Post Office Opens Media Mail?

mrearlygold · January 19, 2007 12:11AM

My Wife sells Numismatic books and today when the carrier came buy to pick up a box to go out she asked my Wife " what is in here? " Wife replied "a book", carrier replied " I want to inform you that we will be opening media mail to make sure there is nothing harmful or dangerous in there" , said "for example when she brought a box back yesterday, whoever checks in the media mail said "this is too light for a book" and proceeded to open it.

She said not to worry, they will close it all back up and seal it.

Isn't that great?

Newb · January 19, 2007 12:13AM

That's been their policy - to make sure no one's ripping them off. The security issue is BS!

coinpictures · January 19, 2007 12:16AM

I think they added that policy last year or late in 2005 (or at least that was when they became more aggressive about it). If you notice, the handstamps they used to use for "MEDA MAIL" now say "MEDIA MAIL (subject to inspection)".

John91C · January 19, 2007 12:17AM

what about parcel post?

VamGuy · January 19, 2007 12:40AM

<< <i>what about parcel post? >>

Parcel post is not restricted to printed material only, so they would not open it to inspect for that. But the current adminstration has decided to open any mail for any reason... so sure, it's possible for the NSA to open it.

mrearlygold · January 19, 2007 12:44AM

I lived in Vietnam full time ( voted the safest country in Asia according to ASEAN ) for a couple years ( in this new millennium not 40 years ago ) and boy oh boy was I verbal when it came to my mail getting opened there. Now this over here.

GRRRRRR

lkrarecoins · January 19, 2007 12:44AM

Yes, my neighborhood USPS clerk told me that media mail is subject to random inspections...She also told me that you could not put any advertising correspondence in with the books (i would imagine price lists, business cards, etc).

dbldie55 · January 19, 2007 12:48AM

I suppose those who don't like this can just avoid media mail all together. Perhaps the USPS should discontinue the service.

Longacre · January 19, 2007 12:53AM

Next thing W will be listening in on phone calls. Oh wait, that is happening already.

bushmaster8 · January 19, 2007 12:55AM

Why should they discontinue it? What kind of logic is that?

There are plenty of dishonest people out there. If the P.O. was prohibited from checking Media Mail contents, thousands of low lifes would ship all their parcels at the dirt cheap Media Rate, confident in knowing that the P.O. would never be wise to their deception.

BTW, not just books, but electronic media (Tapes, dvd's, LP's) etc. can also be shipped at the discounted rate.

dbldie55 · January 19, 2007 12:57AM

Didn't think it would take long for the political bash to start. I hope those pushing their political agenda are banned.

RGT · January 19, 2007 1:03AM

I shipped a set of the Coin Values grading posters last year via media mail to a forum member here. The PO opened it and determined that it was not media and charged extra postage on delivery. Their web site specifically mentions educational posters as being acceptable but apparently coin grading posters aren't educational according to the PO. Yes, they open it only to make sure that they are getting all the postage that they think is due. It has nothing to do with safety.

pharmer · January 19, 2007 1:14AM

Well, it's obviously an outrage that you folks are not exempted.

RYK · January 19, 2007 1:25AM

I regularly use media to send/receive books and auction catalogs and have never had an issue. I understand the policy and follow the rules. For a while, they were making me bring the packages to the post office unopened so that they could see the contents prior to sealing the box. That got ugly when the lady at the post office asked if I also brought packing tape, a wet sponge, and scissors to seal up the box. They have since stopped this silly practice.

I think that they have this random inspection policy to deter people from using the cheaper media mail service to send items that do not qualify. If you are concerned about privacy and security, might I suggest first class or priority mail? Sometimes the cost difference is negligible, particularly with the priority mail fixed rate boxes.

WTCG · January 19, 2007 7:42AM

<< <i>My Wife sells Numismatic books and today when the carrier came buy to pick up a box to go out she asked my Wife " what is in here? " Wife replied "a book", carrier replied " I want to inform you that we will be opening media mail to make sure there is nothing harmful or dangerous in there" , said "for example when she brought a box back yesterday, whoever checks in the media mail said "this is too light for a book" and proceeded to open it.

She said not to worry, they will close it all back up and seal it.

Isn't that great?

>>

There is a sign at all of our area post offices that reads "media mail subject to inspection", so it shouldn't be a surprise if some of it gets opened.

arlea1957 · January 19, 2007 7:46AM

<< <i>My Wife sells Numismatic books and today when the carrier came buy to pick up a box to go out she asked my Wife " what is in here? " Wife replied "a book", carrier replied " I want to inform you that we will be opening media mail to make sure there is nothing harmful or dangerous in there" , said "for example when she brought a box back yesterday, whoever checks in the media mail said "this is too light for a book" and proceeded to open it.

She said not to worry, they will close it all back up and seal it.

Isn't that great?

>>

As the O.F. is gone maybe you should try.... www.uspssucks.com

edited to add... just went there at it appears to have been hacked....lmao

291fifth · January 19, 2007 7:52AM

They have the right to open media mail. The reason for opening it has nothing to do with "harmful" objects. It is related to fraud on the part of mailers who are sending ineligible items and using the media mail rate.

Pentimento · January 19, 2007 8:03AM

I had a box of books full of first day covers opened and I was denied media rate. They told me that the rate doesn't apply to philatelicaliltogical items.

DorkGirl · January 19, 2007 8:12AM

Have you ever seen anything like this? When I pulled it out of the mailbox, coins went everywhere......

seemyauction · January 19, 2007 8:17AM

Simple solution.....Use another shipping company......

AL

jimtre · January 19, 2007 8:40AM

Gee I remember a couple of years ago, when I was working at the P.O. a lay received 5 boxes sent media mail.

She was kinda (well really not kinda) upset when the Postmaster opened them, called her to come and pick them up at the P.O. charging her about $30 each because it seems her clothes, etc she was receiving were sent as media mail. It happens all of the time.

And hey, how about the priority adress labels that use to be plain white on the address portion. Shoot, now they have little priority markings in the background. Gee, now that they can't cut off the top and use the rest of the label for other mailings they don't go through nearly as many free labels.

And how about the free priority boxes now having priority stamped on the inside of the boxes. Can't turn them inside out anymore.

By the way, a couple of years ago the only class of mail loosing money was MEDIA MAIL.

Jim

But one that is GREAT for us is the Priority flat mail boxes for $8.10 (I think) use to be $7.80. On my route a party received about 5 boxes and I swear they must have weighed 30 lbs each. All taped with strapping tape. I showed them to the Postmaster an he said that was FINE.

I know a lot of you have b een using this have found it to be a bargain.

Hugegut · January 19, 2007 8:49AM

All the junk mail stuffing your mailbox went at a discounted postage rate. I wish they would charge those guys full price. Why do they get a discount? They are no benefit to anyone. I say hit them for full price and use the extra $$$ to lower the price of priority mail. Everybody wins.

Post Office Opens Media Mail?

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