I am not a seller but a seasoned TCGplayer buyer.. the shipping shield is the shipping method I appreciate the most when I receive the cards. certainly better than top loaders ... ( as long as the vendor tapes the top and does not try to fold it in)... Basically I whish every single vendor shipped the way you showed it on this video .. top notch
When I get 15+ cards I cut a 3 row plastic binder page card holder and use that to pack the order. You can use the fold of the page to hold the cards in the sleeves. Has worked pretty well for me
I use the TCG player invoice and the number 10 window envelope. If you fold it correctly the address fits right in the window and you don’t have to print on any envelopes. Also I’ve successfully shipped 50 cards PWE… it can be done
Yeah, I've seen instructions on going all the way to 51 in an envelope. Does it actually stay below the weight limit? You can get away with bending the rules some because the USPS doesn't have time to bring every piece of First Class mail to a complete stop to accurately weigh it. I'm okay erring on the side of caution if it keeps the number of customer service problems down.
@@FinalTrade it’s close but 3.5 ounces you are ok. Im closing in on 6k orders shipped through TCGplayer and have only had a handful of problems. Rob from RNG games has a great video on packing PWE. Cards orders over 8 cards I stopped using toploaders… just penny sleeve into a team bag and I use art cards as surface protection. This is for cheap cards… higher value gets more protection. Also I’ve never shipped non machine able… not once on 6k orders. Save yourself the money and don’t do it
@@FinalTrade That's true. However, prices are stagnating or even slightly decreasing. It feels like nobody in the Fab scene is opening older boxes, and the available quantity is stagnating. Fab is very playable, but individual cards probably aren't collected as much as, for example, in Pokemon.
On eBay your order will tell you who to leave feedback to :), If you don't get a packing slip :). I do like the shipping shields concept. Thank you for the info.
@@FinalTrade I was considering giving it a shot once I run out of stamps again, they are trying to tell me they are not flexible enough, not a thickness issue
Fulfilling plain white envelope orders is the penalty you pay for being in the Direct program. Probably 95%+ of the value of cards I sell are through Direct and get sent to TCGplayer all at once three times a week. The other 5% of value is in plain white envelopes, but I've set my shipping price higher and higher to choke down the quantity of PWE orders I handle. If the entire singles business was through PWE it would be hard to justify the effort.
@@atunga5 Good point, I was more questioning the financial gain from the effort rather than customer satisfaction but your point is valid. I had some Legends cards mailed to me last year unsleeved, they had just been put in an envelope and mailed. Lol (low value luckily)
U realize cards can still move in shipping shields and get dents if you don't prevent them from sliding out of the penny sleeve? Meanwhile cards don't move at all in semi rigids or doubled sleeved in top loaders as long as they're not stuffed and taped with normal tape (normal tape is easy to tear so they'll slide out if stuffed)
Yeah, I've had a lot of issues with shipping shields on both the buying and selling end. I quit using them. The sides of the cards can get bent as well if enough pressure is applied to the envelope. I've seen this happen with 6-10 cards in a shipping shield.
ROFL cards dont move in semi rigids? half the time time someone ships me cards in a semi rigid they arrive sitting half way out of the semi rigid and penny sleeve.
@@pradaomygada cards do not move semi rigids, thats why grading companies always say to use semi reigids. In top loaders they can move if not double sleeved.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I prefer to receive my cards in a double sleeved top loader that is properly taped any day over cardboard and tend to avoid making purchases from sellers that use such methods.
The problem is the USPS, though. These methods are a desperate attempt to make selling cards just slightly profitable. Hell, even breaking even is hard to do on some small orders. But until the USPS is on the same page as everyone shipping cards, I honestly don't see a solution.
As i watch this, I'm literally rendering a video in which I go through an almost exactly identical shipping procedure. Good to know I'm not alone 😂
Do your Timmy buyers also not know where they live? =p
Keep up the good work; I love your videos.
I am not a seller but a seasoned TCGplayer buyer.. the shipping shield is the shipping method I appreciate the most when I receive the cards. certainly better than top loaders ... ( as long as the vendor tapes the top and does not try to fold it in)... Basically I whish every single vendor shipped the way you showed it on this video .. top notch
When I get 15+ cards I cut a 3 row plastic binder page card holder and use that to pack the order. You can use the fold of the page to hold the cards in the sleeves. Has worked pretty well for me
You could cut the ultra pro 9-pocket page into 3's, and that could fit in a #10 envelope.
Shipping Shields cause corner damage though and toploaders are too thick. I'd rather just use the penny sleeve rather than the toploader method.
