Packaging/Shipping Stamps Pet Peeve

The issue in the UK is that not only does the weight of your packet dictate the cost, so does the dimensions.
Anything over 240 x 165 and more than 5mm thick is counted as a large letter costing 93p instead of 62p. so if you add card to protect your stamp you run in to these extra costs
I have started using card backed envelopes OK they cost me about 10 to 12p each but better than an extra 31p postage and I must admit a lot less work. I simply print off the invoice from the auction site, place the stamp in a glassine and then tape it to the invoice ( just enough to hold it )

Has cut down my packing time substantially


david
( Bionicbelly )

Here is a great example of under packaging that came in todays mail.
This is exactly how the stamp arrived - No joke.

HarryG: While the stamp looks fine, that is really, really sad that some seller didn't take an ounce of effort to do anything aside from using an envelope. That's bad service.

from the usa to worldwide buyers I also use the small glassy envelope that has the stiff back, it is thinner then cardboard- it does save on shipping and goes through machines well- no customs paperwork if under $400.00. or extra postage.

That's ridiculous to mail a stamp with no protection whatsoever. The most egregious overpacking is much more preferable than just putting them in an envelope. I've only ever gotten one shipment that I remember that had the stamps "packaged" like that, and could hardly believe someone would ship stamps like that.

As a seller, I am in the camp of more-protection. For single and small numbers of stamps, I put the stamps in a glassine envelope, insert the glassine in a folded index-card or slightly thicker paper stock, put it inside a flexible baseball card holder and tape it to the folded invoice. Easily fits inside a #8 envelope, less than one ounce, and always less than 0.2" thick.

I used to tape the Glassine to the center of a folded note, but never liked the "TAPE" aspect. Just recently I started using a post-it note to attach the glassine. It provides adequate stickiness and is still light weight.

A little OCD can go a long way.

Secure packaging is just fine by me as long as it's easy to remove the stamps without damaging them. That's the real issue here, to me. One doesn't have to make a package nearly impossible to open to make the stamps secure.

this is a great topic and discussion ,I use myself a glassine envelope and then I Tape it into a slightly bigger stiffener and then I use an Envelope and put this envelope on a slightly bigger envelope I am not sure if this is bad packaging or not but honestly no one complained
the only thing that annoys me when I receive stamps when the sender or the seller overuse the tape everywhere when it is not necessary

I just received stamps from 2 separate sellers that I purchased from ebay Germany and the packaging on both was just about ideal - unlike anything I've seen from other sellers. The stamps each came on their own 3x5 approval card, identified, barcoded and sealed inside a transparent cover. They hit the perfect sweet spot of safe and secure, but easy to open, and the "out of box experience" was basically perfect. They both showed up about a week after I ordered, which surprised me. What surprised me even more was that I almost mistook both of them for bills or junk mail, because they used the window-style envelopes with my name and address showing through. And the stamps were flawless, to boot. I might have to start brushing up on my German.

I cut stiffeners from food packaging; eg, cereal boxes, pasta boxes, etc.

My granddaughter showed-up this summer with stiffeners I had cut from Haagen-Dasz pops and Oreo ice cream cookies and asked: "GrandPa, can we have these?" Her mother was in stitches, having watched her pack.

What none of them knew was that I had done that on purpose.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Cardboard from used soda 12 packs works great... Stiff, lightweight but not too thick. For those who send lots out via machined first class mail, this makes an excellent mailer. Plus reusing this material is recycling. Win Win.... right?

Bob

Hi ikeyPikey,

You brightened up my morning. My granddaughter has gone to University and the house seems empty.

Thank you
Terry

A friend's refrigerator magnet reads:

"Grandchildren are G-d's reward for raising children."

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey