eBay

21thegreatone · ‎04-19-2021

I reached out to the USPS (doubtful if will ever hear back from them) to ask the same question in regards to "MEDIA MAIL" shipping.

Was wondering if any other "paper sellers/ephemera/magazine sellers" out there are hearing from the USPS that "well...if it has advertising in it, it cannot ship via MEDIA".

Thusly, the majority of shipping (when packaged and protected properly) will go PRIORITY.

With that said...either the USPS is totally out to lunch on this or they are not understanding what "advertising" means, in relation to their policy...as honestly, I cannot think of ANY item that can be deemed "a media item" that does NOT have some form of "advertising" in it. (And of course, they always tell you "well, they can open and inspect an item labelled "media" at will. (no one wants that, so we end up biting the bullet and simply shipping it Prio. As long as the customer is happy, I am fine w it. But this seems to be a scam that the USPS (they make enough) is running.

As seriously...a 1957 LIFE Magazine or 1973 Playboy or 1960 Field & Stream...IS MEDIA...for decades, it shipped as such, yet NOW "The United Socialists Postal Service" has "changed its laws regarding what IS and ISN'T media?"

Yes...all 3 of those HAVE "advertising" in it. (But good luck on trying to redeem the 20% off coupon for DINGO Boots, endorsed by OJ, from 1977)...or "That smooth-as silk Electrolux Cannister Vacuum AD" from 1953...or "Send in NOW for Jack LaLanne's Plan on how NOT to get sand kicked in your face, the next time "Eddie Cochrane holds a beach party concert in La Jolla!", etc.

Does USPS have its signals crossed, and is anyone else hearing this as well? I don't mind losing a buck here or there on shipping...but $6? each time?

Are other sellers simply saying "send it MEDIA"...and it is passing, or are magazines being listed to ship with $10-$12 shipping charges? (if so, how in the world is anyone selling any? Paper is valuable yes...but it ain't THAT valuable. Playboy (when shipping in those little "black coverthingys" back in the day NEVER charged "Priority Shipping Rates" and those "ads" inside were still for ACTIVE companies. They sent it media. Or "3rd Class".

When did this change? Any input is appreciated and thank you.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎12-29-2021

@evry1nositswindy wrote:
@marcusdarnley Whenever I ship a magazine first class, I get a tracking number. Why don't you? Whether purchasing postage from eBay or the USPS, a tracking number is included in the price.

Probably he's mailing them as "flats" (AKA Large envelope).. Putting cardboard into the envelope to protect the items would make it rigid and eligible to be mailed as a package, with tracking, for a cost that's higher than MM but much lower than Priority.

zaxs90 · ‎03-16-2022

So it's like this - Media Mail was devised to "encourage the flow of educational materials through the mail".

A commendable goal. Before you go condemning the post office, let's keep a few facts in mind. The goal here was for the government to subsidize the free flow of valuable information for the benefit of all. A good investment, by the people, for the people. Calling it socialist doesn't make it evil. The real evil comes in the form of corporate influence. The magazine publishing industry lobbied for a special deal allowing them to ship for 10 cents an issue. A fraction of the price of media mail rates the general public pays, and an even smaller fraction of the rates for parcel post or priority. Once again, the corporate influence has pushed aside the public interest and got a special deal because their business model doesn't work without this government subsidy. Instead of calling it the United States Post Office, we should be calling it the corporate subsidy postal fund of america. We are all paying extortion money to the publishing industry so they can make a profit. The only thing wrong with Socialism is that it always ends up in the hands of corporations. And they are going to take your money weather you call it socialism or the postal service or the EPA, ect. ect. ect. Corporations are really good at focusing your attention onto something else. And then they take your money.

bashort · ‎03-16-2022

Media mail is a dinosaur of the past, the best thing the USPS could do is just eliminate it, they could save all the trouble of trying to police it.

I never did understand why if something is "media" the cost of shipping it should be subsidized by users or other classes of mail?

kh-vince · ‎03-16-2022

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.