Did you know you can't send comics via Media Mail???

[lighthouse]

As I replied in another thread, many sellers are offering to ship comics via Media Mail (formerly Special Standard Mail, formerly Book Rate). Yes, I am aware that nearly everyone on this board is included here (except FlyingDonut). Technically, you cannot do this. The USPS has the right to confiscate and destroy any comic books shipped via Media Mail. I had two shipments that received such treatment in 2000 and kicked my complaint through six supervisors all the way to the PostMaster General. Shipments processed as media mail are not permitted to contain advertising content (with the exception of incidental ads for products from the same publisher, the kind you see in the back of paperback books). Magazines and Comic Books do not meet the criteria as Media Mail, even though the advertisements included may be long out of date.

 

The relevant USPS eligibility information is here:

USPS Limitations on Media Mail

including the clearly stated: "Books ... of at least eight printed pages ... and containing no advertising matter other than incidental announcements of books."

 

The only discounted method by which comic books may be sent is Bound Printed Matter, which has the same time in transit as Media Mail, but has a weight limit of 15 pounds. BPM rates are zoned, and are cheaper than Media Mail for distances up to 1000 miles or so, more expensive than Media Mail for cross-country service.

 

USPS Limitations on Bound Printed Matter

 

 

One particularly scary scenario for you... The Post Office has the right to open any package at any time. One of the reasons for this is they have the right to determine whether the items shipped meet the guidelines for the class of postage paid. If you ship CGC books via Media Mail, a Postal Inspector has every right to crack open your CGC case to see whether the book inside contains advertising or not. And they have no liability for a change in the value of the item in doing so. Because as far as they are concerned, the plastic holder is simply for protection of the book, since by declaring the shipment as Media Mail, you agree that everything else in the package that is not a book is just packing material...

 

I actually would not recommend sending CGC books via Bound Printed Matter rate, either. While they can probably determine that the item inside the plastic case qualifies as printed matter that is bound, the Postal Service has the same authority to crack open the case to check.

 

[aardvark88]

Guess u r left w/ USPS air, UPS or 1-2 day fed ex for cgc comics.

[lighthouse]

Personally I am a fan of the carrier pigeon method myself...

 

But yes... Priority Mail, Registered Mail, UPS (both Air and Ground), and FedEx (Air and Ground) are all reasonable choices... Regular Parcel Post is also acceptable, but it's about a nickel less than Priority and takes three times as long...

[murph0]

Just another reason for me to stop using the post office altogether..not only have stamps gotten outrageously expensive but they are becoming way too overbearing on their power of what they can or can't do and what they will or won't accept. I believe I hear FedEx calling my name..

 

Brian

[Joanna]

You know, I specifically asked my post office about this, and was assured (by all the people at the counter, not just the one serving me) that media mail was absolutely fine for comic books. I guess I'll switch to BPM (which I use for those in zones near me) for the whole country now. The last thing I need is postal trouble.

 

-- Joanna

[Rickdogg]

My local PO confuses me. One person says media is fine, while anotehr says it has to go Bound Printed matter. A closer look shows that comics are in fact not allowed but I honestly don't care. I have never had a problem with the PO so far

[FlyingDonut]

I just use USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate - by far the easiest to use (if it fits in the envelope it costs $3.85, there's no zone ) and I have an arrangement with my mailman that he picks up everything and sends it through the system.

[fantastic_four]

if it fits in the envelope it costs $3.85, there's no zone

 

Do you mean the thin-cardboard envelope that has purple stripes and says "Priorty Mail"? I've seen two containers at my post office--the Priority Mail box, and the smaller Priority Mail cardboard-envelope. You mean the envelope they provide, right, as opposed to the box?

[FlyingDonut]

You mean the envelope they provide, right, as opposed to the box?

 

Yes, but make sure its the "FLAT RATE" envelope, not the regular one. I cut printer paper boxes to 7.5 x 10.5 sheets of thick cardboard and ship books with the cardboard inside Golden Age bags. Works like a dream.

 

 

 

[Darthdiesel]

The rules are stated there in your post. However, in practice, the term media mail is used interchangably with bound printed matter and was formerly known to some as book rate as well and it boils down to a matter of semantics. My local post office has always supported the use of media mail for my wares. I've never sent CGC books via media mail as that is just asking for trouble. The Priority mailstream is different from first class and media/bulk mail and would prefer to keep the fragile cases out of harm's way.

 

And unless the Post Office has reason to suspect your package, they will NOT have a Postal Inspector open up the package to make sure it fall into the regs for media mail vs. bound printed matter. First of all, Second Postal Inspectors have more important things to do (investigate anthrax, pipe bombs, lend support to Homeland Security, stop child porn rings, etc.) than stand at your post office and gut open your graded comics, and after all media mail is a higher rate = more money.

 

Postal Service gets a bad rap as it is. UPS and Fedex don't really give that much more of a better service for the exorbitant prices they charge. Try getting insurance claims on your comics through these companies vs the USPs. I've had to before and tho USPS takes a while, it is better than no compensation at all from UPS.

 

but you are right in posting this a something to look into. I may be changing my auction descriptions to reflect Bound Printed Matter option, instead of media mail. CGC books and big ticket still have to go priority with delivery confirmation.

