posted on July 4, 2002 10:39:15 AM new
The recent USPS rate changes got me thinking.
After reading the USPS web site description
of what qualifies as Media Mail, as long as
I add a CD-R or diskette to each Lot that I
sell on eBay (well, the Lots that don't
already qualify) then I can offer Media Mail
as an option. Why would I want to do this?
Well, it is the only USPS option that is
still a flat rate to anywhere in the USA.
On sale, a new CD-R with case can be bought,
in bulk, for as low as $0.15 to $0.20. Some
of the stores offer CD-R's each week at a
great price (say $1.99 or $2.99 or even FREE
for 50 after mail in rebate). I'm talking
about Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, and
OfficeMax. There may also be others. I
bought slim-line CD cases 100 for $10.00 at
OfficeMax recently, then about a month later
they had the same deal again (I've never
seen them lower). Likewise a new 3.5" floppy
diskette can also be purchased for $0.20 or
less, and you may not need to buy more than
20 or so to get that price.
Again, most of my items qualify on their own,
so I already offer Media Mail. But for the
ones that don't, this can mean a shipping
option that is half of what the other two
options cost. Thoughts please...
Z
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
[ edited by zathras11 on Jul 4, 2002 10:39 AM ]
posted on July 4, 2002 10:46:21 AM new
Thoughts....hmmm. Well, I guess if it works. You can get diskettes for a dime a dozen, so it would be cheap. (I already have about 200!) What a way to get rid of them. But, is it ethical? I was shocked last night to discover daughter's neighbor shipped her 5 figurines she got off Ebay....MEDIA MAIL! She must have lied to the PO, or something! (there weren't any cd's in the package, I don't think) You might want to read u p on the USPS site and see if you can combine items like that and ship media....might be against the "rules"
posted on July 4, 2002 10:57:34 AM new
I don't think it will fly. On more than one occasion, I went to send some padded envelopes via Media Mail and the clerk grilled me as to whether or not there was any correspondance enclosed. If so, she said that would make it First Class Mail and would have to be sent at the higher rate. Based on that, I'm guessing that anything that doesn't qualify for Media rate will nullify the entire package as a candidate for Media Mail.
Of course, I'm guessing that we will see more and more sellers simply lieing about what they're shipping - I know I've already received a Media Mail package from an ebay seller which contained something that didn't remotely qualify for Media.
posted on July 4, 2002 11:36:02 AM new
The entire text of media mail guidelines is copied & pasted from the USPS site below.
I read this the same way as zathras11...I had always been under the assumption that media mail packages may contain *nothing* other than the media; but the guidelines below state only one thing may not be in the package (advertising). I would have expected a mention of other items the package cannot contain, but there are none.
Strictly by the guidelines, there's no reason any package within the size guidelines (notice, no weight guideline) can't be mailed media mail, as long as there's some type of media enclosed.
I would suggest taking a copy of these guidelines when mailing...postal clerk training is never consistent. For that matter, I wonder if even the Postmasters have addressed this issue. Remember all the hoopla about whether or not Priority boxes could be re-used? Oy!
************************
Media Mail (Book Rate)
Description
Used for books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and computer recorded media such as CD-ROMs and diskettes. Media Mail cannot contain advertising.
The maximum size is 108 inches in combined length and distance around the thickest part.
Mark each package "Media Mail" in the postage area.
*********************************
~~History was not made by women who behaved.~~
posted on July 4, 2002 11:47:35 AM new
Well, you can ask your Post Master about it, but I seriously doubt that they will knowingly permit you to send, say, a teapot and a cassette tape as Media Mail just because there's a cassette enclosed. I'm willing to bet that the Post Master response to this will be more unanimous than the inside-out PM box issue was.
The prohibition on advertising, as I understand it, is due to the fact that media with advertising is to be shipped via Bound Printed Matter, the rate at which a subscribed magazine is shipped for instance.
posted on July 4, 2002 01:45:18 PM new
It's not at all confusing. If it's not media, then it can't ship media rate. If the media has advertising, it can't ship media rate. If you add a pen to the shipment, then you can't use media rate because pens aren't a media item. It's very clear from their description what items are media.
posted on July 4, 2002 05:42:48 PM new
Try collecting insurance on a lost or damaged item when youi tell them there was a teapot in the media mail box.
JB
posted on July 4, 2002 05:55:30 PM new
A lot of Ebay'ers ship games (board games) via Media Rate. I mean, they advertise in their descriptions that is how they will ship it.
I don't see that allowed in the explanation offered above. Has there been a special ruling on this by the Post Office?
