Penny sleeves, toploaders, team bags and semi-rigid holders ranked for shipping Pokémon and sports cards without bends or scratches.
Ship a card in a soft sleeve against the surface and a rigid holder to stop bends, then seal both in a bag so it cannot slide out.
Each layer costs cents. Penny sleeves run about $6 to $14 for 1,000, toploaders $10 to $18 for 100, and team bags $5 to $10 for 100.
The criteria that set the order. Commission plays no part.
The first layer for each card you ship, at about a cent each.
Typical price
$6to $14
The rigid layer that stops bends in the mail.
Typical price
$10to $20
Seals the toploader so the card stays put.
Typical price
$5to $10
The holder graders ask for, and easy for buyers to open.
Typical price
$10to $18
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Sleeve the card first, then slide it into a 35pt toploader, then seal the toploader in a team bag. Tape across the opening of the bag, not onto the toploader itself.
Cheap commons can go in a sleeve with a piece of cardboard behind them. Put anything worth a few dollars in the full set: sleeve, toploader and team bag.
A toploader is stiff and protects best in the mail. A semi-rigid holder flexes slightly and has a lip, so the card comes out without catching.
Grading companies ask for semi-rigid holders of about 3 5/16 × 4 7/8 inches. Send cards for grading in those, and ship sales in toploaders.
Kit for this step
Patch and relic cards are thicker than 35pt. Check the card's thickness and buy a toploader rated for it, such as 55pt or more.
A card forced into a tight holder can crease at the corner, so check the fit before you seal it.
Put the sealed toploader in a rigid mailer. A single card under $20 on eBay can go by eBay Standard Envelope; anything more valuable belongs in a tracked USPS Ground Advantage package.
A plain envelope with a stamp has no tracking and can jam in letter sorting machines. For high-value cards, add tracking and keep a photo of the card in its holder before you seal the mailer.
Kit for this step
Straight answers to what sellers ask about this.
Yes. The toploader's edges can scratch a bare card, and the sleeve stops it.
The standard 3 × 4 inch, 35pt toploader fits Pokémon, Magic and most sports cards in a penny sleeve.
A team bag seals over a toploader so the card cannot slide out and moisture stays out.
Grading companies ask for semi-rigid holders. Check the submission guide of the company you use.
Many sellers do for cheap cards, but it has no tracking and no buyer protection proof. Check eBay's current Standard Envelope rules, or use a tracked Ground Advantage label for anything you can't afford to lose.
Tape the team bag instead. Tape on the toploader can stick to the sleeve, and the buyer has to peel it off to get the card out.
