Media Mail

[happyplace2022]

Hello, I used to sell on Ebay years ago, and just recently started selling again. I recenly listed an item that I wanted to ship media mail because it was educational material. However, I could not find media mail as a shipping option.  I wanted to save whoever bought it some money on shipping, so how do I find a media mail option?

[714ricki · Accepted solution]

Use Pirate ship or other to print your media mail labels & then enter the tracking number in the ebay order details.

Good luck!

[lamber9347]

@happyplace2022 Only certain categories on eBay will allow the option to use media mail. This is because of other sellers using that fraudulently to save a few dollars. So, it just depends on which category you listed your educational material under, or you can purchase a media mail label on Pirateship yourself. You are not obligated to only purchase labels on eBay. Best of luck to you....

[wastingtime101]

Is this the math flash cards @happyplace2022? If so, I do not believe they qualify.

While this page says instructional flash cards are eligible, when you look up CS ruling PS-017 to get the details, it says flash cards are limited to those that are shipped with accompanying testing materials.

[happyplace2022]

Yes. I was talking about the flash cards, but was wanting to possibly sell some books in the future and was hoping to figure out media mail so I coud charge proper shipping. Maybe if I list a book, I will get the option? If not, I do have a click n ship account....

[wastingtime101]

You should see the media mail option if you list in the books category. If you're listing an eligible book in a different category and don't see media mail, then you can choose generic "economy shipping" without specifying a service. As for purchasing the label, here's some basic info that's good for any shipping service you can offer through a listing, but not purchase through eBay labels:

eBay allows sellers to offer a wide range of shipping services through their listings, but they don't offer every one of those services through their label purchase page.

A few examples include:
- Retail Ground (a retail service available exclusively at USPS retail locations)
- Parcel Select (currently available through eBay labels only to Top Rated Sellers, but can be purchased through any other online shipping provider that offers USPS)
- Media Mail (can only be purchased through eBay for select categories due to how much the service is abused. An item might qualify for MM even though eBay labels doesn't offer it for that category, but you can purchase it through any other online shipping provider that offers USPS or at the retail counter)
- Letter/Flat service (it's an untracked USPS First Class service which is the likely reason eBay doesn't offer it through their label platform)

The system will typically default to the first shipping option on the list (often Priority Flat Rate Envelope). You can purchase an alternate service through eBay, but if you want to purchase a label for the one designated on the listing then you can go to pirateship.com or to paypal.com/shipnow

Another time you'll see the shipping method default is when the listing is set up for First Class, but the buyer purchases multiples and exceeds the weight limit for FC. The system will default to another method, typically Priority Mail flat rate envelope.

[grindercb]

You have to be careful about using Media Mail as there are lots of things that we assume are valid but in fact can't be sent that way.  For example, I've sold on eBay off and on over the past 15 years and recently learned that comic books aren't allowable for Media Mail because they contain advertising.  I did ship some years ago but recently a postal worker at my local post office said that they got a memo that with all the reselling lately they're stepping up efforts against misuse.  Postal inspectors now randomly open packages marked Media Mail and verify them.  If invalid they're returned to the sender with forfeiture of the paid postage and you have to start all over.

You didn't mention what your educational material was, a textbook, videotape, etc.  Those things from what I can find are completely allowable as long as they weigh under 70 lbs.  Computer software, even if on CD or DVD, isn't allowable as Media Mail.

[lesegouts]

Simply go to the post office and have them put the postage on. You get a tracking #. You pay the same for MM no matter the method. There is no MM discount for ebayers.

[nyyankeedude]

Magazines ARE Media mail. Period. I've been doing it for years. I print my own labels. The last couple weeks I can't ship Media. 1st class only . NO Media available. Ebay says they have a technical issue with Media shipping. STILL? Looks like the only option to try is to charge more for the magazine and ship for free. I have my doubts it will be different.

[nobody*s_perfect]

No, magazines are not eligible for MM. Period.   eBay has been refining their label-purchasing process, in their effort to reduce abuse of MM.  Magazines are ineligible for MM for two reasons: (1) there were "entered as periodicals," ie., eligible for a different low presorted USPS postage rate; and (2) most include advertising.

Here's a reference chart that USPS put together for staff. Not that they have separate lines for "new" and "old" magazines, just to make it crystal-clear that neither is eligible.

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

[ms.rodriguez*]

Media mail can be very slow.  IF the book is heavy , will it fit into a priority mail flat rate envelop?   And as others posted,  the post office will open up packages mark media mail to verify that the item is indeed media mail.   If the book is lightweight, less than 15.9ounces including packaging, then ship it first class mail.

[fillyourclosetsfrommystore]

Today for the first time I was not able to buy a MM label for a 10-year old magazine weighing 1.3 pounds. Any ads in this magazine are most certainly outdated and not relevant to anything now. Why can't USPS put a time limit on magazine going MM?  The next option suggested was Priority which turned out to be an envelope flat rate for $7.60 (which is 9.90 at the PO)  and I only sold the magazine for 9.99 FREE SHIPPING. Isn't it unrealistic to expect a buyer to pay that postage and still give a seller some kind of decent profit? So now the choice is delete all the listings or look like I'm overcharging. If USPS is spot checking, it's not worth the risk.  I called eBay and that guy suggested changing the category to books. Did anyone else do that and did it work?  

[nobody*s_perfect]

There's just no reasonable way to determine whether an old ad is irrelevant.  And the ineligibility of items "entered as periodicals" is permanent.

[pargran3]

A magazine is a periodical. A periodical cannot shipped media rate. Old, new, no advertising or whatnot.

Periodical equals NO MEDIA MAIL