Paperbackswap rules preclude including extraneous materials such as. Larger packages of up to inches combined girth and length can use the parcel select service instead of media mail. Media mail is for shipping media items containing books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, recorded computerreadable media such as cds and dvds. The service is closely regulated, so only select if your products qualify. Although your book probably weighs far less, the usps will allow a max of 70 pounds for a media mail shipment. No video games non education media does not qualify. If contents violate media mail guidelines, then the package may be returned due to insufficient postage or the postage difference may be billed via apv. If i were to slip 1 or 2 small books in the poly mailer, would it count for media mail. I just want to know because if that is the case, there is a bunch of more products that could fit in the educational material category. Then, sandwich pieces of cardboard between each book to help them keep their shape. When shipping a book, you have to follow some basic usps media mail rules. The shipments must be less than 70 lbs in weight and less than 108 inches in length and thickness. Examples of media mail items include dvds, cds, disks, videotapes, manuscripts, books, film and sound recordings.
As compared to the prices in 2019, the rates have increased. Sep 17, 2010 the united states postal service offers substantial shipping discounts for materials sent at media mail rates. New rates were implemented from january 26th, 2020. The drawback of media mail is that usps has a right to open and inspect your package to check for abuse of the system. Hi all, im new to this board but have a question about a recent seller i found who has a very high number of postive feedback. When i send one book, i usually cut two pieces of cardboard slightly larger than the cover of the book. These items are small enough where i can just slip them through my mail box and the. The predictable result, especially during an economic downturn, is that retailers and the general public often try to send non media items in packages at media mail rates. There are many restrictions on exactly which items qualify for media mail shipping. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be shipped. But many people abuse it, sometimes intentionally, and sometimes unintentionally. Here is an indication of prohibited items for mailing to united states of america. This rule is a little fuzzy, however, because incidental mentions of other media within a piece of media are considered okay, as long as it isnt a part of overt advertising for the purpose of selling the media mentioned.
Then i tape them around the book so that the book is in a little 2. The good thing is that the media mail postage rate is not high, but your shipping time is 2 to 8 days. Having said that i shipped some stuff before i figured this out and never had problem with p. Media mail is a costeffective way to send materials such as books, cards, calendars, journals, dvds, and cds through the u. The box or envelope you use to ship the book will need a combined girth height and width added and multiplied by two and length of no more than 108 inches. Books shipping as media mail may contain incidental book announcements. Playscripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music. Generally, media mail is the cheapest usps mail class for shipping heavy items up to 70 lbs. Store forum usps says dvdsblu rays not media i was shipping a bluray and the postal employee asked if it was a dvd. So, you may refer to the recent price list of the usps media mail rates.
How to package a book through media mail bizfluent. What is difference between book rate and media mail. In the current issue of american philatelist, wayne youngblood, a directoratlarge of the american philatelic. Mar 19, 2020 media mail cant be used to send any media that contains advertisements. If you are sending multiple books, compare your media mail price with that of a flat rate box. Mar 04, 2010 i worked for the post office during a desperate time in my life. Contents are limited to books, manuscripts, sound recordings, and certain other educational materials. Media mail is a category of shipping offered by the u. However, many people dont know that you can ship packages off in another class besides first. I tried to look up if this has been addressed before and couldnt find anything, but has anyone tried slipping a small book or two in their parcels and calling it media mail.
Books, including books issued to supplement other books, of at least eight printed pages, consisting wholly of reading matter or scholarly bibliography, or reading matter with incidental blank spaces for notations. If the clerks have just been lectured by management about the evils of media mail. Media mail postage is priced per pound, per package. There are certain restrictions and requirements for sending the mail and packages through this service. Books, including books issued to supplement other books, of at least eight printed pages, consisting wholly of reading matter or scholarly bibliography, or reading matter with incidental blank spaces for notations and. The types of media allowed are limited, though, and by following this guide you will know what you can and cannot send through.
