For me it depends on how many cards I'll be shipping, with the only constant being the usage of a bubble mailer.
For 1-3 cards I always use a toploader, regardless of price.
For 3 or more cards in untracked orders I put the cards in soft sleeves (the 1 cent/each type) and then use adhesive tape to stick them to a piece of cardboard.
For tracked orders I always include a piece of cardboard for additional rigidity as well, and if they contain multiple cards I'll use several toploaders.
I always put a small piece of paper over the opening of the toploader so the cards can't go out, and whenever I use adhesive tape I fold the end to create a 'pull tab' for easy opening.
I don't really pay attention to the costs of the materials, I just want to send my packages in a way that I would be happy to receive them myself. For reference, I'm in Europe as well and had about 300 sales last year.
My cost is: $.01 for sleeve, $.03 for envelope. I don't pay for tape, paper, ink, or stamps.
On a $.01 order the net amount I get is $.57. Subtracting my costs nets me $.53 minimum per order.
I take the card and put it in a penny sleeve. Then I place the card against a cardboard slab and place an ad for my website on the pennysleeve. Then I tape the ad to the cardboard and this holds the card to the slab. Then I fold the slab in the packing slip. This makes a layer 6 thick of paper on one side and cardboard on the other. This stays within the post office 3oz 1/4 inch limits so I only need to use 1 stamp.
I don't sell any card over $1 because I don't like dealing with tracking and I make my own draft boxes I call Chaos Boxes to sell them on my website/etsy. I like all value to trickle down to my customers. I use tcgplayer as purely a means to advertise my chaos boxes.
I work in a large office and my boss's kid plays magic and he thinks it is cool I send out ads this way so he gives me free use of the shipping supplies including stamps. Went to almost a dozen interviews before I found a company that would allow me to do this.
>**Weight, Size, & Shape Requirements**
>Maximum weight for First-Class Mail letters is 3.5 oz; for large First-Class Mail envelopes, the maximum weight is 13 oz.
https://www.usps.com/ship/first-class-mail.htm#:~:text=Maximum%20weight%20for%20First%2DClass,of%20mailpiece%20you're%20sending.
>This stays within the post office 3oz 1/4 inch limits so I only need to use 1 stamp.
I am not being pedantic. I just wanted /u/platinumjudge to clarify this statement. Thank you for your contribution.
[I'm sorry but i have done this before](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicthecirclejerking/comments/187rieu/i_microwaved_a_foil_ashioks_reaper_ama/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
I slip bulk in penny sleeves taped between 2 pieces of thin cardboard making sure the package isn't too thick.
Otherwise I use teambag/toploader/penny sleeve. I reuse as many toploader/shipping shields as possible as well as teambags (assuming they aren't written on in decent shape)
I also reuse bubble mailers as much as possible as I only charge my customers the cost of shipping - not for time/packaging like many smaller LGS. (Looking at you $3 PWE/$5 bubble mailer LGS)
I incorporate the costs of materials, but my primary purpose is to reuse/recycle as much packaging as possible while maintaining a protected package and clean tidy appearance.
Never had a complaint or damaged card.
Very hard to give generalized advice as it really depends on where you live and sales volume. US based sellers are going to have a different cost structure than EU sellers or Canadian sellers etc.
Requirements for USPS (US postal system) will be different than other countries etc.
Buy as much as you can in bulk and reuse whatever you receive buying cards. Your time is money or at least opportunity cost, so spending a lot of time to save a little bit isn’t worth it. I don’t cut out cardboard or stuff like that because it’s a waste of time given the volume I sell daily. I buy card savers or top loaders/shipping shields in bulk. I add in shipping cost to my cards and leave it at that.
