Over the next week or so, I plan to scan some older decks of cards from various Nevada casinos. Mostly 20+ years old, a few more valuable (like the green & red decks from Golden Nugget), but mostly common enough to be in the $2.50 to $3.50 per deck range.

Anyway, in checking rates with USPS, I was surprised to see the cost for mailing decks of cards in USA. As tests -- mailing from CA to NY -- in a padded envelope, the rates were:

1 deck = $4.20
2 decks = $5.00
3 decks = $5.75
4-8 decks = $8.30, in a flat-rate small Priority mail box.

At those rates, the mailing cost is about the same as the per-deck cost +/-.

It appears that shipping rates are in this range too, depending on seller.

Any suggestions on better rates, or is that just the way it is?