?? Come again?
I use semi-rigids. Anything above like 6 cards go into penny sleeves and then a team bag.
I use the TCG player invoice and the number 10 window envelope. If you fold it correctly the address fits right in the window and you don’t have to print on any envelopes. Also I’ve successfully shipped 50 cards PWE… it can be done
Yeah, I've seen instructions on going all the way to 51 in an envelope. Does it actually stay below the weight limit? You can get away with bending the rules some because the USPS doesn't have time to bring every piece of First Class mail to a complete stop to accurately weigh it. I'm okay erring on the side of caution if it keeps the number of customer service problems down.
@@FinalTrade it’s close but 3.5 ounces you are ok. Im closing in on 6k orders shipped through TCGplayer and have only had a handful of problems. Rob from RNG games has a great video on packing PWE. Cards orders over 8 cards I stopped using toploaders… just penny sleeve into a team bag and I use art cards as surface protection. This is for cheap cards… higher value gets more protection. Also I’ve never shipped non machine able… not once on 6k orders. Save yourself the money and don’t do it
i dont understand why pricew of fab boxes dont move. Maybe game isnt as popular as i thought.
I’m afraid it’s plateaued
Markets don't go up in straight lines.
@@FinalTrade That's true. However, prices are stagnating or even slightly decreasing. It feels like nobody in the Fab scene is opening older boxes, and the available quantity is stagnating. Fab is very playable, but individual cards probably aren't collected as much as, for example, in Pokemon.
On eBay your order will tell you who to leave feedback to :), If you don't get a packing slip :). I do like the shipping shields concept. Thank you for the info.
My local P.O. started requiring me to use non-machinable for shipping shields period, even 1 card. It's BS and has cost me a ton!
Drop them in a mailbox serviced by a different post office.
@@FinalTrade I was considering giving it a shot once I run out of stamps again, they are trying to tell me they are not flexible enough, not a thickness issue
@@AfterSchoolSpecialTCGtry moving them to one side of the envelope. So the center is flexible
@@rmonterni using a different post office has been working, my local just sucks that bad lol
And mine are still getting sent back. I give up
I'll slap a sticker right over your shoulder and reuse it 🤣
yeah I'm not doing all of that for 5 bulk commons.
Yeah, don't bother. Mine still get sent back, and that's for just 1-3 cards shipped using this exact method. Defund the USPS
Perfection of effort, but is it worth the effort? :)
Fulfilling plain white envelope orders is the penalty you pay for being in the Direct program. Probably 95%+ of the value of cards I sell are through Direct and get sent to TCGplayer all at once three times a week. The other 5% of value is in plain white envelopes, but I've set my shipping price higher and higher to choke down the quantity of PWE orders I handle. If the entire singles business was through PWE it would be hard to justify the effort.
the buyers do appreciate it and see the difference. I do base my repeat buys on proper packaging
@@atunga5 Good point, I was more questioning the financial gain from the effort rather than customer satisfaction but your point is valid. I had some Legends cards mailed to me last year unsleeved, they had just been put in an envelope and mailed. Lol (low value luckily)
Thanks for the great video!
cool 👍
U realize cards can still move in shipping shields and get dents if you don't prevent them from sliding out of the penny sleeve? Meanwhile cards don't move at all in semi rigids or doubled sleeved in top loaders as long as they're not stuffed and taped with normal tape (normal tape is easy to tear so they'll slide out if stuffed)
In over 2000 PWE orders I haven't had a single customer say their card arrived dented.
Yeah, I've had a lot of issues with shipping shields on both the buying and selling end. I quit using them. The sides of the cards can get bent as well if enough pressure is applied to the envelope. I've seen this happen with 6-10 cards in a shipping shield.
ROFL cards dont move in semi rigids? half the time time someone ships me cards in a semi rigid they arrive sitting half way out of the semi rigid and penny sleeve.
@@pradaomygada cards do not move semi rigids, thats why grading companies always say to use semi reigids. In top loaders they can move if not double sleeved.
@@garretharp3420 Then, why when I recieve mail the cards are half way out of the holder? Did the seller put them in like that?
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I prefer to receive my cards in a double sleeved top loader that is properly taped any day over cardboard and tend to avoid making purchases from sellers that use such methods.
The problem is the USPS, though. These methods are a desperate attempt to make selling cards just slightly profitable. Hell, even breaking even is hard to do on some small orders. But until the USPS is on the same page as everyone shipping cards, I honestly don't see a solution.