Post Office issues - Media Mail

[ckb]

Greetings.

I had sent one of the large lots of pre-unity Valiants insured Media Mail out to California. It seems clear from the state of the package on arrival that the package had been opened and repacked haphazardly and improperly.

I'm seriously considering not using the post office any more. I assume this was part of a crackdown on Media Mail misuse, but what they did was inexcusable. If they want to inspect the package, it should be done in front of me at the time of mailing, so I have a chance to repack. I wouldn't even mind packing the box at the post office so they can see what is inside.

Just FYI. I'm really *SQUEE* at the moment. I must have spent 2 hours packing that box properly.

[ManofTheAtom]

I wouldn't even mind packing the box at the post office so they can see what is inside.

That's how standard mail works here when it comes to packages, you have to pack them at the post office.

[BodaZoffa]

Word of advice...... NEVER use, buy, sell, or associate with anything that has to do with Media Mail. It is a horrible service.

You could have the best eBay transaction in the world, & then have it destroyed in the end by using Media Mail. It's happened to me several times.

Media Mail is basically a Post Office frisbee that their employees seem to like throwing against walls.

My two cents...... Boda

[Shakespeare]

Media Mail is basically a Post Office frisbee that their employees seem to like throwing against walls.

Really? I've never had a problem with it...it usually takes about two extra days than first class (instead of the two weeks they claim).

For the cheaper service of Media Mail, you give the post office the right to open it...it's on their Web site. If you don't want something opened, it's got to go more expensive...blackmail if I ever heard it.

It was probably your largest nearby hub that opened it, not the California station. For instance, my hub says that comics can't go media mail but they can go Bound Printed Matter...and the USPS allows each hub to make up their own rules.

S

[ckb]

Can you tell me where it says that Media Mail can be opened on the usps.gov we site? I can't find it. I know that the "Media Mail subject to inspection" signs started appearing at the post office recently, but I always thought they would challenge me at the counter....

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

The reason the 'are subject to inspection' recently showed up is because of a massive crackdown within the dept against unimaginable fraud by the average customer regarding mailing things that are CLEARLY not Media Mail via this service; things such as car parts, tools, and yes, even food has been shipped via "Media Mail", a clear abuse of this rate.

You know the saying, a few bad apples ruin it for the bunch.

Comics, as has been discussed at length, is a 'grey area', and up to the interpretation of whatever local authority is handling it, BUT...I believe my case for them falling squarely within the regulations is a sound one, and one I hope to present to the proper authorities at some time in the future.

That said, ultimately, it's because of the USPS strongarming the american public into accepting their cash cow, Priority Mail, as the only way to ship. You ever notice, a package that's 11 ounces or more is no longer First Class, but is automatically Priority? It's because of the postage rate. The USPS makes a LOT of money off of Priority Mail, and they keep raising the prices at a rate NOT in line with the CPI or inflation. For example...when I started in 1998, it was $3.00 for the first pound. Then $3.20. Then $3.50. Now it's $3.85 for the first pound, and an OBSCENE amount for each additional pound if it's going to, say, NY from LA. It costs the USPS the SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY to ship it from LA to Palm Springs, but, again, they get away with it because they are, after all, the USPS.

The USPS WANTS you to use Priority for everything. However, doing away with the slower, cheaper services that have been a staple of the USPS for 200 years is a crime, and shouldn't be tolerated.

Want this to change? Harass your local congressperson. The USPS is simply a bureau of the Fed Govt, and as such, they are OUR employees. If enough of us *SQUEE* about this, it can be changed.

[Shakespeare]

Can you tell me where it says that Media Mail can be opened on the usps.gov we site

Actually, I can't. I probably heard it somewhere and then thought that I'd read it on their site. I went looking and can't find it.

And notice, that when you go to www.usps.gov, it redirects you to www.usps.com

They really should switch their name to usp. The service is gone.

[jusdb]

the post office isn't really a govt entity like say....the fbi.

they are self sufficient (or have been until the recent gas hikes). they do not rely on as much tax money as you think.

also the post office budget is dependant on the sale of first class stamps...not priority mail. don't get me wrong, priority is a money maker, but they count on first class stamps, thats why you see first class stamp rates jump up first.

i worked in the post office in IT for about 5 years.

out of print comics are totally acceptable media mail. it was explained to me in this way: comics and magazines that have current advertising are not allowed to be sent media mail, but must be shipped as bound printed matter.

and fyi all packages are tossed as frisbees, priority, first class, media, everything except registered....only b/c the carrier has to sign for it before taking it out for delivery...or they would probably throw that package to them also.

