Media mail is a special reduced mailing rate solely for the purpose of sending printed or recorded material through the u. Fedex claims on their site shipping to canada is faster through their international economy service. Heres a look at all the changes coming to usps mail rates in january, 2020. But many people abuse it, sometimes intentionally, and sometimes unintentionally. Using a digital scale will give you the most accurate rates since a difference of one or two ounces can mean the difference between one rate level and the next. The mail class is also known as book rate among book sellers. Usps media mail tracking allows users to check the status of media mail. Find the fastest shipping rate or most affordable shipping cost depending on what items youre sending and when you want them delivered. Click change delivery instructions on the tracking results page to leave your request. The good thing is that the media mail postage rate is not high, but your shipping time is 2 to 8 days.
The pieces must be entered at basic prices and bear a correct, readable barcode for the zip code shown in the delivery address as required by 402. That which is now called media mail used to be called book rate. Media mail is for shipping media items containing books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, recorded computerreadable media such as cds and dvds. Postal service has got you covered with their media mail program. Items must not be insured for more than their value. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be sent. 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. Usps mails everything you need to know about usps mail and. Flat rate, no zones so it does not get cheaper locally, but even locally it is still cheapest per pound if you qualify. There has been a revision in the price list of the usps media mail. Any package found carrying material that is ineligible for media mail rates will be sent back to the sender with a possible fine and other postal charges included.
Yes, there is no media mail class in canada, your cost will be much higher. Check this out before offering items internationally. Small and large packages and thick envelopes can be sent domestically using media mail. I recently sold a lot of 4 unused disney coloring books. Therefore, you shouldnt mail advertisements except for a book announcement with a book or other nonmedia material through media mail because you will risk having your package sent back to you for insufficient postage. In both cases, the usps charges you just based on the packages weight. You can also read the article on usps delivery time to know about the delivery time of each usps service.
Other media items were included in book rate, but the main use of that rate for years was books. There are no discounts available for media mail so the rates are the same no matter where you buy the postage. Examples of media mail items include dvds, cds, disks, videotapes, manuscripts, books, film and sound recordings. Postal standards provide that bound printed matter is package services mail matter within specified weight limits. Media mail is for shipping media items containing books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music. Girth is the measurement around the thickest part of the parcel. Postage price calculator weight and shapesize usps. Usps do not offer media mail internationally, only for domestic postage. That being said, why are so many sellers on ebay offering media mail when they ship comic books. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be shipped. Playscripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music.
Post office rates of this service were increased by 1. The shipping container must weigh less than 70 lbs 32 kg to qualify for media mail. Generally, media mail is the cheapest usps mail class for shipping heavy items up to 70 lbs. Media mail usps retail rate table shippingeasy support. The items sent using special media mail rates cannot exceed 70. Ebay should not allow media mail to be an option under the catagory of comic books, as well as any other it. See forever postage stamp prices and other postage rates. Second unless the book is a very light weight paperback i wouldnt recommend using such just on the basis that it would not provide sufficient protection for a book during shipment. Thats probably what your postal clerk was thinking of. Unlike many usps services, media mail is only available at retail pricing.
Sep 26, 2019 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. Computerreadable media containing prerecorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media. If so, does usps media mail allow the use of ribbon to tie together two books that are wrapped in holiday wrapping paper. Books at least 8 pages 16millimeter or narrower width films. Contents are limited to books, manuscripts, sound recordings, and certain other educational materials. Books shipping as media mail may contain incidental book announcements. Postal service allows you to send books, dvds, cds, printed music, and sound recordings through media mail at a discounted rate. Materials that can be sent through media mail include books, sound and video recordings, scripts, manuscripts, sheet music, educational reference charts and more. Simply fill in the blanks, and let our online calculator figure out your postage. Can i ship media a book in a priority mail flat rate. The usps lists the following types of media as eligible for media mail. When weighing a package, round up to the nearest whole pound to find the postage cost.
When using fedex, their international ground service is the cheapest way to ship to canada. If a package qualifies for the usps delivery instructions service, you can tell usps where to leave a package at your address, send it to a different address, or send it to your post office. Books, cds, dvds, cassettes,vinyl records and the like can be shipped media mail. Although your book probably weighs far less, the usps will allow a max of 70 pounds for a media mail shipment. What is difference between book rate and media mail. Media mail service has special eligibility requirements for permissible contents. Its not an acrosstheboard rate change, so some sellers will be impacted more than others, depending on what kinds of packages theyre shipping, how far their packages are going, and which services they use. 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. If also serving as an order form, the envelope or card may be in addition to the order form permitted by 4.
The online sellers guide to usps shipping rates for 2019. If youre trying to sell a used book or participate in a paperback swap, you probably dont want to spend a fortune on shipping. 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. How to package a book through media mail bizfluent. New rates were implemented from january 26th, 2020. Usps media mail service rules, rates, tracking, calculator.
Determining the cost of shipping domestically is now made easy. Formerly called book rate, media mail cannot contain advertising, except eligible books may contain incidental announcements of books. Sound recordings and video recordings, such as cds and dvds. For each additional pound, add 52 cents to your total. The barcode discount applies to media mail machinable parcels see 401. As compared to the prices in 2019, the rates have increased. How to ship to canada with usps guide 6 usps mail class delivery time weight limit shipping rates 1 lb. International packages except firstclass package international service length is the longest side of the parcel. Media mail is the perfect affordable option for sending books, cds, and dvds through the united states. Hi, first no, no, no priority flat rates are for shipping priority only not media mail.
