Media mail can not contain advertising except for incidental announcements of books. Usps reserves the right to open and inspect any media mail shipment. 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. How much does it cost to ship a 20 pound box with the usps.
Media mail is a usps mail class restricted to the delivery of books, film, audio and other recorded media. Formerly called book rate, media mail cannot contain advertising, except eligible books may contain incidental announcements of books. For every additional pound in weight, the media mail cost goes up 51 cents. The good thing is that the media mail postage rate is not high, but your shipping time is 2 to 8 days. Books shipping as media mail may contain incidental book announcements. The service is closely regulated, so only select if your products qualify. Upon such inspection, matter not eligible for the media mail rate may be assessed at the proper rate and sent to the recipient postage due, or the sender may be contacted for additional postage dmm 604. Even then, media mail provides highly competitive postage. Media mail and library mail pieces are charged per pound or fraction thereof. Usps media mail is a great shipping option for shipping books. Books shipping as media mail may contain incidental book. 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. Looseleaf pages and their binders consisting of medical information for distribution to doctors, hospitals, medical schools, and medical students. The predictable result, especially during an economic downturn, is that retailers and the general public often try to send nonmedia items in packages at media mail rates.
When weighing a package, round up to the nearest whole pound to find the postage cost. The united states postal service offers substantial shipping discounts for materials sent at media mail rates. Sound recordings and video recordings, such as cds and dvds. However, there are few restrictions on the type of mail items that can be shipped restrictions will be discussed later. But if you have a scale at home or if youre willing to use the apc to weigh the package and then use your iphone or something to go online and get the media mail rate then you can figure out the amount of postage required, get a stamp printed for that value, and stick it on. Although you wont pay as much to send these items via media mail, they can take longer to get to their. The cost of sending media mail is determined by your packages weight.
If you print the paperbackswap wrapper, media mail will print automatically. Media mail usps retail rate table shippingeasy support center. Media mail cant be used to send any media that contains advertisements. 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. Cheapest way to mail books, cds and more clark howard. Other media items were included in book rate, but the main use of that rate for years was books. Media mail is a costeffective way to send media and educational materials.
Upon such inspection, matter not eligible for the media mail rate may be assessed at the proper price and sent to the recipient postage due, or the sender may be contacted for additional postage. In the current issue of american philatelist, wayne youngblood, a directoratlarge of the american philatelic. 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. Shipping rate updates for 2020 fedex shipping rates. It was shipped on monday 25th but the date given about its arrival will be august 15th.
Media mail and library mail prices are based on the weight of the piece without regard to zone. There has been a revision in the price list of the usps media mail. The book rate was mainly for books when it was first created, but if your intention is to send books to or from a library, then you should use the cheaper alternative known as library rate. The shipping container must weigh less than 70 lbs 32 kg to qualify for media mail. Media mail rates are based on parcel weights and rate class. Just make sure it says media mail somewhere on the face. The lowest rate i was able to find, is available only for media mail originally called book rate, if the package contains books, magazines, or any of several similar typ. About two months ago i had occasion to mail four boxes of books and magazines across the united states, and much to my surprise a box that contains mostly books but a few magazines does not qualify for the book rate media mail rate at least acco. The items sent using special mediamail rates cannot exceed 70. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be shipped. Since they are not to heavy i send them by the cheapest priority rate. Books at least 8 pages 16millimeter or narrower width films. This is a lot cheaper than media mail and provided exclusively for libraries. The mail class is also known as book rate among book sellers.
Media mail media mail is a cost effective service for shipping books and education material. If you are sending multiple books, compare your media mail price with that of a flat rate box. I ordered a book from someone within my state mo through amazon. 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. Can i ship photos book ratemedia rate via the us postal. Postal service allows you to send books, dvds, cds, printed music, and sound recordings through media mail at a discounted rate.
Media mail shipping is a costeffective way to send educational materials. To send your educational items through it, it may take a longer time for your items to reach its address. Usps media mail overview shippingeasy support center. The minimum postage per piece is for a piece weighing 1 pound.
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. Generally, media mail is the cheapest usps mail class for shipping heavy items up to 70 lbs. An expensive change at usps for ebay and online sellers. Detailed rules for media and library rate mail can be found here in the dmm prices and eligibility section or you may read the less verbose interpretation below. New rates were implemented from january 26th, 2020. Eventually other media became more popular, dvds were invented, etc. How nitpicky is the post office with regards to media mail. Usps media mail service rules, rates, tracking, calculator. Media mail is a cost effective service for shipping books and education material.
So, you may refer to the recent price list of the usps media mail rates. However, there are other factors that should be considered before you decide to ship a package by media mail. Can i ship media a book in a priority mail flat rate envelope through the usps but choose usps media mail shipping. For more information about media mail service, please visit ps. Media mail rate is the least expensive rate at which to send books.
There are changes to shipping surcharges and fees that may apply to your shipment and affect your total shipping rate. Media mail rates are limited to the items listed below. The united states postal service offers many services, and one of them is media mail. How on earth can it take that long for a package that i bought from within my state to get here. This question cant be answered without a lot of additional information.
Media mail is a type of shipping option offered by the u. You can also read the article on usps delivery time to know about the delivery time of each usps service. The following materials can be shipped at the discounted media mail rate. Available for sending small and large packages containing books, film, manuscripts. I had one idiotic seller send me a book via media mail. Play scripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and.
For each additional pound, add 52 cents to your total. Usps flat rate boxes and padded envelopes are also economical, reliable. What is difference between book rate and media mail. Generally, media mail will be the cheapest option to ship books, but there might be a few instances where other options cost less. For more information about media mail service, please visit or call 1800askusps 18002758777. Post office rates of this service were increased by 1. Media mail is for shipping media items containing books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, recorded computerreadable. That which is now called media mail used to be called book rate. Exactly what do usps do to these packages to make it take that long. See forever postage stamp prices and other postage rates.
Media mail is a special reduced mailing rate solely for the purpose of sending printed or recorded material through the u. I would never use media mail for anything but books. I am very upset at the ridiculous increase in the cost of shipping overseas from the u. You can send books, videotapes, dvds, cds, printed music and other. I wont use media mail unless its an actual hardcoversoftcover book. Media mail is a costeffective way to send media materials through the u. Media mail is a special shipping rate the united states postal service offers when you as a private citizen want to send educational materials. As compared to the prices in 2019, the rates have increased. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be sent. This rule is a little fuzzy, however, because incidental mentions of other media within a piece of media are considered okay, as long as it isnt a part of overt advertising for the purpose of selling the media mentioned. Ten books of the example size would not quite fit into the medium size flat rate box of 11 by 8. Usps medi mail is one such costeffective service which is used to send educational materials. Only these items may be mailed at the media mail rates.
I have actually had mail arrive with postage due because of some seller sending me books via media mail. Contents are limited to books, manuscripts, sound recordings, and certain other educational materials. Often referred to as book rate, media mail is known for having a substantially lower cost than other delivery methods. People may confuse this with the uspss book rate, but. Can i ship media a book in a priority mail flat rate. Media mail is a costeffective way to send non time sensitive media materials through the u. 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. I recently posted the following on johns blog and realizes it might be more appropriate to post here. Save money mailing books through the post office clever.