eBay

frso_7864 · ‎03-10-2023

So I have tried to sell this before each time I just gave a refund because I didn’t now how to ship it media mail always says up to 100 something pounds so is this just going to be sent back ? Because I don’t really play anymore unless it’s to not forget but I now I have to loosen the strings and put it in a box but 55 bucks would just be all the profit

ebooksdiva · ‎03-10-2023

Nope it doesn’t qualify for media mail. A guitar is NOT Media

Media Mail Requirements

ebooksdiva · ‎03-10-2023

If you’re trying to ship your video games and collectors cards Media Mail, they also don’t qualify.

chris13 · ‎03-10-2023

Or *anything* containing advertising. Magazine that has an advert? Nope. VHS tape that records live TV from the 1980s that has commercials? Nope. A book from 1858 that has a list at the back of 'other books to buy'? Technically, Nope.

Obviously they could never check all of these nits, but thats what I was told by the USPS.

ms.rodriguez* · ‎03-10-2023

I rarely pay for shipping. My buyers pay my shipping fee. You know that you can't ship a guitar media mail. You know that. What you have to do is add a shipping cost of $55.00 . You can do it as flat rate. Before you list, do you have the box. MEASURE IT and weigh it. USPS has many surcharges now based on the size of the box. Once you determine that, you can add the cost to the farthest zipcode if you want to use flat rate.

If you want to use calculated shipping, you add the weight and the dimensions. Make sure that it shows the extra fees for oversize boxes. Keep in mind that this will be very expensive to ship. Keep in mind that if the buyer claims there is a problem or does not like it and they lie, YOU will be paying the return shipping and you will have to refund in full. So decide if you want to risk that. If you don't, then sell it locally. Meet your buyer in a very busy place during the day(if possible) and you won't have to worry about shipping a delicate item. This is one item that I would never ever ship. It would take me at least an hour to find a box and probably a good 20-30 minutes to pack it securely and I am an experienced seller. Goodluck.

policequilts · ‎03-10-2023

From the USPS for media mail

Media Mail

Shipping in 2–8 Business Days

Media Mail® is a cost-effective way to send media and educational materials. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be sent. Prices start at $3.65 at a Post Office.

Using Media Mail

Here's what you can send:

Books (at least 8 pages)
16-millimeter or narrower width films
Printed music and test materials
Video and sound recordings
Playscripts and manuscripts
Printed educational reference charts
Medical loose-leaf pages and binders
Computer-readable media

NOTE: Video games, computer drives, and digital drives do not qualify for Media Mail prices.

soh.maryl · ‎03-10-2023

Have you checked the definition of "media mail" with the USPS?

It's a rather restricted category.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎03-10-2023

@chris13 wrote:
Or *anything* containing advertising. Magazine that has an advert? Nope. VHS tape that records live TV from the 1980s that has commercials? Nope. A book from 1858 that has a list at the back of 'other books to buy'? Technically, Nope....

I think the book would be allowed. From the DMM:

4.1.a.Books, including books issued to supplement other books, of at least eight printed pages, consisting wholly of reading matter or scholarly bibliography, or reading matter with incidental blank spaces for notations and containing no advertising matter other than incidental announcements of books. Advertising includes paid advertising and the publishers‘ own advertising in display, classified, or editorial style.

Magazines that have been "entered as periodicals" (i.e.,qualified for a different discount USPS rate) aren't eligible for MM even if they have no ads.

Also, the VHS recording of a TV show is not legal to sell at all; that would be a copyright issue.

chris13 · ‎03-10-2023

I never saw that note about 'book announcements.' Good to know. The list I meant included pricing rather than announcements, but we digress.

Recordings of shows opens a whole other topic. I watch them being sold all day every day on eBay. If we go down that rabbit hole a used TIVO must be wiped before being sold and selling a photo may require a release form from incidental people captured in the background. A deep legal topic for another thread.

magicjohnsonsvariety · ‎03-10-2023

@nobody*s_perfect wrote:
@chris13 wrote:
Or *anything* containing advertising. Magazine that has an advert? Nope. VHS tape that records live TV from the 1980s that has commercials? Nope. A book from 1858 that has a list at the back of 'other books to buy'? Technically, Nope....

I think the book would be allowed. From the DMM:

4.1.a.Books, including books issued to supplement other books, of at least eight printed pages, consisting wholly of reading matter or scholarly bibliography, or reading matter with incidental blank spaces for notations and containing no advertising matter other than incidental announcements of books. Advertising includes paid advertising and the publishers‘ own advertising in display, classified, or editorial style.
Magazines that have been "entered as periodicals" (i.e.,qualified for a different discount USPS rate) aren't eligible for MM even if they have no ads.

Also, the VHS recording of a TV show is not legal to sell at all; that would be a copyright issue.

TV shows recorded on VHS can be sold as a blank tapes, as whatever is on it can easily be recorded over. Even so, no one would care about any copyright issues of a low quality VHS recording.

simba6 · ‎03-10-2023

An actual guitar can not be shipped media mail. Things like sheet music or a book about a guitar would be allowed. Most likely, you will be back billed for the extra postage. The other things USPS does is to either return it to sender or collect at delivery. That last choice is not as common but is still used.

soh.maryl · ‎03-10-2023

Thank you for a good answer. It seems like we lost sight of the original question which was about using media mail to ship a guitar. And the answer to that, of course, was "no".

magicjohnsonsvariety · ‎03-10-2023

@chris13 wrote:
Or *anything* containing advertising. Magazine that has an advert? Nope. VHS tape that records live TV from the 1980s that has commercials? Nope. A book from 1858 that has a list at the back of 'other books to buy'? Technically, Nope.

Obviously they could never check all of these nits, but thats what I was told by the USPS.

VHS tapes are ok for media mail regardless of advertising recorded on it.

Nearly all VHS & DVD's contain some sort of advertising... for example, previews or trailers for other movies is in fact advertising.

Sometimes, DVD's will included printed material advertising other movies or TV shows.