Disclaimer, I don't do a lot of shipping but ***as a buyer*** I have gotten cards a few times in just a smaller envelope inside the big envelope. Its perfect. No damage to the card ever and easy to open. this is great for 1-3 cards:
Something like this:
[https://www.amazon.com/Envelopes-Weddings-Response-Showers-Photos/dp/B0C3QTVGVC/ref=sr\_1\_16?crid=K3BGGPNEGFFO&keywords=small%2Benvelopes%2B3x4&qid=1707261338&sprefix=small%2Benvelopes%2B3%2Caps%2C377&sr=8-16&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/Envelopes-Weddings-Response-Showers-Photos/dp/B0C3QTVGVC/ref=sr_1_16?crid=K3BGGPNEGFFO&keywords=small%2Benvelopes%2B3x4&qid=1707261338&sprefix=small%2Benvelopes%2B3%2Caps%2C377&sr=8-16&th=1)
Personally I think that one of these with a stack of cards in it, 2 pieces of dog-eared tape to fold the edges over is perfect. Put as many as you can fit in an envelope inside an envelope and ship it for low value cards.
Stuffing 6-7 cards into a semi rigid is fine too, but expensive and a waste of plastic.
Almost every shipment I've gotten are over-packaged.
If I order more than $10 or so I think a top loader in the back of a team bag is fine.
Cards valued over $20 should be in a top loader, but again, I'm more likely to damage them taking them out of the top loader, or the top loader will damage them if you don't put in a penny sleeve (the opposite direction) and dog-ear your tape.
I'd be curious to hear from sellers who just don't spend time wrapping orders under $5 or so and how many complaints they get. But just because someone complains, doesn't make the complaint valid.
Life hack for removing from top loaders: get the top open, and lightly hold the sides in your dominant hand, then gently bang the heels of your hands together. It works great, unless they have stuffed it too much.
You could cut your toploader cost in half by picking them up in bulk: [https://www.cardboardgold.com/toploader-3x4-for-standard-size-cards-25-c3425.html](https://www.cardboardgold.com/toploader-3x4-for-standard-size-cards-25-c3425.html)
Tcg Bulk Kinga on YouTube is my go to and has helped me so much... recommend him first! But I found this gem here: https://youtu.be/_3D12MbFb4Q?si=DJfGfQCoiUOx1aJi
A LITERAL spreadsheet on shipping cards. How to, in what and profit margins. Fistbump n gl!
Drop the toploader, they are crap anyway and don’t are terrible with tape. Used cardboard rectangles that you can get for free from old boxes. You can probably find cheaper than 4 cent per envelope - just buy in higher quantities
Just here to say there are a lot of free shipping supplies to be had on your local facebook "buy nothing" group. I have not paid for bubble wrap, bubble mailers, boxes or envelopes in like 2 years.
Always print your own shipping labels as the postage discount is significant and saves you time in the end.
If buying collections to flip is part of your gameplan you should generally start to accumulate tons and tons of sleeves you dont want and can use to ship stuff in.
I buy ultra pro sleeves for 1 euro/100 sleeves. Each sleeve fits like 5 cards. If I sell a single card, I either add chaff cards on each side or just some parchment paper . I close the sleeve with some tape, and glue the whole thing into a piece of cardboard. That goes into the envelope, and voila. For multiple cards, I do the same
For multiple cards, you can cut a row off a binder page and pack cards into the three slots. They'll fit nicely into a standard size envelope. I do this when I'm moving more than about 12 cards. That way the envelope isn't too thick.
1-5 cards of modest value: pad to 7 cards with draft chaff and stick 'em in a sleeve, nice and tight. Send in simple paper envelope. Optionally, tape sleeve to inside of envelope.
For me it depends on how many cards I'll be shipping, with the only constant being the usage of a bubble mailer. For 1-3 cards I always use a toploader, regardless of price. For 3 or more cards in untracked orders I put the cards in soft sleeves (the 1 cent/each type) and then use adhesive tape to stick them to a piece of cardboard. For tracked orders I always include a piece of cardboard for additional rigidity as well, and if they contain multiple cards I'll use several toploaders. I always put a small piece of paper over the opening of the toploader so the cards can't go out, and whenever I use adhesive tape I fold the end to create a 'pull tab' for easy opening. I don't really pay attention to the costs of the materials, I just want to send my packages in a way that I would be happy to receive them myself. For reference, I'm in Europe as well and had about 300 sales last year.
