circuitmatter
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posted on May 24, 2001 09:30:36 AM new
Can you ship item that's, say, a half pound at Media Mail / Book Rate for 1 lb. cost?
Jonathan
www.elitegrafx.com - Website design
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kudzurose
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posted on May 24, 2001 09:36:31 AM new
Yes - if it qualifies for the Media Mail rate, you pay the one pound rate. Sometimes if something is very light, it may go cheaper First Class.
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circuitmatter
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posted on May 24, 2001 09:37:38 AM new
How do I know if it "qualifies"? It's a paperback book.
Jonathan
www.elitegrafx.com - Website design
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mlriche
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posted on May 24, 2001 09:52:12 AM new
Jonathan - a paperback book qualifies for media mail - pretty much any book does. But, as kudzurose said, it may actually be cheaper to send it first class, depending on the weight. I was routinely charging media mail rates until one of the PO clerks pointed out to me that first class would be about $0.25 cheaper and get there faster!
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circuitmatter
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posted on May 24, 2001 09:58:09 AM new
Thank you very much. I was asking because I thought that a package had to be 1 lb. before it could be mailed book rate.
Can you do delivery confirmation on book rate and first class? The post office said no, but I thought you could...
Jonathan
www.elitegrafx.com - Website design
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kerryann
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posted on May 24, 2001 10:08:47 AM new
As a buyer of tons of paperback books, please, please, please give the buyer the option of having it shipped First Class or even Priority Mail.
I've had horrible experience with book rate/Media Mail. It takes nearly 40 days to arrive here. I gladly pay the higher rates.
There have been numerous occasions where I have e-mailed the seller before bidding to inquire if they will ship First Class or Priority Mail if I pay for it and was told: I ship Media Mail only.
That makes no sense to me, if I'm paying, what difference does it make?
Not Kerryann on eBay
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engelskdansk
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posted on May 24, 2001 10:12:15 AM new
You can do delivery confirmation on media mail according to the USPS site (print the page out and take to PO).
http://new.usps.com/cgi-bin/uspsbv/scripts/content.jsp?D=27233&B=-10472
6. For what type of mail is Delivery Confirmation available?
Delivery Confirmation is available with Priority Mail and Package Services (formerly Standard Mail (B)) which includes Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, Library Mail, and MEDIA MAIL (formerly Special Standard Mail). It is also available with Standard Mail (formerly Standard Mail (A)) parcels and Parcel Select for business-to-business and business-to-residential dropshipments.
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BJGrolle
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posted on May 24, 2001 01:31:55 PM new
I do not understand why a seller would refuse to ship First Class if they're already shipping Media Mail. All that's required is to change the shipping amount and either stamp or write "First Class" on the package instead of Media Mail.
http://bjgrolle.freehomepage.com
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mballai
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posted on May 24, 2001 01:56:54 PM new
I can't understand why a media mail book would take 40 days unless it is poorly labeled or mailed to and from the outer limits of USPS' organization. Rural routes take up to 7-10 days longer and maybe the same is true for armed forces deliveries.
If you zip+4 and barcode your label, the media mail time is under 10 days, so maybe 20-25 days is possible.
I ship hundreds of media mail packages with no great delays and nothing lost.
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denisv
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posted on May 24, 2001 02:32:26 PM new
Slight deviation from the thread (but not worth its own thread): I was told by my PO clerk that in order to qualify for Media Mail, the package must contain MORE THAN ONE book. He said there was a recent postal bulletin about this. I checked the DMM on-line (quite an experience) and it says that Media Mail is used for "books" so I guess some USPS bean-counter took this to mean "not just one book" and "only for more than one book". Any one else run into this?
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kudzurose
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posted on May 24, 2001 02:40:20 PM new
Never heard that one before, denisv, but it doesn't really surprise me. I send books all the time by Media Mail, nearly all one to a package; your clerk is just wrong.
Ask to speak to a supervisor - don't let them charge you more than they're supposed to.
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capotasto
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posted on May 24, 2001 07:51:31 PM new
Denisv -- your PO clerk is a typical brain-dead ignorant PO clerk. I guess the test they give them is to determine who is the stupidest! Those they hire.
Ask him to see the bulletin he referred to. My bet is that he can't read, either. If it was me, I'd report him to his postmaster, write a letter to the PM general and your congressmen, and find a new PO.
Circuitmatter -- when ever there is a weight in the postal charts, you pay that rate if your item is equal to OR LESS THAN that weight.
Vinnie
[ edited by capotasto on May 24, 2001 07:53 PM ]
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geppeta
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posted on May 24, 2001 08:08:55 PM new
Kerryann is not alone. I have had occasions for media mail to be somewhere (in some corner of a post office I assume) for weeks. This was a particular problem in my mailings from FL to CA and Hawaii. (Hawaii was 6 weeks in transit... no lie!)
My PO staff adamantly refuse that this is possible. You see, all of us ebayers are liars, cheats and frauds. I find this hard to swallow since the buyers did finally state they received the items... so where is the problem? Not me and not the buyer!
My solution to the problem was DELIVERY CONFIRMATION!!! Suddenly, all media rate mail was delivered no longer than one week. Amazing! 
Ultimately, I leave it up to buyer... however they want me to ship it. But, I always tell the above story!
Take care,
A.
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redskinfan
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posted on May 24, 2001 08:32:11 PM new
I once had a letter sent to me from 12 miles away take nearly a year and a half to arrive to my home. I determined it by the post mark. Never saw anything like it.
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paintpower
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posted on May 25, 2001 04:59:43 AM new
I just had a Media Mail box of books that was shipped to me on a Friday in the Northeast and arrived in NC on Monday (faster than Priority Mail!). On the other hand I've had First Class letters with payments take 14 days to be delivered. It all depends on how they hit the mail system and how full the trucks are.
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katmommy
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posted on May 25, 2001 05:56:40 AM new
Just thought I'd add (for those who didnt realize) that audio and video tapes can also be shipped media mail. To me, if say a collection of videos are being sold (say about 10 to same buyer)..shipping media mail would be substatially cheaper (about $3.50) as opposed to First class which would be about double the cost to ship)
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godfatherstoys
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posted on May 25, 2001 06:55:11 AM new
My p.o. just got the new computer scan system. Kinda neat for my rural area. It has a screen for the customer to swipe their c.c. or debit card but also gives a read out to see an actual e.t.a. of the package! Gonna check it with this weeks packages to see how accurate it is.
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