Just go and type "media rate" for a search term in the games area of Ebay and see (check search item description). I never understood that.
It does result in a 50% discount with the old rates.
posted on July 4, 2002 07:50:32 PM new
technerd - board games are traditionally manufactured by book publishing companies, and I believe the proper term for the manufacture of a board game is to say it has been "published." My guess is that they may technically be considered published material and therefore might fall under the Media Mail rates, even if not enumerated on the USPS website list.
Note that I don't know for certain, this is just semi-informed speculation based on what I know about board games. I've never shipped any board games with Media, but now would be an especially good time to find out if they can legitimately be shipped that way.
posted on July 4, 2002 10:40:10 PM new
impressa5 - no, Media Mail's delivery time is not at all like First Class. I've found that it generally takes seven to ten days for Media Mail to reach its destination. I've heard some stories of it taking three or four weeks, though I've never experienced that myself.
posted on July 5, 2002 06:36:32 AM new
If you are honest with yourself, then it is clear that you can't ship a CD with a teapot (for example) and call it media mail.
The USPS has taken a lot of abuse for its recent rate hikes. If we didn't have so many people misappropriating free USPS shipping materials, shipping everything and anything as media mail, etc., maybe the USPS wouldn't need such frequent rate hikes.
posted on July 5, 2002 06:51:53 AM new
Just me 2 cents worth...I don't think you can ship anything but a package with only media rate materials in it media rate. I sell a lot of media rate, and when people combine items and pick a non-media rate item, I tell them it no longer qualifies for the media rate shipping and quote them a different price. As far as my reason why they raised the USPS prices - my bias is that they pay their employees way too much. I've been a RN for 15 years - have my BSN, and my postal lady has worked for USPS for less than 5 years, has no college education and makes $10,000 more than me (I can't remember how we got on that topic). AND if she works the manditory overtime she says she makes even more than that! (She also gets more vacation time than I do every year)
posted on July 5, 2002 01:43:43 PM new
The UPS and Fed Ex employees make more than Nurses too. Many UPS drivers make more than lawyers, with better benefits too.
posted on July 5, 2002 05:10:32 PM new
Not only is Media Mail slow (remember, this is the old Book Rate), but they have completely lost some books. I don't use it except for books of low value.
posted on July 5, 2002 08:09:50 PM new
I haven't had a problem with Media Mail. I've shipped about 2000 CDs and records via Media Mail and have never had am incident with loss or damage.
posted on July 6, 2002 08:20:02 PM new
As someone who has spent eleven years in shipping and mailing, I can tell you that it is not legal to add a diskette to a teapot and send it media mail. Whenever you ship two items together that are of two, separate, mail classes, postage must be paid for the higher of the two classes. Doing otherwise is asking for a visit from a Postal Inspector. Many folks do not realize that a small percentage of media mail packages are randomly checked to verify the contents are, truly, media mail. With most other classes of mail, a search warrant must be obtained to open the package.
posted on July 8, 2002 04:03:34 PM new
Please, point us all to where it states this
is illegal... As for randomly searching
packages of ANY type, they need a search
warrant. What you state is NOT true (ie,
allowed to randomly search one type of mail
without a warrant)!!! They can, however,
without a search warrant have a drug
sniffing dog examine packages...
I don't believe this is illegal or immoral,
and again I was suggesting it as an option
to consider, I have not done it.
Z
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
[ edited by zathras11 on Jul 8, 2002 04:05 PM ]
posted on July 8, 2002 04:37:04 PM new
zathras, Media Mail is NOT protected from searches... FYI -
4. Can Postal Inspectors open mail if they feel it may contain something illegal?
First-Class letters and parcels are protected against search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, and, as such, cannot be opened without a search warrant. If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mailpiece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence, and therefore may be opened without a warrant.
posted on July 8, 2002 05:01:56 PM new
Also, I just came across this interesting concept in the USPS's Glossary of Postal Terms:
mixed class - A mailing containing one or more class of mail. With certain exceptions, the postage on the entire piece or package is charged at the rate of the higher class.
posted on July 8, 2002 09:03:01 PM new
I am also a book publisher and I recently sent out a mailing of books Media Mail rate (which used to be called Book Rate)and the postal person actually OPENED the package to inspect it (he had to stamp it with "opened for inspection by the USPS" ) to make sure it was what I said it was (and it was ).
I also believe whole-heartedly in the old adage:
What goes around comes around...
