Post Office will be opening your Media Mail

My Post Office ^ | 6/15/2004 | gasshog

[Gasshog]

The clerk at my local Post Office gave me this bit of news today. It is also being talked about on the eBay Boards. USPS is going to open and check every bit of "Media mail" (used to be book rate) to make sure the packages dont contain anything that is not allowed by the regulations. Here is what the clerk told me today: At first they issued a notice that anyone with Media mail had to bring it in UNSEALED before that would accept it, then the clerk told me that they changed that directive so the clerks had to open the mail themselves. He told me that he had personally opened packages that day. And he still wasn't sure if that was the final directive...they may go to "checking" Media mail at the main Post Office (Louisville, KY).

I didn't find anything on the USPS website to support what he told me and I checked Google as well. The USPS latest News releases are strangely silent about this new invasion of people's privacy.

[PJ-Comix]

Pinging the wife unit since she sells some of her used books on eBay and half.com, and ships them Media Mail.

She still sells on Half.com? I quit doing that months ago. At first Half.Com was really good but for the past couple of years it has gone downhill. I understand that eBay will be shutting it down in a few months. I find eBay a much better venue to sell books. I guess people prefer the auction process.

[PJ-Comix]

Media mail is dirt cheap compared to anything else.

Actually the Priority Mail flat rate envelope is the best deal. Just $3.85. But it must fit in the flat rate envelope. What I do is see if the book will fit in the flat rate Priority Mail envelope when I list it. If it does, then I offer Priority Mail shipping. If not, then it goes Media Mail. Shipped 2 books out today via Priority Mail but tomorrow I will be shipping at least 2 books out via Media Mail.

[PJ-Comix]

I've had good luck and pitiful luck with books. Timing. . . it's all in the timing.

Actually it is only partly timing. It also depends on the types of books you sell. 4 years ago even crappy diet books were getting decent money on eBay. However, nowadays even great books sell dirt cheap. For the most part, eBay is a buyers market for books. Luckily by trial and error over the years, I've learned what types of books sell good. However, if I were just getting into book selling now I would get burned quick. Thank God, I did my book selling originally in the glory years and learned what to look for as the market slowed down.

[sittnick]

Media Mail is generally cheaper than UPS. However, it is not traceable, and is considerably slower. Keep in mind that the USPS will subsidize some rates and penalize others. Media Mail has to be kept low for things like books for the blind, etc.

[Osage Orange]

You wrote:

"turkeys to sweat."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Turkeys don't sweat...they pant.

FRegards,

[hunter112]

Why do you need to use an invoice? That's what email is for. If the buyer knows clearly who sold them the item is who shipped them the item, then what's the big deal? If a buyer needs an invoice shipped with the product, then pass on the cost of the increased shipping to them. Me, I either want a book fast, or I want it shipped cheap. If I get to pick, and pay accordingly, I'm happy.

[PJ-Comix]

A postal clerk I spoke to the other day said that when using media mail, we can't even include an invoice.

That sounds like BS. The postal clerk saw one of my invoices yesterday and didn't say a thing about it.

[DeaconBenjamin]

The Postal Service has filed an experimental mail classification case
(Docket No. MC2004-2) with the Postal Rate Commission ("PRC") to establish
a flat-rate Priority Mail box. The PRC issued its initial order in this
case, setting June 24, 2004, as the deadline to file notices of intervention.

The proposed two-year experiment would have boxes of two different
dimensions, both having the same volume of 0.34 cubic feet. One is
14"X12"X3.5" and the other is 11.25"X8.75"X6". The rate requested by the
Postal Service for each of the flat-rate boxes is $7.70.

The Association of Priority Mail Users will intervene in this case, and can keep you posted about important
events in this case.

[PJ-Comix]

Me, I either want a book fast, or I want it shipped cheap.

I don't get the sellers who try to make a few extra bucks by overcharging on shipping. All it does is keep their bids down. Sometimes I even offer free shipping if the buyer uses Buy It Now.

[PJ-Comix]

The rate requested by the Postal Service for each of the flat-rate boxes is $7.70.

I sure hope they don't get rid of the Flat Rate envelope for Priority Mail. I always ship Priority Mail Flat Rate if the book fits in the envelope.

[FierceDraka]

Sounds like more business for FedEx and UPS.

I don't trust the USPS - they've lost one too many important messages for me to use them at all.

[hunter112]

It's just a way to jack eBay out of some fees. They'll tolerate a certain level of high S/H fees, which don't figure in to a listing fee (when you use a Buy-It-Now only on an auction, you have supreme control over that!) nor in the final value fee. The only piece of it eBay gets is their percentage on the PayPal transaction that often takes place after the sale.

One way eBay has tried to point it out is to change the My eBay-Buying page to show the totals with stated shipping.

[ReformedBeckite]

They didn't privitize it, it is still run by the government. The only difference that I know about is that it doesn't get it's operating budget from the federal government. It gets it from it's postage, stamps, and etc.

[ReformedBeckite]

....Keep in mind that the USPS will subsidize some rates ....

I have a hard time believing that there is some subsidizing going on. There still making money.

[PJ-Comix]

I wrote a humorous story about my experiences selling books on eBay called THE BULLDOG BOX GUARDIAN. Check it out. It also mentions the famous Swap Shop.

BTW, the rules about selling books have changed since this article was written in January 2002. Now it doesn't pay to sell large quantities of books because most of them won't sell. Now I specialize in big ticket items so I often surpass the quoted $55 book figure in the story. In fact about 10 days ago I sold a book for $80. Oh, and Irish Donnie finally did discover the dirty trick I played on him and committed horrible revenge on Yours Truly.

p.s. The Bulldog Box Guardian no longer works at the local supermarket. I've been told she was hospitalized for extreme stress. It figures.

[DeaconBenjamin]

Postal Service says delivery and signature confirmation are available with media mail. http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/senditwithintheus/mediamail.htm

[lowbridge]

What a surprise they must have had. Expecting drugs and finding a rosary.

Cant say that I blame the inspectors. After all, your shipment DID come from Canada.

Now, if it had come from Mexico, the PC police would have forbidden them from looking into your poackage.

[Atlas Sneezed]

It is a small town P.O. so they might be able to open everything "media" in such a location.

---

Then again, at the very small towm POs, they know and trust their customers.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Thanks for the fun story!

[zanarchist]

I think this is true because when I printed out a Media Mail label using my Stamps.com software a pop up window came up and said something about if that the Post Office may inspect my package and if I am using the incorrect rate the Stamps.Com could be forced by the Post Office to close my account. This was the first time that ever happen so it must be something new. Also the Stamps.com website was down Friday and Saturday and when I used my account on Sunday to print the label that is when I got the warning.