Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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Printed matter that contains paid advertising does not qualify for USPS media mail. Since the Scott catalog contains a paid advertising section at the back, and also interspersed throughout the catalog, it does not qualify for media mail.
In general, most stamp albums do not qualify for media mail for various reasons (depending on what type of stamp album). Most (not all) albums are not considered bound printed matter, and they are not literature, and do not qualify as educational material. And if there are any stamps in the album or if you enclose any correspondence, that will disqualify it from media mail.
I know a lot of people don't follow those rules, but those are some of the USPS criteria for using medial mail. Much of what sellers try to send as media mail should be sent parcel post instead.
I don't know the rules for other countries.
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Observation: More folks have now been interested in how I shipped the box than in the content of the box. That really can only happen on a stamp forum ... 
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WOW! That's cheap postage!!! In Canada there is no such thing as media mail. Parcel post for the same weight to the same zip code in the USA from here would be approximately $110.00! Even for mailing within Canada from British Columbia to Ontario the cost would be at least $51.00 for regular parcel post.
$25 is really quite the bargain for the recipient considering that the contents in the box would have originally cost quite a few hundreds of dollars.
Arno It was very kind and generous of you to offer this material FREE to one of our members 
Liz
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08:28:54am
Media Mail is tricky in the US. By sending a parcel via media mail you implicitly give the postal service permission to inspect the contants. If they do, and the contents do not fit their rather limited definition of what qualifies as "media," they will forward the pacel with a substantial "postage due" tag.
Examples: if a book, such as a catalog, contains any advertising (and certainly Scott's does) it does not qualify; if you enclose a letter or invoice in the parcel, you will be accessed a first class letter rate fee, and it may disqualify you for the media mail rate; if you use, as internal packing material, the Priority Mail boxes the USPS supplies free (even if it has already been through the mail stream), your entire package will at least be accessed first class postage, and may be assessed the Priority Mail rate.
There was a good article on this in a past issue of the APS magazine. The USPS website also has information on what qualifies as media mail, although the language is very ambiguous.
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11:12:26am
I learned about that "advertising" limitation quite by accident one day. I had mailed things books, etc as presents to my grand children several times and at the post office had probably answered "a book' when asked about the contents.
Then one day I said " an old stamp catalog" and that was the end of that.
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Interesting... I can send a CD or DVD media mail regardless what it contains. If a book even a text book has a single ad it is disqualified from using media mail.
I would also argue and probably lose that a stamp collection or album is not just a hobby it is an education
Yes it is interesting how these threads lead to other topics of discussion.
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I'd like to revive this post and ask if sending blank album pages, not albums, qualifies for media mail. The material is not bound (two hole punched) and no letter/invoice will be included. Here's what I'm talking about, the Scott Specialty Album pages for the British Leeward Islands (Part IV: 1976-1982), approximately 2 inches thick and over 2 pounds in weight.
The images show the green album but that will be removed for shipping. If I mail it within the US, coast to coast it will cost about $13 regular package rate but less than $3.50 media mail.
Is this allowed by media mail?
Thanks.
Peter
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10:38:27am
I do not think so, Peter. I found the following on the Ebay website:
"Media mail service has special eligibility requirements for permissible contents and quite often are opened and inspected. If you include a note on your invoice ex: thanks for your purchase, or enjoy your books, or leave positive feedback if happy with your purchase, you just made that package 1st class mail (this is the most common problem with media mail packages). Upon inspection, items that are not eligible for the media mail rate will be assessed at the proper rate and sent to the recipient POSTAGE DUE. In turn, a letter is sent off to the sender (you) letting you know that the item didn't qualify and your item was sent postage due. It will inform you that if the recipient doesn't accept the package (pay the due amount) it will be returned to you for the full amount. If you print your invoice off the paypal, half.com, or ebay website, it automatically includes a note thanking the customer for using PAYPAL, the safest way to shop online. That is advertisement and MEDIA MAIL CANNOT CONTAIN ADVERTISEMENT OR PERSONAL NOTATIONS OF ANY KIND.
Media mail rates are limited to the items that I will list below:
Books (at least 8 pages).
Sound recordings (e.g., video recordings and DVDs).
Playscripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals and music.
Printed music.
Computer readable media containing pre-recorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media (e.g., commercially available instruction videos/DVDs).
Sixteen millimeter or narrow witdth films.
Printed objective test materials and their accessories.
Printed educational reference charts.
Loose-leaf pages and their binders consisting of medical information for distribution to doctor, hospital, medical school or student.
Items that DO NOT qualify as Media mail:
Advertisement of any kind. (magazines do not qualify due to the advertisements).
