I recently saw an ad for Ebay standard envelope as an alternative to first class package service. Awfully tempting, as the price is only a fraction of the first class package rate, but I find myself somewhat skeptical that items sent this way will actually reach their destination unharmed. Anyone here have any experience shipping low value coins this way?
Requirements seem liberal enough for some padding, and with a cap of $20 none of the coins should be valuable enough to be a real loss anyway (unless it's a nice cherrypick). I think it'll be a good mover for low end coins, since Ebay penalizes sellers (against their top rated status, anyway) for shipping without tracking. Kinda silly to pay $3-4 to ship a $1 coin.
It seems like a good idea for cheaper coins. Some people have been mailing these using a stamp (no tracking) so this might be an upgrade. It might also mean more inexpensive coins are listed for sale since before many didn't bother given that shipping costs with tracking made it not feasible for those wanting to have proof of delivery. https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/shipping/ebay-standard-envelope.html @Hiddendragon have you seen this? I know you list coins where this might be beneficial.
I guess that might be true, but it also seems like a silly risk for someone at the post office. The items have to sell for $20 or less to be eligible. Imagine stealing someone's junk bin world coin that sold on eBay for $3 and that the LCS wouldn't even pay a dime for.
Never underestimate people’s stupidity LOL. Just look at how many get caught throwing stuff away to lighten their load. I think the bigger issue probably though is we both know most collectors don’t want even the slightest hint they’re a collector from their packaging regardless of value and this really gives that away.
That's true; there is plenty of stupidity out there. I still think it is useful overall since a number of things could be shipped this way- stamps, sports cards, post cards, etc...most of it doesn't really give much away about either person (it might even suggest they only collect "junk" to the average person delivering the mail).
Yes, actually I posted about this a few weeks back when I first saw it. I've been using it without any problems so far. The advantages are that it offers proof of shipping and supposedly if it gets lost it's insured to $20. I don't know how that actually works or how you'd file a claim but I'm sick of having stuff lost in the mail and having to eat the cost. The only disadvantage I've seen is it's not like real tracking so it doesn't update along the way, just at the beginning and end. I had one guy email me saying that the tracking showed it was out for delivery in a different town than where he lived, but later that day he wrote back and said he got it. I'm sure there will be some kind of problem eventually but it's been smooth so far.
Glad to see that this service has been expanded from cards to include coins and stamps as well! I plan to watch a little while longer before trying It. I've been selling on ebay for more than 20 years and have learned to be wary of anything new.
I wasn't excited about managed payments but it's been fine. Easier to keep track of what I'm actually earning I think. What's your issue with it?
Make an empty separate checking account for anything online. If you have to keep like 20 dollars or whatever the minimum for your bank is. The bigger issue is payments are delayed or at least have been instead of being right away.
I've had terrible luck sending coins in an envelope. The automated machines they use tear the crap out of the packaging if there is the slightest irregularly.
I've sent thousands of coins in envelopes. I have the coins in a 2x2 and fold a sheet of paper around it. For one coin I use a forever stamp, two coins gets a 75 cent stamp and over one ounce gets 95 cents. More than four and I use a bubble mailer. I'd say I have over 99 percent success. I have had three bubble mailers lost this year so that's no guarantee either.
PayPal has my checking account and so does Amazon, so I guess I just expect it. I do have a separate account for it. Yes, the payments are delayed a few days but personally I'm not in a hurry so that doesn't matter.
I have a separate one too, my biggest beef is I shouldn’t have to wait for days for it to come in with the new system when that wasn’t it before. At least just release the shipping price if nothing else.