[keithdagen]

I used Media Mail almost exclusively when selling off large comic runs. Best way to get rid of 200 Cerebus issues being shipped out -- big freakin' box and Media Mail. Post Office didn't really care. If you read most of their regulations, they make it next to impossible to ship anything at a reasonable cost anymore.

[Darthdiesel]

Global Priority is still a good option to Canada - $11 for variable weight package rate - under 4 pounds.

[Darthdiesel]

Another reason Postal Inspectors are interested in opening your packages from the Beautiful Willamette Valley is the overabundance of the funky "weed" stench that emanates from the majority of packages in that region of the country.

 

 

 

[Darthdiesel]

Just another reason for me to stop using the post office altogether..not only have stamps gotten outrageously expensive but they are becoming way too overbearing on their power of what they can or can't do and what they will or won't accept. I believe I hear FedEx calling my name..

 

Yes Brian - those Hero stamps donating a portion of the proceeds to the families who suffered after 9/11 and the Breast cancer stamps that donate a portion to Breast Cancer Research, also the stamps that help support the NCMEC find Missing children and help exploited children - yup - you are right - those are just plain ripoffs. When was the last time you mailed a document via FEdEx or UPS and it cost you $0.37??? Oh Sorry - $0.45 in the case of those stamps singled out in sentence above.

 

Yes tell the postal workers to accept items leaking hazardous waste, or what may seem to be. Or potentially dangerous items. you won't beleive what insufficiently_thoughtful_persons we have in society and all of them show up wanting to mail things at the post office. Those rules are in place for the safety and benefit of all. Many frauds have used the US Mails to take advantage of the unsuspecting and should be more controlled to prevent future occurrences.

 

For those who can't understand that, please go over to Fed Ex - I guarantee the expected improvement in service will not be markedly noticeable.

 

[Darthdiesel]

You know, I specifically asked my post office about this, and was assured (by all the people at the counter, not just the one serving me) that media mail was absolutely fine for comic books. I guess I'll switch to BPM (which I use for those in zones near me) for the whole country now. The last thing I need is postal trouble.

 

Same here Joanna - I have 3 post offices I like to mail from and I've explained when using media mail what a comic book is and the value and how is the best way to send it. Honestly i've seen them call BPM as Media Mail or still call it Book rate. Lighthouse is right about the reg quotes and that Bound Printed Matter is technically the only legit way to send comics at a discounted rate, but mention it to your postal clerk next time and they are trained to hand you a printout of the regs for mailing bound printed matter/mdia mail. And see what the y call it. To them it may all be the same thing.

 

Ifit ain't broke don't fix it..unless you are mailing stuff to lighthouse where the "Postal Gestapo " of his up there, search through his packages routinely ( and they're not checking to make sure that those are comics books in there - when's the last time you saw a DEA trained comic sniffing dog? )

 

[lighthouse]

My local PO confuses me. One person says media is fine, while anotehr says it has to go Bound Printed matter. A closer look shows that comics are in fact not allowed but I honestly don't care. I have never had a problem with the PO so far

 

Ricky, I had shipped around 500 packages via Media Mail before I had any problems. But one day I showed up at the Post Office with about thirty packages and there was a new person in charge. When he asked me what was in the boxes, I told him and was immediately told they would not accept the packages as Media Mail. Of course, they didn't offer the info that they could go BPM. So I had to pay for all of them to go Priority. That week I got a letter from USPS saying that two shipments from a couple weeks before had been destroyed. Apparently if I had marked them 'Return Service Requested' I would have gotten them back postage due, but as it was they trashed them.

 

I am not trying to be Chicken Little here, or start a CI-inspired panic. Just making people aware that there is a potential problem, and warn against an ugly scenario that is fairly easy to avoid. Joe Postman doesn't care, they don't pay him enough to, which is why he may not know all the rules and regs. But his boss might... I just think it's better to be safe than sorry.

[lighthouse]

You know... I always wondered how you could deal with so many packages without having to wait in line for three hours or pay a $13 pickup charge.... I hope you give your carrier a nice Christmas gift cuz he is saving you a fortune...

 

I assume you are using computer-generated Delivery Confirmation... Are you using a postage service as well?

[greggy]

Then why are you quoting a price of $21 for your USM 1 CGC 9.8 auction?

 

You making money off the postage?

[greggy]

Then why are you quoting a price of $21 for your USM 1 CGC 9.8 auction?

 

You making money off the postage?

[lighthouse]

Do you mean the thin-cardboard envelope that has purple stripes and says "Priorty Mail"? I've seen two containers at my post office--the Priority Mail box, and the smaller Priority Mail cardboard-envelope. You mean the envelope they provide, right, as opposed to the box?

 

Something many people are not aware of, the Post Office will deliver any Priority Mail supplies you like free of charge direct to you. Once a year or so you have to fill out a postcard saying that you are not using the supplies for other purposes, but they will send you anything you need, labels, tape, boxes, envelopes. The website has far more choices than what you see in your local Post Office. They will even pre-print labels with your return address. All for free...

 

Doesn't help with Media Mail of course... But for Priority it's a no-brainer.