How to package a book through media mail bizfluent. What are library mail service and media mail service. Postal service allows you to send books, dvds, cds, printed music, and sound recordings through media mail at a discounted rate. Those books can be sent under a cheaper rate known as the library rate. If you find the weight of your package less than 8 ounces, then you will not have to shell out more money to send your item. Even though books are heavy and bulky, sending them long distance to friends as a gift, or to yourself when moving, does not have to be expensive. For media mail, i find it easiest to go to the desk, hand the package to the clerk, and just say its a textbook that id like to send media mail. Start your shipping with free priority mail and priority mail express envelopes and boxes, and other supplies.
The items sent using special media mail rates cannot exceed 70. I make sure i list that it will be sent media mail though, so the buyer cant complain about the shipping time. And shipping all 20 volumes of the oxford english dictionary will require yet another approach. Mar 04, 2010 how does the post office confirm that media mail is actually media mail. However, there are few restrictions on the type of mail items that can. The cost of sending media mail is determined by your packages weight.
Although you wont pay as much to send these items via media mail, they can take longer to get to their. How does the post office confirm that media mail is actually media mail. It is a costeffective way for those who sell these items online to ship them to buyers. When you decide a media mail shipping through usps, you need to mention the correct address of your item. The book rate was mainly for books when it was first created, but if your intention is to send books to or from a library, then you should use the cheaper alternative known as library rate. Generally, media mail is the cheapest usps mail class for shipping heavy items up to 70 lbs. Normally id say more likely to be checked by the carrieroffice thats accepting the shipment or making the final delivery. If an item is subject to sales tax, in accordance with state tax laws, the tax is generally calculated on the total selling price of each individual item, including shipping and handling charges, giftwrap charges and other. You may be aware of the various service offered by the usps, one among them is usps media mail. Media mail shipping is a costeffective way to send educational materials. You can find usps post offices near you with an online search. Usps media mail regulations comics general cgc comic. You can send the same by using the usps firstclass mail.
Sound recordings and video recordings, such as cds and dvds. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be shipped. Media mail usps retail rate table shippingeasy support. When you get up to the counter tell them you want to ship the package via media mail. I know the post office states no advertisements yet i regularly see books listed with shipping via media mail. Dramatically costeffective when compared to priority mail. Playscripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music. Sealed your package well, and then take its weight. Only these items may be mailed at the media mail prices. While doing a little reading this morning, i saw a posting that some cookbooks cannot be mailed media mail. You can send books, videotapes, dvds, cds, printed music and other sound recordings through media mail as long as they.
For abuse stories, i know a lot of people send video games via media mail. I know some that have a lot of advertising, and some fund raising books have advertising from sponsors. If its not imperative that your books arrive quickly, the cheapest way to mail books is by sending them media mail through the u. Or if the shipper is a known asshole who tries to sneak things through media mail. You can not ship magazines, trading cards, or video games with media mail. Surcharges may apply to certain items including packages that weigh over 25 pounds. Media mail is the cheapest way to ship books, vinyl records, or other music with the united states postal service. They will ask what the package contains as long as its books etc. Formerly called book rate, media mail cannot contain advertising, except eligible books may contain incidental announcements of books. I have actually had mail arrive with postage due because of some seller sending me books via media mail.
The mail class is also known as book rate among book sellers. Media mail is for shipping media items containing books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, recorded computerreadable. The pros and cons of using media mail vervante blog. Available for sending small and large packages containing books, film, manuscripts, sound recordings, video tapes, and computer media such as cds, dvds, and diskettes only. You can send books, videotapes, dvds, cds, printed music and other sound recordings through media mail as long as they weigh less than 70 pounds. There are big books, small books, thin books, and thick books. The ups rate guide provides information about ups ground and air rates and services. To keep everything from getting jumbled up, ive included either a bunchedup towel or canvas bags as filler material. Boxes should be sealed with twoinch packing tape, either brown or clear. Each box contains a hodgepodge of hardback and paperback books. Thats how i mail stuff like used dvds via ebay every time. May 22, 2007 now that im here, ive decided which books to keep and which to sell, but ive discovered the rather annoying fact that canada does not have an equivalent to the united states media mail postal rate. Yepmagazines, catalogs, books, dvds, computer games, etc. Media mail is a usps mail class restricted to the delivery of books, film, audio and other recorded media.
What is difference between book rate and media mail. Media mail is a shipping alternative offered by the u. Here at vervante, we offer our customers the ability to select the method of shipping they desire for all of their shipments and a sizeable amount choose media mail. Books at least 8 pages sound recordings and video recordings, such as cds and dvds. Us postal service is a famous shipping company that is dedicated to serving people. Media mail is a costeffective way to send non time sensitive media materials through the u. If you send a book in a media mail envelope, you might put a cardboard insert on both sides of the book. Jan 23, 2020 ask for a discounted price for shipping books. Books, including books issued to supplement other books, of at least eight printed pages, consisting wholly of reading matter or scholarly bibliography, or reading matter with incidental blank spaces for notations and. Although you wont pay as much to send these items via media mail, they can take longer to get to their destination. Contents are limited to books, manuscripts, sound recordings, and certain other educational materials. Has anyone experienced any issues with the post office in shipping back issues of comics and magazines with advertisements to customers via media mail. The customer can be charged the difference if the post office opens and inspects the contents of the package. But, in order to avoid being charged with mail fraud, be sure you understand exactly what media mail is, and when you can and cannot use it.