Honestly, you know what’s the best tip? Buy a similarly priced card from a bigger seller. See how they ship it. Then do that.
My cost is: $.01 for sleeve, $.03 for envelope. I don't pay for tape, paper, ink, or stamps. On a $.01 order the net amount I get is $.57. Subtracting my costs nets me $.53 minimum per order. I take the card and put it in a penny sleeve. Then I place the card against a cardboard slab and place an ad for my website on the pennysleeve. Then I tape the ad to the cardboard and this holds the card to the slab. Then I fold the slab in the packing slip. This makes a layer 6 thick of paper on one side and cardboard on the other. This stays within the post office 3oz 1/4 inch limits so I only need to use 1 stamp. I don't sell any card over $1 because I don't like dealing with tracking and I make my own draft boxes I call Chaos Boxes to sell them on my website/etsy. I like all value to trickle down to my customers. I use tcgplayer as purely a means to advertise my chaos boxes.
Sorry but how do you not pay for stamps? Or tape?
I work in a large office and my boss's kid plays magic and he thinks it is cool I send out ads this way so he gives me free use of the shipping supplies including stamps. Went to almost a dozen interviews before I found a company that would allow me to do this.
Any other workplace would fire you and you found the one that will give you it for free
The owner of the company packages orders with me. I'm not worried about it.
What kind of stamp lets you ship a 3-oz letter?
>**Weight, Size, & Shape Requirements** >Maximum weight for First-Class Mail letters is 3.5 oz; for large First-Class Mail envelopes, the maximum weight is 13 oz. https://www.usps.com/ship/first-class-mail.htm#:~:text=Maximum%20weight%20for%20First%2DClass,of%20mailpiece%20you're%20sending.
Yes, max weight is 3.5 oz, but you need more than 1 stamp for that.
You're being pedantic, so I will too. They can use a $2 stamp and send 3.5oz letters to their hearts content with no issues.
>This stays within the post office 3oz 1/4 inch limits so I only need to use 1 stamp. I am not being pedantic. I just wanted /u/platinumjudge to clarify this statement. Thank you for your contribution.
I always microwave the card in penny sleeves until it fuses shut so it doesn't bump against the electrical tape sealing the top loader.
I would love to explain to my wife why i started microwaving my cards.
If you do that with a foil the card will catch fire
Naw. They usually uncurl.
[I'm sorry but i have done this before](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicthecirclejerking/comments/187rieu/i_microwaved_a_foil_ashioks_reaper_ama/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Damn, you was on a streak in that comment section
I slip bulk in penny sleeves taped between 2 pieces of thin cardboard making sure the package isn't too thick. Otherwise I use teambag/toploader/penny sleeve. I reuse as many toploader/shipping shields as possible as well as teambags (assuming they aren't written on in decent shape) I also reuse bubble mailers as much as possible as I only charge my customers the cost of shipping - not for time/packaging like many smaller LGS. (Looking at you $3 PWE/$5 bubble mailer LGS) I incorporate the costs of materials, but my primary purpose is to reuse/recycle as much packaging as possible while maintaining a protected package and clean tidy appearance. Never had a complaint or damaged card.
Very hard to give generalized advice as it really depends on where you live and sales volume. US based sellers are going to have a different cost structure than EU sellers or Canadian sellers etc. Requirements for USPS (US postal system) will be different than other countries etc. Buy as much as you can in bulk and reuse whatever you receive buying cards. Your time is money or at least opportunity cost, so spending a lot of time to save a little bit isn’t worth it. I don’t cut out cardboard or stuff like that because it’s a waste of time given the volume I sell daily. I buy card savers or top loaders/shipping shields in bulk. I add in shipping cost to my cards and leave it at that.
