posted on January 8, 2001 10:57:04 AM new
Maybe I'm the only one grappling with this, gang? I just went on the USPS web site. As far as I can tell, books can be mailed by either media mail or "bounded printed matter." But media mail has a flat rate and the rates on "bound printed" are calculated by zone....and differ by 20 cents or more!
I do not know why my PO charged me for "bound printed" matter at $1.95 when I should have paid $1.75 for "media mail."
posted on January 8, 2001 11:55:55 AM new
I went to the post office over lunch and the postal clerk cheerfully checked each of my four "book rate" packages to see whether it would be cheaper to ship media mail or bound printed matter in each case. He did this without being asked, because I certainly didn't have the savvy to inquire. Perhaps it helps to be a "regular."
He also passed along a tip for priority mail: if you use the Post Office's packaging, be sure that you put an item weighing one pound or less into a one-pound envelope. If you put it into a two-pound envelope, they have to charge you for two pounds.
He also said that the clerks' manual for this latest round in postal rate changes is 300 pages long .....
posted on January 8, 2001 03:54:38 PM newkeziak, No you're not the only one who is confused! I took in a book to mail today on which I had written "Media Mail" and the window clerk had no idea why!
I think what you're going to have to do is ask the clerk to check both rates for each book you mail and see which is the cheapest. A heavier book I had was 40 cents cheaper printed matter and a lighter paperback was cheaper book rate. I think up to a pound, book rate will be the cheapest.
I guess in my book auctions, I will just come up with some kind of average so that I have a postage amount listed.
After being a window clerk for 15 years, I can assure you that rate increases or no more fun for the clerks as they are for the customers!
