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Please Share Your Pin-Mailing Tips

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Please Share Your Pin-Mailing Tips
sayshelen

sayshelen

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Obviously many of you on these forums trade many pins a week via snail mail. I'd love to hear your tips and tricks on mailing methods.

-Where do you buy your mailing material (envelopes) - do you buy it in bulk?
-How do you pay for shipping? Do you have a large roll of stamps, or do you wait in line at the post office and get each package weighed individually, or what?
-In terms of keeping the pins safe, what is your packing preference? What do you like to see when you receive a pin in the mail? What type of packing do you consider rude or insufficient?

Thanks for informing a newbie!
 
I bought a pack of mailing envelopes from Office Depot, but it was way overpriced. I actually sometimes use these small brown boxes my family has in the basement and uses to ship things on ebay. They cost the same as an envelope to ship, although I can't remember if we got those for free or paid in bulk for them.

I personally go to the post office, have it weighed and pay for the shipping. I know some traders like to use delivery confirmation, which i'd like to start using when I start trading more valuable pins.

I use bubble wrap, and i've gotten all my pins in the mail wrapped in it as well. Pin your pin to the bubble, wrap it up a few times, and tape it so it's secure.

Hope that helps! I'm new myself so i'm always tweaking how I do things :)
 
Hi there,
Firsr of all.. Good questions.

I personally am not bothered how the pins arrive as long as they are in good condition and the trader is accountable for this. Sometimes I get pins loose in a jiffy bag or in a jiffy bag inside a jiffy bag which takes 20minutes to undo because it is so heavily wrapped in sellotape. Either way is fine. :)

I presume it is the same in the US as here in the UK, but we have to queue up as all parcels weigh different amounts so the price of posting is specific to the item!!

One little tip is reusing the jiffy bags people send to you, saves a few bucks!!!

Have a pintastic day!!

Martin :)

P.S When it comes to trading internationally then don't forget to fill out a customs form!!!

:)
 
I had some leftover envelopes from Ebay purchases, and my husband's book trading, that I reused. So I haven't had to buy any envelopes yet. And, I just reuse packing materials.

Our post office has an automated mailing machine, which I use. It's nice because then I can go after the post office is closed or on Sundays. Just select package and follow the prompts. I also send with DC. Although, I sent DH to the post office with one, and he couldn't figure it out the machine, even though I told him what to select and how much it should end up being. So he ended up sending it priority, and whatever he selected had the cost of about $6! But, if I have to mail international, then I have to stand in the line.

When I send, I put the pin in a jewelry bag, and then wrap in bubble wrap and tape it. I try to include a copy of the email or PM concerning the trade, but sometimes get in a rush and don't get that done. With doing a lot of trading, it's easy to lose track of why someone is sending you a certain pin, so it's nice when there is a reminder in the package.
 
I also reuse padded envelopes & bubble wrap from other packages. I think you can get a pack of 3 or so at the Dollar Tree--cheaper than Office Depot. You can also put packages in your mailbox to be picked up, up to 1 lb with stamps. Over 1 lb and they have to be taken to the Post Office *or* you can print online postage and request carrier pickup.

I have a postal scale, which was worth it to me for the convenience. If you have a Paypal account, you can also print labels online from it & can buy Delivery Confirmation much cheaper that way, I think 19 cents online vs. 55 in the PO.

I package up, print label online and stick it in my mailbox--never have to leave the house!
 
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Definitely, I reuse any padded mailer I can. It saves money. I initially bought padded envelopes on ebay in bulk. I found decent prices, way better than any office supply place. I still mail the old fashion way and stand in line, and add delivery confirmation to every package. It costs more, but gives me peace of mind and somewhat protects both traders in the end. I also use bubble wrap to help protect the posts. Welcome to DPF and wish you tons of fun trading!
 
