USPS now allowing coloring books to ship Media Mail?

[b86fiero]

A buyer purchased multiple sets of coloring books and when I went to print the shipping label today eBay showed it as Media Mail allowed.  The label would have printed Media Mail at that postage rate. 

I'm not aware of USPS changing Media Mail rules.  Coloring & activity books are excluded and ship at first class.  Has this changed?  I didn't see anything on USPS. 

Is this an eBay glitch? 

[nobody*s_perfect]

Apparently the folks who program eBay's labels process don't understand the USPS MM policies as well as you do.  Coloring books aren't eligible.  But eBay recently collapsed many book-related categories into one huge "Books" category. If your coloring books were listed under "Books" that would explain why eBay allowed it.

[friskya]

Just to add on to what nobody*s_perfect said, IF you choose to use the Media Mail label and IF (for some reason) the P.O. decides to open up your shipment to verify it's eligible, you run the risk of it either being returned to you, or delivered postage due to your buyer (IF they decide it's not eligible).

Granted, the risk is small, but it still exists.

[b86fiero]

I've been selling coloring and activity books for years.  My listings state First Class shipping with an option for Priority Mail if the buyer wants to pay for it.  

This was the first time the shipping label came up as Media Mail.

[b86fiero]

I've always followed USPS rules regarding use of Media Mail.

Some of us long time sellers wish eBay would do something more to help prevent the abuse of it.  Granted some categories have been removed from allowing Media Mail but more need to be updated.

After all, underpayment of postage affects us all in the form of postage increases to cover USPS costs.  If everyone followed USPS rules their income would increase and maybe shipping costs would not rise as much.

[b86fiero]

I have to grin when I read posts from sellers shocked and angry when USPS opens their Media Mail package containing clothing or shoes and or toys, etc. and disallows it.  With the ability of USPS to collect the underpayment directly through eBay the underpayment is taken directly from their sales income - and they lose any eBay shipping discount they received.