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Post by ohllama on Mar 5, 2015 20:34:36 GMT
Hello - So i've been sending mail out to international buyers recently, specifically out of Europe, and wanted some advice on how to package the card(s)? The postage prices here in the UK seem to be ridiculously high once the destination becomes out of Europe. I usually package cards in a penny sleeve, toploader, cardboard and then into bubble mailer. It seems to be working so far and arrives safely to the buyers, but i'm starting to think too much money is spend on postage and packaging. It is fine when I post within Europe, but the price triples when I have to post out of Europe.
tldr; I think I might be overprotecting the cards, since the prices I pay for postage is for large letter within Europe, and small parcel for sending to the rest of the world. What's do you think is the best way to pack the cards whilst keep the cost down? Is it safe enough to just send the card in a penny sleeve and then into a toploader?
Thanks!
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Post by jamie on Mar 5, 2015 20:46:15 GMT
ohllama; When I ship cards internationally, I only use plastic protection and toploaders (or cardboard for postcards/larger items). Items have always arrived safely so I think it's enough, and I would be happy enough with packaging if someone sent it in just a toploader/cardboard and plastic lol. Bubble wrap always makes the price shoot up into a package and I don't think it's like.. essential so! 
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Post by ohllama on Mar 5, 2015 21:14:12 GMT
jamie thanks for the reply! That's awesome then ^^ I could probably save a lot more on packaging materials if that's the case.
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Post by Hoeseok on Mar 6, 2015 4:29:30 GMT
ohllama Personally i think i a top loader, penny sleeve and piece of cardboard is fine. some people send them with just a top loader or just a piece of cardboard and it should be okay as well but there is less protection so if anything goes wrong during shipping, the buyer/trader might say there wasn't protected enough and can be problematic. if your nearby post office isn't strict (as in they won't weigh the package and measure the thickness), then it's better to add a piece of cardboard behind the top loader. you can also try buying prepaid stamps and directly send packages out without having to make a trip to the post office. even if you slightly pass the size or weight limit, it should probably be fine as long as it's not by too much. A bubble mailer will definitely increase shipping and they can be expensive if you trade/sell often so i don't think you need them for normal photocards. i usually save bubble wrap from online purchases and buy large envelopes then cut it down to the size i need if the photocard is big. Hope it helps ^^
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Post by doodlebug on Mar 6, 2015 13:23:43 GMT
ohllama I'm in the UK too and I've noticed the same thing so what I've started doing is sending my cards in a toploader & penny sleeve with a thin piece of card taped to it to hold it together and then I've used cling film (saran wrap I think US people call it) around it a few layers, sellotaped well and into a normal envelope. They've always turned up ok with no damage and it's cut the cost down a bit. As for sending it internationally outside of Europe, try and get it sent as International Economy (Used to be called Surface Mail) or International Standard (Used to be called Air Mail). That should keep the cost down a bit, at least that's what my regular post office lady has suggested to me for a while now.
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Post by SugaHoneyIceTae on Mar 6, 2015 14:49:04 GMT
ohllama I usually just send with a penny sleeve and a top loader in a small bubble mailer that is usually just a little bigger than the top loader themselves. This way it's small enough to fit through the letter gap thing they use at the post office, it doesn't weight a lot and still has bubble wrap protection. They don't cost a lot either I think they come in packs of 5 or 7 form the 99p shop/pound shop.
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i just want to trade cards