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03-09-2007, 04:41 AM #1
Trades
I think I'm going to start making trades soon. I have a few questions first. How easy is it? What do you guys normally ship the card in? Besides a toploader of course. Box? Envelope? Is it something you just drop in the mail? Or does it require a trip to the post office?
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03-09-2007, 04:50 AM #2
From my short time, trading is very easy. Work out a trade that works well for both members, and then it is posted in the trade manager by either yourself or the other member you are trading with. I let my first trade partner know that I had no clue how to do it and he walked me through the process, which is very simple.
When I send out cards, I use the penny sleeves, and a toploader. Here lately, I put them in a plain ol envelop and fold the excess and tape it to keep card from slipping out and toss it into a bubble mailer. Sometimes, i just slap 3 stamps on it and put it into a drop off box, but you can save a few cents by actually going in. If you have a decent amount of cards in the bubble mailer, it is best to go in to make sure you always have enough postage.
The postage also depends on how big the bubble mailer is, as the extra dead weight ads onto the postage price.
Hope this helps...
Tim
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03-09-2007, 05:01 AM #3
Trading can be easy. It really depends on what your after. As for shipping, here are my suggestions. If you have a one to a few cards to mail put those in a toploader. If you have a large lot I would put the cards in a penny sleeve and protect them with toploaders or pack fillers. Bubble mailers can be costly but you should use them instead of white envelopes for the added protection. I don't like getting white envelopes myself....especially if the card isn't in a toploader. That offers no protection. Also, I suggest going to the post office to mail instead of putting stamps. If you put stamps on a package and the other trader says he/she doesn't receive then you have no proof that the package was sent. However, the post office will print out a receipt showing the city and zip code you mailed too. If you do any high end deals use delivery confirmation.
There are also many helpful tips in the Announcements forum and each trading forum has trading rules. Be sure to read those.
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03-09-2007, 05:05 AM #4
Trading is easy to add to the above. I personally use penny sleeve, toploader and a team bag. The team bag(s) can be purchased at any card shop and are little sealable bags that you place the top loader/penny sleeved card in. After that I put them in a bubble mailer and send them off.
Most of the time I go into the post office and send them out that way. The Automated Machine at the post office is a breeze to use and is availble 24 hrs a day at the local PO. Or depending on how many cards I have in the bubble mailer I slap a few stamps on them and let them go.
Also just FYI if you send to other countries when you trade you need to have a customs form filled out which requires a trip to the PO.
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03-09-2007, 05:10 AM #5
Originally Posted by arkaneinc
Very good point on that. Caused me a delay beings I didn't know about it ahead of time.
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03-09-2007, 05:39 AM #6
With those customs slips, I not sure how it works over in the US, but here in New Zealand, I make sure I tick the "gift" box when I send out to the US - have had problems in the past where I have ticked merchandise I think it is and people have had to pay taxs to get there item! Makes people very angry! Also I not sure how your insurance works but here I normally state its photos, as these cover greater value to the Post Office, due to monetary value over what cards would.
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03-09-2007, 03:07 PM #7
Cool, thanks for all the info guys. One question though, if I use an Automated Machine what would I need to bring? or already have done to the package? I would need the sports card in a bubble mailer of course but since I'm using the automated machine it doesn't need stamps correct? Also do I need to fill out all the address info on the bubble mailer first? Or does the Automated Machine do that as well? Sorry for all the questions but I have never mailed anything out besides a letter or birthday card. So I'm new to this whole trip to the post office thing.
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03-09-2007, 03:55 PM #8
I write the addresses out. I haven't used the automated machine.
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03-09-2007, 05:37 PM #9
automated machine only prints postage. you still need to write the addresses on the bubble mailer. i usually only use the automated machine. it sure beats standing in line for 30 minutes waiting for everyone else.
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03-10-2007, 05:38 AM #10
If i'm sending to another country and fill out a customs form can I still use the automated machine? Does the automated machine allow me to send to other countries?
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