Media mail

[sandiegolinda]

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.

[partial*eclipse]

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readabouthorses wrote: ... 

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

 ...

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I love that chart, especially because it has separate entries for "New magazines" and "Old magazines" just to make the policy extra-clear.

[readabouthorses]

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@partial*eclipse wrote:

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readabouthorses wrote: ... 

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

 ...

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I love that chart, especially because it has separate entries for "New magazines" and "Old magazines" just to make the policy extra-clear.

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I love that chart too. I have it bookmarked for quick reference. I also like that it has the regular comics separated from the graphic novels since one qualifies and one doesn't.

I hope if they make any changes or additions to the MM regulations that they keep this chart updated. I did ask my Postmaster at my old PO if they had received this notice and they had. They printed it out and posted it at the counter (small PO with only one person working at a time so it was there for the various personnel to reference and show to customers who argued with them on MM regulations)

[mam98031]

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@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.

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That is a GREAT Link.  It makes things rather easy!!  thank you.

[pvcliff]

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@mam98031 wrote:

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@sockmonkeydave wrote:

@sandiegolinda

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...

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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.

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So where is it noted that cookbooks aren't eligible for Media Mail? That info has been circulating lately.

[partial*eclipse]

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 detailed eligibility list that the bulleted list summarizes:

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

[mam98031]

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@pvcliff wrote:

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@mam98031 wrote:

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@sockmonkeydave wrote:

@sandiegolinda

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...

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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.

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So where is it noted that cookbooks aren't eligible for Media Mail? That info has been circulating lately.

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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

[mam98031]

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@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

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Or some cookbooks are in a magazine format too, which would make them NOT qualify for MM.

[pvcliff]

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So where is it noted that cookbooks aren't eligible for Media Mail? That info has been circulating lately.

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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

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Very helpful link. I wouldn't think twice about sending any type of cookbook that was hardbound (and I would probably stretch that to the kind with multiple oblond holes down the side and a plastic spine where pages aren't removeable and replaceable).

[7606dennis]

I thought that the reason magazines were not permitted to be sent Media Mail is because they are classified as periodicals.

[muttlymob]

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]

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@7606dennis wrote:

I thought that the reason magazines were not permitted to be sent Media Mail is because they are classified as periodicals.

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That too.  Even magazines that do not have advertising do not qualify as media mail.

[mam98031]

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@muttlymob wrote:

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@7606dennis wrote:

I thought that the reason magazines were not permitted to be sent Media Mail is because they are classified as periodicals.

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That too.  Even magazines that do not have advertising do not qualify as media mail.

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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.

[muttlymob]

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.

Periodical is determined by the postage rate and frequency of issue - this information can usually be found on the first few pages of the magazine, with the publishers imprint.  While not common there are periodicals that do not have any advertising.

[partial*eclipse]

Highlights for Children is a periodical with no ads.  IIRC, also Arizona Highways.  Having been "entered as periodicals" (as the USPS jargon would say) they are not eligible for MM.