Do not send any comics media mail anymore

djm928 · Post by **djm928** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:04 pm

I just got back from the post office and was about to ship some comics to a fellow board member (a giant lot of valiants) when the post office clerk advised me that the post office now does checks on media mail packages. According to the clerk they will open your media mail package or box and by sending it media mail you are giving them permission to do so

. So, I bit the shpping costs and upgraded to parcel post about $4.50 more. There is no way I would trust the post office to open a box of comics and not mess them up since most people that would be doing the opening probably don't understand the concept of keeping the books in the same condition. Anyway enough ranting

BUT BE WARNED! I wouldn't buy from anyone shipping media mail anymore either. I though this was deserving of a heads up for everyone.

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:09 pm

The post office is always telling me this...

I just ignore them.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:25 pm

jedimarley wrote:The post office is always telling me this...

I just ignore them.

Ayup.

You can also send BOUND PRINTED MATTER (which comics fall SQUARELY under) and it's one HELL of a lot cheaper than parcel post.

Parcel post is a ripoff option the USPS has to try and fool customers into thinking they're getting 'the cheap rate'. It's not. It's barely less expensive than priority, and takes a lot longer.

It's a fool's rate.

mrwoogieman · Post by **mrwoogieman** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:43 pm

Yawn.

djm928 · Post by **djm928** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:53 pm

Well maybe I over reacted to this but this was the first time I had ever heard anything like this and I've been selling comics on Ebay since 99'. Good to hear others have heard this and are not worried.... so I guess I won't worry either. I just didn't want someone to be peed-off if this did happen, sorry for "yawn" looking out for a board member.

mrwoogieman · Post by **mrwoogieman** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:06 pm

Sarcasm is my strong suit, sorry. Thanks for the heads up but it's old news.

One tip however, if you send anything by BPM make sure to write 'return service requested' on the parcel or it will be destroyed instead of returned if undeliverable.

Brother J · Post by **Brother J** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:54 pm

here's what I posted in the duplicate thread from the Marvel/DC area:

no offense, but we've heard this before. The only sure thing is that every post office has their own answer to this question, and there is no consistency in their answers. As backed up as the post office is, I doubt highly they would ever have the time to open and inspect every package. I also bet if you add insurance or delivery confirmation to your media mail package, they won't go poking around in your box too much for fear of damaging something.

greg · Post by **greg** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:41 pm

Brother J wrote:here's what I posted in the duplicate thread...

I removed the duplicate. Thanks for posting your answer twice, this one can stay.

ckb · Post by **ckb** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:19 pm

djm928 wrote:Well maybe I over reacted to this but this was the first time I had ever heard anything like this and I've been selling comics on Ebay since 99'. Good to hear others have heard this and are not worried.... so I guess I won't worry either. I just didn't want someone to be peed-off if this did happen, sorry for "yawn" looking out for a board member.

Despite all the other replies here - I agree with your warning 100%. Do not use media mail for comics YOU CARE ABOUT. I have had stuff opened, and they are not careful with it. It really stinks, but the service has been abused and the USPS needs to enforce the rules. I believe comics fall within the rules, but interpretation varies widely throughout the known universe.

As ZWH said, BPM rate is the way to go.

Christopher Martin · Post by **Christopher Martin** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:48 pm

My PO won't let me use media mail to send comics. The lady wouldn't even let me use it to mail actual books after I confessed that it was an auction win. She told me media mail can only be used if you are sending something to someone for free. It didn't make sense to me, but I'm not going to argue with her. So I just mail everything first class or priority. I have to charge more, but I don't really think it's making a difference on my auctions.

djm928 · Post by **djm928** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:18 pm

Mr. Woo, ckb, and Zephyr... thanks for the heads up on the BPM suggestion. I never even knew that was an option. The post office should make all of this a little more clear. How long does it usually take for bpm?

BodaZoffa · Post by **BodaZoffa** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:23 am

ckb wrote:
djm928 wrote:Well maybe I over reacted to this but this was the first time I had ever heard anything like this and I've been selling comics on Ebay since 99'. Good to hear others have heard this and are not worried.... so I guess I won't worry either. I just didn't want someone to be peed-off if this did happen, sorry for "yawn" looking out for a board member.
Despite all the other replies here - I agree with your warning 100%. Do not use media mail for comics YOU CARE ABOUT. I have had stuff opened, and they are not careful with it. It really stinks, but the service has been abused and the USPS needs to enforce the rules. I believe comics fall within the rules, but interpretation varies widely throughout the known universe.

As ZWH said, BPM rate is the way to go.

Media mail is cheap, but I would'nt ship cocain with it.

