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I have to VENT!!Kinda Discussion though

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I have to VENT!!Kinda Discussion though
Ok, now I'm worried. I have four pins on their way to Judy, and I couldn't handle her rage. Maybe I shouldn't have packed them loose in a bag of gravel...

Should we list the basics?

- Wrap each pin individually no matter how many you are sending
- Use bubble wrap if you can - but use something!
- Secure the wrap with tape
- Put the pin(s) in a padded envelope
- Try to prevent the pins from moving and rubbing against each other (even though you have wrapped them individually)

What else? Feel free to add to the list.
 
tiggermickey said:
I will add"Pay the proper postage"!!!
Click to expand...

Good one!

I can't understand how some people think. Do they measure the weight of the package by looking at it? Do they base their idea of the shipping fee on something they sent two years ago? The mind boggles.
 
Argh. I've only had a pin come to me in a regular business envelope once, thank goodness the pin (1) got to me and (2) somehow wasn't damaged! The envelope was really beat up and with some holes in it, what a miracle it got to me.

I'm thinking that now, when I agree to a pint trade, I'm going to put a kindly-worded message in the e-mail asking that they package it properly (if it's someone I've never traded with before).

Gee, it's so nice that people would trust the P.O. so implicitly, but *ahem* unfortunately, they aren't concerned about in what shape packages arrive to recipients!

Hannette
 
Honestly, I think it's just a little sad that we even have to write out a tutorial on the proper way to ship out a package. I always thought the following 'proper' steps of sending off a package:

1. Make sure the pin(s) is/are properly wrapped in bubble wrap
2. Address the LBE and write/type out a note confirming the trade
3. Carefully place the pins in the LBE with the note confirming the trade (along with extra packing/bubble wrap, if necessary)
4. Attach postage, or take LBE to the post office - in either case, make sure you are using the correct amount of postage so LBE does not come back to you or is delivered with postage due

Would have been common sense, but as is evident, I guess not. I always follow these steps and I've never had a single problem with a pin or LBE that I've sent out (at least, not that anyone who has traded with me has told me).
 
Yes, you really would think common sense would tell you to wrap and ship them carefully... it is like jewelry. Why would you not protect it?? I have never understood that and it is why I get so annoyed when something comes in and I just have to stand there and think, REALLY??!!

I agree with the TOO MUCH tape though. I have had some that I was scared I would scratch the pin just trying to cut through the roll of tape...lol
 
I am going to put this out there because once in awhile I do this: I like to recycle my packaging materials. I save good bubble wrap and re-use it, and when I don't have time to go to the store, I'll re-use a padded envelope. Of course, I only re-use anything that is in very good condition, but I do re-use these things. Sometimes I don't have time to pick up some more at the store. I always send in a padded envelope and try to bubble wrap each pin individually. It's not a hard thing to do.

Hope my head isn't bitten off for recylcing (or is it reusing? or is it both?)! At least it keeps out .15 lbs. of plastic out of the trash!
 
Hi Yo,

I do the same thing. Any bubble wrap or jiffy bags in good condition are most definately reused. Why waste them? You can stick a label over the old address and it is as good as new!! :) :)

Waste not want not.

Martin :) :)
 
Hi Judy,

So sorry that happened to you. I can only state the obvious- never trade with that person again. I think that neg. feedback left for him/her might come back to haunt you... sigh. A BUMMER!
 
When I started pin trading I had no idea how to send a pin. If this trader is new to the game, perhaps this isn't the best way to handle the situation.


Maybe you should email them and tell them how to properly ship pins instead of attack them? Why is this board so hostile lately?
 
I, too, recently received a pin in a normal white envelope. I honestly thought when I opened it, "hmm, wonder what this letter is" never dreaming it was a pin (I'm just so used to those padded envelopes). When I opened it and realized it was a pin, I stood there like I had been smacked. How it didn't get broken is beyond me, it was just floating around in the envelope.

I get all my padded envelopes from an ebay seller and I buy them 100 at a time. They are so cheap and to me, if you can't afford to buy proper packaging, you probably don't need to be trading :)
 
I have been guilty of sending a few pins in white envelopes but that was in the early days when I had make like 6 or 7 trades.

