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 Replies: 31 / Views: 23,173 |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
How are people cheaply shipping a single coin, like a U.S. cent? It would be $1.68 in a padded mailer and that might exceed the value of the cent or make it tough to entice a buyer with another few dollars of shipping... The only answer I can give is that if the cost of shipping has that great an effect - and the price you quoted is about as cheap as it gets - you need a different business model. Just because you can sell something doesn't always mean you should. |
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Valued Member
United States
329 Posts |
well it's not a business model. I would like to sell my small finds to help offset my collecting a bit. I see people charging like $.50 shipping on the 'Bay I just can't figure out how. The post office says they check when people send things media mail and if I send a coin in an envelope it might be machined or damaged. Just thought I would see if anyone knew how
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Pillar of the Community
United States
615 Posts |
You'd be amazed, but there are people who stick coins in an envelope, slap a stamp on it, and send it. Don't be that guy =/
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
The people charging that little for shipping are assuming some of the cost themselves. Like I said, the number you quoted is about as cheap as it can be done. If you can't make a profit assuming that cost, you shouldn't be selling the item. All you can do is start bidding at 0.99 with the actual cost of shipping added, and hope someone's willing to pay the price.
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Valued Member
United States
329 Posts |
Thanks SsuperDdave and Hippie Outcast. Thats what I thought and again just thought I would check!
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
We purchase 4x8 kraft000 bubble mailers in boxes of 1000 for $66.00
Best deal you will find.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
I hate to confess it but I will. I've mailed plenty of inexpensive coins in an envelope and slapped a stamp on it. The bidders/buyers know what they are getting when they see shipping at .99. Only had one problem with a buyer not receiving a coin, and I refunded him the $2.97. I appreciate being able to buy and sell inexpensive coins inexpensively and I believe my buyers do too. IMHO $1.69 plus the cost of a mailer is just too high for a minimum shipping cost. On another note, I can't tell you how many 000 mailers I've recycled and used the over again. I save all that I get. I am frugal and don't want to spend .50 on a mailer if I can help it. Signed elcheapo eddie  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
When somebody buys something, they expect to receive it in the condition as shown when they purchased it. The only way to make sure that happens is provide that coin with adequate protection for its trip through the postal system.
I absolutely cringe when I receive a coin that was just thrown into an envelope. Many don't survive in their original condition. And I've had more go missing that way via it working its way out than any other way.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
Sorry, didn't think the thread was about protecting the coins, just shipping methods. For the record, I don't just throw it in an envelope. I was using the saying as a 'figure-of-speech.' There are MANY simple ways to protect coins in plain envelopes. None of my coins has ever arrived damaged. Sorry for the confusion. My Bad. The point is that if I, or anybody else, can sell a coin inexpensively, and ship it inexpensively, make someone happy, and make a profit no matter how small.......then that seller is now an entrepreneur. Something that more people should be doing, and something this country needs more of. Sorry, enough preaching for now. Awesome forum. Just my .02. ed
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
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The point is that if I, or anybody else, can sell a coin inexpensively, and ship it inexpensively, make someone happy, and make a profit no matter how small.......then that seller is now an entrepreneur. I dont have a problem with anyone buying or selling with that method when they know. I will say though for ebay at least youre shooting yourself in the foot doing that. Unless theyve changed requirements to get top rated seller status you have to upload tracking and getting that gets you a 20 percent discount on fees. Now if thats all youre selling it makes sense, but if you sell other stuff you need to figure out if the lost discount is more or less than the gained profit. If your profit is less than you would save with the fee discount its counterproductive. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
Good to know about the 'uploading tracking to get top rated seller status.' I upload tracking info too, along with selling the less expensive stuff. Actually don't sell the cheap stuff much anymore, but had fun in the beginning when I did...was just really getting into selling some cheap pennies and some SBA dollars. If something wasn't going to sell for more than a buck or two, people weren't willing to spend $1.69 on shipping. For me, once a coin gets up to more than a few bucks, then tracking gets involved. Like I said, don't really do that too much anymore, but it's a good way for anyone to get started selling |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Here's my shipping method--which has proven to be very reliable and cheap.  I wrap self-adhesive corrugated around the coin(s), and put that into a #000 Kraft padded mailer. I buy both materials in bulk, bringing costs down to ~$0.15 per mailing. My packaging may be 'overkill', but everyone has received their coins in the same condition as shipped.   Edited by DVCollector
01/21/2014 4:04 pm
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Valued Member
United States
337 Posts |
I use padded envelopes, but also wrap with bubble wrap. I get the envelopes from Royal Mailers, an online company that does not charge shipping. I also but 6X6X4 boxes for boxed coins, since damage to the box if squished in an envelope would destroy my 100% feedback. If you do not like wrapping with bubble wrap, a slightly more expensive option is bubble pouches. Royal Mailers handles these as well, and large rolls of bubble wrap.
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Valued Member
United States
87 Posts |
I reuse mailers also. Sometimes, I cut out just enough of an old bubble mailer for the coin to be cushioned and then put in another envelope that won't tear. Works well. I'm reusing and it helps keeping the price down on supplies.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2917 Posts |
It depends on what I'm shipping. Single coins go in 2x2 flips which I then pad with some bubble wrap and place in a standard letter sized envelope. Total costs of my materials end up being about 10 cents as I buy the envelopes and bubble wrap in bulk. Postage + materials usually end up running me about 81 cents total. Out of over 500 items shipped this way, I've only had one not get to the destination. With this method, there is no tracking. As a result, rogue buyers do occasionally try to take advantage of you when shipping this way. Rolls go in size 0 yellow bubble mailers (I buy in buck at a cost of around 10 cents each) if they're below the amount for sending a Small Flat Rate USPS Box... Usually it costs me $2.77 in postage (to send a single roll when using my ebay discounts. As the weight increases, so does your discount. Larger items such as bulk orders of five rolls go in a Small Flat Rate USPS Box (which you can get free at the post office). With my 70 cent ebay discount, those run $6.45 to send. I also usually put these rolls in a size 0 envelope before placing them in the boxes. Also, I do like to insure any order of $25 or more in value which doesn't have tracking. CRH Nickeloholic. 1,600,000 nickels searched in eight years! Have found FOUR complete Jefferson sets!
Edited by John77
03/07/2017 10:55 am
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Replies: 31 / Views: 23,173 |
First Page
Posted 01/05/2013 3:45 pm