If the contents of a media mail package are deemed ineligible for media mail rates at any time after mailing, they will generally be delivered with postage due from the recipient, usually in the amount of the difference between the rate for media mail and parcel post, which can be significant. See publication 141, global express guaranteed service guide, for information about areas served in the destination country, allowable contents, packaging and labeling requirements, tracking and tracing, service standards, and other conditions for mailing. The items sent using special mediamail rates cannot exceed 70. The predefined package names are drawn from the easypost api, so you can better reference how each predefined package matches up dimensionally. People may confuse this with the uspss book rate, but book rate and media mail are actually the same thing. Usps media mail regulations cgc comic book collectors. Despite what those restrictions may imply, media mail isnt just for. Restrictions on the media legal definition of restrictions on. However, there are few restrictions on the type of mail items that can. If you plan to use media mail to ship a book, make sure to specify that your package is eligible for media mail while at the post office. Generally, media mail will be the cheapest option to ship books, but there might be a few instances where other options cost less. Media mail is a special reduced mailing rate solely for the purpose of sending printed or recorded material through the u. Oct 27, 2009 ebay dsrs hurt by usps media mail restrictions. Typically, media mail packages take between 7 to 9.
Sheet music can be delivered by usps media mail and most of my customers choose that because it is cheaper and my competitors also use media mail. I was looking at the items listed and almost everyone listed usps media mail as the shipping method. If contents violate media mail guidelines, then the package may be returned due to insufficient postage or. Media mail rates are limited to the items listed below. Usps medi mail is one such costeffective service which is used to send educational materials.
Mailable matter meeting one of the specific eligibility standards in 4. The surface area of the address side of the item to be mailed must be large. Issue i had is media mail is really slow and some buyers would complain about long transit time. Looseleaf pages and their binders consisting of medical information for. However, there are few restrictions on the type of mail items that can be. Computerreadable media containing prerecorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media. Formerly called book rate, media mail cannot contain advertising, except eligible books may contain incidental announcements of books.
In the current issue of american philatelist, wayne youngblood, a directorat. Usps allows you to send media mail packages weighing up to 70 pounds. Understanding the media mail classification newsletter. The books which you are about to ship should be related to academics. Library mail service is an economical shipping solution for qualified items to be. The suppression or proscription of speech or writing that is deemed obscene, indecent, or unduly controversial.
Usps media mail requirements also restrict advertising materials. Media mail is a service provided by the united states postal service usps that allows customers to send a variety of mixed media through the mail at a cheaper rate than ordinary packages. However, some occasional announcements about other books can be there. Media mail service has special eligibility requirements for permissible contents. Here is an indication of restricted items for mailing to united states of america. Media mail is just about the least expensive shipping method the us postal service offers. Media mail service is a cost efficient way to mail books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, and recorded computerreadable media such as cds, dvds, and diskettes. So how do you get media mail rates, and more importantly, what qualifies as media mail. Board games cannot legally be sent via usps media mail, yet this plugin doesnt make any distinction. Media mail is a cost effective service for shipping books and education material. Postal service as an inexpensive way to send books and other qualifying items. Media mail shipping is a costeffective way to send educational materials. The weight is limited to 70 pounds and size restrictions also apply. The mail class is also known as book rate among book sellers.
In usps website it says that you can also use media mail to send educational material, anyone use media mail to send educational material that is not a book or something similar. Like most rates, the price of media mail shipping increases with the weight of the package. Usps media mail service restrictions, cost, pros vs cons. Usps media mail service rules, rates, tracking, calculator. I think education stuff can only shipped media mail books cd, dvds. Hi, post office doesnt have free boxes other than for priority and expedited shipping price of boxes at the post office is high. How nitpicky is the post office with regards to media mail. Not a freaking short box of comics quit changing the argument in hopes of changing peoples minds or diverting attention to some bs conversation about big corporations. Media mail is a costeffective way to send media materials through the u.
However, you can include certain other items with the book such as sheet music, cds, film, dvds and educational materials. The pros and cons of using media mail vervante blog. Books at least 8 pages 16millimeter or narrower width films. Media mail is a usps mail class restricted to the delivery of books, film, audio and other recorded media.
