Tips & Tricks
CARD TIPS
THINGS YOU NEED:
- CARD SLEEVES AKA PENNY SLEEVES (BOTH REGULAR AND THICK)
- TOP LOADERS (ALL SIZES)
- ONE TOUCH MAGNETIC CARD HOLDER (ALL SIZES)
- SNAP TITES (ALL SIZES)
- 2 PIECE OR HINGED PLASTIC CARD BOXES (ALL SIZES)
- CARDBOARD STORAGE BOXES (ALL SIZES)
- POCKET KNIFE
- SCISSORS
- LETTER OPENER
I CANNOT STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS CARD SUPPLIES. IT IS THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU WILL MAKE FOR YOUR COLLECTION.
ONE TIP THAT I WILL GIVE YOU ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR CARD IS PUTTING THE CARD IN THE PENNY SLEEVE. I HAVE DINGED MY FAIR SHARE OF CORNERS SO I STARTED TAKING A SMALL POCKET KNIFE, SCISSORS, OR LETTER OPENER AND CUTTING A 1/4" SLIT IN THE EDGE OF THE PENNY SLEEVE. THIS WILL PREVENT THE CORNER OF THE CARD FROM CATCHING ON THE EDGE OF THE SLEEVE AND POSSIBLY DOING SOME CONER DAMAGE.
SHIPPING TIPS
THINGS YOU NEED:
- PRINTER
- SHIPPING LABEL PRINTER
- DIGITAL SCALE
- BUBBLE MAILERS
- SHIPPING TAPE
- STAMPS
- BUBBLE WRAP
- PACKING MATERIALS
BUY BUBBLE MAILERS IN BULK, AND BUY POLY BAGS SO THAT YOU CAN RECYCLE BUBBLE MAILERS THAT YOU GET YOUR CARDS AND BREAKS IN. I USE EBAY AS THERE ARE SEVERAL SELLERS THAT HAVE GREAT DEALS ON BUBBLE MAILERS IN DIFFERENT QUANTITIES. THE POLY MAILERS I USE ARE 10”X12” AND ALLOW YOU TO USE A USED BUBBLE MAILER TO SHIP A CARD.
NOTE: IF YOU’RE SELLING ON EBAY OR HAVE A STORE, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU USE A BRAND NEW BUBBLE MAILER.THERE IS A CHEAP ALTERNATIVE TO USING A PLAIN WHITE ENVELOPE (PWE), WHICH I WOULD NEVER MAIL A SPORTS CARD IN. YOU CAN USE A 6”X6” FLAT MAILER. IT REQUIRES A NON-MACHINABLE SURCHARGE BUT YOU CAN COMBINE IT WITH THE FREE TRACKING NUMBER YOU CAN GET FROM THE USPS WEBSITE AND IT’S A SAFE WAY TO SHIP A SINGLE CARD FOR A DOLLAR WITH TRACKING. CHECK OUT THE USPS WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL SHIPPING SUPPLIES IF YOU SELL ONLINE. THEY ALSO HAVE FREE TRACKING NUMBERS YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR PACKAGES MAKING IT EASIER TO MAIL A CARD FOR A DOLLAR WITH TRACKING.
IF YOU SHIP AT LEAST 10 PACKAGES A MONTH IT PAYS TO HAVE A LABEL PRINTER. IF YOU ASK WHAT TYPE, EVERYONE HAS THEIR FAVORITE OR PREFERENCE. I LIKE DYMO, BUT ANY LABEL PRINTER INSTANTLY SAVES YOU MONEY WHEN SHIPPING THROUGH EBAY OR PAYPAL AND IT ALSO PROVIDES TRACKING FOR EACH PACKAGE YOU SHIP.
HOW DO I PACKAGE A CARD FOR SHIPPING? WITH WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET IT THERE SAFE AND SOUND!! I ALWAYS HAVE CARDS I’M SHIPPING IN A PENNY SLEEVE AND EITHER TOP LOADED OR IN A MAGNETIC ONE-TOUCH UNLESS IT’S A GRADED OR SLABBED CARD. THEN YOU PUT IT IN A RESEALABLE BAG (NEW OR RECYCLED), AND THEN WRAPPED IN A “CUSTOM” CARDBOARD SLEEVE AND THEN TAPED UP. SLIP IT IN A BUBBLE MAILER, TAPE IT UP, WEIGH IT, AND GET THE LABEL PRINTED, ALSO KNOWN AS “PACKED AND TRACKED!”
IF YOU ARE USING PAYPAL, THERE IS NO PRICE DIFFERENCE FOR 3 OR 4 OUNCE PACKAGES, SO I ALWAYS SELECT 4 OUNCES, UNLESS THE PACKAGE WEIGHS MORE.