I need someone in the know...

[GibsonsCamp]

Anyone complaining about postage of $2 or less is being absolutely silly. Sure, a dime could be mailed more cheaply. I could tape it to a piece of paper and mail it with a 54-cent stamp (57 cents with GST). But then the buyer would complain about tape residue on the dime. Can't please everyone

Nope, I would rather ask the question and be thought silly then deny the seller a sale because of ignorance.

I was weighing the cost with the information I have as a seller, what I sold (which was not very small items), how much my shipping materials cost and postage. I have also been out of the selling game for 3+ years.

In my realm one dime, one padded envelope, possibly card board for structure, labels, ink, etc. I could not get to $2.00. Once someone explained some of the finer details I was missing the postage made sense.

Which is why I asked for someone in the know to explain.

[FBNeNotes]

Many things can not be fully explained. But many things will be explained with real hands on experience. Which is a long story.
I shouldn't be posting this.. so enjoy and think.

[GibsonsCamp]

Many things can not be fully explained. But many things will be explained with real hands on experience. Which is a long story.
I shouldn't be posting this.. so enjoy and think.

[CoinHELP]

Hi Poppa, call me cheap but here goes with my cost saving methods that will boost your profit and your sales too.

use plain brown heavyweight envelopes instead of padded. I pay 100 for $10 at Office Max (10x13" size) and cardboard etc. Pad with recycled cardboard and/or bubble, a thin recyled box, etc.

Do not add confirmation or insurance. For a cheap item, just write off the loss and save almost a $1 on each sale. Only about one in 500 packages gets lost anyway so you/customer save almost $500 bucks and have to reimburse like just a couple bucks or so for the one loss you will get (note: of course you insure/confirm expensive stuff). Customers buy more when you do not charge for these extras on your cheaper items.

Pass the above savings on to customer and go a bit further: lets say you decide to ship coins out for 99 cents, no fancy stuff you added some profit to your sale. THEN, because you have light stuff, add a tickler, offer FREE shipping on second item if they buy two! Suddenly you sell two items, don't really lose anything on the shipping (because your stuff is light), and you just make some money off the 2nd item. Have a sale and provide discount ONLY if they buy 2nd, 3rd 4th items. A percentage off 2nd items. Suddenly you are not selling one coin, you are ALWAYS selling two or more at a time.

I used to buy the expensive padded envelopes too, and after receiving numerous packages shiped only in heavy weight envelopes, I realized that I was wasting lots of money. I just make sure the envelope stays stiff so edges do not catch in PO machinery. Quite a cost savings to switch packaging, and when you pass it on to customers, you get more sales.

Yea, I am cheap and proud of it!!

Good ideas. I have sold thousands of coins online since 2002 and this would work with items under $15.00. However, a 1916-D Mercury Dime fetches $900 and up, and collectors who lay down that type of money for a coin, want it protected, insured, etc.

The shipping corner cutting must depend on the items value. It's how I do business. I don't want to eat $900 just because I could save $1 or help the buyer save a $1.

[marschenegger]

Good ideas. I have sold thousands of coins online since 2002 and this would work with items under $15.00. However, a 1916-D Mercury Dime fetches $900 and up, and collectors who lay down that type of money for a coin, want it protected, insured, etc.

The shipping corner cutting must depend on the items value. It's how I do business. I don't want to eat $900 just because I could save $1 or help the buyer save a $1.

You sound like a sensible seller. If only more people thought the same way.

I'm all for giving buyers choices of shipping options, but I still prefer that the seller be the one deciding what those options are. A buyer that wants inferior cheaper packaging is just putting the seller's neck on the line by increasing the risk of damage to the item and/or non-delivery due to sticky fingers. A seller should not be forced to take directions from someone who is, in the end, not responsible for the shipment's success.