Opt for Media Mail at the Post Office & Save

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Opt for Media Mail at the Post Office & Save

Submitted by: $$Saver 12/08/2008 3:53 PM

A great way to save on shipping is with media items like DVD'S or BOOKS. You can ship these items at a discount at the Post Office when you write Media Mail on the outside of the box. I recently sent a box full of DVD'S CD'S & BOOKS, and it was over 12 pounds for only $5.00.

Editor's Note: This Tip was originally submitted as a comment, but we felt it was deserving as its own stand alone tip.

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Comments:

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If you're sending stuff other than books, use the Post Office flat rate boxes. They're sent priority mail with delivery confirmation for about $11. I sent a box to my daughter and in it had shrinkwrapped her down jacket and then put a lot of other things into the box - it must have weighed over 20 pounds. But only paid the $11.

Posted by ELWatson on January 03, 2009 3:14 PM

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I've worked for the USPS for nearly 11 years, and I can't tell you how many times we've 'rated up' packages and boxes because the items inside did not qualify to be mailed as "MEDIA MAIL." If you are unsure if what you are mailing qualifies, ask the clerk. Also, we are trained to tell customers who are mailing items via Media Mail that their boxes are "SUBJECT TO INSPECTION."

TRUST ME! These boxes WILL BE INSPECTED. In my post office, EVERY box mailed via Media Mail IS INDEED INSPECTED. If JUST ONE ITEM in the box does not qualify as Media Mail, then the entire box does not qualify; in such cases, the box is 'rated up' to the next highest level, most likely Priority Mail. This could easily QUADRUPLE the postage you pay.

When we DO catch items in boxes that do not qualify as Media Mail (a box full of books and one scarf, for example; or a parcel full of CDs which didn't fit properly, so the mailer inserted a small, empty cardboard box as a 'buffer' to keep the CDs from banging around inside; the small empty cardboard box disqualified all the CDs from receiving the Media Mail rate), and the return address is within my office's Zip Code, we will return the box to the mailer, notifying them that the items they are mailing do not qualify and informing them of the correct postage rate. They usually then come back in to mail the box with us at the First Class or Priority rate.

BUT BEAR THIS IN MIND AS WELL: When my office RECEIVES boxes or packages sent to our Zip Codes via Media Mail, these boxes are also opened and inspected. If we find just ONE ITEM inside that does not qualify, the entire box is 'rated up' as well.

I distinctly remember one woman who was moving who mailed items from North Carolina to her new home here in Hawaii via Media Mail. Apparently the post office in NC did not inspect the parcels.

We did.

She paid in the neighborhood of $22.00 per parcel at the Media Mail rate (quite a deal considering how large and heavy her boxes were).

When we found items that disqualified ALL of her boxes, they were ALL 'rated up' to the Priority rate. She ended up owing us an average of $46.00 more PER PARCEL at the Priority rate.

AND GET THIS: SHE MAILED NEARLY 20 BOXES!!!

I'm not proud to say this, but she left our lobby with all her boxes....and IN TEARS.

Just be sure to check with the clerk if you have ANY questions. And be aware: SOMEONE from the post office WILL check the box, even if it isn't the clerk who's mailing the box for you.

Posted by Postman in Paradise on April 05, 2009 2:49 AM

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I did not write this tip intending to tell people to be dishonest and cheat the post office. I wrote this tip as a comment about saving money shipping Christmas presents. I was simply telling people if they buy DVD'S, CD'S or Books as gifts Media Mail is the cheaper way to mail these such items. Also Media Mail must not contain any advertisements.

Posted by $$Saver on May 21, 2009 4:25 PM

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I have never understood the post offices desire to make life difficult for the customers, especially in this day and age of email, Fed Ex, UPS, etc. All I can say is I will be relieved the day that the USPS is obsolete.

Posted by Debbi on May 21, 2009 7:01 PM

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And USPS wonders why they are having huge issues and losing tons of business... People really don't want their mail tampered with and if USPS is going to treat their customers like that then don't be shocked when business is going downhill. I agree with the the comment Debbie made about USPS.

Posted by anonymous on March 05, 2010 4:17 PM

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REALLY--waiting in long lines to be charged exorbitant fees with lousy service---SO glad there are other options!

Posted by anonymous on March 12, 2010 8:54 AM

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