Sellers Cheating the USPS

[golftownsound]

I've noticed a trend while looking up some auto parts. They're shipping via USPS media mail which is very inexpensive compared to priority mail. This service is cheap to help with shipping such things as textbooks and such. Brake pads come in a box that is very much "book shaped"! My friend's wife is a local Postmaster and she said, if the post office catches it, your package will be confiscated! Hate to see anyone lose their hard earned cash!

[mtgraves7984]

Yep. Sellers who get caught doing it will be issuing refunds. And giving the contents to USPS. It's just wrong.

[lakefor94]

Media Mail is also a sub-standard service. Right with Pony Express at times.

[simba6]

I received an ATV throttle that was sent media mail.  It had been opened for inspection and a postal form was in the package  said it was not allowed as media.  Still received it. The sender was back billed the difference in postage. 

Some sellers are confused as media mail unlike the other choices does not allow just anything to be shipped with it. 

[downunder-61]

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@simba6 wrote:

I received an ATV throttle that was sent media mail.  It had been opened for inspection and a postal form was in the package  said it was not allowed as media.  Still received it. The sender was back billed the difference in postage. 

Some sellers are confused as media mail unlike the other choices does not allow just anything to be shipped with it. 

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You'd think the word ''media'' might give them a clue 😀

[janet9988]

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@golftownsound wrote:

I've noticed a trend while looking up some auto parts. They're shipping via USPS media mail which is very inexpensive compared to priority mail. This service is cheap to help with shipping such things as textbooks and such. Brake pads come in a box that is very much "book shaped"! My friend's wife is a local Postmaster and she said, if the post office catches it, your package will be confiscated! Hate to see anyone lose their hard earned cash!

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Sellers seemingly are willing to risk it.

[lux-libri]

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@golftownsound wrote:

... My friend's wife is a local Postmaster and she said, if the post office catches it, your package will be confiscated! Hate to see anyone lose their hard earned cash!

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Packages are assessed postage due for MM violations. It's billed back to the sender, or as postage due by the recipient before the package will be released.

Confiscation isn't routine. It would occur only if the extra postage isn't paid by one of the parties.

[iamalwaysright]

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@simba6 wrote:

I received an ATV throttle that was sent media mail.  It had been opened for inspection and a postal form was in the package  said it was not allowed as media.  Still received it. The sender was back billed the difference in postage. 

Some sellers are confused as media mail unlike the other choices does not allow just anything to be shipped with it. 

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Is this a growing trend for auto parts only or is it just as much with all other categories?

[soh.maryl]

Those people that you are sympathizing with for losing their hard earned cash are disobeying the USPS regulations so that they can save a buck or so.  

[joshuacorey]

I now know that I am an idiot. I assumed that since eBay was allowing media mail as an option for shipping auto parts I figured rules and regulations had changed. I never thought twice. But now I have been hit on two packages within the last week and I am left with a high postage amount and a refund. I honestly had no idea that I was cheating the system because eBay was allowing it as a shipping option for some parts. Granted, some parts that I was selling did not have that as an option so I was totally cool with that. It was an honest mistake on my part, but I question why eBay would allow most auto parts and accessories to be shipped via media mail in the first place. I know for certain that I placed the parts in the correct category so I am scratching my head.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Over the past few years, eBay has gradually been refining which categories and subcategories they will allow sellers to offer Media Mail in their listings and which ones they can purchase MM labels for.  It's a work-in-progress.  

As you have seen there are still categories where MM can be offered and purchased where it should not be available, and there are also some categories where sellers still can't purchase it for eligible items, mostly sub-categories within mostly-ineligible categories, such as photography books.

In case you're still wondering about eligibility for specific items, here's a handy reference chart that USPS put together for staff.

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