Media mail question

[inhawaii]

As long as the contents meet USPS requirements, it's ok to ship media mail in a padded envelope?

[ricke49]

I believe it is.

[fab_finds4u]

You seriously don't know? I'm surprised that as knowledgeable as you are that you don't  that.

[caseypl]

You can send first class mail and priority mail in padded envelopes too. I have decent margins on stuff I sell though, so I tend to use a box for a bit more protection, just in case. 

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques · Accepted solution]

@inhawaii Yes, you can.  there's no postal regulation forbidding it. 

[annadryl]

It's actually easier to discern if it's a book, DVD (something eligible) than if it's something packed into a box.

[moondogblues]

Of coarse it is but I would add extra protection, those envelopes can get caught in the postal machines.

[inhawaii]

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@fab_finds4u wrote:

You seriously don't know? I'm surprised that as knowledgeable as you are that you don't  that.

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I'm not as smart as I look.  😉

[m60driver]

I have been shipping books, CDs, and DVDs via media mail in padded envelopes for years without any issue.

[chevymontecarlo88]

Yes it is as long as it is secure. ( properly padded) 

Is it a good idea is subjective. If you are shipping a low value book or CD and it is padded properly, i do not see the problem. If you are shipping Moby Dick first edition, probably not the best idea. 

[vintage-camerastuff]

it's ok to ship media mail in a padded envelope?

That is not a question.  That is an answer.

[luckythewinner]

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@inhawaii wrote:

As long as the contents meet USPS requirements, it's ok to ship media mail in a padded envelope?

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Yes you can.

In fact I use paper catalog envelopes and not even padded ones.

(The book is protected by stiff cardboard of course).

[maxine*j]

You can use any packaging you like for Media Mail -- envelope, box, bag, whatever, which can be paper, cardboard, plastic, whatever.  

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[fuzzface50]

Just remember media mail can be open for inspection along the route at the discretion of the post office.  Busier post office it seems to open very view for spot inspection but  the little one done the street from me because they are slow and have the time they open all media mail coming or going that wasn't marked inspected yet.

  So if I ship media mail, I leave my package open for them and then seal it myself after they inspect it and enclose the letter  about it being inspected.  I didn't like seeing them just throw the extra padding away when they inspect themselves so I make sure to help them.  gives me a piece of mind and don't mind it seeing I know the rest of the journey it should not be reopened  again until it reaches its final destination.  

last time I was there when they were inspecting other people's  media mail, he laughed and asked me and the other postal worker helping me at the counter if we thought bikinis were considered media mail?  We agreed nope and the kicker is bikinis shouldn't cost much to ship anyways but someone was trying to ship that way. . 

[whimsyonthewinetrail]

when i worked as a rural carrier at the post office i had a rather large box in my package bin marked MEDIA MAIL -- it was filled with stuffed animals ... my customer was not happy when she got a bill for postage due 😞