media mail problem

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Don Hendrix
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Location: Tucson, AZ

media mail problem

Postby Don Hendrix » February 8th, 2009, 3:07 pm

Has anyone else had this problem? My local magic shop mailed a book (The Collected Richard's Almanac) to me on Friday via media mail. I wondered why I did not receive it on Saturday, which is the normal arrival time in town, one day. Today the shop called to tell me that the book will arrive Monday, but with postage due. The PO "inspected" the package and determined that it did not qualify for media mail. The contents were the book and an invoice. Isn't this what media mail was created for? Thanks for any info anyone can provide.

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Dave V
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Re: media mail problem

Postby Dave V » February 8th, 2009, 3:30 pm

I don't know why they decided to reclassify it as normal mail, but media mail is rather low priority. Where First Class says 1-3 days delivery, Media Mail is 2-9 days.

USPS says:

Media Mail service is a cost efficient way to mail books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, and recorded computer-readable media (such as CDs, DVDs, and diskettes). Media Mail can not contain advertising except for incidental announcements of books. The maximum weight for Media Mail is 70 lbs.

Did they include a catalog? That might have disqualified it.
"I still play with a full deck, I just shuffle slower"

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Don Hendrix
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Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: media mail problem

Postby Don Hendrix » February 8th, 2009, 3:46 pm

Only things in the package are the book and invoice. Their media mail packages always arrive in one day.

Steve Hook
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Re: media mail problem

Postby Steve Hook » February 8th, 2009, 5:35 pm

Don, it appears that you were the victim of an uninformed or "over-enthusiastic" postal worker.

You can check Media Mail requirements here:

http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/373.htm#wp1015205

Regarding your book and invoice, sans additional advertising materials as Dave mentioned, here are the two sections of their guidelines which indicate your package was in compliance:

Content Standards
Only these items may be mailed at the Media Mail prices:
a. Books, including books issued to supplement other books, of at least eight printed pages, consisting wholly of reading matter or scholarly bibliography, or reading matter with incidental blank spaces for notations and containing no advertising matter other than incidental announcements of books. Advertising includes paid advertising and the publishers' own advertising in display, classified, or editorial style.

....and here is the OK for an invoice:

2.4.1 Invoice
An invoice, whether it also serves as a bill, may be placed either inside a Media Mail piece or in an envelope marked "Invoice Enclosed" and attached to the outside of the piece if the invoice relates solely to the matter with which it is mailed. The invoice may show this information:
a. Names and addresses of the sender and addressee.
b. Names and quantities of the articles enclosed, descriptions of each (e.g., price, tax, style, stock number, size, and quality, and, if defective, nature of defects).
c. Order or file number, date of order, date and manner of shipment, shipping weight, postage paid, and initials or name of packer or checker.

.....and here are the only other things which I could find which would require more postage.....or not. Do you see any issues here:

2.5 Written Additions
Markings that have the character of personal correspondence require, with certain exceptions, additional postage at the First-Class Mail prices. The following written additions and enclosures do not require additional First-Class Mail postage:
a. The sender's and the addressee's names, occupations, and addresses, preceded by "From" or "To," and directions for handling.
b. Marks, numbers, names, or letters describing the contents.
c. Words or phrases such as "Do Not Open Until Christmas" and "Happy Birthday, Mother."
d. Instructions and directions for the use of the item mailed.
e. A manuscript dedication or inscription not having the nature of personal correspondence.
f. Marks to call attention to words or passages in the text.
g. Corrections of typographical errors in printed matter.
h. Manuscripts accompanying related proof sheets and corrections of proof sheets including corrections of typographical and other errors, changes in the text, insertions of new text, marginal instructions to the printer, and corrective rewrites of parts.
i. Handstamped imprints, unless the added material is in itself personal or converts the original matter to a personal communication.
j. Matter mailable separately as Standard Mail printed on the wrapper, envelope, tag, or label.

I'd take the matter up with the manager of your local post office. It looks to me like they made a mistake.

Good luck!

Steve H

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Don Hendrix
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Joined: January 18th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: media mail problem

Postby Don Hendrix » February 11th, 2009, 7:56 pm

The book arrived today, with no postage due. The outer package had been opened but the inner packaging, containing the book and invoice, seemed undisturbed. Perhaps the PO was able to inspect the book psychically????

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: media mail problem

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 11th, 2009, 8:24 pm

It's a good book. Spend the rest of 2009 enjoying it.
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