Packaging/Shipping Stamps Pet Peeve

Stamps can be damaged in number of different ways during shipping. I once received a never hinged imperf Hudson-Fulton stamp with one corner completely folded over inside a glassing envelope. I can only assume that negative pressure in the sorting machine while the envelope was turning a corner expanded the inside of the glassine envelope enough to allow the corner to be folded over and permanently creased when pressure was applied to the envelope. Too many sellers use a number 10 envelope when a number 6 would work and give less scope for bending while being sorted. However, I rarely buy stamps on ebay now because I was having to return more than half of them.

For international shipping, I use a 705 approval card sandwiched with a piece of comic book card stock, paper stock behind wrapped in the invoice. I also include and APS approval card and use a number 6 envelope. The entire lash up requires minimal tape, weighs under an ounce and is machinable. Because of unreasonable ebay tracking requirements, I use #000 bubble wrap envelopes with USPS tracking labels printed without postage by the desktop version of the USPS Click-N-Ship application. I use surplus plastic approval cards and sleeves with a piece of comic book cardboard backing wrapped in the packing slip. I use regular cardboard as a stiffener in front of the stamp and include and APS recruiting card to new buyers. The weight is about 1.4 ounces, but that doesn't matter because the First Class Package rate is the same up to 3 ounces. No tape is required on the interior of the package, but the outside perimeter is taped to make sure the label stays on for the entire trip. Once, a label was partially stripped off so I got the mail piece back and had to resend it, but that occurred with a larger #00 envelope.

Before the ebay tracking requirement, only one mailing was lost. The buyer received only the front of the #6 envelope. Many years ago, a mail piece to Canada disappeared. Otherwise, the only problem is an occasionally unexplained two to four week delay, usually, but now always involving Canada. Recently, it took two weeks for a tracked item to be delivered after it was recorded as out for delivery.

In my view, using a large flimsy envelope is more hazardous than using a smaller envelope. I also avoid cereal box cardboard or any other used packing that might appear to be unprofessional. I use less tape than in the past, but it is still necessary to use heavy duty 3M packing tape on the outside to discourage someone other than the intended recipient from opening it. Also, while hard to get, the padded USPS priority mail envelopes are superior for packing larger items like sheets of stamps because a piece of cardboard will fit in as a stiffener and the envelope seems more robust (and water resistant) than standard priority mail envelopes.

Check out my feedback.

Clark
clarkphilatelics

Family,

I know I've ruined more than one stamp trying to open up these Fortresses of Solitude!

Jack Kelley

I use these for my individual stamp shipments:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ROGCRC...id=141351024

At 15 cents apiece they offer great protection. They are slightly smaller and lighter weight than traditional CD/DVD mailers, and thus are well under an ounce in total weight, even after adding 102 card, APS recruitment card, and my business card. Most end up being right at 0.7 ounces.

Since they are rigid I pay a $0.21 nonmachinable surcharge, for a total of $0.70 at current rates.

Well worth it in my opinion to protect the stamps and to not have to spend time cutting or taping up stiffeners.

If anyone opts to go this route, be careful not to buy regular 5.5-inch mailers, as those will put you over an ounce in weight.

The 5 x 5 inch mailers cannot be used for international mailings. The slightly larger 6 x 6 mailers usually end up weighing 1.2 to 1.4 ounces, not a problem when mailing to Canada. They are more expensive than using a 705 card with comic book card stock in a #6 envelope which can be held to under one ounce.

Clark

???

I have been using them for both domestic and international shipments for years. Not one has ever been kicked back or has had any trouble or interference reaching the recipient.

Nice tips
cfrphoto I think Post offices and customs are allowed to inspect the Envelopes so using packing tape on the outside wont help in most cases,but I agree with you about using a large flimsy envelope is more hazardous

Nice topic. My pet peeves about buying stamps online and by mail:

* Agree that stamps packed in a cocoon are a nuisance and doing so increases the odds that the stamps will be damaged. Only takes one small slip. Another problem occurs when tape is not used carefully with large stock cards. Large stock cards do a very poor job of holding stamps securely as the front panel is invariably not stiff enough to hold the stamps in place. It's painful to receive a lot of stamps in this kind of large card where the stamps have become mobile and come into contact with the tape.

* I can't stand when stamps are shipped in packing materials (glassines, approval cards, stock cards, etc) that are so old they show signs of yellowing or browning. Worse yet is storing stamps in very old materials. Old materials that are are oxidized or in some other way breaking down can damage stops. Please don't.

* Stamps that are shipped in very old glassines can also cause damage upon opening. When they get old enough to tone they are also brittle. Scotch tape is then stronger than the glassine, and the glassine can tear and take the stamp with it when you try to remove the tape or open the glassine.

* Stamps that are simply dropped into an envelope with no stiffener or glassine to ward off dust and dirt.

