Pro ship tips
Sports trading cards
Welcome to the pro’s playbook about how to save time and money on sports card shipments. We’ve compiled all the tips you didn’t know you needed.
Are you using the shipping service designed for card sellers?
eBay standard envelope
is the most cost-effective way to track your lower-value card
shipments. It’s better than a simple stamp. eBay standard envelope
packages automatically get protections for single cards valued up
to $20 and multiple cards up to $50, in case of loss or damage.
eBay standard envelope rates:
PRO SHIP TIP
If you need to use a thicker or more rigid envelope to better protect your card, check with your local postmaster to verify what is accepted as there are regional variances.
“Lower cost card shipping.”
Save time and money with eBay Labels
Every time you use an eBay Labels service, you’re getting bigger benefits at a lower cost with eBay-negotiated rates. Plus, if you’re selling cards valued up to $20, you can use eBay standard envelope. It’s the best way get all the eBay Labels benefits on shipments up to 3 oz. (which translates to two top loaders or up to 15 raw cards).
All eBay Labels services, including eBay standard envelope, come stacked with benefits:
Automatic tracking
Tracking details are automatically uploaded, making it easy to take advantage of the automatic protections in case of loss or damage.
Simply seamless
Whenever you purchase an eBay Label, a QR code will automatically be emailed to you. You can scan it at an in-store self-service station or at the counter, making it easy to ship without a printer.
Bulk options
To save even more time, you can print labels in bulk up to 100 at a time and drop off your packages at a USPS, UPS, or FedEx location near you.
If you're shipping...
Cards $20 - $250
- Use eBay Labels to get automatic tracking on your item. If you ship using stamps on a plain white envelope, you'll be sending it out blind.
- Pack your raw card in a penny sleeve before sliding it into a card saver, top loader, or a cardboard sandwich.
- Put graded cards in a cardboard sandwich before shipping out.
Cards over $250
- If you’re using eBay Labels, you can seamlessly add insurance and signature confirmation, and tracking will upload automatically.
- If you’re shipping outside the eBay Labels platform, be sure to add their insurance and signature confirmation if over $750, and input the tracking information when you get it.
- Put graded cards in a cardboard sandwich before shipping out.
- These cards automatically go through Authenticity Guarantee. But don’t worry, we automatically account for the time the card spends at our facility when we show an estimated delivery date to your buyer.
Multiple cards
- If you’re shipping up to 15 raw cards or up to 3 oz, stack them into a plain envelope and select eBay standard envelope as your shipping service. (eBay standard envelope scores you maximum savings and up to $50 of protection on combined orders.)
- For more than 15 raw cards, or two graded cards, stack ‘em up and place them into a small box filled with tissue paper or bubble wrap. Use eBay Labels to ship with First Class Package service.
- Pack raw cards in a penny sleeve before sliding it into a card saver, top loader, or a cardboard sandwich.
- Put graded cards in a cardboard sandwich before shipping out.
What you need to know about Authenticity Guarantee
Raw cards over $250 and graded cards over $500 automatically go through Authenticity Guarantee (AG), at no cost to you. But, that means there are a few things you need to account for to keep this process seamless.
- Don’t pad your handling time. We account for the time the card spends at our AG facility when we show an estimated delivery date to your buyer.
- Use eBay Labels (or manually enter tracking information) to prevent hold-ups at the AG facility.
- Purchase signature confirmation for cards valued over $750.
- Package every card according to the best practices outlined above. We’ll open it up, verify authenticity, and re-package it for safely sending to your buyer.
Get ready to ship like a pro
Top card sellers know that using the right shipping supplies help safeguard every card and keep your process running smoothly. Here’s everything they keep on hand.
- Penny sleeve
- Top loader
- Cardboard sandwiches
- Thermal printer
- Scale
- Envelopes
- Padded mailers
- Painter's tape
PRO SHIP TIP
Seal top loaders with blue painter’s tape or masking tape to prevent the card from slipping without leaving sticky residue behind.
eBay shipping
supplies
Get the boxes, padded or rigid envelopes, branded tape and more.
More valuable tools for card sellers
eBay vault
Enroll in the eBay vault to take advantage of our secure, climate-controlled storage facility, hassle-free packing and shipping handled by eBay, and more.
Learn more about eBay vaultCollection beta
Add a CSV to upload, manage, and track the value of up to 1,000 cards in your collection.
Start a collectionTrading card price guide
When it comes to competitive pricing, knowledge is power. Buy and sell with key insights right from the eBay app.
Get the price guide