standard practice in shipping cards in general

[jclouie]

I'm just ranting a little bit because I was just shipped a card that didn't have tape on the top loader to stop the card from falling out. surprise surprise it fell out and has a small dent in the corner now.

What would've been a nice card to add to my PC now is a reminder of how not to ship a card.

when shipping cards to people I think it is common courtesy to take what I believe is basic steps to ensure the card arrives safe and sound.

1.) use a penny sleeve (are people really so cheap they can't use a penny sleeve?)
2.) ship in a top loader or one touch ( once got a card from someone who actually just threw a card in an envelop)
3.) tape the top loader/ one touch TO PREVENT THE CARD FROM FALLING OUT! (one small piece of tape saves tons of headaches.)
3.) use a piece of card board to prevent the card from being bent.
5.) Use bubble envelop unless you and he other party can agree to using PWE

I've read an article by a fellow SCF member "black_sheep" (on their blog) which outlines some of the things I've mentioned before and is quite a good read: http://thecardboardreview.blogspot.c...ing-cards.html

Are the thing's I've mentioned too much to ask for?

[30ranfordfan]

I don't think what you're asking for is too much, but I would suggest:

- Use of a Team Bag negates the need for tape
- Bubble mailers negate the need for extra card board.

My opinion, anyway.


I always use bubble mailers, but I have never once attached a cardboard decoy to the outside. I get a ton of stuff from eBay this way, but I do not do it myself. I have never had one complaint, nor have I ever had an issue with someone shipping a card in a secured top loader (tape or team bag) in a bubble mailer.


Anytime I've recived a damaged card, it was like someone else you described: Card wrapped in the eBay recipt, and placed in a PWE. Not even a Penny Sleeve on it! Of course it was damaged.

[jclouie]

I agree that a good fitting team bag would negate the need for tape.

Unfortunately the card that i received was in a loose fitting team bag and without tape the card moved out of the top loader.

[30ranfordfan]

Fair.

I think we're both saying the same thing though. There is a chance that through the mail a card could fall out of the top loader, and you need to do something to remove that possibility. It's why when you get redemptions from any manufacturer, they also tape their top loaders.

A Team Bag can offer that protection, but you've got to use it correctly. Size, and being sealed right is the big thing. Once a team bag has been used, especially if its around a one-touch, multiple top loaders, whatever - it will have been stretched, and isn't so secure anymore.

[centrehice]

If sending more than 5 cards and using a plastic card box:

1. Make doubly sure that the cards have a stopper on top. 2-3 small pieces of a shipping peanut, so that the cards Do Not Rattle around on their own, as 90 times out of 100 they will suffer corner damage.

More card corners are ruined from cards being shipped in plastic snap boxes, or plastic full lid boxes that are not Motion Tight. Invevitably, the card corners have a very small dent in almost all the cards if they are not secured tightly between both lids.

I've seen cards where there are 15 or more and every card has corner damage because they are rattling around like dice in a cup.

Here is a scanned example using a plastic card box with shipping peanut pieces as stoppers:

[Gibby]

I would also added use Painters tape ( green ) not Scotch tape.

It is far easier to remove from the top loader and does not leave a mark.

[BillInDallas]

If sending more than 5 cards and using a plastic card box:

1. Make doubly sure that the cards have a stopper on top. 2-3 small pieces of a shipping peanut, so that the cards Do Not Rattle around on their own, as 90 times out of 100 they will suffer corner damage.

More card corners are ruined from cards being shipped in plastic snap boxes, or plastic full lid boxes that are not Motion Tight. Invevitably, the card corners have a very small dent in almost all the cards if they are not secured tightly between both lids.

I've seen cards where there are 15 or more and every card has corner damage because they are rattling around like dice in a cup.

Since sending larger numbers of cards came up, I'm curious as to what people expect when receiving something like an OPC team set where you're looking at 15-25 cards with minimal value. I'm not a huge fan of the snap cases myself, but am curious as to what other means collectors find acceptable.

[RGM81]

I hate tape. I have used it very sparingly in my five years doing this. A penny sleeve, a proper-sized top loader and a team bag is really all one needs.

[Gallinator]

Snap cases are OK as long as the cards are immobilized with filler like centerhice indicated. The hard case provides the best protection.

I agree with Gibby that everyone should be using painter's tape in lieu of Scotch tape - I hate throwing away perfectly good supplies that now have sticky residue on them and don't store properly and just look nasty.

[brooaar]

I'd recommend using cardboard or pack decoy as support when shipping a jersey card. I've thrown my share of cards in the trash because of noticeable creasing around the jersey piece that occurred during shipping.