Packing or shipping trade cards

Recently I have been buying trade cards via various auction sites. The biggest issue I've found with this practice is that items you get from these can be a bit of a mixed bag, you need to choose carefully. There are however reputable traders selling cards this way. Especially, this can be an easy method of finding odd cards needed to complete sets or to just get some of the more common sets to pad out your collection.

Probably the second biggest issue with this type of collecting is that trades can be shipped poorly packaged, either to save time or to save using expensive shipping methods. The good news is that there is a way to ship small numbers of cards inexpensively, in envelope form.

Be careful of the following so you don't inadvertently reduce a card's value (useful when thinking about storing cards long term as well):

Example of sticky tape damage

• Avoid using sticky tape directly on cards. Removing that can cause all sorts of problems from bends or folds, to torn surfaces, or peeling laminate on plastic cards. If it is not removed, and the card then cleaned, the glue may have chemicals that soak in and cause discolouration, or damage/etch the surface over time. 
• Please no rubber bands. They can abrade or dent the sides of cards, and may also leave hard to remove residue with similar effects to sticky tape
• Please don't just place loose cards directly in an envelope or shipping packet.

Please consider using the following cheap but relatively safe packing methods. Remember someone will need to unpack it at the other end.

• Wrap the cards in cling-film or place in a small plastic bag. Avoid zip-lock bags and similar as they tend to not sit flat enough. Even a peice of plastic bag or waxed paper (wax side out). For example part of a shopping bag, or anything else clean and handy. This is to help dustproof and waterproof the item. Try not to overdo it though, the bundle should still sit flat. 
• Use tape if needed, to turn that into a firm wrap that will stay together by itself, this helps reduces the chance of scratches and surface wear that occurs when cards rub together. 
• Use a couple (or three) small stacks of cards if that will pack flatter.
• Stick or tape the resulting bundle(s) to a peice of thin cardboard or heavy paper small enough to fit snugly in your envelope, to prevent the cards from moving around and causing edge or corner damage on the cards during transit
• In some (all?) cases sandwich that with a piece of card on the other side of the bundle, possibly taping round the edges of both outer layers, securing the cards between in a sandwich.
• Seal the envelope well, don't just rely on the self sealing tabs of the envelope.

The cardboard also makes the envelope stiff, helping minimize the chance that will be bent during transit. I don't recomend corrugated stuff from larger boxes, it is bulky and can bend easily in the direction of the furrows.

I've also seen "Please do not bend" written on the envelope, and the use of smaller envelopes to further minimise accidental bending. You could just use an old Christmas card plus envelope. Heck if you don't have an envelope even a nicely folded sheet of paper might do.

NB: Keep in mind that postage options on many auction sites are selected and paid for by the purchaser, and therefore as the seller you should be clear they are accepting the risks involved in that shipping method. By following good shipping habits at least then you have the satisfaction you did your part in completing a nice trade.

For more valuable cards and sets, or bulky shipments, the above methods may not suit. That's fine, the same thing applies for any case when shipping unusual items, just price it fairly and in advance. And there are a lot of options for professionally packing availably from collectible suppliers. A favourite brand of mine is Ultra Pro, but look around.

I'm not a professional collector, just an enthusiast like many of you, collecting cards for a hobby. Any constructive feedback is welcome in the comments below.