Shipping Magazines Media or Priority or First Class

[doloo]

MAGAZINES at MEDIA Rate

I have been hanging reading new and old posts here for a few days now.  I know, as many do, that magazines DO NOT qualify for USPS Media Rates. I have looked at some legal definitions, and, in spite of what one poster (2018 I think) said about a lawyer stating otherwise,  I believe that the USPS Board of Governors has the right to define classes of mail it receives.   

HOWEVER, I did see a very interesting post as how to "make it work!"  The suggestion was: quote a media rate in your listing, BUT, when you print the shipping label, choose Priority.  I haven't run some examples through the rate charts, but it seems OK to do that - would split the shipping costs.  Has anyone tried this?  What do you see as Pros and Cons?   Would you make that statement in the listing?

It is frustrating to see sellers offer free selling using Media on magazines and getting away with it!

Thanks,  Doloo  - (25 year eBay anniversary, I got a $25 coupon that I spent on shoes!)

[donsdetour]

From your topic you already know it is not media mail.

The priority mail would be combined shipping at such a point it makes it worth while, or list in groups to send priority.

Do not try the state media and switch to priority.

[corvettestainless]

I would charge real shipping cost, or close to it and lower the price of the mag. 1st class for 1 (if under 16oz), Priority if heavier or needs to stay pristine. 

[simba6]

They might not be getting away with it. Media mail is the most inspected and if found out, the shipper gets back billed for the postage.

[cadbury0007 · Accepted solution]

Hmmm... just to be clear, you're going to ask for the amount of shipping to be the cost of Media Mail, but you're willing to pay the price of Priority Mail?  So by splitting the cost, you're saying that you don't mind taking a loss on each package in regard to shipping?  Or do you plan on upping the price of the mag $2-$4 to cover the extra cost?  I'm ok with it if you are.  One of the "Pros" will be that you will look 'golden' to your buyers when you exceed the delivery times compared to Media.  Not much wrong in having customers think it might take a week or two, and then it shows up in 2-4 days.  Makes you look like the 'King' of shipping.  One of the "Cons" would be if someone passes on your listing when they see the 'fake' delivery estimate rather than the real time for Priority.  The better question might be "what is my competition doing, and how can I beat them (and make a profit)?"

[moon_goddess_emporium]

Then Karma comes along, and surprise!

That $200 Psych text book is "lost" at the USPS St. L. Graveyard.

And no, it may be 923 pages plus a DVD and matching socks, but they sure haven't seen anything like that when a search is requested.

[zaxs90]

Media Mail was designed to promote educational materials. It's like the government is subsidizing education. Magazines, with their advertising, fall into the category of for-profit, commercial materials. But all is not lost - Magazine publishers have a special deal with USPS, and they can mail their magazines for 27 cents each. Thank god corporations get this special subsidy, or they wouldn't have a valid business model. This may seem unfair to "we the people" but after all, these are corporations. They have a superior advantage called corporate personhood. Basically, they get personal rights under the constitution, just like all the regular little people, but without all the liability. We can all rest better at night knowing that at least the corporations are covered. 

All those people who are cheating by sending their magazines media mail ought to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Who do they think they are? Corporations?

Let's not get angry - it's just business. Who's side are you on anyway?

[monster-deals]

I just make the buyer pay actual shipping. 

If they want your magazines they want the magazines.

[stephenmorgan]

From USPS

Media Mail

Shipping in 2–8 Business Days

Media Mail is a cost-effective way to send media and educational materials. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be sent. Prices start at $2.89 at a Post Office.

Using Media Mail

Here's what you can send:

• Books (at least 8 pages)
• 16-millimeter or narrower width films
• Printed music and test materials
• Video and sound recordings
• Playscripts and manuscripts
• Printed educational reference charts
• Medical loose-leaf pages and binders
• Computer-readable media

So can you send a Coloring Book,  Stick Fun Book or a Activity Book of at lease 8 pages? 

Besides being sold as a Book they are also "educational".

[nobody*s_perfect]

The bulleted list that you quoted is a handy summary but it leaves out a lot of detail. As you can imagine, over the years there has been a lot of discussion and fine-tuning about what's eligible, what "educational"  actually means, etc.

One thing that's left out of your summary list is the USPS definition of a book. Not only does it have to have a least 8 pages, it also must "consis[ting] wholly of reading matter or scholarly bibliography, or reading matter with incidental blank spaces for notations and containing no advertising matter other than incidental announcements of books." Thus, items which are bound like books, but which aren't text, are not eligible. That includes coloring books, journals, calendars, etc. 

Here are two handy references. The details from the Domestic Mail Manual (quote above is from section 4.1.a on the linked page) and a handy reference chart which USPS put together for staff, apparently based on popular questions about eligibility.

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/173.htm#ep1113509

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

[henpitts]

I understand that magazines don't qualify for media rate but I sell magazines that are over 30 years old and the ads are for products that are no longer available and are historical. These are technical computer magazines and the ads are a wonderful look at technology way back then. I just had a sale that ebay shipping changed to advantage, costing me $8.00 for almost 2 pounds? This does not seem right.

[fern*wood]

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@henpitts wrote:

I understand that magazines don't qualify for media rate but I sell magazines that are over 30 years old and the ads are for products that are no longer available and are historical. These are technical computer magazines and the ads are a wonderful look at technology way back then. I just had a sale that ebay shipping changed to advantage, costing me $8.00 for almost 2 pounds? This does not seem right.

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That doesn't matter, they still have to go GA or some method other than media mail.  

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@henpitts wrote:

I understand that magazines don't qualify for media rate but I sell magazines that are over 30 years old ....

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 Apparently this issue is common enough for USPS to address it specifically in the above-linked chart regarding eligibility: There are separate entries for "old" and "new" magazines; neither is eligible.

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

If USPS tried to set up some criteria for eligibility for "old" magazines, how would they do it? By date? Topic ?  Many companies from 30 years ago are still around: Ford, Coke, Apple.

Most magazines will ship at a low Cubic rate via either Ground Advantage or Priority Mail, so be careful when entering package dimensions when you purchase your postage label, since that could save considerably.

[kh-vince]

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.