posted on March 17, 2002 03:37:47 PM
I've got a lot of Bernoulli disks I'll be putting on auction. Can these be shipped via media rate? What about old computer tape cartridges? Thanks for help...
posted on March 17, 2002 08:47:44 PM
Thanks for info. That's what I thought (it made sense to me but you never know with the post office)...and wanted to be sure before I stated "media rate shipping" in my auctions.
posted on March 18, 2002 06:56:49 AM
anything can be shipped media rate.
Oh...you mean LEGALLY shipped. Never mind.
I kinda wonder how much "media mail" is truly media mail? Its a great boon for those of us who sell such items...I'd hate to see this rate killed by abuse. I've never had a postal clerk ask me about my shipment or ask to inspect it or anything, so I suspect its easy to get away with.
posted on March 18, 2002 06:57:29 PM
I was mailing a book using Media Mail and the clerk asked how many books were in the package. I replied that there was only one, and he refused to accept it as Media Mail. Always articulate, I replied "Huh?" He pointed to a photocopied page of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) that included in the list of acceptable Media Mail items the word "Books." He pointed out that "Books" is plural, meaning more than one, and therefore one single book cannot be sent Media Mail. I was disgruntled, whatever that means, so I went to the PO three miles down the road and was told that any number of books, including one, qualify for Media Mail, and that the clerk in the other PO had bubble wrap for brains. BTW, the DMM is available on-line at the USPS website. It's not a joy to use, but the info is there if you need it.
posted on March 18, 2002 07:06:30 PM
I suppose that jerk...um I mean clerk wouldn't let you ship your CD media mail either unless the entire NY Philharmonic were in the package.
When you get one of these, you can save a lot of time by asking to see a supervisor. Mass insanity/stupidity doesn't predominate most branches, but it might be that way every once in a while.
LOL! What if the CD was some heavy metal band? Wouldn't they weigh too much for the USPS? (Get it?? HEAVY metal?)
The PO I used was easier to stop at during my commute so I thought I'd give it a try, but now I use my own PO where I have my POB and they know me. I could have made an issue of it with Bubble Head's boss but sometimes these rural POs don't have a supervisor on-site. There are four POs within 8 miles of me and all but one usually have only one clerk on duty, and even then you have to ring the bell at the counter. Bubble Head wasn't being mean, in fact he's a nice guy, but he's not a candidate for the Postal Knowledge Nobel Prize.
posted on March 19, 2002 04:44:45 AM
My mom had to send me a couple of books several years ago, and she didn't know about 'Book Rate'. I told her about it being so cheaper, so she decided to use it. When she went to her small town post office and told the clerk that she wanted to send her package book rate, the clerk asked her what was in the box. My mother said, "Books." The clerk told her that if there was even 1 piece of paper (like a note or something) that was not part of the books, then it couldn't go book rate. How ridiculous!
posted on March 19, 2002 05:12:16 AMThe clerk told her that if there was even 1 piece of paper (like a note or something) that was not part of the books, then it couldn't go book rate.
We have been told the same thing. We were told a receipt counts as "even 1 piece of paper" too.
posted on March 19, 2002 06:26:10 AM
"He pointed to a photocopied page of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) that included in the list of acceptable Media Mail items the word "Books." He pointed out that "Books" is plural, meaning more than one, and therefore one single book cannot be sent Media Mail."
Here is what USPS actually says: "Generally used for books (at least eight pages), film (16 mm or narrower), printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, and computer-readable media. Advertising restrictions apply.
Packages must measure 108 inches or less in combined length and girth."
Tell that IDIOT that PACKAGES is also in plural form, yet it does not mean one must send multiple packages or else. So how in the world did that clerk pass the civic exam? I am guessing this idiot goes to the gas station, and since gasoline is labeled as $1.27 per gallon, he must get ONE gallon and drive off!
posted on March 19, 2002 07:30:32 AM
One of the guys at my PO asked me what was in my pkg. when I said media mail. I told him a book. He felt and said "well it has to be hard back to go that way". It was a spiral bound soft back book so I just stood there and flat out challenged him on it. I told him I had read all the rules on the usps shipping site and he should do the same. He just mumbled something about checking it out and stamped my pkg.
When I first started selling I was trying to find out what I could about the cost of shipping by priority. Before I found this place to ask INFORMED people. The mail carrier had told me the cost was determined by weight not zip. I mentioned this at the PO and this same man nearly died laughing because a friend of his was standing there so he was being bold. Embarassed me to death! Then I found out by reading on the board that it was true. I went back in there and proceded to inform him and told him I did NOT appreciate him laughing at me especially in front of others and he PROFUSLEY appologized. He's been ultra nice since.
This is a small town and I have known him for 30 years. People get brave when others are around and they can feel BIG!!!
posted on March 19, 2002 07:36:11 AM
About the "piece of paper"...
It's true that you can't send items via media mail when they contain what is considered to be personal correspondence. Even a birthday card qualifies! But an invoice or other shipping/billing info is not "personal correspondence" and doesn't count.
The same is true for parcel post. Theoretically, you are supposed to seal the correspondence in an envelope, tape it to the front of the package, and put the proper first class postage on the envelope...THEN the rest of the package is sent via parcel post. I wonder how many people actually do this?
Check the USPS website and it has the detailed info about this.
