posted on February 2, 2001 11:54:18 AM new
HI all -
I was struck yet again by how good the rates really can be for shipping books via USPS, when I was at the PO today with a stack of very large boxes [for me]. My receipt slip came back with nothing over $2.19. At least 3 of the boxes were over 3 lbs, one might have been over 4, but I could be mistaken. Depending on the weight and zone, "bound printed" can be a really good deal, and if it's not the cheapest, "media mail" is.
After all the [justified] cringing over the increases in Priority rates, just thought I'd throw that out.
posted on February 2, 2001 12:09:59 PM new
The USPS's own guidelines state that "Bound Printed Matter" is not for books. It seems that many clerks are not aware of this limitation and are using that category (not that ever know what the correct rates are on a good day). Obviously, it benefits the seller, but the only proper category for posting books is "Media Mail".
posted on February 2, 2001 12:43:54 PM new
Yes, and to be more specific, the clerks have explained to me that the computer tries to "force" them to select Bound Printed Matter if the price is less than Media Mail. That's why they've been suggesting this lately.
Yesterday I asked a knowledgable clerk about this, as the we site specifies that it must contain advertising to go as BPM. She said yes, that something like catalogs would qualify, but not ordinary books.
posted on February 2, 2001 12:58:15 PM new
I very frequently have book shipments that are over $3.00--those big computer books cost plenty to ship. Best argument for a scale at home.
posted on February 2, 2001 01:27:39 PM new
Just wanted to say Hi Keziak!
Not only are the Media Mail and Bound Printed Matter rates relatively economical, but the packages seem to be arriving in a timely manner lately!
THE USPS POS system is supposed to be set up in such a way that anyone off the street would be able to figure out a mailing rate just by pushing buttons. Kind of like the cash register at McDonald's. So this is the USPS's own system telling clerks to offer the Bound Printed Matter rate. If the USPS is not worried about which is the proper rate category for books, I'm not going to either.
The whole point in creating this computer system is so that some day the USPS will be able to hire clerks just like any store hires someone to work the cash register. Eventually, new hire clerks will not be USPS employees. At least this is the goal. Whether or not they ever accomplish it remains to be seen.
posted on February 2, 2001 01:33:43 PM new
Books are not the only things costing less to ship.. When I ship anything under 1 lb. (small aromatherapy oil bottles, incense, etc.) First Class is usually cheaper than other slower services.
Even my sister - who sells paperbacks, trade novels, etc. - ship First Class - since it can be cheaper and faster..
Silvia @ Scentvillage
Share the Pleasure of Great Scent!
http://www.amazon.com/shops/scentvillage
posted on February 2, 2001 03:10:50 PM new
well, looks like I shoulda known there was a down side to every attempt to be cheerful about the auction business these days.
I'll just shuffle off despondently, and try to sleep tonight, knowing I have been ripping off the UP Postal Service for a month.
posted on February 2, 2001 04:16:46 PM new
keziak, I don't think you've been ripping off the p.o. The postal service's Quick Service Guide (http://pe.usps.gov) states:
"Bound Printed Matter (BPM) is Package Services Matter (typically catalogs, directories, books, and other printed material)..."
So they specifically state that books can be BPM. The only confusing thing is that it also says:
"General standards include: Consists of advertising, promotional, directory, or editorial material (or any combination of these)..."
Now does a book consist of "editorial material"? I guess it depends on how you look at it. For now, I am using BPM when it's cheaper than Media Mail, particularly since my local p.o. clerks have specifically told me to do so when it's economical.
If you want to look at the Quick Service Guide yourself, you'll need to download Adobe Acrobat (a freebie).
posted on February 2, 2001 04:26:34 PM new
I emailed the USPS just yesterday about the confusion over mailing books, BPM and Media Mail; I explained that different clerks say different things, etc - and this is the reply I got today:
"Dear Ms XXXXX:
A book as you described below without advertising other then a
reference to other of the author's books would be eligible for both
Media Mail or Bound Printed Matter (or parcel post, Priority Mail
or Express Mail).
Bound Printed Matter restrictions say the items MAY (not must)
contain editorial, directory, material such as in a magazine or
catalog.
It is not permissible to mail a magazine, containing advertising
matter, editorial matter, etc., by the MEDIA MAIL.
The official USPS standards are in the Domestic Mail Manual. The
relevant section are at:
Media Mail
http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm/e713.htm#X7132455 (see section 2).
If you have any questions after reading the above, please contact
your local Business Mail Entry Unit. These people are your local
experts, not the window clerk. A lookup tool for your local
Business Mail Entry Unit is available in the upper left frame of
Postal Explorer under "Postal Links".
Thank you for using the United States Postal Service. We look
forward to serving you in the future.
posted on February 2, 2001 06:16:15 PM new
I called my Business Entry Mail Unit regarding M-bags and she did not even know that you no longer need 11 pounds to ship but still had to pay for a min of 11 pounds. So much for calling the expert. She did tell me that you can ask for Pub 51 at your local branch and if they don't have a copy they can order a copy for you which was helpful.
M-bag rates are on their webites and you can print them out. I wish they would incorporate them in the calculate rates section.
Here's how you find the M-bag rates so you don't have to call:
1. Click on "Calculate Rates" which is in the top middle of the usps.com
page.
2. Click on "International Rate Calculator" which is in the top right hand
corner of the next page.
3. Click on "International Postal Rates and Fees (Pub 51)" which is the
second
entry under the header "Related Links."
4. After Pub 51 opens, click on the blue "Contents" bar which is in the
upper
left hand corner of the screen.
5. Click on "Rate Tables" entry which is the next to the last entry in the
content listing that can be found on the left hand side of the screen.
6. To access the Airmail and Economy (Surface) M-Bag rates, in particular,
click on box that is to the right of the line entry which reads
"Table 7: M-bags (Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to a Single Addressee)."
7. To access the alphabetical Country Listing, click on box that is to the
right of the line entry which reads "Country Listing."
In order to access the Rate Tables for other classes of international mail,
it will be necessary to return to the "Content screen" and repeat the
sequence of steps that are described above.
posted on February 2, 2001 07:02:40 PM new
Hi, Marlenedz - You don't suppose that the reason they are not in the rate calculator is that they would rather we didn't know about them, do you?
