If you are a pokemon card collector or seller, you might wonder how to ship your cards safely and securely to your buyers or traders. Shipping pokemon cards can be tricky, as you want to avoid damaging, bending, or scratching them during the delivery process. You also want to keep the shipping costs as low as possible, while ensuring that your cards arrive in good condition and on time.
In this article, we will show you the best way to ship pokemon cards in 2023, based on our experience and research. We will cover the following topics:
- What are the best materials and supplies to pack and ship pokemon cards?
- How to pack pokemon cards for shipping?
- How to choose the best carrier and service for shipping pokemon cards?
- How to save money on shipping pokemon cards?
- How to track and insure your shipment of pokemon cards?
- What are some tips and tricks to ship pokemon cards like a pro?
By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of how to ship pokemon cards in the most safe and secure way possible, while also being cost-effective and efficient. Whether you are shipping a single card or a bulk order, this guide will help you make the best decisions for your hobby or business.
What are the best materials and supplies to pack and ship pokemon cards?
The first step to ship pokemon cards is to gather the right materials and supplies to pack them properly. You will need the following items:
- Card sleeves: These are thin plastic sleeves that fit snugly over your cards and protect them from dust, dirt, moisture, and fingerprints. Card sleeves are essential for shipping any kind of trading cards, as they prevent them from sliding out during the shipping process. You can use either soft card sleeves or hard card sleeves, depending on your preference and budget. Soft card sleeves are cheaper and more flexible, but hard card sleeves are more rigid and durable. You can also use penny sleeves, which are very thin and cheap card sleeves that can fit inside hard card sleeves for extra protection.
- Toploaders: These are hard plastic cases that fit over your sleeved cards and provide extra rigidity and protection. Toploaders are especially important for shipping valuable cards, as they prevent them from bending or breaking during transit. Toploaders come in different sizes and thicknesses, so make sure you choose the ones that fit your cards well. You can also use resealable poly bags to seal your toploaders and prevent them from opening during shipping.
- Cardboard: You will need some cardboard pieces to sandwich your toploaded cards and provide more stability and support. You can use any kind of cardboard, such as cereal boxes, crackers boxes, or shipping boxes. Just make sure you cut them to the right size and shape for your cards. You can also use rigid mailers, which are pre-cut cardboard envelopes that are designed for shipping flat items like documents or photos.
- Bubble mailers: These are padded envelopes that have a layer of bubble wrap inside to cushion your cards from shocks and impacts. Bubble mailers are ideal for shipping small quantities of cards, as they are lightweight, cheap, and easy to use. You can find bubble mailers in different sizes and colors at your local post office or online.
- Tape: You will need some tape to secure your cardboard pieces together and seal your bubble mailers. You can use any kind of tape, such as clear tape, masking tape, or duct tape. Just make sure you use enough tape to cover all the edges and corners of your package, but not too much that it adds unnecessary weight or bulk.
- Label: You will need a label to write or print your address and the recipient’s address on your package. You can use a plain paper label, a sticky label, or a printed label from your carrier’s website or app. Make sure you write or print clearly and legibly, and include all the relevant information such as name, street address, city, state, zip code, country, phone number, and email address. You can also add a return address in case your package gets lost or returned.
How to pack pokemon cards for shipping?
Once you have all the materials and supplies ready, you can start packing your pokemon cards for shipping. Here are the steps to follow:
- Step 1: Put each card in a card sleeve. Carefully slide each card into a soft card sleeve or a penny sleeve. Make sure the sleeve fits well and does not leave any gaps or wrinkles. If you are using hard card sleeves, you can skip this step.
- Step 2: Put each sleeved card in a toploader. Carefully slide each sleeved card into a toploader that matches its size and thickness. Make sure the toploader fits well and does not leave any gaps or wrinkles. If you are using resealable poly bags, you can seal each toploader with them.
- Step 3: Sandwich each toploaded card between two pieces of cardboard. Cut two pieces of cardboard that are slightly larger than your toploaded cards. Place one piece of cardboard on a flat surface, and place your toploaded card on top of it. Then, place another piece of cardboard on top of your toploaded card, and press them together firmly. Tape the edges and corners of the cardboard pieces together, making sure they are aligned and secure.
- Step 4: Put each sandwiched card in a bubble mailer. Choose a bubble mailer that is large enough to fit your sandwiched card without bending or folding it. Place your sandwiched card inside the bubble mailer, and seal it with tape. Make sure there is no extra space or movement inside the bubble mailer, and that it is well padded and protected.
- Step 5: Attach a label to your bubble mailer. Write or print your address and the recipient’s address on a label, and stick it to the front of your bubble mailer. Make sure the label is visible and readable, and that it does not cover any seams or flaps of the bubble mailer. You can also add a “Do Not Bend” or “Fragile” sticker to your bubble mailer, to alert the carrier and the handler of the contents.
How to choose the best carrier and service for shipping pokemon cards?
The next step to ship pokemon cards is to choose the best carrier and service for your shipment. There are many factors to consider when choosing a carrier and service, such as speed, cost, reliability, tracking, insurance, and customer service. Here are some of the most popular carriers and services for shipping pokemon cards in 2023:
- USPS: The United States Postal Service is the most common and affordable carrier for shipping pokemon cards within the US and internationally. USPS offers various services and options for shipping pokemon cards, such as First Class Mail, Priority Mail, Express Mail, Media Mail, International Mail, Certified Mail, Registered Mail, Delivery Confirmation, Signature Confirmation, Insurance, and more. You can calculate the rates and delivery times for each service on their website or app, and print your labels online or at a post office. You can also track your shipment online or by phone, and file a claim if your package is lost or damaged.
- FedEx: FedEx is another popular carrier for shipping pokemon cards within the US and internationally. FedEx offers various services and options for shipping pokemon cards, such as FedEx Ground, FedEx Express, FedEx Home Delivery, FedEx SmartPost, FedEx International Economy, FedEx International Priority, FedEx Delivery Manager, FedEx Tracking, FedEx Insurance, and more. You can calculate the rates and delivery times for each service on their website or app, and print your labels online or at a drop-off location. You can also track your shipment online or by phone, and file a claim if your package is lost or damaged.
- UPS: UPS is another popular carrier for shipping pokemon cards within the US and internationally. UPS offers various services and options for shipping pokemon cards, such as UPS Ground, UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air, UPS 3 Day Select, UPS SurePost, UPS Worldwide Expedited, UPS Worldwide Saver, UPS My Choice, UPS Tracking, UPS Insurance, and more. You can calculate the rates and delivery times for each service on their website or app, and print your labels online or at a drop-off location. You can also track your shipment online or by phone, and file a claim if your package is lost or damaged.
How to save money on shipping pokemon cards?
Shipping pokemon cards can be expensive if you don’t plan ahead and compare different options. Here are some tips to save money on shipping pokemon cards:
- Use free or recycled materials: You can save money on packing materials by using free or recycled items that you already have at home or can get from local stores. For example, you can use old cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, crackers boxes, newspapers, magazines, bubble wrap, plastic bags, etc. Just make sure they are clean and in good condition.
- Use online tools: You can save money on postage by using online tools that allow you to print your labels at home or at a discounted rate. For example, you can use PayPal Shipping Labels, eBay Shipping Labels, Stamps.com, Pirate Ship, etc. These tools also allow you to compare different carriers and services based on price and speed.
- Use flat rate boxes: You can save money on postage by using flat rate boxes that charge a fixed price regardless of weight or size. For example, you can use USPS Flat Rate Boxes, FedEx One Rate Boxes, UPS Simple Rate Boxes, etc. These boxes are ideal for shipping large quantities of cards or heavy items.
- Use media mail: You can save money on postage by using media mail if you are shipping only books or educational materials with your cards. For example, you can use USPS Media Mail, which is