Can baseball cards be mailed using Media Mail?

EchoCanyon

I always heard it could and have mailed sets via this method and saved some $$ on postage.

I recently went to the PO to drop off a package. Media Mail I say. She takes my money.

A few days later the package is returned to me, for more postage. I live close to the PO, so I drive over. The manager tells me that the package was NOT media mail. I said how do you know? I was told in certain cases, when they think someone is not telling the truth, they have the right to open any package. Yes, my package was opened and baseball cards are NOT considered media mail.

Anyone else use this method? Anyone ever had a package opened?

Estil

Well, books are certainly media mail; do they not think baseball cards are "media" enough?

Seriously, go with UPS Ground next time.

colebear

they are not media

plifter

I think if you read their literature about media mail they define it as books, music, video tapes, and DVDs. They also tell you that they will open your package if they suspect it's not media. Media is also a cheap (poor) way to mail something of any value.

BobaFett72

if your nice to your postal workers, and they know you, they wont be suspicious :0)
Its a perfect way to send junk, lol. as long as they dont open it

WeekendHacker

<< <i>if your nice to your postal workers, and they know you, they wont be suspicious :0)
Its a perfect way to send junk, lol. as long as they dont open it >>


The postal workers who take your package are not the ones who will inspect a suspicious package, the processing plant does the inspections.

jimq112

<< <i>

<< <i>if your nice to your postal workers, and they know you, they wont be suspicious :0)
Its a perfect way to send junk, lol. as long as they dont open it >>


The postal workers who take your package are not the ones who will inspect a suspicious package, the processing plant does the inspections. >>



In all of the post offices I work at (more than 10) it's the postmaster, 204B supervisor, or one of the clerks assigned to that job. In the office I worked at today they opened 4 media mail packages and 2 were not media mail.

They usually don't inspect at the plant unless it's something real obvious or if it is stained or torn, unless it's "target" mail.

PasadenaMudSlide

I mailed a huge lot of '64 and '67 Topps from MPLS to VA media mail.

No problems.

bhl2359

<< <i>I mailed a huge lot of '64 and '67 Topps from MPLS to VA media mail.

No problems. >>


No problems this time. Next time they might catch it and your recipient will be hit with postage due or they might get returned to you.

BunchOBull

Darn. I shipped Estil a package the other day via Media Mail...it may be getting shipped back to me apparently. I just read the USPS website...magazines aren't media apparently. I told the lady behind the counter they were periodicals (Becketts) and she stamped it "Media Mail."

So, Estil, if you are reading this. I may end up having to resend your Becketts. I didn't know. Sorry.

lawnmowerman

<< <i>Darn. I shipped Estil a package the other day via Media Mail...it may be getting shipped back to me apparently. I just read the USPS website...magazines aren't media apparently. I told the lady behind the counter they were periodicals (Becketts) and she stamped it "Media Mail."

So, Estil, if you are reading this. I may end up having to resend your Becketts. I didn't know. Sorry. >>



Yup

It's my understanding that any books or mags that have advertisments in it, can not be shipped media.

Barfvader

What about auction catalogs???

I only ask as I had a transaction with someone on here for around 21 catalogs at 45 pounds and he sent them media and when they came to my PO they sent a card to come pick them up as the woman who delivers them couldn't lift them. Got there and the young lady says the box broke and one of the magazines fell out and that they put it back and retaped the box.




Jeff

BunchOBull

From what I've read, most POs don't care if you ship mags via Media Mail, as long as they aren't current issues. If they are outdated (the ones I sent Estil are 11 years old), they tend to not come down as hard on them, as the advertisements aren't typically valid and it is more of a historical record at that point. Hopefully they'll deliver it and leave it alone. It looks and feels like a book. I lined both sides of the cardboard with a thin foam sheet to prevent movement.

I told the lady it was periodicals, you'd think she would have stopped me.

Although, I'm staying in a country bumpkin town, might have been too large of a word for her.

bhl2359

Unfortunately, pleople who work in the post office don't understand the rules themselves.

Tedw9

Does anyone know if VINTAGE papers can be shipped media mail? I know they contain advertisements, but if the paper was printed 50 years ago, the ads are moot.

Sure, it's spliting hairs, but I was just curious more than anything. Personally, I only ship media mail if I send a book or dvd.

BunchOBull

According to the website, if it isn't bound and at least 8 pages, it doesn't fall under Media Mail. Really vague description though.

BunchOBull

true that

edited to add...

that was in reference to Zep's comment below...another case of CU switch-a-roo.

zep33

Shame we can't ship the liberal media someplace nice and warm

1966CUDA

NO..sports cards cannot be shipped as media mail. I had a seller ship a set to me as media mail and when it arrived at my post office it was opened and inspected.... I had to either pay the difference or ship it back. I really wanted the item so I paid the difference.....I just dont buy from the seller anymore.

-Claude

jmbkb4

<< <i>I always heard it could and have mailed sets via this method and saved some $$ on postage.

I recently went to the PO to drop off a package. Media Mail I say. She takes my money.

A few days later the package is returned to me, for more postage. I live close to the PO, so I drive over. The manager tells me that the package was NOT media mail. I said how do you know? I was told in certain cases, when they think someone is not telling the truth, they have the right to open any package. Yes, my package was opened and baseball cards are NOT considered media mail.

Anyone else use this method? Anyone ever had a package opened? >>



I'd venture to say you're lucky to have gotten the package back at all.

Estil

<< <i>NO..sports cards cannot be shipped as media mail. I had a seller ship a set to me as media mail and when it arrived at my post office it was opened and inspected.... I had to either pay the difference or ship it back. I really wanted the item so I paid the difference.....I just dont buy from the seller anymore.

-Claude >>



I hope the set wasn't damaged. You definetly have to be more careful shipping sets than you do singles.

Robeson

Every time I ship magazines with advertisments, I tell the clerk to ship them "Bound printed material" and it is the same or cheaper than Media mail. Some clerks have never heard of that shipping and have to ask another clerk or supervisor.

Estil

<< <i>Darn. I shipped Estil a package the other day via Media Mail...it may be getting shipped back to me apparently. I just read the USPS website...magazines aren't media apparently. I told the lady behind the counter they were periodicals (Becketts) and she stamped it "Media Mail."

So, Estil, if you are reading this. I may end up having to resend your Becketts. I didn't know. Sorry. >>



I think we should be okay; I only wish I knew about your 1997-2002 Becketts and asked about them while you were at your storage place. But I guess good things come to those who wait.

BTW, as we speak now, I'm working on a spreadsheet that lists the articles (not the titles but what they're about) in each Beckett so that if I remember a really sweet article from way back, I can find it much more easily. I know some of you may think Becketts are a joke but they really are fantastic reads (at least in the 80s/90s they were) and nice collectibles that suprisingly can still be had for very little. Though finding at or near complete runs on Ebay can be a bit of a challenge.

Thanks again BunchObull