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

the post office isn't really a govt entity like say....the fbi.

No, it isn't an entity like the FBI; however, it IS a federal gov't agency, of course.

they are self sufficient (or have been until the recent gas hikes). they do not rely on as much tax money as you think.

as who thinks...? Yes, for the most part, the USPS is the one gov't agency that is consistently in the black, but that is because it is the ONLY gov't agency that deals directly with the public in a merchant-type capacity.

also the post office budget is dependant on the sale of first class stamps...not priority mail. don't get me wrong, priority is a money maker, but they count on first class stamps, thats why you see first class stamp rates jump up first.

Of course...but first class IS Priority Mail after the...10th? 11th? oz. And Priority Mail is their cash cow. It's what 'rakes in the dough' on top of sales of stamps.

out of print comics are totally acceptable media mail. it was explained to me in this way: comics and magazines that have current advertising are not allowed to be sent media mail, but must be shipped as bound printed matter.

You and I both agree on that, but convincing various postmasters is a different matter.

[andrew]

Help out the post office.

[shaxper]

I went to the Post Office today and did some research.

First off, our post office has a slip of paper on all of the counters with a brief explanation of media mail, as well as the disclaimer that they have the right to open and search it.

So yes, they can search it.

I then addressed the issue of whether comics were legal for media mail. According to the workers there, it must be over eight pages in length and not contain any current advertising. If it meets those criteria, it's clear for media mail anywhere in the country. They denied that each routing office has its own policies and interpretations.


Hope this helps, somewhat. Though it doesn't make up for the rough handling of your issues, ckb. Care and policy are two different issues entirely.

[ckb]

I'm going to talk to the local postmaster and see if this can be avoided. I'm wondering if they can observe what I put in the boxes at the post office, and them mark them as "inspected" before sending them off to the central type facility.

Unfortunately, media mail is the only way to send books economically. All other services/vendors are about double the cost.

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

I went to the Post Office today and did some research.

First off, our post office has a slip of paper on all of the counters with a brief explanation of media mail, as well as the disclaimer that they have the right to open and search it.

So yes, they can search it.

I then addressed the issue of whether comics were legal for media mail. According to the workers there, it must be over eight pages in length and not contain any current advertising. If it meets those criteria, it's clear for media mail anywhere in the country. They denied that each routing office has its own policies and interpretations.

That's because they don't know what they're talking about in this case. ;)They assume (correctly), that the restrictions on advertising refer to CURRENT advertising, and that expired advertising doesn't apply. The 'final word' so far on Media Mail can be found here:

http://pe.usps.gov/text/qsg/q730.htm

Those 'advertising restrictions' are vague, which cannot be found (at least by me) in relation to Media Mail on the website, and have been used by various postmasters in various parts of the country to include ANY type of advertising, no matter how old, and have refused to accept comics from, say, 1959 that OBVIOUSLY has expired advertising. Advertising is advertising, they say, and not allowed for Media Mail.

Others, of course, allow it for expired advertising.

But that begs the question...your workers said 'must not contain any "current" advertising'....but what does "current" mean? Older than a month? Two months? The advertising is still 'in force'?

See the problem here...?

To be sure...the SPIRIT of Media Mail is MEDIA...books, tapes, sheetmusic, etc....collectibles obviously don't fall under this category, but it's a loophole I have no problem exploiting, myself.

So, the experiences of individuals across the country demonstrates that Media Mail CAN be and IS up to the interpretation of individual postmasters, regardless of what your particular folks think may be the case (even though they're right.)

So....as ever, the topic remains unresolved until someone at the USPS addresses it directly.

[Shakespeare]

They denied that each routing office has its own policies and interpretations.

Well, that's BS. After all, they told you old comics were fine. Mine said they wern't.

Call up the 1-800 post office number some time and ask if comics are OK for media mail. They WILL NOT give you an answer. They will direct you to your local branch. They can't give you an answer because they don't know what you're local branch has decided.

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

They denied that each routing office has its own policies and interpretations.

Well, that's BS. After all, they told you old comics were fine. Mine said they wern't.

Call up the 1-800 post office number some time and ask if comics are OK for media mail. They WILL NOT give you an answer. They will direct you to your local branch. They can't give you an answer because they don't know what you're local branch has decided.

Quite true.