[quote name='shrike4242']Cheapass is in the eye of the beholder. I decided a long time ago that I didn't want to do bubble mailers and would ship everything in boxes, mainly because I've seen the USPS do their damnest to jam the average bubble mailer/padded mailer into a mailbox, regardless of it fitting or not. I recycle just about every single box I get from EB/GS/whomever, as well as picking up boxes to use for shipping, plus bubble wrap and packing peanuts. Survived multiple issues with the USPS manhandling the boxes without a single lost/damaged game.
I'd rather spend the time and the to put it into a box with some padding around the game, since once it leaves my hands, it's out of my control. I don't count the packaging costs into my sales, because that's an implicit business costs for me, and from anyone that's dealt with me, they know I'm not in it for the money. If I was, I'd be on eBay. My stuff makes it there intact because I assume it's going to be a football on the way to the receipient.
Not everyone is as anal about packaging as I am, and that's OK. The only time I had an issue with a game being shipped to me by an individual was an asshat on eBay.
My suggestion to the OP is to use what works best for you, be it a box, padded envleope or the like, though do remember that it's your responsibility to deal with the outcome if it's damaged in shipment, since the first thing the seller is going to do is come knocking on your door for a resolution to the problem. I plan for anything being possible, which is why I use box + packing peanuts/bubble wrap. Again, just my preference.[/QUOTE]
And this, my friends, is why this man is the #1 trader on CAG. Not just in terms of his rating, but how he handles each and every trade whether it's for a newb or an experienced trader. The only trader that rivals him in terms of quality of packing is BigLebowski. Scarface is a very good packer too!
I reuse everything I get from people/stores unless it gets torn up or really damaged. I will use bubble mailers, but I will try to bubble it up too if possible. EB boxes are the best for 1-3 games. I think I have only had a problem once with a damaged game and it was sent media mail. I almost never use media mail now unless it's requested as a cheaper option.