USPS "Media" Qualifications...on vintage magazines?? Anyone else having this issue?

[21thegreatone]

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.

[conservitvs]

Media mail has always been for educational materials.

From USPS' website (note the list of restricted items at the end):

Media mail is a cost-effective way to send educational materials. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be shipped. 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.
• Play scripts 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. Comic books do not meet this standard. 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), Section 170, Media Mail packages must have a delivery address and the sender’s return address and 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 price and sent to the recipient postage due, or the sender may be contacted for additional postage.

[jayjaspersgarage]

Business class rates for magazine publishers have nothing to do with ebay flippers.  Your rant sounds like the guy in a Mazda who complains to the cop about the Porsche he couldn't keep up with when he got caught  speeding.  You still broke the rule. 

Years ago I got a charge back from the post office for 'mistakenly' using the slow (media) lane to send a magazine.  I didn't know any better but it gave me a little more to write off my taxes that year.  When I sell complete year sets of back issues I use a medium flat rate box and charge the customer full retail shipping and use the discount for future supplies.

[maxine*j]

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@21thegreatone wrote:

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

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It did not change.  This is nothing new.  It has always been this way:  No advertising.  No advertising, period.  It does not matter if the advertising is outdated.   NOTHING WITH ADS has ever been allowed to ship Media Mail, not since its inception.  No one at USPS has the time to vet magazines or comics or other material to determine if the advertising in it is outdated or current, so it is a blanket ban.

But eBay sellers just keep complaining about it, year after year.

-

[luckythewinner]

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@21thegreatone wrote:

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".

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Magazines have never qualified for media mail, regardless of the age.

When magazine publishers like Playboy sent magazines to subscribers, they did not use media mail - they used special commercial periodical rates that are only available to businesses shipping pre-sorted mail in bulk.

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/207.htm#ep1304570

[gkn29]

USPS does not have time to sort through expired ads or whatever you are citing, thus the blanket policy, NO ADS.

[lowcostsales2014]

Just 1 quick heads up to help sellers.

While your post is 100% Correct.

Comic books do not meet this standard. 

I just want to advise sellers to save them money. Comic Book Graphic Novels Can be sent media Mail as they do not contain Advertising.

So while it looks like a comic book if it has no advertising its acceptable to be sent media.

The advertising is the difference.

[soh.maryl]

So Playboy was disobeying the rules.

And the limitations of media mail have been in effect since probably the beginning of the USPS offering this as a class of service.  It is not new. 

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

No, Playboy was not disobeying the rules.

Playboy was not sending magazines via Media Mail. Current magazines sent to subscribers using bulk rate mailing qualify for their own rates....whether Playboy or the National Review. Neither Playboy (if it is still being published, I'm not sure?) nor I, with  one back issue to sell, can send Playboys via Media Mail. 

[varebelrose]

It has never been legal to ship magazines via media mail. Not even if its 50 years old.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

Most older comic books (Golden Age, Silver Age etc) do contain advertising and so don't qualify for Media Mail. So called "graphic novels"...which look a lot like comic books, but which are basically illustrated books, do qualify as long as they don't contain advertising (and most do not) As a boomer, I miss the ads for Aurora Monster Model kits and stuff, but that's progress for ya!

[gkn29]

or fake poo or xray glasses

[monster-deals]

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@conservitvs wrote:

Comic books do not meet this standard. 

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For someone with a Judge Dredd avatar you should know that is not actually 100% true.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Magazines and other publications which have been shipped at the USPS "Periodicals" rate aren't eligible for Media Mail even if they have no ads.

Apparently this question about older magazines comes up regularly.  Here's a chart which USPS put together as a staff reference in 2013,  which has separate categories for "old" and "new" magazines although neither is eligible.

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

[soh.maryl]

So I misinterpreted the statement about postage for Playboy?