All media mail packages may be subject to inspection by the usps, so its best not to violate these rules when taking advantage of the low shipping. Comic books contain advertisements which makes them unexceptable or unqualified. When was the last tiem you opened a paperback book without advertising or a dvd that didnt come with an ad of somekind. Media mail was the preferred choice for books, and bpm.
I have noticed that lately many of the books i order from 3p sellers are shipped via bound printed matter. Media mail is intended for books, cds, and dvds that do not contain advertising. Bound printed matter shipping rates are similar but usually slightly higher than media mail rates and are based not only on the weight of the package but also the shipping zone ie. To keep everything from getting jumbled up, ive included either a bunchedup towel or canvas bags as filler material.
In accordance with standards in the mailing standards of the united states postal service, domestic mail manual dmm, section 170, media mail packages must have a delivery address and the senders return address and are subject to inspection by the postal service. The mail class is also known as book rate among book sellers. Can comics be shipped through the usps as media ra. Media mail is a usps mail class restricted to the delivery of books, film, audio and other recorded media. These types of books meet the requirements for media mail shipping. Media mail cannot be used as an internet option to ship ebay auction items. Media mail shipping is a costeffective way to send educational materials. Postal service allows you to send books, dvds, cds, printed music, and sound recordings through media mail at a discounted rate. After that, i tend to send them media mail, if routine purchases, or priority mail for the bigdeal items. Sound recordings and video recordings, such as cds and dvds.
Each box contains a hodgepodge of hardback and paperback books. Items sent by media mail cannot contain advertising. Generally, media mail is the cheapest usps mail class for shipping heavy items up to 70 lbs. The book rate was mainly for books when it was first created, but if your intention is to send books to or from a library, then you should use the cheaper alternative known as library rate. Usps media mail regulations cgc comic book collectors. Ebay should not allow media mail to be an option under the catagory of comic books, as well as any other items that the usps does consider ok for media mail. However, i have twice heard post office clerks tell me that they have seen shipments of books to go via media mail in the back of the post office, that were not sent from the counter.
Shipping comic books requires utmost care and attention because some comics can get so expensive. I know that media mail is not a moneymaker for the post office, so they try hard to hide the. Almost all comics contain advertising and therefore cannot be shipped media mail. No collector would ever want to received a damaged comics because of poor packaging. You gotta know the rules before you can break the rules. If also serving as an order form, the envelope or card may be in addition to the order form permitted by 4. The best and cheapest way to safely ship nice books on. In addition, comic books and magazines are prohibited from being sent using this rate. Media mail rates are limited to the items listed below. You are certainly not violating the spirit of the law by shipping comic books via media mail. Items that do not qualify for media mail service include advertising materials, loose photos and comic books. Usps media mail is not for comic books the ebay community. The usps has become more aware of people shipping nonmedia items like dishes, clothing, etc.
Media mail was intended to assist libraries in the movement of books. What are the requirements for the media mail post office option. How nitpicky is the post office with regards to media mail. This is a lot cheaper than media mail and provided exclusively for libraries. Whats the best way to ship a vinyl record through the mail. The 50 best comics and graphic novels for kids polygon. Constantly be studying the process of other artists, writers, directors everyone. When i first looked into the rules about use of media mail, it was very confusing, so i went to my local postmaster and asked him if comic books were ok for media mail. Media mail my understanding that the item shipped has to. Comic books dont meet this standard, and see if it means to you. How do you use the usps media mail shipping service. Your guide to getting started selling comic books on ebay. Hi all, i just spent the last few days trying to decipher the usps rules regarding comic books as media mail and thought i would pass along the most uptodate information as of sept 30, 2016. Comic book flash mailers fits most comic sizes, tpbs.
Back to the original post, on rules for media mail. And keep track of your hours, even if its depressing. Available for sending small and large packages containing books, film, manuscripts, sound recordings, video tapes, and computer media such as cds, dvds, and diskettes only. The best and cheapest way to safely ship nice books on ebay roland deschain. What is difference between book rate and media mail. It should be the sellers responsibility to ensure that the comics get to the buyerand not force the buyer to have to pay for postage due. I took a long box of comic books, packed and sealed to the post office, and put it on the scalethe clerk saidwhy dont you ship these media mail. I am not certain about the eligibility of comic books, however. It probably would have gone through fine if not for the duffel bag, it was quite obvious it wasnt books in there. The post office is not going to open up each comic book individually to check the date of the book, whether the advertisements are still active, or whether it is a one shot story.