Personally, I would prefer to ship legit and not try to get around the system. (This also goes for those that turn Priority Mail boxes/envelopes inside out). It will inevitably come back to bite you where it hurts most.
Just my 2 cents worth!
kittie
PS. I have found Media Mail is almost the same time as Parcel Post in delivery... usually LESS than a week.
[ edited by kittiekat13 on Jul 8, 2002 09:05 PM ]
posted on July 13, 2002 04:35:35 AM new
I didn't click the links, but I will take
your word that that is what they say, since
you listed it and a link. I stand corrected!
Never let it be said that I do not admit it
when I am wrong, but don't expect me to be
wrong very often! ;^) Thank you for the
info! I think I will add that to my e-mail
so that people know their packages can be
searched on a whim.
Z
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
posted on July 13, 2002 06:22:18 AM new
Someone here posted the following>>>>>>>>
If you are honest with yourself, then it is clear that you can't ship a CD with a teapot (for example) and call it media mail.
The USPS has taken a lot of abuse for its recent rate hikes. If we didn't have so many people misappropriating free USPS shipping materials, shipping everything and anything as media mail, etc., maybe the USPS wouldn't need such frequent rate hikes.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
HONESTLY If you believe what you said then I suspect you also believe Oswald shot Kennedy.
posted on July 13, 2002 10:14:09 AM new
"The USPS has taken a lot of abuse for its recent rate hikes. If we didn't have so many people misappropriating free USPS shipping materials, shipping everything and anything as media mail, etc., maybe the USPS wouldn't need such frequent rate hikes."
That's such a small part of the overall problem. The main problem is USPS inefficiency: A PO every mile apart; slow turtoise's working behind the counter; not allowing Priority Mail boxes to be dropped off in a bin, and the worst hiring practice in America, hiring less qualified workers. Not to mention media mail class costing less to ship than something three times it weight which must go at a higher rate.
posted on July 13, 2002 01:07:58 PM new
I've learned to play the USPS game. Some of my items can weigh 2 to 3 pounds but are not that large. Shipping them USPS priority mail has gottem too expensive. The solution I found was to use their own rules to my advantage. The solution is their "FLAT RATE ENVELOPE". They say that anything that will fit into it will be shipped at the $3.95 rate reguardless of the weight or zone. This week I shipped several items weighing up to 3 pounds this way. I place the item inside a sealed number "O" padded envelope, then into the flat rate envelope. The reasoning behind this is that sometimes the flat rate envelope can tear during shipping and the padded envelope will not let the contents spill out. I will also use a clear 2" wide shipping tape to reenforce the edges of the mailer. I don't use the priority mail tape because some postal clerks say you cannot tape the package shut. I point out to them that the package is not taped shut (I don't tape the zipper tab) but only reenforcing the edges of the envelope to keep it from spliting. If only driving by the PO I drop them into the outside mail boxes. If I have to check my PO Box, I'll just toss the packages on the counter & leave. (It pays to get on a first name basis with the local postmaster and the clerks)
posted on July 13, 2002 01:16:40 PM new
I've learned to play the USPS game. Some of my items can weigh 2 to 3 pounds but are not that large. Shipping them USPS priority mail has gottem too expensive. The solution I found was to use their own rules to my advantage. The solution is their "FLAT RATE ENVELOPE". They say that anything that will fit into it will be shipped at the $3.95 rate reguardless of the weight or zone. This week I shipped several items weighing up to 3 pounds this way. I place the item inside a sealed number "O" padded envelope, then into the flat rate envelope. The reasoning behind this is that sometimes the flat rate envelope can tear during shipping and the padded envelope will not let the contents spill out. I will also use a clear 2" wide shipping tape to reenforce the edges of the mailer. I don't use the priority mail tape because some postal clerks say you cannot tape the package shut. I point out to them that the package is not taped shut (I don't tape the zipper tab) but only reenforcing the edges of the envelope to keep it from spliting. If only driving by the PO I drop them into the outside mail boxes. If I have to check my PO Box, I'll just toss the packages on the counter & leave. (It pays to get on a first name basis with the local postmaster and the clerks)
posted on July 13, 2002 01:17:31 PM new
Bear, the new Priority Flat Rate Envelope rate is $3.85.
However, be sure to get the new Flat Rate Envelopes. The old ones still refer to the 2 pound rate and some people have been dinged for the extra postage. Depends on the post office. My PO will still accept the old envelopes if given to them over the counter. However, if dropped in the mailbox, it will be delivered with postage due. Check with your local PO.
[ edited by mypostingid on Jul 13, 2002 01:18 PM ]
