How / why can a video games listing have media mail as sending choice?

[glad2badad2002]

I've recently gotten back into selling a handful of items here on eBay.  Some of the items I want to sell are vintage computer games (on CD) and / or old computer software.  I've researched media mail usage and it appears pretty plainly written that computer games aren't allowed.

That said, in reviewing some other listing in the video games category, I'm seeing listings using media mail.  Is that a legit choice?  It's impacting how I consider positioning myself on pricing some of the things I want to list.

Thanks in advance for getting me on track with this.  Appreciate it.

[kensgiftshop]

No, you can't ship them Media Mail.

[1786davycrockett]

@glad2badad2002 

According to USPS regulations, video games are NOT considered to be Media.

A few years ago, another seller had started a thread, attempting to justify his use of USPS Media shipping for sending video games.  

He claimed that, since music was used in the background of video games, the games were then equivalent to CDs, records and other music recording media.

He also claimed that the action sequences on video games weren't that much different from most action movies.

Another claim that he made, was that most video games have an "educational" quotient, as well.

This seller went on and on, for page after page, arguing with the rest of us, that he should be able to send his video games via USPS Media, despite the fact that USPS regulations do NOT include video games.

I finally gave up arguing with him, since he simply did not care -- he was going to do, what he was going to do.

And those video games which you see with USPS Media shipping may be his -- or copycats.

But nothing has changed:  Video games do not count for USPS Media rates -- in fact, it might be cheaper to ship them as USPS Ground Advantage! 

[glad2badad2002]

Thank you.  I understand that.  It seems that eBay would not allow that as an option if the listing isn't in the correct category to allow it.

[1786davycrockett]

@glad2badad2002 

Exactly -- you are right.

[glad2badad2002]

Thank you.  I did do some digging using the community search tool.  Definitely some strong opinions when this has been bantered about.  🙂

I don't remember any specific commenters names, nor should I list them here if I did, but I do remember one that was pretty feisty in one of the forum threads.  Have no idea is this is the same seller that has the listing I looked at.  Now I'm going to look and see if there are more than one (seller) listings with media mail for this category.

Thing I don't understand is how that can even be a legitimate shipping option (items listed under Electronics / Video Games & Consoles / Video Games).  I figured media mail wouldn't be a shipping choice, based on what I'd read earlier.

[1786davycrockett]

@glad2badad2002 

Many people were choosing to ship their items using USPS Media (rather than other, more expensive USPS services) simply due to the cost -- and some eBay sellers still do!

I'm still regularly receiving magazines and comic books which I purchased on eBay, with the seller shipping at USPS Media rates.

Fortunately, many post offices are clamping down on this type of mail fraud.

Yet I still see eBay ads for automobile parts; hand tools; pottery; toys; knick-knacks; gardening supplies; and so one, and so on -- all listed with USPS Media shipping.

I even saw an ad on eBay for an electric bicycle -- with USPS Media.

Some people are just choosing the cheapest shipping option that they see, without reading the regulations for that option.

And it's one of the reasons that USPS keeps raising the rates on Media -- the latest was just this past July.

It's either dishonesty, or stupidity -- or a combination of both.

[glad2badad2002]

Yikes!  Thanks for the info.  Getting educated here.  🙂 
I've tossed an item or two on eBay for 20+ years now.  Nothing ever serious.  Previously I've not had much experience with items that could fall into a legit media mail category.  Some of the things I have now are - hence my questions.

I do remember a time when I sold a collection of my old Hardy Boy's books (had as a kid).  A potential buyer give me grief for not offering media mail.  It did weigh a lot.  😛

Thanks again.

[1786davycrockett]

@glad2badad2002 

As I may have said before -- before printing off your mailing labels for any Media items (books, CDs, records, etc), check to make sure that USPS Ground Advantage isn't cheaper.

Since USPS hiked Media rates again this past July, I've been pleasantly surprised (and even delighted!) to discover that doing an upgrade for my buyers to Ground Advantage, I can often save anywhere up to 40 cents on my Media shipments.

While admittedly it's not much, it does add up over time -- and who knows when DeJoy might once again take "de joy" out of our lives, and raise Media rates again?

For items which many others seem to consider "dinosaurs," and yet others say are dwindling on the marketplace, it nevertheless continues to amaze me that DeJoy must consider these Media items plentiful enough to keep raising the rates to ship them.

'Course, he's doing the same thing with First Class mail, as well -- another so-called "dinosaur" that just can't seem to see that asteroid heading right at it. . ..

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@glad2badad2002 wrote: ....  It seems that eBay would not allow that as an option if the listing isn't in the correct category to allow it. ... Thing I don't understand is how that can even be a legitimate shipping option (items listed under Electronics / Video Games & Consoles / Video Games).  I figured media mail wouldn't be a shipping choice, based on what I'd read earlier.

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eBay also allows sellers to set up listings which offer the eBay "Standard envelope" in categories where eBay will then not allow sellers to purchase that postage.  IMHO this is a serious flaw in the programming for the listing form, and one which shouldn't be very difficult to remedy.

The debate over whether video games are eligible for Media Mail should have been made moot when USPS issued this Customer Support Ruling about that issue several years ago: 

https://pe.usps.com/text/csr/PS-334.htm

The non-eligibility of games is also addressed in this reference chart which USPS put together for staff, apparently in response to frequent questions:

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

[wastingtime101]

The short answer: eBay expects sellers to understand the shipping services they offer and make sure the items they're selling are eligible for that service.

In the end, it's the seller that's responsible if the package is caught by USPS for misuse of Media Mail, if the seller doesn't charge the buyer enough for an eligible service, etc.

eBay could implement more blocks in the programming, though traditionally those blocks often lead to more issues, so eBay puts it in the seller's hands to manage their own listings and shipping.

Not saying whether I agree or disagree with the practice; just stating how the system works.