mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
@readabouthorses wrote:This was provided a few years ago to all the Post Offices so they would be aware of what can and can't be sent Media Mail without having to plow through all the regulations in the big book.
https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/link/2013/04apr/Media-Mail-Guidelines.htm
This does say that Cookbooks can be sent Media Mail but I guess some of the "advertising" cookbooks cannot.
That is a GREAT Link. It makes things rather easy!! thank you.
@pvcliff wrote:
@mam98031 wrote:
@sockmonkeydave wrote:You would think there should be a time limit...
I have mags from the 1940's, and older...
most of the ads are for out of business companys.
And do my old National Geographic need to go in the adult area.
We live in a crazy world...
There is or there was. But I haven't looked into it for awhile. A couple of years ago they changed the requirements for media mail rather dramatically.
Media Mail Service
Media Mail® service has special eligibility requirements for permissible contents. Media Mail rates are limited to the items listed below:
- Books (at least 8 pages).
- Sound recordings and video recordings, such as CDs and DVDs.
- Playscripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music.
- Printed music.
- Computer-readable media containing prerecorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media.
- Sixteen millimeter or narrower width films.
- Printed objective test materials and their accessories.
- Printed educational reference charts.
- Loose-leaf pages and their binders consisting of medical information for distribution to doctors, hospitals, medical schools, and medical students.
Media Mail Packages may not contain advertising except that books may contain incidental announcements of other books and sound recordings may contain incidental announcements of other sound recordings. In accordance
with standards in the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM 300) 173.3.2, Media Mail Packages are subject to inspection by the Postal Service™. Upon such inspection, matter not eligible for the Media Mail rate may be assessed at the proper rate and sent to the recipient postage due, or the sender may be contacted for additional postage (DMM 604.8.1).
For more information about Media Mail service, please visit www.usps.com or call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777). Complete explanations of qualified items may be found in DMM 173.3.2.
We would need to read the other clauses from the DMM referred to in the above explanation to see if they are still exempt.
So where is it noted that cookbooks aren't eligible for Media Mail? That info has been circulating lately.
I didn't say anything about that, however readabouthorses did, but they didn't say they "aren't" eligible for MM. Their exact words were "This does say that Cookbooks can be sent Media Mail but I guess some of the "advertising" cookbooks cannot."
This schedule that was posted earlier by another very informative poster is very useful and answers your concern.
https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/link/2013/04apr/Media-Mail-Guidelines.htm
@partial*eclipse wrote:Cookbooks would be ineligible if they have advertising (some cookbooks ARE advertising) or if they are in a 3-ring binder rather than meeting the definition of a book as described in the DMM.
Here's the detaled eligibility list that your bulleted list summarizes:
https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/173.htm#ep1113509
Or some cookbooks are in a magazine format too, which would make them NOT qualify for MM.
examples of cookbooks that would definitely not be eligible for media rate:
These kind of booklets were basically one big advertisement for the company representing either ingredients or appliances, etc. that printed them, and if I am remembering the right threads they are what started the "cookbooks are not eligible" discussions here.
The format of the book doesn't matter as long as it is more than 8 pages. A large hardcover can be/have advertising just as well as these small booklets. It is the content that matters. Campbell's Soup puts out a large HC cookbook with recipes that all are made with their products. Other brands to the same. These would not be eligible for media rate.
Other cookbooks are not advertising for a brand, something like the Joy of Cooking comes to mind. These would be eligible for media rate.
@muttlymob wrote:
@7606dennis wrote:I thought that the reason magazines were not permitted to be sent Media Mail is because they are classified as periodicals.
That too. Even magazines that do not have advertising do not qualify as media mail.
Every periodical I've seen has advertising in it. That is just my personal experience. Just because it is a book or booklet made with the same materials you may typically see a magazine made with does not make it a magazine.
