The purpose of this guide is to help sellers of postcards to properly package and ship their postcards. This guide is intended to make sure the customer receives their purchase in an undamaged condition, is able to open the package without damaging the contents, and (hopefully) turns your buyer into a regular and satisfied customer. This information has been developed after participating in the Postcard Collectors Group and reviewing the many comments made by both buyers and sellers.

One of the most common complaints is that sellers use too much sealing or cellophane tape. The second most common complaint is that sellers use bubble wrap even though it is unnecessary when shipping a postcard. Combine the two of these no-no's together and you have a pretty unhappy customer!

Guideline number 1: Thou shall not use cellophane or sealing tape! As you read a little farther along in this guide, you will understand why it is not necessary to use it.

Guideline number 2: Thou shall not use bubble wrap! It will not prevent a card from bending, there is no good way to seal it, it is time consuming to use. Remember, if it takes you a few extra minutes to package a card for shipping, the extra time adds up by the end of the week. As the saying goes, time is money. If you can be posting instead of packaging, you will increase your income. For example, if you sell fifteen cards a week, and you take an extra 3 minutes to package a card, you will save 30 minutes by cutting the packaging time down to 1 minute per card. You can probably post an extra 15 cards in those 30 minutes. Besides, packaging and shipping is drudgery and you are into eBay for the fun and excitement (not to mention a few extra bucks in your pockets)!

Next on the list of buyer angst is inadequate or incomplete information for the buyer to determine which seller the card came from. Keep in mind that a lot of these buyers (collectors) are pretty serious folks who do a lot of buying on eBay every week. They do not want to go through the trouble of tracking the seller down. And think of providing essential information as a plus for you: you want the positive feedback! Positive feedback generates additional sales and buyers and builds your business and income.

Guideline number 3: Thou shall always provide your eBay seller ID, and the item number of the postcard! All the time, every time!

I have purchased a substantial number of postcards over the years and I have received the cards in many types of packaging. I feel that there is a relationship between what the seller charges for postage or shipping and handling, and the value that the buyer perceives he or she is getting. I feel that $2.00US is a fair price for S&H IF the sender provides packaging that protects the postcard. What does not seem reasonable is for the seller to charge over $2.00 and then send the card in a plain white envelope, the address scribbled by hand, no stiffener or protective sleeve to keep the card from bending, and paying the standard first-class rate for the postage. I do not seem to be getting VALUE.

Guideline number 4: Thou shall ship the postcard packaged to arrive safely without damage.

How should you package a postcard so that it does not only arrive safely but ensures a customer returns to buy more? I recommend stiff white cardboard CD mailers. They can be purchased (eBay is of course a great place to buy them) with a self-seal adhesive strip. They also come with pull tabs for easy opening. A standard size 3.5 X 5.5 postcard easily slides into this mailer. I also place the postcard into a plastic sleeve. Again, these can be purchased on eBay. Why the extra step? I want to protect the package from the elements! This is how I learned this lesson: I sent a postcard that had family nostalgic value to a customer in Florida. During that week a hurricane struck Florida. The buyer emailed me and thanked me profusely for taking the extra step in packaging care. Even though the mailer arrived SOAKED from the rain, the card inside was not damaged. It is best NOT to use a Ziploc type bag since it may put a "ridge" into the card as it is processed.

I know what you may be thinking. Doesn't this cost a lot? Here is the breakdown: Approximately .15 cents for the mailer (buy in BULK), a penny for the plastic sleeve, maybe another two cents for the mailing label and toner (I use plain white paper and cut the label to size), a piece of clear quality tape over the label so it won't run or bleed from water, and finally the postage. My postage for this package runs .75 cents (.58 for the first class postage and a .17 cent non-machine surcharge). The total cost: about .94 cents. The satisfied customer: Priceless!

Guideline number 5: Two pieces of cardboard (from a cereal box or corrugated box) with the postcard sandwiched in between and a rubber band holding it together will NOT keep the card from bending when shipped in a plain white no. 10 envelope. Don't waste your time or incur your buyer's wrath by using this shoddy shortcut.

Guideline number 6: Hey, it's the 21st century; use your computer to print out your mailing label! Somehow a handwritten address label just doesn't look all that professional. And why waste time? Use your copy and paste function to insert the address directly from the eBay order details into your mailing label.

Optional guideline number 7: Affix a "Do Not Bend" sticker to the mailer. The thinking on this seems to go a number of ways. It may add to the cost of the mailing (as I mentioned before, my mailers can not be machine processed so there is a surcharge), OR it may be like waving a red flag in front of a bull and the mail carrier will intentionally bend the parcel. My own sense is that 99% of mail carriers are conscientious folks and wouldn't think of possibly ruining someone's family photos. Not one buyer has ever reported that their mailer arrived bent.

Optional guideline number 8: Use the USPS delivery confirmation system for items that warrant it. When I set my eBay mailing preferences for my postcards, I offer first class shipping and priority shipping. If you use the USPS Click n' Ship online system (no need to buy the postage online, you can just print a label), the delivery confirmation is included in the fee. Remember the $200 card I mentioned earlier in this guide? I took the extra step and sent it priority with delivery confirmation. I absorbed the small additional cost but I was pleasantly surprised when the buyer emailed me and thanked me for upgrading the shipping. Obviously you need to apply a certain amount of common sense on this but it usually does not pay to be penny wise pound foolish. 

Guideline number 9: Ship promptly! My goal is to ship within two business days after the item has been paid for. I email my customer when the item is shipped and provide an anticipated time frame for delivery.

I hope you find this introductory guide to packaging and shipping postcards informative and useful. Best wishes and happy eBaying!