. It's a really big difference!

This same thing happened to me, here on this site. I sent a PWE to a member who lives 45 minutes from me in the same state. After almost a month to the day, the original envelope came back to me. I put the envelope in a bubble mailer with the SAME ADDRESS used the 1st time and my trading partner got it 3 days later.

I just wanted to prove to the trader that, yes I did send the envelope in good faith when I marked " package sent". The post office REALLY messed that one up.

bbcards wrote:

Talking about PWE's. I sent out 4 cards in an ebay purchase. I received the PWE back as undeliverable. I looked at the address posted on ebay and it matched the ebay address listed by the buyer. But, the thing about this PWE is that it had  yellow labels that stated attempted to deliver on March 1 and again on March 3. After contacting the buyer he confirmed his address and it was the same as listed on ebay. So, I hand wrote the address on the second envelope and shipped it again and the buyer stated that it was received. Not delivered the first 2 times but made it the 3rd time? Go figure! That's USPS system for you. And I understand they want to raise postage to 66¢. REALLY?

As much as we are crapping on the post office here (I understand the frustration, we've all been there), I think there is still a place for PWE trading. Perhaps some of you aren't set collectors, and that's fine, but there are times when I want to trade 10 commons for another guys 10 commons to fill sets. If PWE trading wasn't a thing, I'd be buying all my commons on card Barrell or something and paying significantly more than 5-6 cents per card. 

My general rule is if you are shipping more than $10-15 in value, a bubble mailer is automatic, but before that, I'm willing to accept a 97-98% success rate of PWE for low-valued commons to fill sets. If you are not, that is your prerogative, but understand that you are going to have a tough time trading base cards, and limiting trade connections with people who otherwise would be wide open to trading. 

I have never had an issue with a PWE trade and will continue with them. I do bring all mine into the post office to make sure I have the right postage.

Same.  I use the automated machine so I can go after hours and always select the "rigid" envelope option.  Pretty good service so far...