Media Mail

[everyday-elegant-essentials]

I asked the Post Office and they told me I could not send Comic Books as Media Mail.  Yet, I see many posts that send Comic Books as Media Mail.  Does the Post Office ever do anything about sending Comic books as Media Mail?  

[pburn]

USPS has a right to open and inspect anything sent via Media Mail to assure the contents comply with their regulations.

[trene-n-josh]

Comic Books have never qualified for Media Mail since they generally have advertising,  Nothing that has advertising can be sent Media Mail.  If you  send them media mail and USPS catches it it will charge the buyer the difference between the Media Mail and Priority postage,

[bt61068]

People try and sneak them through (they just say contents are books)  ....  Sometimes they get caught.  Success rate is pretty good.

[gwens*4saleitems*]

Media Mail is subject to inspection (meaning that the post office can and will open the package) if there is something in the package that isn't media, the package will be returned to the sender.

Be aware that "media" is books, tapes and videos. If there are advertisements in the book, it is not considered  media by the post office. Most, if not all, comic books have advertisements.

[bt61068]

I  mailed them in past - first class.  Protect it with cardboard to prevent bending.

[trene-n-josh · Accepted solution]

From USPS Notice 121.

https://about.usps.com/notices/not121/not121_tech.htm

Media Mail packages may not contain advertising. Comic books do not meet this standard.

[pburn]

*****GENERAL REPLY*****

I've told this story before, so if you've already read it, just skip over this post.

I recently had a seller send me a jigsaw puzzle via Media Mail.

True story.

[sapphireseal]

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@bt61068 wrote:

I  mailed them in past - first class.  Protect it with cardboard to prevent bending.

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Same. 

They don't count as media mail because they contain advertisements. 

[pburn]

*****YET ANOTHER GENERAL REPLY*****

I think the OP already knows comic books don't qualify, since s/he mentioned in the opening post that s/he was told that by the post office.

I think his/her question was--and I'm paraphrasing here--can I do it anyway and get away with it?

To the OP: it's against the community guidelines for any of us to encourage you to violate postal regulations, so you'll just have to keep your own counsel on that one.

[tunicaslot]

OP - you know the USPS considers it wrong - why jeopardize your business to save a few cents? Just do the right thing.

[everyday-elegant-essentials]

I did the right thing and sent them out "Priority Mail".  I just checked other's who are selling Comic Books and they list the postage as Media Mail.  I want to thank you for your response.  It truly makes me feel better.

[pburn]

I think you're gonna sleep A LOT better tonight!

[7606dennis]

Comic books are classed as periodicals and thus cannot be sent legally as media mail.  What other sellers do does not make it okay for you to do it.  As my mother use to say, "If everyone else jumps off a cliff, are you going to jump off it too?"

Have you ever tried to talk your way out of a speeding ticket by telling the cop that everyone else was speeding too?  Did it work?

[luckythewinner]

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@trene-n-josh wrote:

From USPS Notice 121.

https://about.usps.com/notices/not121/not121_tech.htm

Media Mail packages may not contain advertising. Comic books do not meet this standard.

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https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/link/2013/04apr/Media-Mail-Guidelines.htm