Wait.... did I just say that out loud? Crap..... uhm, I ment propane. Don't ship propane by media mail. Very dangerous.

Boda

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:25 am

BodaZoffa wrote:Media mail is cheap, but I would'nt ship cocain with it.

Wait.... did I just say that out loud? Crap..... uhm, I ment propane. Don't ship propane by media mail. Very dangerous.

Boda

Well, of course, shipping cocaine by media mail would be against their rules. And the PO is strict about their shipping rules. I wouldn't do it either.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:35 am

mrwoogieman wrote:Sarcasm is my strong suit, sorry. Thanks for the heads up but it's old news.

One tip however, if you send anything by BPM make sure to write 'return service requested' on the parcel or it will be destroyed instead of returned if undeliverable.

Yup yup yup! Not a good thing.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:39 am

djm928 wrote:Mr. Woo, ckb, and Zephyr... thanks for the heads up on the BPM suggestion. I never even knew that was an option. The post office should make all of this a little more clear. How long does it usually take for bpm?

Same as Media Mail...avg 1-2 weeks, up to 30 days.

ZWH <---not Zephyr since 1992.

djm928 · Post by **djm928** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:22 am

Sorry about that ZWH

k_c_collectibles · Post by **k_c_collectibles** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:24 am

There is a weight restriction to bound printed matter though. I have been shipping that way for a while now and the most you can ship is 15 lbs. It sucks to have to break a long box down into 5 boxes, but those are thenew rules... It IS still a lot cheaper than Parcel Post.

Chris

andrew · Post by **andrew** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:41 am

Media Mail is so crazy. I'm into punk and hardcore, so records are always flying around the country, and one time a label guy sent 20 7"s to another guy. The post office opened the box, took out 19 of the records, and packed it back up and sent the one out. You gotta wonder what's going on in their heads.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:17 pm

depluto wrote:
BodaZoffa wrote:Media mail is cheap, but I would'nt ship cocain with it.

Wait.... did I just say that out loud? Crap..... uhm, I ment propane. Don't ship propane by media mail. Very dangerous.

Boda
Well, of course, shipping cocaine by media mail would be against their rules. And the PO is strict about their shipping rules. I wouldn't do it either.

I saw a CA vanity plate that said 'COCAGN1'....

I was pretty damn surprised he got that by the DMV censors...

They're usually pretty good about stuff like that. I wonder how he explained it to THEM?

Peter Parker · Post by **Peter Parker** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:23 pm

Huh

I send comic books Media mail ALL DAY LONG

..last one done on Monday

Perhaps, its a regional, or personal prejudice

Chuck · Post by **Chuck** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:06 pm

Peter Parker wrote:Huh

I send comic books Media mail ALL DAY LONG ..last one done on Monday

Perhaps, its a regional, or personal prejudice

Hey Pete,

Media Mail can not contan any ADs. However, the policy for spot checking Media Mail varies from city to city. San Jose, Ca they spot check but not very often.

FYI

hulk181man · Post by **hulk181man** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:23 pm

Not all comics contain ads. And is there any relevance to ads inside vintage comics from the 50's, 60's, 70's etc?

I successfully argued this point once with a local post office. Otherwise I routinely ship media mail with no problems.

Chuck · Post by **Chuck** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:29 pm

hulk181man wrote:Not all comics contain ads. And is there any relevance to ads inside vintage comics from the 50's, 60's, 70's etc?

I successfully argued this point once with a local post office. Otherwise I routinely ship media mail with no problems.

I think another board member lost that argument with regards to dated comic books. It depends on were you ship from; some PO's are strict others are not.

SolarFan777 · Post by **SolarFan777** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 4:51 pm

hulk181man wrote:Not all comics contain ads. And is there any relevance to ads inside vintage comics from the 50's, 60's, 70's etc?

I successfully argued this point once with a local post office. Otherwise I routinely ship media mail with no problems.

I too have had books sent and received by media mail with fairly good luck. As long as they are packaged properly it seem to be OK. I have had some take less than a week!

Bak2Val · Post by **Bak2Val** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 1:12 am

SolarFan777 wrote:
hulk181man wrote:Not all comics contain ads. And is there any relevance to ads inside vintage comics from the 50's, 60's, 70's etc?

I successfully argued this point once with a local post office. Otherwise I routinely ship media mail with no problems.
I too have had books sent and received by media mail with fairly good luck. As long as they are packaged properly it seem to be OK. I have had some take less than a week!

Yes I agree.But the key word is "Packaged Properly" as today I recieved a package I paid $4 for postage & they sent media in a buble mailer with backing boards for support that was'nt taped....I'd love to show you the package as it looks like crap!

Bottom line if you mail media please package very very good as the PO treats them like garbage.....RANT