eBay

sandiegolinda · ‎08-31-2017

Media mail cannot have advertising per the post office regulations. I was told by my post office they were going to start cracking down on this. Do others not know of the regulation, because they are mailing magazines w/ads via media mail. I can't compete with them, as I don't want the Feds down on me or ebay......heck, they might send the Internal Rev after me next!!!! Joking of course, I do pay my taxes.

muttlymob · ‎08-31-2017

I'm not sure why you felt the need to state how long you have been on Ebay,

Possibly to relay that in all the years she has been on eBay she has not seen any change in the rules for advertising in media mail? In that case, it would make a difference if it were 1999 or say, 2015 or another more recent year. Because it means the rules have not changed in a long time. Nothing to do with who has been here longer.

In my (slightly lesser) years of staying informed on media mail regs I also have seen no change in the DMM on age of advertising in media mail.

Since the DMM is a federal document any changes must be recorded. Likely those records could be found going back for years, if not decades.

muttlymob · ‎08-31-2017

@variety_nook wrote:
Media Mail is quite simple:

.......The material sent must be educational media!

Incorrect.

While guidance may say that Media Mail should be educational, the only official rules are in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) which has no restriction to only educational material.

partial*eclipse · ‎08-31-2017

@mam98031 wrote:
... I'm not sure why you felt the need to state how long you have been on Ebay ... .

Because you said, "There use to be, a long time ago" and I wanted to clarify how long ago I started shipping eBay stuff, including books and magazines.

1786davycrockett · ‎08-31-2017

Considering that eBay categorizes "Magazine Back Issues" under the "Books" category, it stands to reason that eBay is partially to blame for the confusion, since books can be shipped at the USPS Media rate, while magazines (no matter how ancient they may be!) must be shipped at the USPS First Class rate, or higher. Obviously, eBay should separate magazines from the book category.

partial*eclipse · ‎08-31-2017

@variety_nook wrote:
Media Mail is quite simple:

.......The material sent must be educational media! ...

The word "educational" appears in 2 of the 10 categories in the DMM list of "Content standards," implying that the other 8 categories are not required to be educational.

If all 10 categories had to be educational, then the term would be used in the section introduction, not in 2 specific bullets (i.e., test materials and reference charts). The use of the word "educational" in some of the USPS summary materials does not constitute a regulation or even a policy.

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/173.htm#ep1113509

lookng2015 · ‎08-31-2017

Well dvds & CDs CAN ship MM and most of those wouldn't be considered 'educational" in the USPS sense.

"If a product doesn't sell, raise the price" - Reese Palley
"If it sold FAST, it was priced too low" - also Reese Palley

variety_nook · ‎08-31-2017

You're trying to use semantics! Obviously all materials listed MUST pertain to Educational Material.

Nice try though. Are you practicing to be a lawyer?!

Semantic: relating to meaning in language or logic.

Sorry, But rules are rules! You can try to justify bending or breaking them, but it still doesn't fly!!!

partial*eclipse · ‎08-31-2017

@lookng2015 wrote:
Well dvds & CDs CAN ship MM and most of those wouldn't be considered 'educational" in the USPS sense.

Exactly. And any book, even trashy romance novels (or whatever other book topic strikes you as especially not-educational).

partial*eclipse · ‎08-31-2017

@variety_nook wrote:
... Obviously all materials listed MUST pertain to Educational Material....

That's not obvious to me. The use of the word educational in 2 categories rather than as the header for all 10 indicates that it does not apply to the other 8. Yes, I'm using logic. And I still haven't seen any link to a "rule" about any broader "educational" requirement. It simply doesn't exist.

variety_nook · ‎08-31-2017

@lookng2015 Wrote:

"Well dvds & CDs CAN ship MM and most of those wouldn't be considered 'educational" in the USPS sense."

EXACTLY!!! Which means that you're breaking the law. It's as simple as that!

You can ship a dog turd MM too, even though that's not considered educational.... "in the USPS sense". RIGHT?!

For some it may be considered brains though, LOL........... No Offense Intended! That was just too funny to let slide by!

buyselljack2016 · ‎08-31-2017

nook is on a one person crusade to educate all of eBay, and the USPS. nook has contacted Post Masters to correct their misinterpretation of the DMM guidance when they allow non-educational materials to go as MM. nook will at your request also educate your Post Master, and other employees at your mailing offices.

variety_nook · ‎08-31-2017

Please don't cherry pick!

You left out the front part of the sentence:

You're trying to use semantics! Obviously all materials listed MUST pertain to Educational Material.

variety_nook · ‎08-31-2017

@buyselljack2016 And you as well as everybody else can try to justify your abuse of the system all that you want. But the simple FACT of the matter is what I've already said:

"Sorry, But rules are rules! You can try to justify bending or breaking them, but it still doesn't fly!!!"

That's a Fact! And it's as simple as that!

BTW, perhaps the next time that you wish to ship one of your basement dweller video games, perhaps you should take it to the post office and inform them of the contents prior to purchasing your postage and tell them that you wish to ship Media Mail. LOL....... That would be funny!

duchess-at-speakeasy · ‎08-31-2017

The Media Mail rules about advertising and periodicals have been in place for decades -- even when the class of mail was Book Rate and later Special 4th Class Book Rate. Old or new, periodicals are not allowed. No recent changes. I have been actively selling books and other publications since 1987 -- the rules are still the same.

I think you are confusing Media Mail eligibility with eBay's rules about selling CURRENT catalogs or directories from which products still can be ordered. Consumer magazines, even those published this year, are not part of this eBay directive because the magazine publisher is not selling the advertised products.

Oh, and many small books and magazines -- with or without advertising -- can be sent via First Class Mail - Parcel and First Class Package Service. Maximum weights are 13 oz. and 15.999 oz., respectively. Usually, a club or church-produced recipe book weighs less than 1 lb., as do booklets or pamphlets of any kind.

~~C~~

My Glass Duchess
Quoting Mom: In polite society, "hey" is for horses.

variety_nook · ‎08-31-2017

@partial*eclipse Wrote:

"That's not obvious to me. The use of the word educational in 2 categories rather than as the header for all 10 indicates that it does not apply to the other 8. Yes, I'm using logic. And I still haven't seen any link to a "rule" about any broader "educational" requirement. It simply doesn't exist."

5 key words: "That's not obvious to me."

Or what you mentioned in one of your other posts: Even if they're old trashy novels

That's mighty educational, isn't it?!

PLEASE!!!