* Groups of stamps, especially larger groups, dropped into envelopes or stock cards haphazardly without first neatly arranging the stamps so that all the flat edges line up. Randomly throwing stamps together like a game of 52-card pickup VASTLY increases the odds of stamps picking up creases and bent corners. I've had a lot of bad experiences with this.

* Stamps that are shipped in those white card that have the clear window glued down to the card. Can't remember what brand these are, but they are very commonly used. Ever notice that the stamps seem to find ways to embed themselves into the glue at the bottom of the card? I have had to return a number of lots because the stamps were stuck and I was not going to take a chance the stamps would become damaged when trying to remove them. I remember one set from MNH definitive set from Aden was obviously damaged when the stamps became embedded in the adhesive of the card. In fact, it was clear that the adhesive had liquified at some point, perhaps in the post or in a hot car on the way to a bourse. The seller dutifully refunded my money, but then put the stamps back on sale without mentioning the problem in his description. Whatever.


Stamps should be packed in a way that:

*Prevents dust and filth from damaging them

*Prevents moisture incursion into the envelope

*Doesn't allow stamps to become damaged from moving around and becoming loose inside the packaging

*Organizes them neatly so that risk of creasing and corned folding is hopefully eliminated

*Doesn't allow stamps to become damaged because the materials you are using are old enough to have started to "rot"

*Doesn't expose the stamps to any form of adhesive whether from shipping or packing tape, or the adhesive used in stock cards

*Stiffens the envelope appropriately to prevent bending of the contents.


One last pet peeve. PLEASE examine stamps one more time before you ship them off. Make sure they are really all MNH. Or that they don't have creases, tears, toning, tropicalization, short perfs, or any of the other overlooked flaws that drive buyers crazy because they weren't mentioned in the description. And make sure the variety you have described is correctly identified. That one last step- just examine the lot(s) before you ship, can prevent a lot of problematic transactions and loss of trust with your customers.


This stuff is simple, but I think too often folks are inclined to take short-cuts. Thanks for letting me rant.

I really think this topic needs images of proper packaging I think it will explain a lot more

One thing I wish and is sort of a Pet Peave is when sending stamps and the seller includes his/her name in the order. Please also include your user name. for example. Sometimes I order stamps from different online stamp Clubs, ebay, SOR, SCF, Stamps2Go. It is hard to keep tract who it is from or which Club they come from to acknowledge receipt of the order.

Chuck
IE: TinMan

I find that when I buy from a Canadian seller that Scotch tape is used in a ridiculous amount to seal the wrapping and then the envelope. Does every Canadian own stock in 3M? It is unnecessary, annoying, and leads to damage. Just put the cover in an envelope, add a stuffer, and mail it. Jerry

I hear what you're saying, Chuck. I can usually figure it out after a little detective work.

My major pet peeve is incomplete orders. I have one vendor who seems to have occasional "lapses". He always makes good on the order, though. Still, I worry that he may think I am "gaming" him. which I am not. I now request that he "double-check" my orders before sending. That seems to have fixed the problem.

Jack Kelley

yesterday I got an email from a customer telling me that two stamps from a block of four got stuck in the envelope:(,I am not sure what I did wrong(Like every time I did put the stamps on a glassine envelope and attached it to a stiff paper and then into the envelope
what else should I have done for such problems?

Perhaps a moisture of some sort arriving into the envelope was resonsible for the stuck two stamps?

A type of plastic (polypropylene) inside the glassine might help. cheap, works.

See ebay seller uniquepacking for such an item, the sealable types are good for things Other than stamps!
http://www.ebay.ca/usr/uniquepacking

Similar or same material as used on 102 cards.

The 2x3 bags are here (one quanity available):
1000 pcs 2x3 (O) Clear Candy Cookies Bakery lollipop Poly Cello Cellophane Bags
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1000-pcs-2x3...em1e7d8f5efe
It says candy in the title but eat the candy first.

Thank's for the reply,I think so I really thought glassine will be enough but I was wrong,did you mean the glassine inside the plastic bag or the opposite ,I can use papers protectors in the future if they could help I usually put papers protector like this one in case I am shipping sheets as no glassine envelope will fit and surely I try to make the corners stiff and also attach it to a stiff paper ,



I have some cheap banknotes papers protector I think I can cut them with scissors and they will look like these bags,also I think I can get something like this from a local shop, I still prefer candies over stamps myself

I meant the plastic polypropylene indise the glassine pressed paper.

I used the plastic bags shown folded over and creased with tongs so the opening of it by the customer would be easy, plus to help in moisture protection, plus cheapness. I did worry over mint stamps possibly sticking to the nice shiny plastic though. That's why the glassine inside the PP nag.

For sheets, I think the bags come in a size for magazines.

You do have to be careful to Not use PVC, poly vinyl chloride, type of bags, a rather thicker and translucent plastic bag, as over time the stamp ink will transfer to the interior of the bag.

Polypropylene is OK however, with adequate ventilation provioded.