I now send every pin wrapped in bubble wrap or tissue or foam inside a jiffy. :)

Jiffy bags cost about 20 cents each, so there is no big cost at all!!

Martin :) :)
 
tiggermickey said:
I just recieved a trade today,with the WORST shipping and packaging,I have ever recieved,I am beside myself here..I cannot even go into here,I am afraid I will post something not appropiate it for this GREAT forum...if anyone I traded with wants to know who,I will be happy to tell you.I will tell you I had to pay $1.00 postage due,the pin was damaged,glue all over the back of it,and mailed after we agreed to trade 4 days before then..please when you send,protect the pins..thats one of my trading pet peeves here
And the pins came in a plain white envelope,both pins clanging together(kissing each other)

Judy
Click to expand...

For real!? :squint: How old is the trader? Sounds like we need to do an ABC for mailing pins. :wavey:

Blacksmoke said:
I can't count the number of pins I have received in regular envelopes and postage due on others lately. I can't believe people think they can mail for 80 cents. Sounds like some of you are also experiencing this. I also have been scammed lately (not receiving trade by 6 people in the last 2 months). Boo
Click to expand...

Hoping that they're just tied up in the mail - been known to happen. :x:
 
Sorry to hear about your pins Judy. I only received a pin like that once so far. The post was bent but I was able to fix it. I admit that sometimes if I'm sending out one pin that's still new and big (like a pin/card set) that's still in original plastic packaging, I skip the extra bubble wrap and just put it in a BE. But with everything else I always bubble wrap and put it in a new BE. I recycle bubble wrap/packing materials but for some reason I have thing with using used envelopes. I don't mind receiving them but can't bring myself to use them :dunno:.

I also always print labels and tape over the address part and delivery confirmation part (the numbers not the part where they scan). Its a habit I picked up from selling online. I would recommend everyone doing this because a few weeks ago I was surprised one of my trades made it here! It had been raining like crazy and by the time I got the LBE, the "To and From" addresses was streaked/gone/unreadable.
 
Last edited:
I've only received one bad packing.
It was a POH coming from the UK. It arrived to me in a paper envelope and in a small plastic baggie.

Somehow, the pin arrived perfectly and bubble undamaged! lol
I guess I got lucky.
 
I don't trade much, but I do buy a lot of pins from eBay, and have received some pins just loose in envelopes like you're describing. Bugs me the most when I pay $4+ for shipping and handling, but clearly only $1 or so went to shipping/packaging. Fortunately the few times that has happened to me (maybe 5 times over a number of years), the pins have somehow miraculously arrived unscathed.
On the contrary, I've received some pins package SO WELL that they're often hard to get into! Not that I'm complaining, but it does usually make me giggle. Maybe a hint over protective, but still obviously better than loose and unpadded.
 
kmeakin said:
I don't trade much, but I do buy a lot of pins from eBay, and have received some pins just loose in envelopes like you're describing. Bugs me the most when I pay $4+ for shipping and handling, but clearly only $1 or so went to shipping/packaging. Fortunately the few times that has happened to me (maybe 5 times over a number of years), the pins have somehow miraculously arrived unscathed.
On the contrary, I've received some pins package SO WELL that they're often hard to get into! Not that I'm complaining, but it does usually make me giggle. Maybe a hint over protective, but still obviously better than loose and unpadded.
Click to expand...

Ok I can one up you!

Try paying $4 on EBay for S/H and then have to pay another 34 cents because they did not use enough postage!!!!! Argh!

Vicki
 
erudolf said:
Agreed, shipping pins with little or no protection and with postage due is horrible. I think overkill on the bubble wrap is fine, but please - for the love of the pin gods - PLEASE don't use half a roll of tape!!! Tape does virtually nothing in terms of protection and frustrates the person trying to open the darn thing. I have come extremely close to cutting myself when trying to open some packages because they are covered in tape and I had to use a knife or scissors and even then it was a challenge. Plus, you never know what you are cutting into! If you have to use scissors you run the risk of cutting the backer card.
Click to expand...

+1! I hate when I have to worry about damaging the backing card while doing surgery on a ton of tape. Just a little tape will hold the bubble wrap in place.
 
scottydem said:
When I started pin trading I had no idea how to send a pin. If this trader is new to the game, perhaps this isn't the best way to handle the situation.


