USPS Media Mail/ Book Rate

[Sideshow Spock]

I recently sold a lot of 40 magazines on eBay.. once packed, the package weighed a very hefty 25 lbs. Looking at the USPS site afterward, I noticed that they specify magazines can't be shipped media/book rate because they contain advertising.

They also make a big deal about how media mail is subject to opening and inspection, and if found to be "improper", they will charge either the sender (or receiver?) full Priority Mail prices.

So I go to the post office, intending to send it parcel post to be on the safe side, and the lady asks me what's in it. Magazines I say, and she immediately rings up media rate. She did it so fast I didn't even have time to discuss it with her, and the cost was about $6 cheaper than parcel post.

I've looked on some forums, and this appears to be a pretty common occurrence - namely clerks not following the rules posted on the USPS site, at least pertaining to media mail.

Anyone ever have a package opened or inspected?

[Mikey]

My post office lady told me NEVER ship magazines media (because of the adds)

She said the PO will open any media box that is suspect --- so if it looks like a box full of magazines they will open it.

She also told me to never ship burned DVD's media

[domino]

I have heard so many different answers from the post office workers that they don't even know what the rules are. I have been told magazines can't be shipped media mail and I have had workers at the same place tell me they can. One thing is certain, they can and will open media mail packages. I talked to an ebay buyer/seller that has had that happen. He even said some of the items he was expecting were taken out.

Another issue with media mail is that the post office really doesn't take much care with it. I have had more media mail packages beat to heck than with any other service. They also tend to "disappear" more often. I have been waiting over two weeks for a item sent media mail w/ tracking and the post office doesn't know where it's at. I know media mail is cheaper but I tend to shy away from using it if I can.

[thunderbolt]

I always send comics media rate, dvd's and cds can go that way to. Its supposed to be any printed matter or media.

[cjefferys]

From my experience, how closely USPS employees follow their own regulations can vary widely from clerk to clerk.

She also told me to never ship burned DVD's media

Hmmm, I never heard that one. Again, it's probably one clerk interpreting the rules differently from another. But unless you are sending more than a few DVDs, first class is probably cheaper than media mail anyway.

[wayne foundation 07]

I don't think they check as much stuff as people think they do, I have sent 4th of July stuff to a friend in California twice. Just said they where books in the box, no questions asked. And I am smart enough to not have my name anywhere on the box.

[johnmiic]

I sent someone a huge box of tape cassettes and the box was heavy. They questioned it but just because tape cassettes are obsolete they couldn't deny me. I had a clerk at one P.O. tell me they might open it and check it somewhere along the way. I don't think they did. Another clerk at a different P.O. said they rarely open packages.