Complete Guide to Buying Sports Card Shipping Supplies

Author: Minnie

May. 20, 2024

Luggage, Bags & Cases

Complete Guide to Buying Sports Card Shipping Supplies

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If you sell or trade cards on eBay, Amazon, or any other platform, it's easy to overlook the needed resources to mail them efficiently. Without proper planning, buying shipping supplies for trading cards can quickly become a significant expense.

But what if you could easily save money purchasing the necessary supplies?

With the right planning, you can save several hundred dollars per year. This guide to buying sports card shipping supplies will show you ways to save money and time while ensuring that you use top-quality materials that withstand postal system challenges.

Even saving a few cents per package can add up significantly over a year or several years.

Shipping Supplies Shopping List

Most collectors selling trading cards online sell a mix of singles, sets, lots, and miscellaneous items. Having the right shipping supplies for each type is crucial. Here is a basic list of essential shipping items you will need:

Ultra-Pro offers a wide variety of penny sleeves, top loaders, and team bags. Choosing the right top loader is essential to avoid damaging the cards. For more information on choosing the right card protection, read our comprehensive guides.

The most accepted way to ship a card safely involves three steps:

  1. Placing the card in a penny sleeve.
  2. Inserting it into a top loader.
  3. Sealing the top loader in a team bag.

If you have just one or two cards, #000 bubble mailers are ideal. They're small and can't hold many cards, but they are cheaper, saving you money on postage compared to larger envelopes or small boxes. For slightly larger card lots, the next size up, #00, is suitable.

It's wise to have a variety of sizes of bubble mailers on hand. Keeping packages flat helps keep postage rates down.

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Bubble mailers typically cost $0.50 to $0.75 each when bought singly or in small bundles at office supply and dollar stores. However, buying a case of 250 online can reduce the unit cost to less than $0.20.

If you're paying $0.50 per bubble mailer at the dollar store, getting a case of 250 at $0.20 each saves you about $75. It's also more convenient to have a large supply on hand instead of buying them constantly.

For most shipping needs, avoid using plain white envelopes unless you're sending a couple of commons to a friend. They are not durable and are prone to tearing and bending. Even if a card arrives safely, buyers and trading partners might view this practice negatively and avoid dealing with you in the future.

Standard white corrugated cardboard storage boxes can double as shipping boxes. Make sure the cards are packed correctly. Trading card storage boxes vary in size and work best for shipping more than 100 cards, but they can safely ship up to 800 cards at a time, which is great for sets and large lots.

When shipping numerous single cards that won't fit in a padded envelope, using a storage box is safe and cost-effective. Secure the cards in a storage box using packing peanuts and decoy cards to prevent movement during transit. It’s also wise to put a folded piece of paper along the inside edges to protect the card corners.

If you're shipping fewer than 75 cards, try to avoid using boxes. They are bulky. Instead, use up to four team bags and a bubble envelope to keep things flatter, reducing shipping costs. Additionally, bubble mailers cost less than cardboard storage boxes, offering potential savings on two fronts.

Additional Tips for Saving on Shipping Supplies

While they may look the same, tape used for storage and moving differs from mailing tape. Packaging tape is cheaper, which will save you money when shipping trading cards.

You can save even more by investing in a tape gun and buying rolls of packing tape in bulk, usually in packages of six rolls.

If you don't buy or trade much, you can manually write out envelopes the old-fashioned way. However, doing this in quantity is time-consuming and prone to mistakes. Instead, you can use mailing labels.

Several companies produce mailing labels, with Avery being one of the most popular. They offer labels in various sizes, formatted for all printers, and available in multiple quantity assortments.

An alternative to labels is printing your shipping information onto standard printer paper and affixing it to envelopes or boxes with packaging tape.

A postage scale can significantly reduce the gas you use driving to the post office and the time spent standing in line. They are affordable, typically costing less than $30. Ensure the scale has a weight limit exceeding 10 lbs. and measures to the tenth of an ounce. This guarantees you can ship anything from items needing a plain white envelope to those requiring a large storage box.

Instead of repeatedly writing your return address, consider getting a custom self-inking stamper for a small cost. Using a stamper is quicker, taking a second compared to a minute for writing. A basic stamper can be found on eBay for under $10, saving time for more productive tasks.

Got more tips and pointers on how to save money on trading card shipping supplies? Let us know in the comments below.

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