Hey all,

Has anyone else expereinced this at the post office. I went to ship out a tape to someone today via MEDIA MAIL, and the post office has said that video tapes and DVD's are no longer going to be allowed to be sent via MEDIA MAIL. Something to do with the advertising on the tapes/DVD make it a commercial product, and no longer Media. I told her that my tape is a home-made tape, and she thought that might be OK. (By the way, all the people at the post office are practically friends, so it wasn't one of those negative/bad vibed experiences. She was just telling me friend to friend.) I was just wondering if anyone else has had this happen to them using MEDIA MAIL.

If they decide to change this, and not allow any tapes to be sent MEDIA MAIL, then this owuld change online shipping as well, because I know when I sell stuff occassional on amazon.com, then only credit you for MEDIAL MAIL postage. If anyone else has had this happen, let it be known here.

Rose,

When we first started selling on-line six years ago, this issue was addressed to us by a postal worker. We were told that 'sales ads' cannot be sent media mail, which would include commercial tapes sent along with a sales ad, as a DVD/video company would do by slipping in their catalog.

I ship on a daily basis (commercial DVDs/VHS, noncommercial DVDs/VHS, books) so I'll let you know what I find out and scream if it's true! It is possible that this is a new decision made by the post office, to bring in more revenue, but I have a hard time fathoming it. It's more likely that she's misinterpreting the rule.

Media Mail rules from www.usps.com:

Used for books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and computer recorded media such as CD-ROMs and diskettes. Media Mail cannot contain advertising.

Technically, tape-trading videotapes cannot be sent using Media Mail because of the commercials within the shows. I'll keep using it, though, until they call me on it.

When I make tapes, though, I take out the commercials. ;)

Originally posted by anglemark10
Media Mail rules from www.usps.com:

Used for books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and computer recorded media such as CD-ROMs and diskettes. Media Mail cannot contain advertising.

Technically, tape-trading videotapes cannot be sent using Media Mail because of the commercials within the shows. I'll keep using it, though, until they call me on it.
Most paperbacks have an advertising page on the last page of the book, or at the center of the book.

Not trying to sound dumb here, but what exactly is "Media Mail"? :)

Media Mail is a reduced postage rate for anything that is considered Media. For instance, typically, books are very heavy and would cost so much to ship. The post office offers a reduced rate in postage for anything considered Media. That's how many folks here send their tapes.

Thank you!

Originally posted by Agent 13
Most paperbacks have an advertising page on the last page of the book, or at the center of the book.

Well, then those books are, (not to be redundant) technically, not permitted to be sent Media Mail. I doubt most Post Offices would care, though. You're probably right, though, that the intent is to discourage the sending of advertising materials of the sender's company (such as catalogs).

Also, to expand on what RoseNylund wrote, Media Mail is usually slower than First Class. Media can take up to two weeks whereas First Class is two or three days depending on location. I'm not completely sure about this, but I think Media Mail parcels go when space permits in transport vehicles.

From the Post Office Handbook:

What is Media Mail? Media Mail... generally used for books of at least 8 pages (bound or unbound), 16mm or narrower film, printed music, printed test materials, video and sound recordings, play scripts, printed education charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of media information and computer-readable media. Rates are based on weight and size. Note: Videotapes with advertising and video game cartridges, for example, cannot be mailed at Media Mail rates.

I talked with my mailman, and he got the scoop on this situation for me....

Apparently, what's been happening is that people have been abusing the 'media mail' service, sending items that do not qualify. Movies and TV shows on DVD or VHS absolutely qualify for this service, as well as companies that include a catalog in packages containing commercial tapes or DVDs.

The videotapes that do not qualify are info-mercial-type videos, for instance, where a company sends out a video for a product that they are trying to sell. Also, video game cartridges cannot be mailed media mail.

I also found out that media mail packages can be opened by any postal worker, which will be labeled as such. I was told that if a package was ever opened and was found to contain something that did not qualify for 'media mail', my packages thereafter would be inspected.

Any service above media mail (first class, priority, etc.) cannot be opened by a postal worker.

Because of people abusing media mail, the government is considering deleting the media mail service altogether. My mailman assured me that should this change occur or laws change with regard to the media mail standard that has been established for years, the postmaster will notify me.

Yea!!!!!!!!!!:clap :bouncers :drummer: party: :clap:

That's great news. Thanks for the update.

Agent 13 wrote: "I also found out that media mail packages can be opened by any postal worker, which will be labeled as such. I was told that if a package was ever opened and was found to contain something that did not qualify for 'media mail', my packages thereafter would be inspected."

I am a Mail Handler for the US Postal Service. If I opened any package, including media mail, I would be out on the street dacing for pennies.

Originally posted by kramer
I am a Mail Handler for the US Postal Service. If I opened any package, including media mail, I would be out on the street dacing for pennies.
I assumed my mailman knew was he was talking about because he's been a mailman for 20 years, and his wife is a postmaster. I doubt he's ever done such a thing, though, since he is such a kind, unassuming character.