Media Mail
Summary: La discusión sobre 'Media Mail' incluye varias intervenciones, pero el contenido visible es limitado. a_c_green menciona que Ground Advantage solía ser más económico y confiable que Media Mail, especialmente para enviar CDs, pero esto cambió tras un reciente aumento de tarifas. Destaca que Ground Advantage incluye un seguro de hasta $100, algo que Media Mail no ofrece. a_c_green también proporciona un enlace a las guías de USPS sobre lo que califica para Media Mail.
Hello, I recently tried to change several of my items from USPS Ground Advantage to Media Mail but the option to select Media Mail was not always available. I spoke with a customer representative about the issue and they were not much help. As anyone had this problem?
20 comments
tobaccocardyahoo
·3 months agoThere is a solution for shipping magazines and comic books without paying for GA.
Amazon sellers have been able to use Bound Printed Matter to ship for years. Similar to MM in delivery time, not insured, and requiring a notice to return if undeliverable, it usually requires a special permit.
Amazon sellers buying through Amazon do not need a permit. Amazon offers a standalone service called Veeqo. It integrates with Ebay. BPM is available, costs less than MM.
Read the restrictions on the USPS site.
1 pound to any US location is $3.95.
pro-spin-books
·3 months agosame problem with a book I sold this morning I called ebay they had no clue as to what I was talking about. Used paypal shipping (No charge other than actual shipping costs)
redmodelt
·5 months agoMagazines could be a well over a hundred years old but if it contains ANY advertising, it still would not qualify for MM.
gator08041971
·5 months agoOnly one clarification with regards to the type of material permitted:
Only pre-recorded, or production produced material is valid. A book you buy at a bookstore, or a music CD bought pre-made with licensed music recorded on it. Same thing with VCR or DVDs, etc.
Those items that have been recorded personally do not qualify. Like personal voice recordings, or home videos, etc.
Here's the thing:
Using Media Mail incorrectly is one thing. Getting caught is another. If a package is found by USPS to have been using Media Mail incorrectly, the package will be confiscated and potentially destroyed. Depending on the severity of the offense, the shipper could also face legal action.
My advice: If you aren't sure, its probably not appropriate. If in doubt, ship with a different method.
raf2400
·5 months agoWhat a silly rule! Not eBay's fault, apparently, but USPS's.
Media Mail is allowed by USPS for sending "educational and cultural materials." Collectibles - old magazines or comic books - ARE cultural materials. The ads in a 50-year-old magazine can no longer even qualify as "ads," in my opinion!
And yes, Ground Advantage, in my research, is a lot more expensive than Media Mail. Roughly $10 versus $5. That high shipping cost could turn potential buyers away.
magicjohnsonsvariety
·5 months agoEducational and cultural materials has nothing to do with media mail...that is too vague a description.
Media mail is very specific items only. No such thing as any magazize that qualifies for mm. Graphic novels are eligible but not comic books.
Books and sheet music may be educational but just being educational has nothing to do with eligibility...
As far as ground Advantage costing more...well that's the whole point of the media discount. Most buyers understand the rules...
shado-x
·5 months agoI just sold a magazine from 1929 - > USPS Ground Advantage.
krazzykats
·6 months agoOverview of Media Mail
Prohibited Items
Conclusion
boomersbiz46
·6 months agoIf you sell books, you can use Media Rate but you have to use a "book" category.
I sell a lot of books and have for years, so selecting the correct category is essential.
bonanza125
·6 months agoAs others stated it's based on category and what you are selling. I wouldn't worry too much about it though cause the customer is paying. Sometimes with media mail it will take a tad longer.
1786davycrockett
·6 months ago@theclockercat
Comic books (such as "ISIS Golden All Star Comic Book - 1977. Joanne Cameron, Fantasy") can NOT be shipped at USPS Media rates -- they are considered to be periodicals, and contain advertising.
They need to be shipped at USPS Ground Advantage Rates.
Same thing with these 2 instruction booklets that you have listed as Media items -- "Panasonic Color Video Tape Recorder - Mid-1970s. EIAJ, 1/2" Open Reel" and "Panasonic Omnivision 1/2" Video Cartridge Player Brochure - Mid-1970s. EIAJ" -- instruction booklets must be shipped as Ground Advantage.
kibble-net
·6 months agoGround Advantage is often cheaper than Media Mail, and a lot more reliable. When I sell compact discs, I use GA instead of MM because of these reasons.
tobaccocardyahoo
·6 months agoThat was true before the latest increase in the cost of GA. I no longer find that so.
a_c_green
·6 months agoOne point in GA's favor over MM is that it includes up to $100 insurance; MM has none.
@theclockercat : Here is a link to the USPS quick-reference chart on what does or does not qualify for Media Mail:
https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/link/2013/04apr/Media-Mail-Guidelines.htm
meme6253
·6 months agoMedia Mail is for certain things only, Such as books, movies, cd, DVD,etc., Not everything can be sent this way, You need to check if your items meet the criteria.
gone.c-33
·6 months agoI looked at your items and only one of them qualifies for media mail. Magazines aren’t eligible.
inhawaii
·6 months agoThe Media Mail shipping option is only available in some categories.
You can't ship a coffee maker Media Mail.
pickapaper
·6 months ago@theclockercat
Just curious what it is that you were trying to change to Media Mail. I don't see anything other than one teaching manual that would qualify as Media but maybe I overlooked others. Magazines do not qualify as Media but it looks like you have those all listed as Ground Advantage which is good. (BTW, you have a few magazines listed with $22.37 Ground Saver postage, which seems like high postage and wrong shipping service but maybe you intended this?)
Do not use another shipping service to override using the correct shipping method as suggested above. You just need to know what qualifies as Media and list your items accordingly. Collectibles do not quality as Media.
lonebuck-books
·6 months agoThis happens if the item you listed wasn't in the correct media category. For instance if it was a cookbook and it got listed in the category for kitchen accessories, eBay won't give media mail as an option. If it is an actual book and you want to send it out media mail, you will need to use a different method to buy your shipping label like Pirate Ship. Happens all the time especially if you used another listing to sell similar with. Other sellers can often pick incorrect categories.
zakstreasuretrove
·5 months ago^ This!!!
It is 100% the category the item is listed in. Even if it's in a technically appropriate category, eBay still blocks media mail as an option. PirateShip is a solution you can use. You can import your eBay sales directly to the site and you will be able to select media mail.
I've had this happen many times with automotive repair guides like the Chilton books etc... If it gets listed in some automotive category it won't be eligible for media mail despite it being a book. It's a little annoying at first, but once you get your PirateShip account set up it is fairly easy. Sometimes shipping for other stuff is cheaper too.
I have used that service many times and have only ever had one issue where the tracking wasn't synced in time. The tracking showed that it was paid and shipped in the appropriate time frame so I won the appeal on eBay. A minor inconvenience that was resolved. Out of about 100 times I've used the service that has only happened once and it was a couple years ago.
It's also handy when you send personal packages so you can get the discount on that as well.