Sending magazines via media mail

[patterns2sew]

I want to list a number of magazines in one listing and trying to decide how to set up shipping.  I looked at a bunch of listings for magazines to see what other sellers were doing.  Every listing I looked at was listing shipping as via Media Mail.  It is my understanding that magazines don't qualify for Media Mail, and I have read comments that indicate eBay won't allow you to purchase a Media Mail shipping label.  Am I missing something? 

[evry1nositswindy]

No, magazines cannot go media mail due to the ads inside.  All those listed with media mail are in violation.  Some will get caught, others will not.  They must go first class or priority.  Flat rate envelopes are great for groups.

[the_fancy_fox]

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@patterns2sew wrote:

I want to list a number of magazines in one listing and trying to decide how to set up shipping.  I looked at a bunch of listings for magazines to see what other sellers were doing.  Every listing I looked at was listing shipping as via Media Mail.  It is my understanding that magazines don't qualify for Media Mail, and I have read comments that indicate eBay won't allow you to purchase a Media Mail shipping label.  Am I missing something? 

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No your not. Magazines do not qualify for media mail. Anything with advertising does not qualify either. 

The USPS can open media mail and if they do and find magazines that seller will get automatically billed for Priority. 

I guess some people decide to take the risk. As a policy, I don’t. 

[1786davycrockett]

Nope -- you aren't missing anything.  Magazines (and comic books, as well) can NOT be shipped at USPS Media rate, since USPS considers them to be periodicals (with or without advertising) -- no matter how OLD the magazines (or comic books) may be. 

The sellers who are using USPS Media rate are breaking USPS rules, and may eventually be caught by USPS.  To be an honest seller, ship your magazines as a USPS First Class Package, or USPS Priority, if they exceed the weight restrictions for USPS First Class.

Your buyers will respect your honesty for shipping at the proper USPS rate, and may reward you with more business.

Good luck!

[patterns2sew]

There are so many violators, hard to understand why eBay is not enforcing their rule as well as the USPS rule.  But oh well, not my way of doing business, so not my worry.  Thanks for the replies. 

[Anonymous]

USPS also has the option of not delivering the item to the buyer until they pay the postage that is due on it.

How happy is your buyer going to be when that happens?

Who cares what other sellers are doing.

Many sellers use the slow, slow, slow Seller Hub, so should then I stop then using the much, much, much faster desktop listing software I've been using for over 20 years?

For groups the best option may be Parcel Select or Priority Cubic pricing from PirateShip. Don't assume that flat rate will be cheaper. This will depend on the weight, size and destination.

[fab_finds4u]

eBay is not law enforcement. People here have to police themselves when it comes to shipping. If Media Mail abusers are caught all their MM packages  supposedly willl get inspected.

One fellow here has sold many thousands of yearbooks all shipped Media Mail, which also doesn't  qualify, and he's never been caught.  

Think of the money he screwed  the PO out of.  

Cologne is supposed to be surface mail only but I see many listings with First Class and Priority.  That is more serious because cologne is flammable. A truck on fire is one thing but a plane on fire and causing the plane to crash- well that could be very bad.

[wastingtime101]

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@fab_finds4u wrote:

Cologne is supposed to be surface mail only but I see many listings with First Class and Priority.  That is more serious because cologne is flammable. A truck on fire is one thing but a plane on fire and causing the plane to crash- well that could be very bad.

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I'm hoping the new USPS Ground Advantage service rolling out in July will more or less eliminate that problem with perfume, nail polish and similar items that are supposed to ship surface transportation only @fab_finds4u.

The FC listings will automatically convert, but the Priority listings will require sellers making a change - and hopefully they will because Ground Advantage will be lower cost than Priority. So even if they don't change out of knowledge they're violating the USPS hazmat rules, perhaps they'll make the change for cost savings.

[rarebitbks]

the question is why can sellers shipping mags /comics etc able to get Ebay media mail printed labels when I & others CANT print a media label because its greyed out. I have to think theirs is also greyed out when they come to print & they have to take a loss because the only option left is ground ad or priority, are they stupid or do they leave the word magazine out or other key words

[wastingtime101]

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@rarebitbks wrote:

the question is why can sellers shipping mags /comics etc able to get Ebay media mail printed labels when I & others CANT print a media label because its greyed out. I have to think theirs is also greyed out when they come to print & they have to take a loss because the only option left is ground ad or priority, are they stupid or do they leave the word magazine out or other key words

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Those seller can't access Media Mail. It's grayed out for you and it's grayed out for them. If they're violating USPS regulations (and risking the punishments that go with it), they're doing so outside of eBay and not through eBay shipping labels.

Be smart: do not attempt to use Media Mail for magazines.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@rarebitbks wrote:

the question is why can sellers shipping mags /comics etc able to get Ebay media mail printed labels when I & others CANT print a media label because its greyed out. ... do they leave the word magazine out or other key words

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eBay limits access to Media Mail labels based on category, not on the words that sellers use in their listings.  So sellers who want to use MM for magazines could list in categories that offer MM, or they could purchase their MM labels outside of eBay such as another online postage seller (Pirateship etc.) or even at the Post Office counter, where it costs the same as through eBay.

[kh-cathy]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.