Either one envelope or one addressed postcard may be bound into the pages of a book. The usps offers two different prices for media mail that depend on whether you pay the retail or commercial rates. Media mail rates are based on parcel weights and rate class. The name of the book rate was upgraded to include all formats of media, and thus, media mail was created. Catalogs and magazines can also be shipped by bpm, but are not allowed under media mail because they contain advertising. Being a reputed postal service company, usps offers several mail classes including media mail, priority mail, retail ground, and much more. Play scripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music. On sunday, april 10, 2016, the usps implemented a postage rate decrease, as a result of which it will now cost less to ship a media mail package. Difference between bound printed matter and media mail. For parcels that measure in combined length and girth more than 84 inches but not more than 108 inches, and the piece weighs less than 20 pounds, use the 20pound price. However, usps is very strict about what items qualify for media mail, and may open packages for inspection to ensure they qualify for this service.
I have contacted and my local ic books do not qualify for usps media mail. The united states postal service offers many services, and one of them is media mail. The postal service has some of the lowest letter mail postage rates in the industrialized world and also continues to offer a great value in shipping. Software, magazines with ads, games and the like are generally not eligible for media mail although under certain circumstances may be eligible for library mail but that in itself is a category of mail that no one at the usps can fully agree with what is allowed and what isnt. Eventually other media became more popular, dvds were invented, etc. Regardless of physical closure, the mailing of articles at media mail rates constitutes consent by the mailer to postal inspection of the contents. 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. What is the estimated delivery time for media mail. Enclosures in books mailed at media mail prices are subject to these additional standards. Media mail is the cheapest shipping service available for mailing items like books, videos, and music. Understanding the media mail classification newsletter. Package global express guaranteed 1 to 3 business days mail and packages weighing up to 70 lbs.
Usps retail groundlor retail prices are only available for items mailed within the state of alaska for pieces delivered to or from the eligible intraalaska zip codes in dmm exhibit 150. Firstclass mail service is also one such mail class read more. Sound recordings and video recordings, in the form of cds and dvds. For every additional pound in weight, the media mail cost goes up 51 cents. Postal service has proposed new postage rates to be implemented on sunday, january 26, 2020, subject to approval by the postal regulatory commission prc. The united states postal service announced the coming changes in. As compared to the prices in 2017, the rates have increased by 1. A few years ago when anyone could mail a single piece of bpm, media mail was the preferred choice for books, and bpm was the preferred choice for printed stuff that didnt qualify for media mail. Business customer gateway postal inspectors inspector general. The cheapest way to ship to canada is by using the united states postal service usps.
Shipping books to canada general selling questions. May 10, 2019 media mail is just about the least expensive shipping method the us postal service offers. 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. Offered through the usps, media mail allows you to inexpensively ship educational materials from your local post office. The drawback of media mail is that usps has a right to open and inspect your package to check for abuse of the system. People may confuse this with the uspss book rate, but book rate and media mail are actually the same thing. In addition to the enclosures and additions listed in 4. Insured mail must be presented to a retail employee at a post office or a rural carrier. Now business customers can calculate the cost of shippingonline. Unlike some other shippers, the postal service does not add surcharges for fuel, residential delivery, or regular saturday or holiday season delivery. So how do you get media mail rates, and more importantly, what qualifies as media mail. Media mail is a costeffective option for those who send books, recorded music and other media materials in bulk through the u. Dmm 173 media mail rates and eligibility for retail flats. Listed below are the highlights of the proposed 2020 usps rate increase for customers buying postage online for domestic letters and packages.
Media mail shipping is a costeffective way to send educational materials. Lastly, does usps media mail allow a sticker gift tag to. Just provide the necessary information, and the calculator does the rest. Media mail is a usps mail class restricted to the delivery of books, film, audio and other recorded media. Usps media mail is not for comic books the ebay community. All packages sent using media mail are eligible to be opened by a usps employee to confirm contents. The box or envelope you use to ship the book will need a combined girth height and width added and multiplied by two and length of no more than 108 inches. Choose a shipping service based on postage rates, included tracking and insurance, delivery times, the records youd like to keep, and whether you would like to use free postal shipping envelopes and boxes. So, you may refer to the recent price list of the usps media mail rates. Usps has an international delivery service to fit your needs.
Even then, media mail provides highly competitive postage rates for shipping educational materials. We compared the cost of sending packages using a variety of shipping methods from usps, fedex, and ups, along with convenience, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Usps standard and express mail services allow you to choose delivery options that fit your needs. Review the kinds of items the usps lists as being eligible for media mail. Media mail rates are limited to the items listed below.
The cost of sending media mail is determined by your packages weight. The cost is based on the total weight of the package. Rates for ups standard to canada do not include customs clearance, duties, tax, or handling fees. Packages are shipped via usps to the canada post canadas postal service which handles final delivery of the package. So, you wont find yourself paying more to ship the same book across. Media mail is a costeffective way to send media materials through the u. Can i use usps media mail to ship a book that is gift wrapped wrapped in holiday wrapping paper. The usps filed its shipping rates for 2019, and its making some drastic changes that will impact online sellers. Usps retail groundlor retail prices are not available through online or commercial postage payment.
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