12-23-2024 10:58 PM
12-24-2024 12:30 AM
Media mail is what is used to mail books. There is no discount for it, unfortunately. Cost starts at 4.63 just as if purchasing at the post office.
12-24-2024 12:39 AM
It has to be listed in the right category (books) otherwise MM (book rate) is not an option.
12-24-2024 06:05 AM
It is called "Media rate," and there is NO discount for eBay sellers -- currently the charge is $4.63, which is the same as the USPS counter charge.
If the weight of your book item is relatively light, you may discover that USPS Ground Advantage is less expensive -- and, as a shipping upgrade, will often arrive at the shipping address faster than Media shipping.
Make sure that you familiarize yourself with what USPS defines as "Media" -- it does NOT include magazines (no matter how old); comic books; blank diaries or datebooks, etc. Here's the USPS definition of "Media" items --
Only these items may be mailed at the Media Mail prices:
12-24-2024 08:11 AM
Keep in mind there is no free insurance on Media Mail.
eBay management hasn't figured out in nearly 30 years that it may be beneficial to list books in category related to the book instead of books. They may not let you print a Media Mail label if you list in a category other than books so you may need to import you order on PirateShip.
A school yearbook with obvious ads can't be shipped via Media Mail. A simply text list of sponsors in the back is not a ad since it also includes private individuals.
12-28-2024 01:46 AM
You can put books in appropriate categories outside "books", but you have to use Pirate Ship or other similar service to buy the Media Mail postage. (A significant example of this is the role playing games category, many role playing books fully qualify for media mail according to the DMM, but because they are not in the "books" category, eBay won't let you print a Media Mail label.) In the past category didn't matter, you could always print a Media Mail label, now it is category limited; I don't know if this was an eBay choice or if the USPS required them to do it.
This is a perfectly legal workaround (according to USPS and eBay rules), but having to do this can be an unnecessary headache and extra step.