Media mail question

I sold a hardback book and I have never shipped via Media Mail before, so I had a couple of questions if anyone can help :)

1. Is tracking available for MM? If so, is tracking free with MM like the other services or will I have to buy it extra?
2. What kind of envelope can I ship it in? My brown padded ones say “Scotch Bubble Mailer Handle With Care” on them and I didn’t know with Media Mail if there couldn’t be anything like that on the envelope. Or is it okay?

Thanks for any help :)

asked over 8 years ago

2 Answers

Hi Kylie

Yes Tracking is available on Media Mail for no charge but be aware if you’re printing your label on the USPS website you will need to click on the button that says Add Extra Services once you click that a new screen will open, Under Confirmation of Delivery check the box that says USPS Tracking @ no charge. I don’t recall if you have to select it on Paypal shipping or if it does it automatically. It’s been awhile since I’ve used Media Mail.

As far as your envelope goes I’m thinking that it would be OK. The boxes my MIL receives books in monthly say Handle With Care on them. The only other reference on the USPS website states that Media Mail cannot include Advertising Materials here’s the quote
Media Mail™
Small and large packages and thick envelopes can be sent domestically using Media Mail. Contents are limited to books, manuscripts, sound recordings, and certain other educational materials. Formerly called “Book Rate", Media Mail cannot contain advertising, except eligible books may contain incidental announcements of books.

Just to be safe call your local Post Office and ask them to be certain.

selected by Bonanza as the best answer

answered over 8 years ago

ZiggyZool
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1 Comment

kyliesklotheskloset says: January 25, 2016

Thanks so much Ziggy! I truly appreciate the help![URL removed] Buyer paid today, so gonna ship it tomorrow, hope all goes well. Also have another pkg to ship out (not a MM), so I’m very thankful for the sales here lately![URL removed]

The printed label will clearly state Media Mail for the face side of the envelope and I just usually write on the back of the envelope Media Mail so it is visible on both sides. It has been a while since I shipped Media item and from what I remember there was a charge for a tracking number (I think it was 19 cents) but perhaps that has changed with the latest price increases throughout the PO system. If not free, it is just a minimal charge.

I don’t put Fragile or Handle with Care on my packages anymore. Seems the PO will see that and take it as a PERSONAL CHALLENGE to Drop, Throw, Crush, and try the damage the package any way they can when they see Fragile. I had this happen on an irreplaceable working tube radio I sold from the 1940’s and while I had it packed right and padded on all sides, the PO must have taken it up 20 feet in the air and dropped it MULTIPLE times. When the buyer received it, they knew it would be a problem and took pics of the box before opening for proof. Inside the radio was all busted up and wooden chassis torn from the inside walls of the case. Lucky I had insurance (and a buyer who understood that items get damaged in transit) but PO only pays for the value of the item (and not the ship cost) so I had to refund the buyer for both and was out the cost of shipment, even though it was not under my control. That is just wrong. Mark items Fragile at your own risk.

answered over 8 years ago

1 Comment

kyliesklotheskloset says: January 25, 2016

Thanks so much for responding Atomic![URL removed] So sorry about the radio, yikes! It does make you wonder when they see Fragile if they don’t say “hey, let’s just see how fragile it really is?” So thankful you had an understanding buyer though. Again, thanks for the reponse![URL removed]

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