Media Mail Shipping for Sewing Patterns?

[erh434]

Did I hear correctly on the Ebay For Business Podcast late 2022 that sewing patterns may now be shipped via Media Mail? Not finding this on the website and want to make sure, but I am pretty certain I heard Griff and Brian mention that... Thanks!

[wastingtime101]

No, that's not what they said in ep 207.

They were talking about quilting pattern books. These are books with a lot of text content with patterns mixed in, and most importantly - they are books.

Individual sewing patterns in those paper envelopes cannot be shipped media mail.

Brian was referring to a request made by @mam98031 to add media mail to the craft books category so she can probably provide more context. I was unable to find whatever USPS update they said was released in the past 6 mos.

All I could find was this: https://pe.usps.com/text/csr/PS-064.htm

Which specifies that pattern books that don't contain reading material are not eligible, but pattern books that do contain reading material are eligible.

So if your patterns are not loose, if they are pattern books, and the books also contain reading material (not just patterns with no reading parts), then they would be eligible.

[mam98031 · Accepted solution]

Oh boy, YES, ask away, any question you might have.  I'll touch on what you posted above.  And believe me, it took me MONTHS and MONTHS to get Ebay to fix this one.  It was almost like the shipping team that had control of this were being obtuse.  I put an enormous amount of work on this issue with Brian Burke by my side.

Pattern books that are 8 pages or more qualify for Media Mail.  

Pattern books do NOT only contain pictures.  Simply having pictures does not give you the pattern for any given craft, there has to be instructions.  You are welcome to look at my listings for books.

You are correct, packets of a pattern or patterns, even with written instructions do not qualify for Media Mail.  I have a couple of packet type patterns in Quilting / Sewing and even one in Cross stitch.  They have to ship First class.

Pattern books are considered educational material which is why Media Mail is just fine for the books with over 8 pages.

Let me know if anyone has more questions or need more info.  I'll be around.

[deserdog]

And the books do not contain adverting. I have come across various craft books that do contain advertising.  

[mam98031]

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@deserdog wrote:

And the books do not contain adverting. I have come across various craft books that do contain advertising.  

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@deserdog 

A magazine is not eligible for media mail at all.

[deserdog]

And no comic books. but graphic novels with no advertising can be sent media mail.

[mam98031]

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@deserdog wrote:

And no comic books. but graphic novels with no advertising can be sent media mail.

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As long as they have more than 8 pages.

[toysaver]

First Class is another option if it's under a pound.

[mam98031]

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@toysaver wrote:

First Class is another option if it's under a pound.

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You are correct, but that wasn't what the OP was discussing with us.  We are specifically talking about Media Mail.  

FC is usually quite a bit more expensive.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@mam98031 wrote: ... FC is usually quite a bit more expensive.

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At current rates, postage for a MM package starts at $3.65.  Postage for a First Class package up to 4 ounces  is  $3.59 - $4.13.

[mam98031]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

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@mam98031 wrote: ... FC is usually quite a bit more expensive.

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At current rates, postage for a MM package starts at $3.65.  Postage for a First Class package up to 4 ounces  is  $3.59 - $4.13.

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I don't know about you, but I have very few things I ship via MM that weigh 4 oz.  The books have to have at least 9 pages.

My average is probably closer to 8 to 12 oz.  8 Oz highest rate zone is 4.44, 12 is 5.33.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Most sewing patterns would ship at less than 4 ounces.

[mam98031]

You are likely correct for the most sewing patterns in packets.  I personally don't sell those types of sewing patterns.  However I do have patterns in packets.  Some cross stitch, sewing [not like Simplicity, McCalls, etc] and quilting.  

[erh434]

Thanks, everybody, for your insightful answers.  Sewing patterns are so lightweight, individually and even in smaller bulk lots, seems like it could qualify as acceptable for Media mail at some point. I will need to revise a few:)

[nobody*s_perfect]

Eligibility for  MM has nothing to do with item weight. The main criterion for print materials is whether they're mostly images or mostly text. Ordinary clothing patterns don't even come close to the existing MM eligibility categories.