Would it not have been much simpler and clearer to say. When i sell on ebay, these mailers hold up to about ten individually bagged and boarded comics. Comic books dont meet this standard, and see if it means to you. So, since some comic books are being sold with current ads, i do not support the blanket inclusion of comic books in media mail.
I wont use media mail unless its an actual hardcoversoftcover book. Oh, and your comic books dont count either, as media mail packages may not contain advertising, and comics do, indeed, contain advertising. For more expensive books i wrap around once side to side and up and down and it fits perfectly and. Comics have never been allowed to ship via media mail. Yes, you can ship comic books via media mail without anyone ever opening the package and confiscating them. The types of media allowed are limited, though, and by following this guide you will know what you can and cannot send through. I see alot of people asking for media mail and alot of sellers using it for their shipping methods, but its against the usps rules. Media mail is used for books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, looseleaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and computerrecorded media like cds and diskettes.
Media mail service has special eligibility requirements for permissible contents. How do you use the usps media mail shipping service. Items that contain advertising do not qualify for media mail. I took a long box of comic books, packed and sealed to the post office, and put it on the scalethe clerk saidwhy dont you ship these media mail. You can also read the article on usps delivery time to know about the delivery time of each usps service. However, many people dont know that you can ship packages off in another class besides first. Postal service allows you to send books, dvds, cds, printed music, and sound recordings through media mail at a discounted rate. There are several factors to consider when trying to judge what is media mail. Media mail rates are limited to the items listed below. But, in order to avoid being charged with mail fraud, be sure you understand exactly what media mail is, and when you can and cannot use it. There are many different methods for sending books. How to mail comic books through the us postal service. During that time, comic fans all over the country and even the world bought from buddys mail order service later named lone star comics.
Usps media mail regulations cgc comic book collectors. Mar 19, 2020 many people ship packages off everyday. Both of them have told us that the media mail comic book issue has come up a few times and everytime they have asked for clarification, they have been informed that comic books are permitted. Media mail is for shipping media items containing books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, recorded computerreadable media such as cds and dvds. Media mail my understanding that the item shipped has to be. I have actually had mail arrive with postage due because of some seller sending me books via media mail. You may include an invoice in your package but may not include catalogs of other media you are offering for sale. A few years ago when anyone could mail a single piece of bpm, media mail was the preferred choice for books, and bpm was the preferred choice for printed stuff that didnt qualify for media mail. Shipping comic books requires utmost care and attention because some comics can get so expensive. It probably would have gone through fine if not for the duffel bag, it was quite obvious it wasnt books in there.
I have shipped video games as media mail in the past. Usps media mail regulations comics general cgc comic book. Media mail packages cannot contain advertising of any kind, and usps explicitly forbids comic books from being shipped with media mail. You are certainly not violating the spirit of the law by shipping comic books via media mail. Do to the shear number of raw books ive seen improperly wrapped in bubble. Apr 07, 2008 media mail service is a cost efficient way to mail books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, and recorded computerreadable media such as cds, dvds, and diskettes. Can comics be shipped through the usps as media ra. How nitpicky is the post office with regards to media mail. Furthermore, usps specifies that video games, computer drives and digital drives are off limits too. Media mail is a costeffective way to send media materials through the u. I was wondering if anyone ran into a problem with getting delivery confirmation.
The good thing is that the media mail postage rate is not high, but your shipping time is 2 to 8 days. No, a comic book is ineligible for media mail prices no matter whether a one time or no advertising. One of many ways to ship comic books through the mail. We began selling on the internet in 1997 and the rest is history. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be shipped.
Jan 23, 2020 ask for a discounted price for shipping books. Comic books are acceptable in the bound printed matter classification, but most are not acceptable in the media mail classification. Media mail is intended for libraries to ship books and sound recordings to one another. 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. For the record, imo usps has the most ridiculous standards regarding comics, but thats another discussio. Even unbound, loose leaf books can be sent via media mail. I have now received my 3rd batch of comics where i had to pay extra as the package was inspectedand was told comics no longer qualify for media mail. Here is a guideline on how to properly pack and ship comic books so that they will arrive in perfect condition. We had one professor or college student send multiple very large boxes and a large duffel bag almost like a hockey equipment bag as media mail. A common question is whether book subscription boxes can use media mail to ship their packages. Comic books are exempted from not being allowed to contain advertising. In addition, comic books and magazines are prohibited from being sent using this rate. Usps media mail regulations comics general cgc comic.
When i first looked into the rules about use of media mail, it was very confusing, so i went to my local postmaster and asked him if comic books were ok for media mail. See, there it is, comics do not meet the standard for media mail. Media mail is used for books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, looseleaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and. No collector would ever want to received a damaged comics because of poor packaging. Comic books are not allowed to be mailed via media mail.
Media mail service is a cost efficient way to mail books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, and recorded computerreadable media such as cds, dvds, and diskettes. How does the post office confirm that media mail is actually media mail. What i do support is redefining comic books to fall in line with every other periodical magazines, if you will. Up to a pointabout four comicsit can add up to being under a pound, and you can send them first class for just a few bucks. In this case since these arent comic books like the website states, that those arent allowed, the mangas do contain an isbn. Media mail is intended for books, cds, and dvds that do not contain advertising.
