Deliver verificationsignature required at time of delivery. You can not ship magazines, trading cards, or video games with media mail. Get a free package pickup during your regular mail delivery or pay a fee for a pickup at a time that works. If the clerks have just been lectured by management about the evils of media mail. Current administrative policy provides for the mailing of fillin type selfhelp textbooks at media mail prices. I was then informed it did not qualify for media mail because the post office has now decided dvdscdsblurays are not media.
That means no magazines, no newspapers, no comic books, and no video games. You can safely ship up to 10 books this way, alternating spines along the staple line. I wont use media mail unless its an actual hardcoversoftcover book. Mar 04, 2010 i worked for the post office during a desperate time in my life. If you wish to send your package media mail, you cannot include any. Playscripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music. Sep 23, 2016 since misunderstanding this could cost you thousands, lets get it straightened out now. Any items sent directly to us are not guaranteed to make to the hands of soldiers or veterans. This provides an economical way to ship books, cds, dvds, and lps. Media mail rates are limited to the items listed below. In the current issue of american philatelist, wayne youngblood, a directoratlarge of the american philatelic. How to properly pack and ship comic books how to ship. Wrap the books in plastic to protect them from water damage.
If you send a book in a media mail envelope, you might put a cardboard insert on both sides of the book. Remember that media mail will take longer overall to arrive at its destination. The advertising that is in a comic book is so minimal it shouldnt matter. This is a lot cheaper than media mail and provided exclusively for libraries. For any inquiries unresolved by the help page, please use the contact form here. Comic books usually have advertising and even if vintage comic books and the ads are no longer applicable, all comic books are serialized, therefore not eligible for media mail prices. Find stamps by theme, color, season, mail service, and more. And one of the things i like about this tutorial is that the tape is folded over on the ends so whoever receives the book will have an easy time getting it out of the. Media mail covers all books and magazines, so techncially, you can send journals this way. How nitpicky is the post office with regards to media mail. When using a box to mail books, use an appropriate size and insert packing peanuts, bubble wrap or shipping paper to fill any leftover space. Yes, you can ship comic books via media mail but it is much slower than 1st class.
Understanding the media mail classification newsletter. If you are going to make it your business to sell and then ship out comic books, the cost of a good mailer is worth it. Books may contain incidental announcements of other books and sound recordings may contain incidental announcements of other sound recordings. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be shipped. The types of media allowed are limited, though, and by following this guide you will know what you can and cannot send through media mail. Those books can be sent under a cheaper rate known as the library rate. That said, judicious and proper use of media mail can save you a lot of money. Ebay for beginners how to use media mail for your ebay. If you come in with a foot square box that weighs only 8 ounces, the clerk is going to be a little suspicious about the contents. Media mail is designed to ship educational materials meaning books, cds, etc.
Even unbound, loose leaf books can be sent via media mail. Did you know that with media mail you can ship giant boxes of books. Postal service allows you to send books, dvds, cds, printed music, and sound recordings through media mail at a discounted rate. Books may contain incidental announcements of other books and. Media mail is a costeffective option for those who send books, recorded music and other media materials in bulk through the u. Usps media mail regulations comics general cgc comic book. A ziploc bag is perfect if you can find one large enough. Therefore, if you as a seller ship comics media mail, you must be prepared to. If you are shipping a high value lot, we recommend that you get delivery verification. I ship my books in a padded envelope and a very rude postal worker told me she. Types media mail requires only specific types of media, and these include sound recordings, video tapes, books, film, manuscripts, and computer readable media. Almost all comics contain advertising and therefore cannot be shipped media mail. I have sent comic books in the mail for years for ebay auctions through media mail to help keep shipping costs down and have gotten my new comic books sent to me via media mail also from my online comic shop.
This rule is a little fuzzy, however, because incidental mentions of other media within a piece of media are considered okay, as long as it isnt a part of overt advertising for the purpose of selling the media mentioned. But, if you find that your package is more than 8 ounces in weight, then you are required to print your postage and add media mail shipping label. When i emailed usps, they said i cannot use click n ship to ship books via media mail. Usps media mail regulations comics general cgc comic. Magazines shipped media rate in reply to bowmancabin mar 26, 2015 11. The united states postal service usps has a media mail rate. There are some who use and recommend usps media mail to ship comics, mainly because its cheap. Jul 15, 20 one of many ways to ship comic books through the mail.
I know that comic books arent eligible for media mail because they contain advertisements, but what about the original comic book pages. Generally, media mail will be the cheapest option to ship books, but there might be a few instances where other options cost less. Ultimate ebay media mail shipping how to guide youtube. I have actually had mail arrive with postage due because of some seller sending me books via media mail. Can original comic book art be shipped by usps media mail. The sheet of music is qualified material and comics meet the definition for standard mail. If you are sending more than four comic books, follow the same procedure above but use a box instead of a mailer. Books shipping as media mail may contain incidental book announcements. Kaptainmyke is here today to inform you the correct way to affordably send comic books through the us postal service. Media mail my understanding that the item shipped has to be. Plastic newspaper delivery sleeves are also the right size for many books. 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. The cheapest postal rate is the media mail rate which may be used only for books, including graphic novels, trade paperbacks and hardbacks. Usps media mail regulations cgc comic book collectors.