Homemade CDs or DVDs. (these items are of a personal nature and anything of a personal nature is 1st class mail).
VIDEO GAMES or BLANK MEDIA DISCs/disks. Since there is no media on the discs, they do not qualify. (This is a parcel post item and if inspected will be forwarded postage due for the parcel post rate.
Catalogs including price lists or order forms. This included PRINCESS HOUSE, HOME INTERIORS, PAMPERED CHEF, etc.....
Business materials. Documents, invoices, estimates, policies, etc.........
Photo albums, address books, school yearbooks, scrapbooks, etc........."
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Thanks Bobby; I suspect you are correct. Unless I can convince the USPS that album pages are:
"Printed educational reference charts"
Ehhh, I don't think so either.
Cheers,
Peter
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i cannot quote a rule indicating that album pages ARE allowed, but the list of exclusions doesn't seem to mention it; and while the only item of loose leaf mentioned is medical information, there seems nothing here to violate the SPIRIT of the rule. it is not advertising; it is not personal notes, catalogues, etc.
so, i would argue that they are closest to books, and ought to be allowed.
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I nominate David for Postmaster General.....
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04:29:20pm
Unfortunately, as the pages are not bound, I doubt the documents qualify as a book. That being said, I have, in the past, sent many similar items via media mail which arrived at their destination without incident; subsequently I have discovered that, in every instance, the item did not qualify as media mail! Guess I just didn't get caught.
If the package looks and feels like it contains a book, I suspect that it is not examined all that carefully.
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The album pages are not eligible for media mail. It is considered to be merchandise (whether you sold it or not). If you send it via media mail, you risk detection. Media mail is subject to inspection at any point while in the hands of USPS. If found, it can be confiscated and/or the receiver can wind up getting charged the postage due. You also can be charged with defrauding the USPS, which wouldn't happen if USPS hasn't previously warned you about improperly using media mail.
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03:41:51pm
When I sent a book to my sons, or the grand children, I always remove the dust covers since they often advertize either the book, the authors other books or similar books.
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Do albums or for that matter stamps qualify as Media Mail?
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re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
Printed matter that contains paid advertising does not qualify for USPS media mail. Since the Scott catalog contains a paid advertising section at the back, and also interspersed throughout the catalog, it does not qualify for media mail.
In general, most stamp albums do not qualify for media mail for various reasons (depending on what type of stamp album). Most (not all) albums are not considered bound printed matter, and they are not literature, and do not qualify as educational material. And if there are any stamps in the album or if you enclose any correspondence, that will disqualify it from media mail.
I know a lot of people don't follow those rules, but those are some of the USPS criteria for using medial mail. Much of what sellers try to send as media mail should be sent parcel post instead.
I don't know the rules for other countries.
Login to Like
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re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
Observation: More folks have now been interested in how I shipped the box than in the content of the box. That really can only happen on a stamp forum ...
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10:12:14pm
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re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
WOW! That's cheap postage!!! In Canada there is no such thing as media mail. Parcel post for the same weight to the same zip code in the USA from here would be approximately $110.00! Even for mailing within Canada from British Columbia to Ontario the cost would be at least $51.00 for regular parcel post.
$25 is really quite the bargain for the recipient considering that the contents in the box would have originally cost quite a few hundreds of dollars.
Arno It was very kind and generous of you to offer this material FREE to one of our members
Liz
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
07 Feb 2013
08:28:54am
re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
Media Mail is tricky in the US. By sending a parcel via media mail you implicitly give the postal service permission to inspect the contants. If they do, and the contents do not fit their rather limited definition of what qualifies as "media," they will forward the pacel with a substantial "postage due" tag.
Examples: if a book, such as a catalog, contains any advertising (and certainly Scott's does) it does not qualify; if you enclose a letter or invoice in the parcel, you will be accessed a first class letter rate fee, and it may disqualify you for the media mail rate; if you use, as internal packing material, the Priority Mail boxes the USPS supplies free (even if it has already been through the mail stream), your entire package will at least be accessed first class postage, and may be assessed the Priority Mail rate.
There was a good article on this in a past issue of the APS magazine. The USPS website also has information on what qualifies as media mail, although the language is very ambiguous.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
07 Feb 2013
11:12:26am
re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
I learned about that "advertising" limitation quite by accident one day. I had mailed things books, etc as presents to my grand children several times and at the post office had probably answered "a book' when asked about the contents.
Then one day I said " an old stamp catalog" and that was the end of that.
Login to Like
this post
re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
Interesting... I can send a CD or DVD media mail regardless what it contains. If a book even a text book has a single ad it is disqualified from using media mail.
