Tips on Packaging a Pin for Mail?? (Newbie)

[itsFantasmic]

Hi everyone!! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Saturday...the weather and sky are absolutely GORGEOUS where I am right now!

I just made my first online trade (yay!!) and now it is time to get it sent in the mail! Any tips on how to package? I know bubble mailer is a must, but should I wrap the pin in something as well? Also, is mailing it as easy as going to the post office, giving them their address, and asking for a tracking number? I know how to mail letters and such (lol obviously right ), but I think I am getting tripped up because I always see people sending their pins with fancy packing labels with tracking numbers and scannable QR codes haha!

Thanks in advance, yall!!

 

[Jabberwocky]

Wrap the pin in bubble wrap, then ship it in a bubble mailer and you're good to go.

Depending on the value of the pin involved, you may want to add insurance or ship via priority mail which automatically includes $50 of insurance. You can also opt for signature confirmation if you're concerned.

Congrats on your first trade!

 

[ladyroselie]

A tip I got as a newbie is to try and make the package as flat as possible. Wrap the pin in bubble wrap and try to keep it from getting too think. Don't use any small boxes or cardboard around the pin unless it came that way (like a 3d pin or something). I've found that the USPS self-service stations near me don't allow me to tracking unless it is Priority Mail, but if I got to the counter they will let me buy tracking too for First Class Mail.

I think that if you have a postal scale at home you can also buy postage online for slightly less and print out your label, but I haven't gone down that road myself yet.

Congrats on your first online trade dear!

 

[coblj003]

It depends on the pin. While I try not to go overboard in packing wrap as it adds to the weight, I will usually wrap a pin in the the packing plastic/bubble wrap I get from work. If it has a cardboard backer card, I would usually wrap the pin/backer against a piece of thick cardboard so that the backer doesn't bend/crease. USPS first class package automatically comes with a tracking # at the counter so if anything it's a given if trading...

 

[starry_solo]

Don't make the package as flat as possible. Fatten it up as much as possible so the post office won't try to run it through their machine.

Depending on the value of the pin, you may want to put it in a small box.

 

[ladyroselie]

Don't make the package as flat as possible. Fatten it up as much as possible so the post office won't try to run it through their machine.

Depending on the value of the pin, you may want to put it in a small box.

Sounds like I got some bad advice as a newbie! I'll take your tip next time I do a trade and fatten up the package

 

[starry_solo]

Sounds like I got some bad advice as a newbie! I'll take your tip next time I do a trade and fatten up the package

The advice you were given may have been for international trades to try to sneak it through the post office as a "large envelope" instead of a package. But USPS closed that "loophole" by requiring all goods to be shipped as packages/parcels. Only papers can be shipped as large envelopes internationally.

 

[ladyroselie]

The advice you were given may have been for international trades to try to sneak it through the post office as a "large envelope" instead of a package. But USPS closed that "loophole" by requiring all goods to be shipped as packages/parcels. Only papers can be shipped as large envelopes internationally.

That makes sense. It was a US trade actually, but that could have been a factor in the other person's advice. I haven't done much trading lately since I just got back into pins after several years, so I'm glad to know the best practices nowadays

 

[Ajk]

Yeah, the only reason to try to make it small is to slip under the 3/4inch thickness rule for packages but that really ain’t happening any more. So wrap it safely in bubble wrap and put it in the bubble envelope. Consider a piece of cardboard against the card especially if it is special. Pay the $3.50 for first class and you automatically get a tracking number (including at the self serve kiosk as far as I have seen) and you’re good. If it is a high end pin consider priority and/or insurance, but usually good old first class mail should be fine.

And congratulations on your first online trade! Best wishes on many, many more!

 

[itsFantasmic]

thanks for all the help

 

[hopemax]

I want to reiterate the bubble wrap inside a bubble envelope. The last trade I did, the bubble envelope got torn by the postal service. Not a lot, but there was a hole. The extra protection makes sure the pin stays in the envelope, and the post doesn't get bent, when the Mickey back shifts to finds the hole.

I also put all of my pins inside of a medium sized jewelry ziploc style bag. You can find these at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc. I do this, because I live in area where envelopes sometimes get wet. The pin and card stay nice and dry. It also helps in case an element, usually a dangle, jiggles loose in transit. Those little rings can open too wide, and the dangle can sometimes come loose, but when it's in the mini ziploc, all the pieces stay together and you don't risk losing the jump ring.

So I do pin > ziploc > bubble wrap > bubble envelope