The united states postal service offers substantial shipping discounts for materials sent at media mail rates. Therefore, you shouldnt mail advertisements except for a book announcement with a book or other nonmedia material through media mail because you will risk having your package sent back to you for insufficient postage. Postal service has got you covered with their media mail program. Unfortunately, media mail does have some content restrictions. Did you know that with media mail you can ship giant boxes of books. Contents are restricted to books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, recorded computerreadable media such as cds and. Jan 23, 2020 to package books for shipping, youll need to keep them protected from liquids and rough handling. Media mail is restricted to books of at least eight pages, including play scripts and manuscripts. Your book must have eight or more pages, cant contain advertising and may not be a comic book. I went to the local post office and the clerk mentioned something about advertizements cannot be shipped media mail. The usps limits media mail to books, cds, periodicals not magazines with ads and music any of these can be educational pencils, erasers, rulers, essay paper, art paper, etc. But, in order to avoid being charged with mail fraud, be sure you understand exactly what media mail is, and when you can and cannot use it. My argument was pretty simple and based on using media mail to ship a couple of books that would easily qualify for first class mail. I find that this is the lightest and sturdiest combo for sending medial mail.
Before you put books in your box, wrap them in plastic or put them in a ziplock bag to keep them dry. I have the exact same problem with misuse of media mail. Due to the heavy restrictions of media mail, the usps retains the right to open and inspect packages to check for abuse of the system. This service does come with certain restrictions on the type of media mail that can be sent. The predictable result, especially during an economic downturn, is that retailers and the general public often try to send nonmedia items in packages at media mail rates. Shop our selection of shipping supplies on the usps.
The term censorship derives from the official duties of the roman censor who, beginning in 443 b. These are the weight and dimensional limits that usps allows. Usps media mail overview shippingeasy support center. Media mail is a costeffective or affordable way to send medial and educational related materials. Sound recordings and video recordings, such as cds and dvds.
Only these items may be mailed at the media mail prices. Sep 26, 2019 available for sending small and large packages containing books, film, manuscripts, sound recordings, video tapes, and computer media such as cds, dvds, and diskettes only. Media mail has restrictions on what can be shipped and also packaging. Can comics be shipped through the usps as media ra. The exception is if you have a book that simply mentions related books or media items but not. For further information, or further clarification please refer to the united states postal service website please also refer to the universal postal union full prohibitions and restrictions list pdf 7mb you must not send any item addressed to a country in which the item is unlawful or prohibited. Items sent by media mail cannot contain advertising. I recently started to sell some cds and i usually just ship them using usps media mail 28 days packagethick envelopes. You should read the rules and restrictions on media mail.
What can you ship via media mail and what cant you ship. Looseleaf pages and their binders consisting of medical information for distribution to doctors, hospitals, medical schools, and medical students. The shipping labels on paypal used to go directly to media mail in the magazine category, but that has changed. When i asked why they didnt ship via usps media mail i never got a answer. Media mail small and large packages and thick envelopes can be sent domestically using media mail. Available for sending small and large packages containing books, film, manuscripts, sound recordings, video tapes, and computer media such as cds, dvds, and diskettes only. Media mail is a costeffective way to send media and educational materials. The arrl claimed they used a private contractor for shipping. Media mail is a costeffective option for those who send books, recorded music and other media materials in bulk through the u. Media mail usps retail rate table shippingeasy support. If youre trying to sell a used book or participate in a paperback swap, you probably dont want to spend a fortune on shipping.
Usps media mail restrictions set 108 inches as a maximum combined girth and length for a package. The issue with media mail is that it is supposed to be just that. You can send books, videotapes, dvds, cds, printed music and other. Sep 15, 2016 ebay shipping media mail books, cds, dvds, media, and prohibited items suzanne a. This service has certain rules and restrictions, however, including a maximum weight of 70 pounds and can only contain educational media. I was then informed it did not qualify for media mail because the post office has now decided dvdscdsblurays are not media. You can also read the article on usps delivery time to know about the delivery time of each usps service. The following chart shows usps package restrictions for all their major packaging options. The united states postal service offers many services, and one of them is media mail.
The name of the book rate was upgraded to include all formats of media, and thus, media mail was created. If you come in with a foot square box that weighs only 8 ounces, the clerk is going to be a little suspicious about the contents. Media mail can not contain advertising except for incidental announcements of books. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be sent.
288 310 1519 1250 1149 917 244 875 1307 419 1599 1052 1346 1571 633 1436 755 204 1397 331 1525 641 1400 1206 796 1174 1223 1063 665 776 868 621 663 1425