I would also argue and probably lose that a stamp collection or album is not just a hobby it is an education
Yes it is interesting how these threads lead to other topics of discussion.
Login to Like
this post
08:17:08am
re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
I'd like to revive this post and ask if sending blank album pages, not albums, qualifies for media mail. The material is not bound (two hole punched) and no letter/invoice will be included. Here's what I'm talking about, the Scott Specialty Album pages for the British Leeward Islands (Part IV: 1976-1982), approximately 2 inches thick and over 2 pounds in weight.
The images show the green album but that will be removed for shipping. If I mail it within the US, coast to coast it will cost about $13 regular package rate but less than $3.50 media mail.
Is this allowed by media mail?
Thanks.
Peter
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this post
They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
16 Dec 2013
10:38:27am
re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
I do not think so, Peter. I found the following on the Ebay website:
"Media mail service has special eligibility requirements for permissible contents and quite often are opened and inspected. If you include a note on your invoice ex: thanks for your purchase, or enjoy your books, or leave positive feedback if happy with your purchase, you just made that package 1st class mail (this is the most common problem with media mail packages). Upon inspection, items that are not eligible for the media mail rate will be assessed at the proper rate and sent to the recipient POSTAGE DUE. In turn, a letter is sent off to the sender (you) letting you know that the item didn't qualify and your item was sent postage due. It will inform you that if the recipient doesn't accept the package (pay the due amount) it will be returned to you for the full amount. If you print your invoice off the paypal, half.com, or ebay website, it automatically includes a note thanking the customer for using PAYPAL, the safest way to shop online. That is advertisement and MEDIA MAIL CANNOT CONTAIN ADVERTISEMENT OR PERSONAL NOTATIONS OF ANY KIND.
Media mail rates are limited to the items that I will list below:
Books (at least 8 pages).
Sound recordings (e.g., video recordings and DVDs).
Playscripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals and music.
Printed music.
Computer readable media containing pre-recorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media (e.g., commercially available instruction videos/DVDs).
Sixteen millimeter or narrow witdth films.
Printed objective test materials and their accessories.
Printed educational reference charts.
Loose-leaf pages and their binders consisting of medical information for distribution to doctor, hospital, medical school or student.
Items that DO NOT qualify as Media mail:
Advertisement of any kind. (magazines do not qualify due to the advertisements).
Homemade CDs or DVDs. (these items are of a personal nature and anything of a personal nature is 1st class mail).
VIDEO GAMES or BLANK MEDIA DISCs/disks. Since there is no media on the discs, they do not qualify. (This is a parcel post item and if inspected will be forwarded postage due for the parcel post rate.
Catalogs including price lists or order forms. This included PRINCESS HOUSE, HOME INTERIORS, PAMPERED CHEF, etc.....
Business materials. Documents, invoices, estimates, policies, etc.........
Photo albums, address books, school yearbooks, scrapbooks, etc........."
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11:05:18am
re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
Thanks Bobby; I suspect you are correct. Unless I can convince the USPS that album pages are:
"Printed educational reference charts"
Ehhh, I don't think so either.
Cheers,
Peter
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Auctions
re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
i cannot quote a rule indicating that album pages ARE allowed, but the list of exclusions doesn't seem to mention it; and while the only item of loose leaf mentioned is medical information, there seems nothing here to violate the SPIRIT of the rule. it is not advertising; it is not personal notes, catalogues, etc.
so, i would argue that they are closest to books, and ought to be allowed.
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re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
I nominate David for Postmaster General.....
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
16 Dec 2013
04:29:20pm
re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
Unfortunately, as the pages are not bound, I doubt the documents qualify as a book. That being said, I have, in the past, sent many similar items via media mail which arrived at their destination without incident; subsequently I have discovered that, in every instance, the item did not qualify as media mail! Guess I just didn't get caught.
If the package looks and feels like it contains a book, I suspect that it is not examined all that carefully.
Login to Like
this post
re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
The album pages are not eligible for media mail. It is considered to be merchandise (whether you sold it or not). If you send it via media mail, you risk detection. Media mail is subject to inspection at any point while in the hands of USPS. If found, it can be confiscated and/or the receiver can wind up getting charged the postage due. You also can be charged with defrauding the USPS, which wouldn't happen if USPS hasn't previously warned you about improperly using media mail.
Login to Like
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
17 Dec 2013
03:41:51pm
re: What can be sent by USPS media mail?
When I sent a book to my sons, or the grand children, I always remove the dust covers since they often advertize either the book, the authors other books or similar books.
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