Remember that you can send books, dvds, or cds media mail rate. One of many ways to ship comic books through the mail. 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. Once it leaves the military post office in the states it is just as fast as priority mail to baghdad and dirt cheap. Heres the passage on the uspo web site regarding comics and media mail with the pertinent passage in bold. How to properly pack a comic for shipping cbsi comics. I have three i need to ship out, and because theyre so large i have been forced to put them diagonally into a large box between. But, if you find that your package is more than 8 ounces in weight, then you are required. In accordance with standards in the mailing standards of the united states postal service. Computerreadable media containing prerecorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media.
What qualifies as media mail is books, music and movies that contain only incidental advertising. 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. If you find the weight of your package less than 8 ounces, then you will not have to shell out more money to send your item. Media mail packages cannot contain advertising of any kind, and usps explicitly forbids comic books from being shipped with media mail. 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. Media mail can not contain advertising except for incidental announcements of books. Sheet music and 16 millimeter or narrower width films can be sent via media mail see above link. I had one idiotic seller send me a book via media mail. Items that contain advertising do not qualify for media mail. The predictable result, especially during an economic downturn, is that retailers and the general public often try to send nonmedia items in packages at media mail rates.
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. The shipping container must weigh less than 70 lbs 32 kg to qualify for media mail. Sound recordings and video recordings, such as cds and dvds. Shipping books through media mail may not be the cheapest option if you are mailing the books to a public library. Media mail and graphic novels im looking to ship a graphic novel and am wondering if it qualifies for media mailing. Media mail can lower shipping costs if you send magazines, books or cds. Play scripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and. I am not certain about the eligibility of comic books, however.
You can then insert any packing slip and seal the package for mailing. A common question is whether book subscription boxes can use media mail to ship their packages. Whats the best way to ship a vinyl record through the mail. I sent an email, and was informed that no, even old comic books do not qualify as. These types of books meet the requirements for media mail shipping. 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 computerrecorded media like cds and diskettes. Unfortunately, comic books and graphic novels do not quality for usps media mail. So, if youre shipping graphic novels that do not contain advertising, you can use media mail to do so as long as those graphic novels dont contain ads. You may also use these bcw comic book shipper boxes when mailing 10 or more comic books. 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.
The issue with media mail is that it is supposed to be just that. You can place 3 of these inside a box that is 14x14x6 in size. Apr 07, 2008 media mail can not contain advertising except for incidental announcements of books. I just went to the post office to ship a lot of comics i just sold and the postal guy asked me what kind of books. What is difference between book rate and media mail. Can comics be shipped through the usps as media ra. Media mail cant be used to send any media that contains advertisements. Sep 12, 2016 if you are going to make it your business to sell and then ship out comic books, the cost of a good mailer is worth it.
A very easy and affordable way to ship your comics securely in the mail. You can send the same by using the usps firstclass mail. The guidelines exclude comic books since individual issues feature multiple advertisements, but graphic novels usually a collection of several comics into one bound edition do not. Store forum usps says dvdsblu rays not media i was shipping a bluray and the postal employee asked if it was a dvd. An expensive change at usps for ebay and online sellers. Is it possible to ship books via media mail from home. 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. Also mailable at those prices as prescribed by domestic mail.
How to mail comic books through the us postal service. A 10x8x2 literature mailers or appropriate sized flat rate boxes from the post office will do. Start your shipping with free priority mail and priority mail express envelopes and boxes, and other supplies. Are journals considered appropriate for sending media mail. Media mail my understanding that the item shipped has to. Media mail shipping is a costeffective way to send educational materials. How do you use the usps media mail shipping service. I know that media mail is not a moneymaker for the post office, so they try hard to hide the. The united states postal service offers substantial shipping discounts for materials sent at media mail rates. Any item that can apply for periodicals is not eligible for media mail and comic books are periodicals publications. It also means things you wouldnt ordinarily find in a library. I sent an email, and was informed that no, even old comic books do not qualify as media mail, even if the ads in them are no longer valid. I go over how to use media mail for your ebay sales, the rules for what you can and cannot send, and what type of packaging you can use for usps media mail.
This rule is a little fuzzy, however, because incidental mentions of other media within a piece of media are considered okay, as long as it isnt a. Mar 19, 2020 media mail can t be used to send any media that contains advertisements. But, in order to avoid being charged with mail fraud, be sure you understand exactly what media mail is, and when you can and cannot use it. Since misunderstanding this could cost you thousands, lets get it straightened out now. How to package a book through media mail bizfluent. I worked for the post office during a desperate time in my life. I sent a lot of the original journals this way, and i felt like more got lost in the system. Fold up the gemini ii comic mailer along the perforated edges for the comic book. Comic books and magazines, because of the presence of advertising, cannot be sent by media mail.
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