I had some auctions that ended and had 3 different lots I sold returned by usps.They say comic books cannot be shipped media mail due to ads within them.
Has anyone else had this problem?I been selling my collection for nearly a year and never had the lots I sold opened for inspection until recently.
In a way I suppose this might be a good thing since media mail has not exactly been kind to me.It took almost 4 weeks to get lots to New Jersey and 2 lots I had to contact usps to find out where they were.
Parcel post cost almost as much as flat rate priority.It cost $7.56 to send 3 pounds 14 ounces of comics which is about 20 books.
We were notified a few years back about this in writing from the USPS.
As we still go in to the local USPS office we use the business line to get faster service in and out of there.
However, even if we stood in the regular line, all the postal clerks know what we sell, and thus we can't ship via media mail. There are tens of discussion threads and several blog posts about whether or not a seller can use media mail to ship comics.
Several sellers still even show their listings as being sent by media mail. With the new DSR ratings by eBay it makes less sense to ship media mail if a power seller is to look for a 5% or 15% rebate from eBay IMHO.
I've been buying and selling comics on ebay for the past 5 years, and many of them I receive by media mail, and not once when shipping was I told that I couldn't ship comic books by media mail ( and most of the postal workers know what I'm shipping too). Basically I want to keep shipping costs down for buyers, and I've been fortunate not to have any problems or delays with media mail, that's why I prefer to use it when shipping larger lots of comics.
nashigrushki: It's a shame the USPS can't co-ordinate this between offices. We would like to save our customers on shipping also by offering media mail but as seen by our previous post we are unable to!
make-it so: That's a good point about co-ordinating. I have noticed after moving a few times in my life, that there does seem to be differences from one post office to another. I guess it's really like any company or organization, there are some well run offices, and others.. not so much.
I would recommend to both posters, that you try a different branch, but I also understand that isn't always convenient.
I thought about trying a different branch as well but don't want to take the chance of having them return again with postage due.I don't make money this way.
The usps offices are not ran by the government but by individual franchise from I understand but could be wrong.
I just sell by lots of 40 now instead of 20 and add extra stuff to keep people happy for having to pay priority flat rate.I try to fill the flat rate box and forty is a good number.Plus I can get rid of all these trading cards from marvel that I have as free gifts.
USPS is correct about media mail, however, you can use BPM (Bound Printed Matter) if you go to the post office. Below is the USPS website decription for BPM - comic books fit the description.
Bound Printed Matter The maximum weight for Bound Printed Matter is 15 pounds. Rates are based on weight, shape, and distance. The maximum size is 108 inches in combined length and distance around the thickest part.
Bound Printed Matter is material that consists of advertising, promotional, directory, or editorial material that is securely bound (not loose-leaf binders), consists of sheets of which at least 90 percent are imprinted by a process other than handwriting or typewriting, contains no personal correspondence and is not stationery (such as pads of blank printed forms).
I never had any comics returned to me, but a few weeks ago the post office told me comics are not eligible for media mail shipping. I never knew that and I have shipped hundreds of them out that way in the past. Now I ship only via first class mail or priority mail.
I think the whole no comics in media mail deal is ridiculous! These days comics dont really have much for ads in them anyway. So by that rational, does that mean that old or collectable newspapers also wouldnt be shippable via media mail? It doesnt get any more media than a newspaper! hahah
HI! every once in a while we get a package opened up and it gets returned, but more often than not it's okay. I've suggested to ebay many times to offer BOUND PRINTED MATTER. Similar price and less hassle but it's not integrated with the shipping calculator or paypal yet.
I've heard that on other sites but so far in all the time I've been selling online, both on and off E-bay, I've never had anything opened by them. I don't usually use media these days since it is slow.
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