Media Mail- Is There A USPS Crackdown

I generally sell books and CD's on ebay, in addition to stamps and albums.

I was at the substation I usually use to mail some sold items today, I was told that three parcels could not be sent by MM because I admitted to having an invoice enclosed. One package went from $8 MM to $30 parcel post. I had been told in the past that an invoice did not count but these people said it did. What was supposed to be shipping totaling $30 or so wound up being $66. I was told that USPS is cracking down, all MM packages are being opened. I questioned this but paid and left.

I find nothing on line about any of this. I wonder if staff there are tired of being bothered by me, or something. Has anyone heard of any such change, just curious.

I'm too lazy to look it up so I will rely on my poor memory. From what I recall, media mail does not allow personally addressed material within the package. (Is that a good way of putting it?) I have a book to mail soon and am now afraid I won't be able to inscribe it.

I honestly suspect counter staff where I have been going are trying to shake me off. I may go to another substation next time. I suspect I won't be scrutinized so much.

I received a book just this afternoon. It was sent media mail and had an invoice in it. It had not been opened by anyone except me! No sign of any trouble,

Peter

See this:

http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/173.htm

Section 6.3 says invoices are allowed.

6.3
Invoice
An invoice, whether it also serves as a bill, may be placed either inside a Media Mail or Library Mail piece or in an envelope marked "Invoice Enclosed" and attached to the outside of the piece if the invoice relates solely to the matter with which it is mailed. The invoice may show this information:

a. Names and addresses of the sender and addressee.

b. Names and quantities of the articles enclosed, descriptions of each (e.g., price, tax, style, stock number, size, and quality, and, if defective, nature of defects).

c. Order or file number, date of order, date and manner of shipment, shipping weight, postage paid, and initials or name of packer or checker.


1typesetter is right, Stamps1962 - You have been had by the USPS. Before mailing anything it's always good to know the regulations before entering a post office. There are a few clerks who just don't know the DMM and impose their own rules.

Good luck with clerks at counters. I've found way too many that have no clue or make up their own rules. Best bet is to do research before heading for USPS and then be ready to quote chapter and verse to the clerk.

I agree with John Freibergs. I have gone as far as to make a copy of the DMM's relevant page at times, as they sometimes seem to make up their own rules. I had trouble with cancelation of precanceled stamps - they kept insisting they were not allowed to cancel stamps any longer!

Peter

Not should you quote what the regulations are to the clerk but have it in hard copy with you.

The one nice thing about living in a large metropolitan area is that I have 5 offices within easy reach. The one I use regularly is great. One is a joke and the only thing I go there for is the kiosk. I actually walked out of there one day after getting a song and dance from a clerk about a claim I was filling.(But that's a topic for some other day)

The substation in question is the customer service counter of a large Food outlet. I took to going there because of issues with a couple of USPS outlets. Both kept constantly trying to up rate my postage. I have been getting the distinct drift they don't like to see me coming. They will get their way. I strongly doubt there is any more than the usual routine checking of Media mail going on. Good Lord, if they opened EVERY piece of MM, it couldn't be done. This was a contrived story and probably the whim of the person I dealt with.

Interesting, I was telling my wife and she asked which counter person this was. She then said "Oh, her".

I will try other sub stations. Can't hurt.

According to the USPS website Media Mail is subject to inspection. Whether they do it or have ever done it is anyone's guess. I have flouted their rules a few times with no repercussions. So far at least

The postmaster at our local PO I have dubbed the Postal Nazi for the allegedly strict "by-the-rules" way the formerly friendly PO is now run. The individual tried to get me to fill out and sign a form for my PO Box. Nothing had changed since I opened it nearly a decade before. When I refused, I found a note in my PO Box saying my mail was being held until I completed a new registration form.

I asked to be shown the PO Regulation where it said they could stop my mail unless I re-registered my long held PO box. I was told they would put a copy of the regulation in my PO Box. Instead I got a phone call explaining that on examination there was no such regulation and was issued an apology for unlawfully obstructing my mail.

We have maintained an uneasy truce since. Being a small town, my best hope is the current postmaster is moved (rotated) on to another unfortunate (larger) PO and this one returns to it formerly friendly ways. My fear is that the individual's level of incompetence has been realized and we are stuck until retirement in another decade.

Incompetence is often rewarded with greater responsibility and authority. Just be patient, oldguy!

From my years in the USPS I saw many unqualified people move up the ladder of management because the person who was their superior wanted them out of their hair. When the dunce would submit for another job in a different area the previous manager would give them a good recommendation just to get rid of them. I guess that now all these unqualified people are now becoming the powers to be.

Quick followup: Per tracking, all packages mailed the other day are well on their way. Not held up for inspection. The person at the counter was full of it.

I spent about $30 more than I should have mailing these packages. You live and learn.