Office documents are definitely not considered media mail. Kaptainmyke is here today to inform you the correct way to affordably send comic books through the us postal service. Difference between bound printed matter and media mail. That being said, why are so many sellers on ebay offering media mail when they ship comic books. Either one envelope or one addressed postcard may be bound into the pages of a book. For more expensive books i wrap around once side to side and up and down and it fits perfectly and. The postmaster said that both of the lcs near us send all of their outgoing books via media mail and have for years with no usps issues.
Everything in the media mail package must fall under the media mail guidelines. Media mail is the cheapest way to ship books, vinyl records, or other music. So how do you get media mail rates, and more importantly, what qualifies. I see alot of people asking for media mail and alot of sellers using it for their shipping methods, but its against the usps rules. However, many people dont know that you can ship packages off in another class besides first.
That said, judicious and proper use of media mail can save you a lot of money. What are the requirements for the media mail post office. I always am allowed to ship media mail with my comics. Although you wont pay as much to send these items via media mail, they can take longer to get to their. Books and movies may have ads sometimes but they are for the publishers and studios own product, so they dont count that. Sheet music and 16 millimeter or narrower width films can be sent via media mail see above link. You can print out a sheet of music and include it in a package containing no more than 16 ounces of comic books and the package can be shipped as media mail. Books may contain incidental announcements of other books and sound recordings may contain incidental announcements of other sound recordings. It also has a big presence on the marketing side of the comic industry where writers, artists, and publishers all flock to social networks to promote and share their material to. The problem as i understand it is the wording at usps. Here is a guideline on how to properly pack and ship comic books so that they will arrive in perfect condition. If the contents of a media mail package are deemed ineligible for media mail rates at any time after.
Media is typically considered to be books, magazines, newspapers, tv, movies, music, etc. Comics have never been allowed to ship via media mail. How to make your own book mailers to ship books you sell on ebay or. For the record, imo usps has the most ridiculous standards. From raina to hilda to new kid and everywhere inbetween, polygon rounds up 50 worthwhile comics and graphics novels for children. Usps media mail regulations comics general cgc comic. How to mail comic books through the us postal service. How does the post office confirm that media mail is actually media mail. In april of 2016 the usps actually lowered some prices shock.
That means no magazines, no newspapers, no comic books, and no video games. If the package only contains books, and does not include. How to properly pack and ship comic books how to ship. Almost all comics contain advertising and therefore cannot be shipped media. Furthermore, usps specifies that video games, computer drives and digital drives are off limits too. The cheapest postal rate is the media mail rate which may be used only for books, including graphic novels, trade paperbacks and hardbacks. The sheet of music is qualified material and comics meet the definition for standard mail. I wont use media mail unless its an actual hardcoversoftcover book. What qualifies as media mail is books, music and movies that contain only incidental advertising. Even unbound, loose leaf books can be sent via media mail. An expensive change at usps for ebay and online sellers. This provides an economical way to ship books, cds, dvds, and lps. Media mail is a service provided by the united states postal service usps that allows customers to send a variety of mixed media through the mail at a cheaper rate than ordinary packages.
When i emailed usps, they said i cannot use click n ship to ship books via media mail. Media mail is a costeffective way to send media materials through the u. While, by strict interpretation of the advertising rules, comics would seem to be eliminated, but then so would many other media items generally deemed acceptable. The people who insist on media mail rates are an odd bunch. Media mail is used for books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, looseleaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and. Books may contain incidental announcements of other books and. But in terms of media mail, they only accept media without paid advertising.
Both of them have told us that the media mail comic book issue has come up a few times and everytime they have asked for clarification, they have been informed that comic books are permitted. I ship my books in a padded envelope and a very rude postal worker told me she. I know that to ship media mail you must be shipping books, magazines, journals, cds, dvds, etc etc, but does everything in the package have to meet this requirement. Enclosures in books mailed at media mail prices are subject to these additional standards. Comic book flash mailers fits most comic sizes, tpbs, and manga digests. Ebay should not allow media mail to be an option under the catagory of comic books, as well as any other it. As per the standards in the mailing standards of usps, domestic mail manual dmm, according to section 170, the. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be shipped. You can send books, videotapes, dvds, cds, printed music and other sound recordings through media mail as long as they weigh less than 70 pounds. Comic books and advertising, for example, do not meet the media mail standards and cannot be shipped at usps media mail rates. I have contacted and my local ic books do not qualify for usps media mail. The types of media allowed are limited, though, and by following this.
You can not ship magazines, trading cards, or video games with media mail. This will enable pirate ships rate shopping to show you media mail rates. Would it not have been much simpler and clearer to say. Comic books and magazines, because of the presence of advertising, cannot be sent by media mail. The shipping container must weigh less than 70 lbs 32 kg to qualify for media mail. I have actually had mail arrive with postage due because of some seller sending me books via media mail. Aside from the powers and the action, ive begun to see social media actually written into the plots of comic books.
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