posted on August 14, 2002 02:52:32 PM new
Any postal experts out there? I'm having a little disagreement with a postal clerk. One tells me that magazines can be mailed via "bound printed matter" rate. So...I take a package of magazines to a different post office where the clerk tells me "No way." What's the REAL story? If anyone knows for sure, would appreciate having the applicable postal reg number. Of course, I could take the package back to the original post office/clerk but would like to know the information. Thanks...
posted on August 14, 2002 03:19:29 PM new
Per www.usps.com:
Used for books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and computer recorded media such as CD-ROMs and diskettes. Media Mail cannot contain advertising.
I think the ADVERTISING is what kicks it out.
I noticed under the PARCEL POST section there was a bound printed matter set of rates ... it might qualify there.
posted on August 14, 2002 03:36:55 PM new
I've noticed this topic appearing a lot here lately at AW and at OTWA, especially after the June 30th price hike.
The post here about the ebay linen seller using Media Mail really got me to thinking about the huge price difference between Media Mail & Parcel Post and the risk of using Media Mail illegally. Many sellers will rationalise away the subtle and not-so-subtle differences and use Media Mail where they shouldn't and put a phrase like "bidder pays $4.50 for postage" in their heavy item auction description. The honest seller will have to put something like "Bidder pays between $6.50 - $9.50 for Parcel Post based on your zip code".
The illegal Media Mail users will often get a very large advantage over the honest sellers. Human nature may win out and a very large percentage of the sellers will adopt Media Mail mis-use policy.
Thoughts?
posted on August 14, 2002 03:41:20 PM new
I KNOW magazines don't qualify for "media rate" (yes, the advertising is the kicker) but still have the question about "bound printed matter." Magazines can weigh a TON and it seems like "BPM" would be the appropriate shipping category. Is there anywhere in the postal regs where magazines are specifically mentioned?
[ edited by blueyes29 on Aug 14, 2002 03:43 PM ]
posted on August 14, 2002 05:17:51 PM new
The maximum weight for Bound Printed Matter is 15 pounds. Rates are based on weight, shape, and distance. The maximum size is 108 inches in combined length and distance around the thickest part.
Mark each package "Bound Printed Matter" in the postage area.
Bound Printed Matter must:
a. Consist of advertising, promotional, directory, or editorial material (or any combination of such material).
b. Be securely bound by permanent fastenings such as staples, spiral binding, glue, or stitching. Looseleaf binders and similar fastenings are not considered permanent.
c. Consist of sheets of which at least 90% are imprinted by any process other than handwriting or typewriting with words, letters, characters, figures, or images (or any combination of them).
d. Not have the nature of personal correspondence.
e. Not be stationery, such as pads of blank printed forms.
.
Reality is a serious condition brought on by a lack of alcohol in the system
posted on August 15, 2002 09:58:38 AM new
In my opinion, this one is all over the boards. I've had my favorite clerk, who liked me a lot, tell me I can send magazines via media mail. Others have insisted on BPM. It's a puzzle knowing what to ask for these days. I'd still begin with BPM and if they turn you down for some weird reason, go with something else. I never sell more than 2 or 3 at a time, so it's never a very heavy package at all. Good luck.
posted on August 15, 2002 01:50:39 PM new
Magazines can go by Bound Printed Matter. They certainly qualify by the list of requirements posted by mlecher. I had a clerk tell me that magazines couldn't go by BPM, I asked her to check the postal manual, she couldn't find the info so she let me send them by BPM this time and said she'd call the regional supervisor. A few days later I came in with more magazines to send and she accepted them as BPM with no problem, so I guess the supervisor said it was OK.