How to pack comic books to mail without breaking the law duration. The printed media mailer is a versatile shipping product designed for larger comic shipments, magazines, and a variety of books and other printed materials. Difference between bound printed matter and media mail. Then, in june of 1977, lone star comics opened its first retail store in arlington, texas. Media pieces can be wrapped using your own packaging materials. If youve ever been curious about the kind of information, tutorials and advice that youll get as part of your subscription to, this is a good example. I have seen some sellers on ebay also state this in there auctions, yet many others claim they continue to send like this with no issues. Apr 21, 2007 i see alot of people asking for media mail and alot of sellers using it for their shipping methods, but its against the usps rules. I am not certain about the eligibility of comic books, however. The usps has become more aware of people shipping non media items like dishes, clothing, etc. Looks like youre trying to figure out are comic books media mail according to the united states postal service. Understanding the media mail classification newsletter. The cmaa instilled the comics code authority in 1954 and drafted the selfcensorship comics code that year, which required all comic books to go through a process of approval.
Completely cover any fragile pieces such as antique books using bubble wrapping. If the package only contains books, and does not include. Packaging media mail should be done using the appropriate method. In this case since these arent comic books like the website. Imo it is nice to be able to offer media mail shipping to your buyers. Current administrative policy provides for the mailing of fillin type selfhelp textbooks at media mail prices. Media mail is a costeffective option for those who send books, recorded music and other media materials in bulk through the u. How to properly pack and ship comic books how to ship. Kaptainmyke is here today to inform you the correct way to affordably send comic books through the us postal service. I always am allowed to ship media mail with my comics. I saw somewhere that as long as books have an isbn it should be able to ship through media mail. Media mail is just thata class where you can ship many of your media items ex. The usps has become more aware of people shipping nonmedia items like dishes, clothing, etc. A very easy and affordable way to ship your comics securely in the mail.
Almost all comics contain advertising and therefore cannot be shipped media mail. Media mail can lower shipping costs if you send magazines, books or cds. Comic book shipping, mailers, supplies and retailers. Ebay should not allow media mail to be an option under the catagory of comic books, as well as any other it. Sound recordings and video recordings, such as cds and dvds. Comic books and magazines, because of the presence of advertising, cannot be sent by media mail. Bound printed matter shipping rates are similar but usually slightly higher than media mail rates and are based not only on the weight of the package but also the shipping zone ie. Can you ship video games and comic books as media mail or. I moved, uh, lets just say a lot of boxes of books from ca ak using media mail a while ago. Books shipping as media mail may contain incidental book announcements.
Everything in the media mail package must fall under the media mail guidelines. Your guide to getting started selling comic books on ebay. Comic books contain advertisements which makes them unexceptable or unqualified. But, i do not know about comic books as i could not find the answers if i can ship comic books though media mail or first class mail.
Usps sells packaging materials, but typically they are more expensive there than elsewhere. After that, i tend to send them media mail, if routine purchases, or priority mail for the bigdeal items. It features onepiece construction from high quality corrugated material to withstand rough handling during shipment. Comic book flash mailers fits most comic sizes, tpbs, and manga digests. Comic book flash mailers fits most comic sizes, tpbs. You can send books, videotapes, dvds, cds, printed music and other. The cheapest postal rate is the media mail rate which may be used only for books, including graphic novels, trade paperbacks and hardbacks.
I have no problem with the books as they can go media mail. Catalogs and magazines can also be shipped by bpm, but are not allowed under media mail because they contain advertising. The postmaster said that both of the lcs near us send all of their outgoing books via media mail and have for years with no usps issues. For the record, imo usps has the most ridiculous standards.
Sheet music and 16 millimeter or narrower width films can be sent via media mail see above link. The problem as i understand it is the wording at usps. Same goes with my question with shipping video games. Jul 15, 20 one of many ways to ship comic books through the mail. Media mail can not contain advertising except for incidental announcements of books. In response to attention from the government and from the media, the us comic book industry set up the comics magazine association of america. Hi all, i just spent the last few days trying to decipher the usps rules regarding comic books as media mail and thought i would pass along the most uptodate information as of sept 30, 2016. Media mail shipping is a costeffective way to send educational materials.
When did this policy change, and is there anyone that has run into the same issue. All media mail packages may be subject to inspection by the usps, so its best not. How to use media mail materials that can be sent through media mail include books, sound and video recordings, scripts, manuscripts, sheet music, educational reference charts and more. These types of books meet the requirements for media mail shipping. Playscripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music. The shipping container must weigh less than 70 lbs 32 kg to qualify for media mail. That being said, why are so many sellers on ebay offering media mail when they ship comic books. Petition usps to allow comic books to be shipped via media. Books may contain incidental announcements of other books and sound recordings may contain incidental announcements of other sound recordings. An expensive change at usps for ebay and online sellers. Books may contain incidental announcements of other books and. Almost all comics contain advertising and therefore cannot be shipped media.
605 1395 270 1144 1112 1329 475 476 1344 437 844 28 1164 1487 1245 207 453 980 174 1270 1064 783 1339 1356 1238 8 722 235 332 832 1440 1176 1149 401 132 1095 200 130 181 793 124 1077 263 736 930 1177