Maybe you should email them and tell them how to properly ship pins instead of attack them? Why is this board so hostile lately?
Click to expand...

i completely agree with you, if the trader it is new, we should walk him/her through, not trying to make him/her feel bad, now if this have happen before and it happen again to the same person then i understand, i understand we get upset when this happen but that is why we have a the ability to talk, to tell the trader is a nice way what happened and that please be more careful, and if u are so mad that u don't want the pins because they got damage, then return them, ask if they can be return since they arrive damaged, lets not use our ability to talk to trash talk people, we all make mistakes, look at me, i became a great trader and try to not only make people happy by trading with them, but i also like to make their day by finding their grail and i try to just get something reasonable back for it, but even though i have 100% positive feedback, i have made mistakes, specially in the beginning, i sent the wrong pin to the wrong people so i politely asked to please send them back and i payed for everything because it was my mistake and i apologize, and these wonderful people were patient and thanks to these people being so understanding i was able to over come that incident, by giving bad review to this person that might just be starting we are going to just scare her off online trading, just stated that some issues came up but that is it. we all humans, we make mistakes, but that is why we can teach each other, but again there is a limit, if the person is rude and careless i understand to not trade with them, but if it is a new trader, that is different, we all need a second chance, lets help this people up to learn, not point them out like the black sheep and calling them half brainers and stuff. in my part, i try to do my online trading as pleasant as possible and some people here know that, but if i made a mistake please let me know and i will try to fix them or pay u back if u guys had to payed something when the pins arrived, everyday i learn, but how am i going to learn if i am not though, so again lets just help this guy/girl how to do it right, and do it nicely, please.

PS: i didn't do what happened to Judy lol. just so u know. :)
 
huertajv said:
Ok I can one up you!

Try paying $4 on EBay for S/H and then have to pay another 34 cents because they did not use enough postage!!!!! Argh!

Vicki
Click to expand...

i know what u mean, this have happen to me, i am not sure why, i go at night and use the mail it yourself machine and very few time somebody tell me that they had to payed 20 or 15 cents when they got their pins, and i guess most be because the stupid machine was broken or something because i weight it right there in front of me and i payed what it asks me to pay. i try to stay away from the machine but sometimes i have to use it if i don't want the person to wait for the pins till the week after since it is hard to me to go to the mail office in working hours. i sometimes hate technology, and that is because i can't fight with it, lol. i can't fight with something that won't fight back. :)
 
hi Judy,sorry to hear you had a bad experience there.i always send in a padded jiffy bag ,i usually package the pins with bubble wrap too ,although on our latest trade i have a horrible feeling i didn't put bubble wrap on one of them sorry it is a padded envelope though so please don't be cross with me.i also have to admit that i didn't post it until monday so i was a week late sending.i'm really sorry about this and i know you'll be cross with me about it but i've had a really difficult time lately and i just lost track of time but that's no excuse i know.if you don't want to trade with me anymore because i was late sending then i understand but i am very sorry.i should have written to you but i was scared to say about it, i am very sorry.i promise i will post on time in future.i'll send you a free pin to try and make up for the delay.from sabrina.
 
Hi Sabrina
First off I am NOT upset with you about the delay in shipping,take a deep breath Ok?I have not seen any hostile people on the board..that JMHO here
You know I am still looking at it,and had a nightmare all my trades came that way....this is so annoying,I usually leave feedback asap,I cannot do it
I am afraid I will rip them a new one,my hubby is even peeved off about it and he does not trade at all.and I hate hearing other stories about it here
its sad

Judy
 
on the postage due issue - one of the mistakes I see people make a lot is thinking the package qualifies for letter or large letter rates. Letter rates are only if the package is completely flat. Since pins are not flat, postage is at the package rates.
 
dizneydogs said:
on the postage due issue - one of the mistakes I see people make a lot is thinking the package qualifies for letter or large letter rates. Letter rates are only if the package is completely flat. Since pins are not flat, postage is at the package rates.
Click to expand...

That is true. I had a newer trader who I had to pay the postage on when the package arrived and I sent her a quick message letting her know that she had used the letter rate and not the package rate. She was glad I had explained this as she uses automated postage machines and did not realize there was a difference in the postage.
 
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