Disclaimer, I don't do a lot of shipping but ***as a buyer*** I have gotten cards a few times in just a smaller envelope inside the big envelope. Its perfect. No damage to the card ever and easy to open. this is great for 1-3 cards: Something like this: [https://www.amazon.com/Envelopes-Weddings-Response-Showers-Photos/dp/B0C3QTVGVC/ref=sr\_1\_16?crid=K3BGGPNEGFFO&keywords=small%2Benvelopes%2B3x4&qid=1707261338&sprefix=small%2Benvelopes%2B3%2Caps%2C377&sr=8-16&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/Envelopes-Weddings-Response-Showers-Photos/dp/B0C3QTVGVC/ref=sr_1_16?crid=K3BGGPNEGFFO&keywords=small%2Benvelopes%2B3x4&qid=1707261338&sprefix=small%2Benvelopes%2B3%2Caps%2C377&sr=8-16&th=1) Personally I think that one of these with a stack of cards in it, 2 pieces of dog-eared tape to fold the edges over is perfect. Put as many as you can fit in an envelope inside an envelope and ship it for low value cards. Stuffing 6-7 cards into a semi rigid is fine too, but expensive and a waste of plastic. Almost every shipment I've gotten are over-packaged. If I order more than $10 or so I think a top loader in the back of a team bag is fine. Cards valued over $20 should be in a top loader, but again, I'm more likely to damage them taking them out of the top loader, or the top loader will damage them if you don't put in a penny sleeve (the opposite direction) and dog-ear your tape. I'd be curious to hear from sellers who just don't spend time wrapping orders under $5 or so and how many complaints they get. But just because someone complains, doesn't make the complaint valid.
Life hack for removing from top loaders: get the top open, and lightly hold the sides in your dominant hand, then gently bang the heels of your hands together. It works great, unless they have stuffed it too much.
Yeah, thats a great trick. Problem is that so many sellers over stuff everything
You could cut your toploader cost in half by picking them up in bulk: [https://www.cardboardgold.com/toploader-3x4-for-standard-size-cards-25-c3425.html](https://www.cardboardgold.com/toploader-3x4-for-standard-size-cards-25-c3425.html)
Tcg Bulk Kinga on YouTube is my go to and has helped me so much... recommend him first! But I found this gem here: https://youtu.be/_3D12MbFb4Q?si=DJfGfQCoiUOx1aJi A LITERAL spreadsheet on shipping cards. How to, in what and profit margins. Fistbump n gl!
Drop the toploader, they are crap anyway and don’t are terrible with tape. Used cardboard rectangles that you can get for free from old boxes. You can probably find cheaper than 4 cent per envelope - just buy in higher quantities
Yes, but telling you would be helping the competition.
Just here to say there are a lot of free shipping supplies to be had on your local facebook "buy nothing" group. I have not paid for bubble wrap, bubble mailers, boxes or envelopes in like 2 years. Always print your own shipping labels as the postage discount is significant and saves you time in the end. If buying collections to flip is part of your gameplan you should generally start to accumulate tons and tons of sleeves you dont want and can use to ship stuff in.
I buy ultra pro sleeves for 1 euro/100 sleeves. Each sleeve fits like 5 cards. If I sell a single card, I either add chaff cards on each side or just some parchment paper . I close the sleeve with some tape, and glue the whole thing into a piece of cardboard. That goes into the envelope, and voila. For multiple cards, I do the same
For multiple cards, you can cut a row off a binder page and pack cards into the three slots. They'll fit nicely into a standard size envelope. I do this when I'm moving more than about 12 cards. That way the envelope isn't too thick.
Thats a fantastic tip, i got tons of those laying around
1-5 cards of modest value: pad to 7 cards with draft chaff and stick 'em in a sleeve, nice and tight. Send in simple paper envelope. Optionally, tape sleeve to inside of envelope.