Why can't I select Media Mail?

[afletcher1017]

Hi, I just created a listing and I'm not able to select media mail for the shipping service.  Any ideas on how I can fix it?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/United-We-Stand-by-Ross-Perot-Signed-First-Edition/233227095827

[ms.rodriguez*]

Perhaps it does NOT qualify for media mail. Remember it's postal fraud, a federal crime , if the item does NOT qualify for media mail rate.

[nc-daydreamer]

Are you sending a record or a CD? If item is not media - then it does not qualify to be sent using that class. Some books might can be if there is no advertising in them - like a novel or a cookbook. Magazines do not qualify.  When you set the ad up, did you select media as an option then? 

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

It's a book. Of course it's eligible.  

The problem is, the seller has listed it in a Collectibles category for presidential memorabilia.  In its efforts to combat Media Mail abuse, eBay has started to make Media Mail inaccessible when printing shipping labels for certain categories and is now apparently also limiting access to setting it up as an offering in listings.

If this is the case, then the only ways to offer Media Mail for this item would be to list it in a Books category, or set up a generic "Economy shipping" flat rate.

[pburn]

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@nc-daydreamer wrote:

Are you sending a record or a CD? 

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The OP provided a link to the item listing in the first post. It's a book.

[nmemoryof]

Plus since he is charging $9.50, he can afford to send it priority.  Media mail will be much less than that.

[nobody*s_perfect]

The listing is currently set up to charge calculated shipping for Parcel Select Ground. Indeed, this costs about the same as Priority Mail.  I think his question was about wanting to offer Media Mail so he wouldn't have to charge as much for shipping.

[nmemoryof]

Oh I see.  Thanks for the clarification.  It looked to me like he was offering economy shipping for $9.50 just to ship a paperback book.  I probably missed something.

[southern*sweet*tea]

Wrong category for MM.

You can set a non-calculated (flat rate) generic economy shipping. $4 should cover it if it's less than two pounds.

[tupperstuff4u]

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@nmemoryof wrote:

Oh I see.  Thanks for the clarification.  It looked to me like he was offering economy shipping for $9.50 just to ship a paperback book.  I probably missed something.

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What he charged is irrelevant.  eBay needs to NOT play Super Nanny with Media Mail shipping.

Just put it last on the list of choices and maybe add popup a warning.

(I sold an instruction book for a small appliance and eBay wouldn't let me use Media mail. HOW ABSURD!!)

[anthology-of-treasures]

Very simple. Sign up for an account with pirateship and import your order there.

This shows you how far out of touch eBay managment is with reality. It clearly shows the company does not eat its own dog food. Its like they did not even test their new shipping label "service" before launching it into the open. How many years old is eBay now and eBay management does not know its better to list some books in collectibles and other categories that pertain to the book. This is why they are not longer the 800 pound gorilla in the room - they just don't care.

[nmemoryof]

I don't think what he charges for shipping is irrelevant.  He is charging enough to cover priority mail.

Anyway, on the subject of eBay.  In this case I see their point.  It is not a media category.  They get complaints from every direction.  One of those directions must be the Post Office.  So they are looking for ways to cut down on postal cheats.  A few people are inconvenienced.  Can't the OP just buy that postage at the Post Office and then upload the tracking number?

[judydu2]

Offer economy shipping in the listing and choose media mail when printing the label.

[lja440]

It's hard to believe that with 12 replies no one has given the OP a solution.

afletcher, First you need to place it in the correct catagory, BOOKS. You then can add a second category of POLITICAL. This will open up the use of Media Mail. In addition to the Media Mail shipping I would also add Priority  Flat Rate Envelope, which would be a faster shipping option and be less than your current Parcel Select option. 

I would also ditch the Local Pickup. Because of course some will always choose the cheapest option without even looking that its local pickup. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@lja440 wrote:

It's hard to believe that with 12 replies no one has given the OP a solution.

afletcher, First you need to place it in the correct catagory, BOOKS. ...

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I suggested that in post #4. Paying to list in two categories doesn't make sense.