How do I send books using Media Mail?
Some of the books I have listed have a shipping cost way over the price of the book. I haven't found a way to use Media Mail. Can someone please help me figure this out?
8 comments
Some of the books I have listed have a shipping cost way over the price of the book. I haven't found a way to use Media Mail. Can someone please help me figure this out?
natoman777
·5 months ago@sandi-4818 Been selling books for years. You need to weigh the books and round up by pound. (example if it is 1 pound 4 ounces you round up to 2 lbs) Select Media Mail. It is that simple. Yes, sometimes the shipping is more than the book, those books sometimes do not sell, others say "free shipping" and add the shipping cost to the price to entice buyers. No matter what shipping has to be paid. The only time Ground Advantage is cheaper is when the weight of the book is over 6 lbs or so and depends on location of the buyer. Hope that helps!
bonanza125
·5 months agoYou need to revise your listings and scroll down to shipping which then you need to change your shipping service from "First Class" to either Media Mail or Ground Advantage. Yes packages go by weight, dimensions, and distance so it can cost more to ship a book than it's worth. In those situations you might want to sell your books in a bulk lot.
fm2000
·5 months agoWhen you create a listing, there should be an option for media mail. Is the option hidden when you go to list your item? You can select MM as a shipping option in any category, though whether you can buy a MM label on eBay depends on the category you listed the item in (not whether the item actually qualifies). You can always buy a MM label on Pirate Ship if an item qualifies, regardless of category.
All of you items are set to "first class" shipping, the old name for today's sub-1lb GA advantage. Many of your items will also cost much more to ship than you are charging for GA/FCP shipping (prices have gone up dramatically.) You should update all of your listings and set them to MM or GA and check your shipping prices.
At GA or Priority prices many of your books and media items will be unsellable, so it is important to update your listings. You should also check to make sure they are still sellable at a profit (The Kid's Cookbook barely sells for more than the cost to ship it with free shipping (it only sells at a net loss after expenses), and you have $10+$14.46 Priority shipping on it.)
Your book listings show multiple pictures which is great, they hit the details book collectors are looking for (they also show your cookbooks are clean, something people who buy cookbooks look for, few booksellers ever show/tell they are clean or not.) Just make sure your shipping is set correctly, and they are worth your time to sell.
nyr134
·5 months agoI think you need to select your shipping service more carefully. So many of your books are listed with Priority Mail at way over the cost of Media Mail, which will likely deter sales. Some of your books are listed as first class which is not appropriate for rigid, heavy items. Almost all of your books are in the books category - maybe you are not looking too far down the list of USPS choices when you set up your listing. And, unless your book is lightweight and mailed close to home, Media Mail is the cheaper choice. Insurance is not built-in to the price of Media Mail, though.
1786davycrockett
·5 months ago@sandi-4818
Many of your books are showing "Shipping" as "USPS First Class," which is no longer available for shipping packages -- it was changed to USPS Ground Advantage several years ago.
Some of your other books are showing "Shipping" as "USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box," but the shipping charge is less than the actual cost of Priority shipping.
If your book listings are clearly listed under "Books, Movies & Music > Books & Magazines > Books," the shipping option for "Media" should show up as an option.
Currently, USPS Media rate is $4.47, either through eBay or at the USPS counter.
kibble-net
·5 months agoGround advantage is usually cheaper and more reliable. Media mail is a very niche service to use, if you can save money it's usually not even worth it.
natoman777
·5 months agoI disagree totally about media mail. It is 99% of the time cheapest option. Since USPS changed things with Ground Advantage, All packages are sorted in the same way. Priority, Ground Advantage and Media all go at the same speed and with the same care - unless it is a large box with many books which sometimes takes longer
simba6
·5 months agoWhat category are you listing them under? You can only select media mail for items that are allowed. So you have to list in the category of books. Then the option of media mail will show up.