The prohibition against advertising was to prevent all new periodicals not just comics, but time, us, newsweek, etc, which are distributed via second class special commercial rates, from using the media mail service. According to usps, the following media are allowed to be shipped using media. Some cookbooks cannot be mailed media mail the ebay. Aug 09, 2018 has anyone experienced any issues with the post office in shipping back issues of comics and magazines with advertisements to customers via media mail. Dec 12, 2007 for media mail, i find it easiest to go to the desk, hand the package to the clerk, and just say its a textbook that id like to send media mail. Shipping books through media mail may not be the cheapest option if you are mailing the books to a public library. Aug 07, 2019 shipping large books and books in volume. However, in order to obtain media mail rates, the shipper must abide by several packaging rules. Envelopes should be sealed as normal, with the tape included on the envelope flap. Items ordered from media mail may be subject to tax in certain states, based on the state to which the order is shipped. In april of 2016 the usps actually lowered some prices shock. There are many restrictions on exactly which items qualify for media mail shipping. However, usps does not allow the package to contain anything besides the qualifying media products theyve defined, and they reserve the right to inspect packages to ensure they only contain qualifying media mail items.
Usps medi mail is one such costeffective service which is used to send educational materials. If you are sending multiple books, compare your media mail price with that of a flat rate box. Generally, media mail will be the cheapest option to ship books, but there might be a few instances where other options cost less. The items sent using special mediamail rates cannot exceed 70. The lowest rate i was able to find, is available only for media mail originally called book rate, if the package contains books, magazines, or any of several similar typ. According to usps, the following media are allowed to be shipped using media mail. After reading about media mail and its various restrictions on uspss website, i am still a little confused. Play scripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music. Find stamps by theme, color, season, mail service, and more. Media mail small and large packages and thick envelopes can be sent domestically using media mail. Media mail was intended to be a cheap, slow shipping method to move educational material, not just books. Examples of media mail items include dvds, cds, disks, videotapes, manuscripts, books, film and sound recordings. An expensive change at usps for ebay and online sellers.
Media mail is just thata class where you can ship many of your media items ex. Books, including books issued to supplement other books, of at least eight printed pages, consisting wholly of reading matter or scholarly bibliography, or reading matter with incidental blank spaces for notations. We have a christian bookstore that likes to try shipping magazines. Get a free package pickup during your regular mail delivery or pay a fee for a pickup at a time that works. Usps media mail service rules, rates, tracking, calculator. Understanding the media mail classification newsletter.
Books shipping as media mail may contain incidental book announcements. The shipping container must weigh less than 70 lbs 32 kg to qualify for media mail. The rate guide consists of rate changes, including increases andor decreases in shipping rates. New rates were implemented from january 26th, 2020. Media mail is a costeffective way to send media and educational materials. Shipping a coffee table book is a different proposition than sending a pocketsized manual. Sep 26, 2019 available for sending small and large packages containing books, film, manuscripts, sound recordings, video tapes, and computer media such as cds, dvds, and diskettes only. For each additional pound, add 52 cents to your total. This is one of the most liked services provided by usps which is dedicated to shipping media items. This question cant be answered without a lot of additional information. This is a usps service for shipping books and education material inexpensively. This is a lot cheaper than media mail and provided exclusively for libraries.
While media mail service is designed to account for the weight of books and other educational material, sometimes its even cheaper to use priority mails flat rate packaging, especially if youre sending several items together, or unusually heavy books. Can i ship photo cards and postcards from albums or books via media mail. However, there are few restrictions on the type of mail items that can be. However, many people dont know that you can ship packages off in another class besides first. I wont use media mail unless its an actual hardcoversoftcover book. The official list of what can be shipped media mail. Save money mailing books through the post office clever.
Media mail is a cost effective service for shipping books and education. How do you use the usps media mail shipping service. Media mail is a costeffective option for those who send books, recorded music and other media materials in bulk through the u. When using a box to mail books, use an appropriate size. How much does it cost to ship a 20 pound box with the usps. I occasionally send media and was wondering where in the chain of shipment it is subject to inspection. If contents violate media mail guidelines, then the package may be returned due to insufficient postage or the postage difference may be billed via apv. Media mail rates are limited to the items listed below. So, you may refer to the recent price list of the usps media mail rates. Media mail usps retail rate table shippingeasy support center. As compared to the prices in 2019, the rates have increased. Whats the best way to ship a vinyl record through the mail. Now that im here, ive decided which books to keep and which to sell, but ive discovered the rather annoying fact that canada does not have an equivalent to the united states media mail postal rate.
This provides an economical way to ship books, cds, dvds, and lps. Offered through the usps, media mail allows you to inexpensively ship educational materials from your local post office. I only sell a handful of books at the moment and i used to ship via usps priority mail but my competitors have slashed the prices of the books i sell so low that i can no longer afford it. Media mail is a costeffective way to send media materials through the u. Usps media mail overview shippingeasy support center. Media printed music, sound recordings, periodicals, cds, dvds, and books.
Sep 05, 2019 media mail is a ground shipping solution for media items like books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, and recorded computerreadable media such as cds and dvds. Computerreadable media containing prerecorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media. May 28, 2008 media mail is not just booksits any form of media. The media item can be anything like books, films, dvds, videotapes. Media mail service has special eligibility requirements for permissible contents. Media mail is a special reduced mailing rate solely for the purpose of sending printed or recorded material through the u. The united states postal service usps has a media mail rate. I had one idiotic seller send me a book via media mail. Books and educational material can be sent with a 2 to 8day delivery at a highly competitive rate. Books at least 8 pages 16millimeter or narrower width films.
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