Shipping is where seller reputations are made or broken. A perfect Near Mint card that arrives bent in a flimsy envelope is a refund waiting to happen. Here’s the protocol most experienced sellers use.
Materials checklist
For any single card under $20
- Penny sleeve(soft plastic) — the card goes here first
- Top loader(rigid plastic) — penny-sleeved card slides in
- Team bagor painters tape across the top loader opening — keeps the card from sliding out
- Plain white envelope + first-class postage with tracking
For cards $20 and up
- All of the above, plus
- Bubble mailer instead of plain envelope
- Cardboard sandwich— two pieces of cardboard taped around the top loader so it can’t bend in transit
For cards $100+
- Bubble mailer with cardboard sandwich
- Signature confirmation added at checkout
- Insurance on the package
Step-by-step
- Lay the penny sleeve flat. Slide the card in with the artwork facing the open side — so it goes in open-side first.
- Slide the sleeved card into the top loader sealed-side first (the open end of the penny sleeve ends up inside the top loader, not exposed).
- Tape or team-bag the top of the top loader.
- Wrap in cardboard if the card’s value warrants it.
- Insert into envelope or mailer with the rigid side flat against the long wall of the envelope.
Tracking matters
USPS Ground Advantage (formerly First-Class Package) includes tracking and is the cheapest reliable option for US shipping. The tracking number propagates to the buyer’s EvoMarket order via ShipStation or by entering it manually. Without tracking, you have no proof of shipment if a buyer disputes — don’t skip it.
High-value caveat
For anything over $250, use USPS Priority Mail with insurance and signature confirmation. The extra five dollars is cheap insurance against a $250 loss.