I have been doing this for about a year now, and I am far from an expert, but this is how I mail stuff

  • Rule of thumb: 3 or more pins use a box, 2 or less a padded envelope
  • I never reuse envelopes. I save the small Disney boxes when I get pins from DS.com to reuse those for multi pin trades, but I always use a fresh envelope.
  • If going Priority Mail, I use one of the free boxes USPS gives out, and wrap it well in bubble wrap
  • I get my padded envelopes either at the grocery store in a pinch or in bulk at Staples, along with Avery Mailing Labels #8126 (more on that below)
  • I ALWAYS mail with delivery confirmation and am sure to send that number to the other party!!!!!
  • If you use PayPal's mutli-package shipping feature, you can pay for and print the postage (with label #8126) and the DC is only $.19 compared to $.80 at a USPS branch!
  • I always tape the edges of the label down as well as the envelope closed. I do not trust the adhesive to survive alone, and I actually someone mail me one this week that was opened (nothing was missing luckily)
  • I try to mail in a timely fashion, and if unable, I make sure to let them know.
  • I mail when the trade is made, not when I receive their side, and expect them to do the same (Treat others as you would want them to be treated)
  • I have a little scale ($15 bucks at Staples) that let's me weigh the package to do online postage so when I go to USPS in the morning, I just hand it to them and all is well. No waiting in line
  • I always try to let them know I got their trade when I get it so they know it arrived safely. I also try to remember to do feedback, but sometimes I am not as good with that, LOL
  • Every pin is mailed on a card of some type, whether it is original, a DPF card, or those Home Depot Mickey Paint cards
  • Every pin is either bagged into a mini zip lock baggie ($3.99 for 100 at JoAnn's) or wrapped in something else to prevent scratching or chipping while in the mail
 
Most important is to wrap the pins well I always use Delivery COnfirmation and you can download onto your computer the app at www.usps.com it makes the lablel and you print it out so when you go to the post office all they do is scan it and you pay for postage :)
 
What everyone has said already,protect those pins...I hate when I get one in a business white envelope and the pinback sticking out,or just thrown in a LBE
That really drives me nutts

Judy
 
I personally use paypal multi shipping. I love that I dont have to leave the house, when I first started I would stand in line, but then I noticed I was going EVERY other day! it got so bed the post office employees knew me by name and knew that I would want delivery confirmation! In any case, I re use any "good" packaging material I can, if the padded envelope has been ripped I throw it out. I ALWAYS wrap my pins in byubble wrap, if it a very valuable pin I will make sure to wrap it several times just to be sure it arrives safe. Now as for Tiggermickey, well lets just say when you get a pin from her expect to pull out your power tools to get to the pin! lol ( love ya Judy! )

Wrap the pin how you would lke to recieve it, padded, protected and shiny! I also try to wipe any fingerprints off of the pin before I send it.

Hope this helps!

Oh and in a pinch you can wrap the pins in tissue paper but try to put the wrapped pin in a plastic baggie and tape it securly.
 
I like to put the pin in a little plastic bag, then wrap the plastic-bagged pin in bubble wrap, before mailing it either in a padded envelope or one of the USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes. I print my own postage labels in the way that broncobilly83 explained above.

The little plastic bag is probably excessive, but it's a nice touch, and if the package ever gets drenched, at least the pin (and its backing card, if I've included that) will stay dry. I know that metal pins aren't harmed by water, but I just do it anyway.
 
This is how I pack my pins!

026060111.jpg


1. New envelopes and bubble wrap. Various stickers and labels are required.
2. Cut bubble wrap into strips, roll pin card or pin with bubble wrap - over and over until tight.
3. Secure with tape, write a note.
4. Put it all together and seal!

I buy my envelopes 100 at a time from Staples!

The main post office in the city has self service machines which print postage 'stickers' which I prefer to use, taking so many packages to the counter service is tedious and slow! Although I usually get my boyfriend to go because he starts work later than me and can go on weekdays when I can't! haha.
 
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I recently purchased a "lot" of bubble mailers from the 'bay (17$ shipped). I was reusing the packaging, however, it was quite time consuming peeling off old labels and reapplying new ones. Using new envies has saved a LOT of time.

Thanks everyone for the insight on the paypal method. I have been looking for a method to speed up the "shipping" process and that is it! :)
 
I get my envelopes from WalMart. It is the cheapest local place that I have found. I don't reuse my envelopes. It's just a personal preference. When I first started trading online, someone that I traded with (can't remember who) told me that it was important to store/send your pin in a resealable bag (I bought some from Uline, but you can also get them at Hobby Lobby or Michaels).

My biggest pet peaves about receiving a pin in the mail is someone using a regular envelope (with or without the pin wrapped in bubble wrap) or just wrapping it in newspaper.

Since I have not entered the internet age of printing postage online (just haven't gone there yet). I do keep stamps on hand, but usually just take to the local post office. It has gotten so they know me and my packages by sight and just start putting first class postage on them without asking.
 
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